HomeBlogs & ViewsBirmingham Mail ColumnistsJon Walker

Parliamentary water's not so gree for John

EVERY politician is "green" nowadays. If there's one thing they all agree on, it's saving energy, reducing pollution and fighting the threat of global warming. Read

Whaddya mean, just 69th?

A TORY-supporting newspaper has named the 100 most influential people in right-wing politics - with Birmingham MP Andrew Mitchell in at number 69. Read

Could Liam be In The Thick Of It?

THE BBC this week repeated some episodes of its excellent comedy show The Thick of It, for those of us who missed it the first time around. Read

The first stone...

CONSERVATIVES scent blood after Gordon Brown's wobbly week. Read

MPs all set to rock the House

SCOTTISH MP Pete Wishart is the only MP to have performed on Top of the Pops. Read

Tory Rwanda trip is worthwhile

TORY leader David Cameron has come under fire for visiting Rwanda while his Oxfordshire constituency struggles to cope with floods. Read

Apres Mai le deluge!

AFTER the floods that devastated much of the country, Environment Minister Lord Rooker, former MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, insisted there was no way the government could have expected so much rain to fall. Read

Ben's keeping quiet on new job

THE new Prime Minister has come up with the cracking idea of giving us ministers for the regions. Read

Jacqui's a match for the alpha-male

REDDITCH MP Jacqui Smith has proved an instant hit as the new Home Secretary. Read

McCabe's got some convincing to do

HALL Green MP Steve McCabe will remain in the Whip's Office, where he has served for many years. Read

Mum's duties have the last word

WESTMINSTER was buzzing with excitement last Wednesday, as Tony Blair said his goodbyes and Gordon Brown stepped in to replace him as Prime Minister. Read

Poacher becomes gamekeeper

TOMMY "Gun" Watson, who quit as Defence Minister when he demanded Tony Blair's resignation last year, is back in the government. Read

Battling it out for a 'non-job'

LABOUR MP Austin Mitchell (Grimsby) was less than enthusiastic about his party's Deputy Leadership contest. Read

Coughing up to keep Scots happy

IN ONE of his last Commons appearances before quitting as Prime Minister, Tony Blair came clean on why Scotland receives such generous funding arrangements. Read

Hemming's playing with fire

BUSINESSMAN MP John Hemming (Lib Dem, Yardley) made his fortune as an early internet entrepreneur, but he's clearly not a whiz with everything electrical. Read

Smokers' refuge under threat

SMOKERS in the House of Commons could lose one of their last remaining hide-outs if a Birmingham MP gets her way. Read

Appeal for return of protest art

MPS have been asking about a work of art belonging to Redditch peace protester Brian Haw, which was apparently seized by police. Read

Carrier bag caution

SOLIHULL MP Lorely Burt (Liberal Democrat) has a great idea for reducing pollution - encouraging supermarkets to charge for carrier bags. Read

Lynne's in the firing line

LYNNE Jones, the MP for Selly Oak (Lab), found herself in the firing line after supposedly attacking the army for its attitude towards Selly Oak hospital. Read

The drinks are on Tony at farewell bash

TONY Blair would like to invite you to a farewell pint at the Red Lion on the corner of Whitehall next Wednesday. Read