THE SCRIBBLER.
[c] ALL the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players - except for Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah, who is also a playwright and director. Ms Onwurah will be heading to Live Theatre next week as her first stage play is put out to public approval. One of a series of mini-plays on at Live, Ms Onwurah's piece, called Humanity, sees an old lady from Fenham, a Ukrainian asylum seeker and an out-of-work builder being plucked from a bus stop in Newcastle and transported to another planet to take part in a game show called Humanity. Scribbler is still searching for the political analogy... [c] ALSO playing their part this week are Labour's would-be police commissioners. Former Teesside MP Vera Baird has brought two of Newcastle's warring sides together to back her bid to be the party's candidate for the new post. She managed to do the impossible and get Lord Beecham and Newcastle East MP Nick Brown, two households, both alike in dignity, to pose for a photo-op. Good work. [c] COMEDY of Errors in Sunderland meanwhile as Ms Baird's rival for the commissioner nomination sets out his support. Scribbler hears Tom Foster, deputy chair of the police authority, may have jumped the gun when saying on leaflets that his mate, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery, is backing his campaign. Mr Lavery is instead staying out of the battle, insisting he has divided loyalties. [c] MPs will have plenty of time to decide who to back in the police contest as parliament enters recess. But fear not, our MPs are still hard at work, including Hexham's Guy Opperman. The Tory MP has found a new way to pull in the votes - beer. Mr Opperman will be moonlighting as a barman, serving pints at the Haydon Bridge Beer Festival this July. Beers and politics? Surely nothing can go wrong there? [c] DID the North East's caravan delights help bring about a Budget U-turn? Cities minister and Teesside lad Greg Clark may have pre-empted the Chancellor's decision not to impose a full 20% VAT on caravan sales. Asked about the subject just days ago, Mr Clark said: "My holidays when I was growing up were in a static caravan on the North East coast. I'm very keen to do what I can." A new tourist selling point there surely? Passionate about static caravan, passionate about U-turns? |