Intraparty Politics

[therealpm]

Labour no longer the party with the most internal drama. Gave all Tories blistering hangovers to celebrate (that should confuse Theresa May).

Progress on The Machine: NOT the gadget, Paddy, thanks so much. Ordered new valves from Swagelok.  Hopefully solid silver fittings will reduce thaumic leaks.

Comments

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

Cabbage Patch Kid?

(OOC: that made me giggle so much! It's one of my (RPer's) nicknames at work!)

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Were you, or were you not, in a cabbage patch last night?

(OOC: glad you liked it. :D Does your rp-er also work for Paddy, or is that someone else?)

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

It was a vegetable patch.

(OOC: Uh, not sure what you mean?)

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

It contained cabbages.

(OOC: sorry, was half in, half out of character there. Mandy tends not leave easily. Meant to ask- do you rp as Paddy as well, or is that someone else?)

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if it did, it was dark and I was preoccupied. And it was raining.

(OOC: Ah, I see! No, that's not me.)

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

I suspect you may be attempting to distract from the more pressing question of why you were sitting in a patch of miscellaneous and unspecified vegetables when it was dark and raining in the first place. I very much doubt you are that keen on gardening.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with wanting fresh air. And how do you know I don't like gardening? Granted, the last time I gardened was when I was five and I put the fork through my foot.</strike.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Fresh air which the garden of your house in Yeovil, or balcony of your house in London is inexplicably unable to provide?

Mr Laws, I have no intention of delving into your personal life, you know I guard mine with equal vigour; I would merely point out that personal conflicts cost New Labour very dear. They reduce one's own and one's party's ability to function and the Liberal Democrats cannot afford one, let alone two, important members to be operating at sub-optimum efficiency.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

He's not an important

I didn't want anyone to

Everything's breaking

Don't delve into my personal life.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

I assure you, I have enough trouble managing those of the Labour MPs; a somewhat fracticious bunch at the best of times. You may wish to avoid Balls on Monday, by the way. Huhne and Hague too, thinking about it.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

...

What have you done?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Your assumptions wound me, David. I could simply be referring to a common distaste for Mondays, not everyone shares your zest for paperwork.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

If it was a "common distaste" then you wouldn't have singled out specific members of the house.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

A distaste common to those members whom I singled out. Really David, you have a very suspicious mind.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

!!!

Are you surprised?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Amused, certainly. Did you not collect your doe-eyed naiveté along with your lib dem membership card?

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

Funny, Mandelson, funny.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

I shall not take up any more of your time, as I believe someone is waiting for you. Good day.

[lawsd.livejournal.com]

Oh for God's sake

Good day.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for rejoicing in my colleagues' collective misfortunes. I'll be sure to return the privilege the next time the Labour ranks get fractious.

Good luck with the new fittings for the gadget, by the way. I'm sure thaumic leaks are definitely to be avoided.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Paddy, I'm rejoicing in a comparative lack of my own colleagues' collective misfortunes. Understandable, given the past 30 odd years or so, wouldn't you agree?

I know you're deliberately trying to wind me up.
Thank you, thaumic leaks from the The Machine can have nasty side effects; turning the floor to custard, that sort of thing. Gets messy.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

Fair point, Peter, fair point. A novel experience, I seem to recall.

How's Tony these days? I haven't heard from him for a while. Not that I still miss him. Dammit.

Oh dear yes, can't have that! Of course you have to preserve health and safety while meddling with forces man was not meant to understand.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, don't rub it in.

I believe he's enjoying himself, out in the Middle East. He doesn't answer the phone, probably busy.

I'm glad we agree. There are only so many buckets of custard one can pass off as Eamon Holmes's pudding before the staff start getting suspicious.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

If it's any consolation, we could give you tips on how not to oust a problem leader.

Ah, that would explain why he's not returning my calls. I wonder how he's doing.

Did you really? Well, waste not, want not, I suppose. I hope it was good-quality custard.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

You could give us tips on how to run leadership elections, you've had nearly as many as we have and in only a tenth of the time.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

Oh, it all adds to the gaiety of politics, my friend. And sooner or later we'll end up appointing the right one.

Yes, your last one was a bit much. I was exhausted just trying to follow it; I can't imagine how much work it must have been trying to control the outcome.

What did happen there, by the way. It didn't look like the outcome you were hoping for--or are you playing a long game as usual?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

I couldn't possibly comment, except to note that I did not influence the outcome in any way.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

Of course you didn't. But I bet it wasn't for want of trying. Foolish of me to ask.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

Oh shush you, I've had quite enough of that sort of patronising twaddle from John.

[paddythebamf.livejournal.com]

Sorry, sorry.

Well, I'd better toddle off and see how David is doing if he'll let me. I dare say we'll see each other around the place.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

The best of luck to you. Do let me know when you intend to visit so I can avoid using the corridors make time for a chat.