The clearest sign that Sir Alan Sugar’s ennoblement is now imminent were the sightings today of him being shown round the House of Lords by the Clerk to the Parliaments.  He even spent some time in one of the Galleries watching the House of Lords debate (and subsequently defeat the Government by voting in favour of) Lord Waddington’s amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill upholding the “free speech” defence against inciting homophobic hatred.  (It is not recorded whether he would have been against homophobic hatred or in favour of free speech.  Since he will be accepting the Labour Whip, I assume the former.)

The word is that he will be formally introduced into the House and take his title on 20th July.  I am sure he will receive a warm welcome ……

A row has broken out about the decision to cancel the July meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority.  The main item of business had been intended to be consideration of the MPA’s Race and Faith Inquiry, but that won’t be ready in time.

Some suspicious souls have suggested that the cancellation may have more to do with Mayor Boris Johnson’s diary (holidays?) or alternatively that of the Uber Vice Chairman, Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse.

Now Dee Doocey on behalf of all non-Conservative members of the London Assembly who sit on the Police Authority (and an independent member or two as well) has pointed out that it seems crazy for the Authority not to be meeting again until September.  There are important issues to discuss – not least the report of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary into the policing of the G20 protests.  In any event, is it really a sign of openness and accountability for the Commissioner not to have an opportunity to report to the full Authority for a three month period?

Steve O’Connell, who chaired the meeting at which the decision to cancel was taken, has said that he expected “the progressive alliance to kick up”.

So will “the non-progressive alliance” dig in and hold firm or will they concede and re-call the meeting?  Watch this space ….

Ex-Deputy Mayor Ian Clement – now apparently being referred to the Metropolitan Police for his expenses “problems” – was, until he was appointed to Mayor Johnson’s administration in 2008, the London Council’s portfolio holder on “Crime and Public Protection”.  Do I detect a less-than subtle irony about all of this?

A notice has appeared on the board in the House of Lords where important administrative announcements are made (such things as the use of the car park by chauffeurs and the like), but this one is different.

It is an invitation to a meeting next Monday when Lord Redesdale, a Liberal Democrat ex-hereditary peer, will demonstrate “the Parker Mark 3 Squirrel Trap”.  All members of the House “with squirrel problems” are being encouraged to attend.

I wonder whether it deters urban foxes?

However, I am not sure that I will be attending.

When I arrived in Parliament today, a friend pressed into my hand an organisational diagram showing the Ministerial appointments in the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (it’s DaBiz!).  My noble friend, Lord Peter Mandelson, who is now First Secretary of State (ie Deputy Prime Minister in all but name), Lord President of the Council, and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, rules over a Department with ELEVEN Ministers – an unprecedented number – the size of many nineteenth century Cabinets. 

Of the eleven, a majority (six) are unelected and members of the House of Lords (and that excludes Sir (soon to be Lord??) Alan Sugar who is “an advisor” not a Minister (so why does he need a peerage?). 

More significantly, five of the Ministers are also holding posts in other Government Departments: Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Ministry of Defence; Department of Children, Schools and Families; Department of Communities and Local Government; and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. 

This gives the First Secretary of State what has been described to me as a “tentacular” reach into most of the rest of the Government. 

And, of course, as Lord President he presides over meetings of the Privy Council. 

Not bad for a former Lambeth Councillor. 

There is nothing that a few years as a member of a London Borough Council does not equip you to do …..

I have been watching the BBC’s European Election Night coverage.  On the whole they seem to be getting more information out earlier than Sky News.

However, I am beginning to detect signs of bias from David Dimbleby.  He is sitting next to Nick Robinson.  Increasingly, as Nick Robinson speaks, David Dimbleby’s lip curls, and then he comes back to question what Nick Robinson has said.  He seems to have complete contempt for the quality of Nick Robinson’s intellectual analysis.

Surely that cannot be true?

I have just received the following email:

“Please add your names by 10PM BST and forward to the address if you support the following.
 
 Dear Gordon,
Over the last 12 years in government, and before, you have made an enormous contribution to this country and to the Labour Party, and this is very widely acknowledged.
However we are writing now because we believe that in the current political situation, you can best serve the Labour Party and the country by stepping down as party leader and Prime Minister, and so allowing the party to choose a new leader to take us into the next general election.
Yours XXXX
 
Failure to do so will mean no seat is safe and a bigger Tory victory than would otherwise be the case. ”

It purports to be from Alistair Darling, but from a Googlemail address and it seems to have been sent indiscriminately to all Members of Parliament.

So I assume it’s a hoax …..