Where am I?

HOME
  • COMMENT Blogs

Red Box - Times Online's Westminster blog

Political coverage from Sam Coates on Times Online. Subscribe to a feed of this blog at: http://timesonline.typepad.com/politics/rss.xml

« 42 days.... It's almost over... | All Posts | The price of victory »

June 11, 2008

Who was offered what

Relief for Gordon Brown: victory by 9. This brings him temporary respite, as he had staked much of his personal reputation on it. But perhaps the biggest story of tonight will be the cost of buying victory. We are still trying to develop a list of who was offered what.

It was victory by 9. And the 9 Democratic Unionists voted against it. There were cries of "shame" in the chamber directed at them Currently both the government and the DUP deny a 'deal' was done over water rates, so the suggestions of a £225 million offer was made are still only rumours. But everyone will be watching Northern Irelands announcements soon.

But at the moment our best intelligence:

Fact (will happen)

Compensation: The Home Secretary is developing a compensation scheme, possibly £3,000 a day - Mohammed Sarwar

Britain will not oppose sanctions to Cuba at EU foreign ministers meeting - Colin Burgen and Ian Gibson

Flattering phone calls from Gordon - Labour MPs Austin Mitchell, Harry Cohen

Rumour (may happen)

£225 million from water rates can stay in Northern Ireland, rather than be siphoned off by the Treasury - All 9 DUP votes

Seat on the Intelligence and Security committee - All 9 DUP votes

Private Members Bill for Plural Plaque - Michael Clapham

Fiction (wrong)

Compensation scheme for miners’ knees - Yorkshire MPs in former mining seats

Offer of knighthood for "Sir" Keith Vaz

Calls to make the measures subject to judicial review - Some Labour MPs

Sam Coates on June 11, 2008 at 18:35 | Permalink Bookmark and Share

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451586c69e200e5534b82ed8833

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Who was offered what:

Comments

Guido is sayign that Mohammed Sarwar has been promised his son will get his parliamentary seat.

Posted by: unseen | 11 Jun 2008 19:00:55

Pleural plaque, surely?

Posted by: Liz | 11 Jun 2008 20:50:02

I think it's disgraceful that the government are bribing MPs with promises which have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the 42 day detention - for example the DUP and financial bribes on water rates!!! This is a matter involving civil liberties and habeus corpus, not giving taxpayers money to underserving MPs to prop up a failing Prime Minister and Government. I propose a vote of no confidence in Gordon Brown!

Posted by: James Riding | 11 Jun 2008 21:39:18

Anas Sarwar was selected for Glasgow Central several months ago, long before the 42 day issue came up, so that's a red herring.

Posted by: David Boothroyd | 11 Jun 2008 21:44:55

Another bung for votes - Telegraph reports that the SoS Northern Ireland promised the DUP that Labour would take no further action to overturn the ban on abortions in Northern Ireland.

Posted by: Ted | 11 Jun 2008 22:15:56

Democracy RIP 11/06/2008

Posted by: micky d | 12 Jun 2008 01:04:59

I propose that PM Gordon Brown serves 42 days' notice before being booted out.

Then receive a govt grant to open a chain of 'long stay' hotels to be called:

"Trust (!) House Forte-Two".

Posted by: Leigh Vernier | 12 Jun 2008 07:19:02

This is leadership? If Labour is voted back into power at the next election we all get what we deserve.

Posted by: David C. | 12 Jun 2008 08:54:04

Gordon was bribing everybody. Even I got a call because I know one of the DUP blokes. 'Would I like my wheelie-bin given VIP treatment on a weekly basis?' I was disgusted. Couldn't they come up with something better than that, I asked, like an income tax holiday? I am not at liberty to give further information.

Posted by: john problem | 12 Jun 2008 09:36:57

The comments to this entry are closed.

  • The Red Box

    Sam Coates is Chief Political Correspondent for The Times, based in the Houses of Parliament. Red Box is a rolling insider guide to Westminster.

    subscribe to rss Red Box RSS feed

    Twitter Updates

      Twitter Updates

        follow me on Twitter

      Latest Posts

      Latest Comments

      Politics News

      Archives

      Select from the dropdown

      Blogroll

      • Alastair Campbell
      • Benedict Brogan
      • Blue Blog (Tories)
      • Boulton & Co
      • Coffee House
      • Comment Central
      • ConservativeHome
      • Dizzy
      • Electoral Commission
      • FT Westminster
      • Guardian Politics
      • Guido Fawkes
      • Hopi Sen
      • Iain Dale
      • John Prescott
      • John Redwood
      • LabourHome
      • LabourList
      • Left Foot Forward
      • LibDem Voice
      • Lords of the Blog
      • News of the World Politics
      • Nick Robinson
      • Open Secrets
      • Paul Waugh
      • Platform 10
      • Political Betting
      • Recess Monkey
      • Revolts
      • Rene Lavanchy
      • Robert Peston
      • Sadie's Tavern
      • TheyWorkForYou
      • Tom Harris MP
      • Tom Watson MP
      • UK Polling Report

      Times Online Blogs

      • News Blog
      • Boxing
      • Cricket: Line and Length
      • Football: TheGame
      • Football: Fanzine Fanzone
      • Formula 1
      • Rugby League
      • Sports Commentary
      Times Online
      • UK News
      • World News
      • Politics
      • Comment
      • Business
      • Money
      • Sport
      • Life & Style
      • Travel
      • Driving
      • Arts & Ents
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Topics
      • Mobile
      • RSS