ANDREW PIERCE: Ed, a dodgy donor and a Titanic party
After countless controversies over recent years, you would have thought the Tories and Labour would run a mile from being linked with any potentially dodgy donors.
But undaunted, Ed Miliband has been rubbing shoulders with a City big-wig who was once convicted of insider trading in America and who was the first person to be debarred for life from Lloyd’s of London. He has also been censured several times by the Stock Exchange for some controversial share purchases.
Christopher Moran organised a ‘VIP business leaders’ reception for the Labour leader, which was held — rather appropriately, surely — at the Titanic Museum in Belfast.
Ed Miliband and David Cameron have both rubbed shoulders with City big-wig Christopher Moran, who was once convicted of insider trading in America
A smiling Miliband was photographed at the event in January alongside Moran, who staged the meeting in his capacity as chairman of Co-operation Ireland (‘an all-island peace-building charity’).
The debonair Moran has also schmoozed the Conservatives. He has entertained David Cameron and other Tory luminaries at party fundraisers at his magnificent 15th-century, 30-room house on the banks of the River Thames which was once the home of Sir Thomas More.
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Of course, More was Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor — as depicted in the recent TV series Wolf Hall — and eventually had his head chopped off. There should be a moral here for Miliband and Cameron.
Cynics have had a field-day at the expense of Ed Miliband after he unveiled his ‘big’ five election pledges. This is seen as a tired old gambit — in 2012 he put forward five pledges to help the ‘squeezed middle’. They included a cap on rail fares and on fees charged by banks and airlines. But there’s no mention of any of these in his latest promises.
Outsider Lammy
London Mayoral hopeful David Lammy told LBC Radio’s Nick Ferrari that it’s ‘important’ for any MP to live in the constituency he or she represents.
However, Lammy, who’s the Labour MP for Tottenham, lives three streets outside his own constituency.
Joke of the week: After sexist Commons Speaker John Bercow compared a woman minister to a washing machine because he didn’t know when she would stop talking, a chivalrous Tory MP jumped to her defence and said that Bercow is ‘a cross between a fan heater (small, insignificant and full of hot air) and a Teasmade (plastic, dated and churns out drivel).’
Dave's much-too-honest MP
Even if they privately expect a hung parliament after May, most MPs are expected to say in public that they think their party will win.
Not so Caroline Nokes (Tory, Romsey and Southampton North) who is defending a 4,000 majority.
In a letter to constituents, Caroline Noakes (centre) said the election result was too close to predict - a claim likely to infuriate David Cameron
In a letter to constituents she says the election outcome is so close that no one can predict the result or whether David Cameron or Ed Miliband will end up in Downing Street.
Her boss will be furious with such candid pessimism.
How timely after the Jeremy Clarkson row.
The BBC has agreed a new ‘bullying and harassment policy’ which is ‘designed to improve the way complaints are handled and how staff and freelances are supported throughout the process’.
This follows a survey by the Federation of Entertainment Unions which showed that more than half of entertainment workers of all grades have been bullied, harassed or discriminated against in the workplace.
Surely this merits an investigation by Panorama?
Readers have sent a number of suggestions on what should occupy David Cameron’s empty chair in the party leaders’ TV debates. My favourite? A bowl of Eton Mess.
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