View all newsletters
Sign up to our newsletters

Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Long reads
17 December 2009

The NS Quiz: Politics

By Olav Bjortomt

Click here for the answers

1 With what did the Plane Stupid protester Leila Deen attack Peter Mandelson in March?
a A cup of green custard
b A bucket of water
c Harsh words
d A bag of flour

2 What did Gordon Brown eventually reveal to be his favourite biscuit?
a “Oatcakes with butter and cheese”
b “Anything with a bit of chocolate”
c “A plain Digestive”
d “A Rich Tea”

3 Nick Griffin was elected an MEP for North-West England. His fellow BNP member Andrew Brons became an MEP for which constituency?
a Yorkshire and the Humber
b North-East England
c West Midlands
d East of England

4 Among recent expenses submitted by the new Speaker, John Bercow, was a ÂŁ933 bill for what?
a A luxury bed
b Repairing and replacing
a lavatory
c A chauffeur to get around his Buckingham constituency
d Treating dry rot

5 Nick Clegg rejected a call from David Cameron for the Lib Dems to join the Tories in a new what?
a “Progressive alliance”
b “Political union”
c “Force for change”
d “National movement”

6 In June, the then communities secretary, Hazel Blears, wore a brooch displaying which slogan?
a Giving them stick
b Rocking the boat
c Stirring things up
d Making a stand

7 Complete the name of the political group founded after the 2009 European Parliament elections: “European Conservatives and . . .”
a Progressives
b Traditionalists
c Reformists
d Democrats

8 In May, the genealogy expert Tony Andrews uncovered evidence that David Cameron is related to which Labour MP through her aunt’s marriage to his great-uncle?
a Ruth Kelly
b Harriet Harman
c Jacqui Smith
d Yvette Cooper

9 Hillary Clinton said of which cabinet minister: “Well, if you saw him, it would be a big crush. I mean he is so vibrant, attractive, smart . . . And he’s so young!”?
a James Purnell
b David Miliband
c Bob Ainsworth
d Ed Balls

10 Which Conservative politician was caught on secret camera saying of post-expenses life: “You have to live on rations and are treated like shit”?
a Oliver Letwin
b Nick Herbert
c David Willetts
d Alan Duncan

 

ANSWERS:

1a A cup of green custard
2b “Anything with a bit of chocolate”
3a Yorkshire and the Humber
4b Repairing
and replacing a lavatory
5d “National movement”
6b Rocking the boat
7c Reformists
8b Harriet Harman
9b David Miliband
10d Alan Duncan

Content from our partners
Development finance reform: the key to climate action
Individually rare, collectively common – how do we transform the lives of people with rare diseases?
Future proofing the NHS

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU