tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post7803580929653191753..comments2024-03-29T14:09:49.674+00:00Comments on Liberal England: "Far from politicians not listening, they have never listened more"Jonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-4165997696066275432020-09-09T08:29:55.535+01:002020-09-09T08:29:55.535+01:00I have heard that same story about changing cars i...I have heard that same story about changing cars in relation to a Labour MP visiting his Welsh valley constituency. Is it apocryphal or were well-heeled Labour MPs at it generally?<br />Frank Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447989626809704972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-79814354213793557652020-09-08T00:03:27.018+01:002020-09-08T00:03:27.018+01:00The anecdote about Geoffrey de Freitas reminded me...The anecdote about Geoffrey de Freitas reminded me of two stories of past Labour MP's. The first was the now forgotten Jim Boyden, a really nice bloke who became the MP for Bishop Auckland after the departure of the veteran Labour front bencher High Dalton. Asked by the Station Master whether he would be would, as the railway official assumed, be continuing with his predecessors six monthly visits, could he let him have the dates when convenient so he could be there to greet the MP in person ? Boyden said he hoped to be there every week if at all possible and pointed out to the Station Master that he actually only lived 10 miles away in Durham City. The second was the very grand (at least in his own estimation),Liverpool Edge Hill Labour MP, and Solicitor General, Sir Arthur Irvine. Irvine was so grand that he held his very rare surgeries in a suite of rooms down the corridor from his own room at the Adelphi Hotel. How prepared or ready were his working class constituents to brave the ornate lobbies and commissionaires of the Adelphi in order to see their man in parliament is not recorded. david walshnoreply@blogger.com