Fancy a Currie?

Deborah McGurran | 21:23 UK time, Thursday, 8 April 2010

Well they did in Ipswich tonight when Edwina rode into town, or into the Kesgrave Community Centre to be exact.

Resplendent in blue jacket and scarf, natch, she had lost none of her old... gobbiness.

"To think in three weeks time we can get this awful lot out, it's marvellous.

"Listening to Gordon this morning, I nearly picked up the radio and flung it across the room", she laughed.

They don't make 'em like this anymore, with the possible exeption of Beds MP, Nadine Dorries - who is also a Scouser.

There are a wealth of career politicians all vying for that middle ground and a dearth of impassioned stalwarts.

"I adored Margaret Thatcher", Edwina told the 30 strong audience.

Although the former Health Minister complained that the Iron Lady had only seen fit to endorse a part time wage, for what she regarded as a part time job as a parliamentarian.

"It was all right for her, she was married to a millionaire."

Mrs Currie also revealed she only receives £600 a month for her state pension, her MPs' pension and her ministerial pension combined.

How times have changed.

All that remained was for retiring MP and Deputy Speaker, Sir Michael Lord to arrive and announce that at 4.30 this afternoon he had suspended the Commons.

The end of an era.

After 27 years he said it had been a very emotional day with "not a dry eye in the House".

Let's hope it's not the voters who will be in tears when it resumes after the election.

 

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