Westminster this week

I have Home Office, Women 2 Win, and other meetings today as well as the European Arrest Warrant debate; this will mean a late night tonight - I will not finish tonight much before 11; tomorrow we have various other smaller bills to address, but I will probably try and go to help in Rochester by election tomorrow morning.
The main activity in Westminster is the speculation about Ed Miliband: Labour seem to circling the wagons around the beleaguered Ed but as Boris explains this is not a wise move.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11219697/Ditching-Ed-Miliband-will-not-change-the-fact-that-socialism-has-no-relevance-these-days.html

Paxman rides off into the sunset with Boris

I love this picture! Two remarkable middle aged men riding off into the distance....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/10907254/Jeremy-Paxmans-final-Newsnight-pedalling-into-the-sunset-with-Boris-Johnson.html
The story tells the full tale but a couple of the classics are:
Boris to Paxo:
In 2009, Johnson poked fun at Paxman’s “elephantine” salary and asked him: “Why don’t you get yourself a proper job instead of just sitting around telling politicians what to do all the time?”

In 2011, the pair locked horns again.

Paxman introduced Johnson as “Mayor of London, cyclist and hairdressers’ despair” before attempting to get the better of him in a grilling about his political ambitions.
"What’s the difference between you and David Cameron?” Paxman asked.
"Well, I’m Mayor of London and he’s Prime Minister. I’m older than him and considerably heavier."

The honest truth is that Newsmnight will not be the same without Paxo - he is the iconic TV journalist of his generation. Boris is just Boris.

Pennine Ale from Allendale arrives in Westminster

Northumberland has come to Westminster as the Strangers Bar, which is 25 foot by 12, and located in the basement of the House of Commons now sells Allendale's wonderful Pennine Ale for a limited period only. Full story here:
http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/allendale-brewery-has-the-commons-touch-1.1086769
My plan is to entice Boris into the House of Commons for a pint of Allendale's finest. After a week in China drumming up business for the UK he will need a decent pint of bitter on his return!