All a flutter down at the Palace
Just witnessed Gordon Brown going into the Palace.
Only a minute before the police pulled up a huge Ladbrokes advertising trailer which was driving outside.
No doubt there's some law about using Buckingham Palace as an advertising back-drop.
Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams says he was given a £30 on-the-spot fine this morning for erecting two placards with the election odds, on blackboards opposite the palace.
But it didn't deter him - at just £30 a throw he says he's happy to carry on offending all day.
I am reminded of a wonderful occasion from more than 20 years ago when an ITN crew went to interview the Environment Minister William Waldegrave. As it was a lovely day, they all decided to go and do the interview in St James's Park.
Half way through the interview, however, a jobsworth park-keeper approached the group: "Ere, have you got permission to do this interview?"
Whereupon Mr Waldegrave slowly turned to the park-keeper and said: "As the government minister responsible for the Royal Parks, I hereby grant myself permission."
I dearly wish I had been there. Alas, the scene was not captured on film.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 6th Apr 2010, JunkkMale wrote:"As the government minister responsible for [ ], I hereby grant myself permission."
Then... charming and witty.
Now... all too depressingly familiar.
We know who you are. For our sins.
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Comment number 2.
At 6th Apr 2010, stevie wrote:like the gamekeeper in the Royal park who saw a beautiful girl reclining in a seductive pose and he said to her 'Are you game?' and she replied seductively, 'Why yes, I am' So he shot her!
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