... but this time he's playing for the other side
Earmuffs and body armour were needed during a combustion between the Supreme Leader and the grizzled GMB general secretary, rumbustious Paul "the Bulldozer" Kenny. The former parkie is the union movement's real hard man, his impressions of Krakatoa capable of making even shaven-headed Bob Crow in full picket-line flow resemble that sweet little boy in The Railway Children. Gordon Brown's unfraternal encounter with the Bulldozer, in a VIP suite at the TUC in Brighton, was by all accounts molten, a gloriously red-hot display of finger-jabbing and table-thumping, laced with accusations of betrayal over the PM's refusal to confront the private in-equity brigade. Instead of a honeymoon at the Labour conference, divorce might be on the cards.
Cynics who believe that the Talibrown's citizens' juries are an expensive gimmick are unlikely to be dissuaded by disclosures that this particular PR exercise will boost the Prescott family income. David Prescott, wannabe inheritor of Daddy's Hull East seat, is spinning away at taxpayer's expense for Ed "Two Brains" Balls's kiddies' department as head of media for an outfit called Geronimo Communications. Service for the public, or rather service at the public expense, is evidently close to the wallets of the Prescotts.
The Ealing Labour MP Stephen Pound, a dead ringer for Mr Punch, has a crooked neck. Once bag carrier to the government's smallest minister, 4ft 10in Hazel Blears, he's now fetching and carrying for the tallest, 6ft 5in Stephen Timms. To be appointed parliamentary private secretary to Lurch after serving Mrs Pepperpot suggests that Uncle Gordie may, after all, have a sense of humour.
Spluttering into the goulash at the removal of a partition in London's celebrated lefty eatery, the Gay Hussar. The wooden shelving screened a table from the rest of the place, two diners sitting side by side. Its most famous occupant may well be turning in his grave. Sir Robin Day, for it was the bow-tied broadcaster, regularly booked the table in question. One of his hands was regularly spied by waiters to be wandering towards female guests who strayed from the menu.
An update on last week's item about the BBC's difficulties reuniting new Labour's fractious spinners for Radio 4's Reunion slot. This band ain't reforming for one last gig, lead vocalist Comical Ali refusing to appear alongside drummer Charlie Whelan (left). Uncle Gordie's besuited one-time mouthpiece was, however, much in evidence at the TUC.
The rumour is that McWhelan, now living in Scotland, has been persuaded to leave his Scottish lair to do a big political job for the recently created Unite union, handling his old boss for the bruvvers and sisters. Surely a case of gamekeeper-turned-poacher?
Kevin Maguire is associate editor (politics) of the Daily Mirror
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