David Cameron took the opportunity to welcome us all back to work on Monday with a cheery Guardian article where he warned of another global financial crash. I don’t know about you, but I find grave threats of another recession – and further political bickering about who’s to blame - just the boost I needed to start the week.
Tuesday saw the government suffer a defeat closer to home. Pub landlords cheered – and pub companies were aghast – as the government lost a vote on its own legislation for the first time since 2010. Whether or not it leads to a cheaper pint (we live in hope) it is another blow for Michael Gove, whose status as Chief Whip currently looks shakier than punters stumbling out at closing time.
The main event of the week was obviously the Rochester and Strood by-election. More surprising than the result was Labour’s continuing ability to pluck defeat from the jaws of inconspicuous mediocrity. It wasn’t so much Emily Thornberry’s original tweet that was the problem - more her comments on the wonder of flags, and Ed Miliband’s panicky response, which led to her political demise.
Lost amidst the media and Twitterstorm, though, were the comments of the man whose house she so fatefully photographed. Dan Ware, 36, was interviewed by the Telegraph, seemingly managing to confirm all the implications attributed to Thornberry. He said, “I will continue to fly the flags - I don't care who it pisses off. I know there is a lot of ethnic minorities that don't like it.”
Her swift resignation following the uproar caused by the tweet will act as a stark reminder of the power and danger of social media on political careers. The Conservatives must have been thanking their lucky stars that the story has provided a plausible alternative narrative to their loss in Rochester and Strood.
Of course, the UKIP bandwagon rolls on following Mark Reckless’ voluntary repatriation to the House of Commons. But the Tories won’t be too dismayed by a result that was closer than expected. They’ll expect to win it back next year.
Outside of Westminster, I think the story of the week has to be the introduction of the UK’s first “poo bus”. A 40-seater “Bio-Bus” running between Bristol and Bath will run entirely on human and food waste. It’s not yet clear whether there is a lavatory on board, but the whole thing certainly gives a new meaning to the phrase “out of gas”.
Meanwhile I was shocked to discover that the Daily Mail is putting its support behind an illegal immigrant who stowed away on a ship to access the UK. He then takes advantage of the British taxpayer, enjoying housing and food on their dime. The Mail was dismayed at the “absurd” PG rating given to the new Paddington Bear film. Yes, that’s right: it turns out that the British Board of Film Classification might just be Britain’s “deepest, darkest perudes”.