Am I the only person unimpressed by the man who accepted Alan Duncan’s offer of a conciliatory drink at the Commons – only to then film him undercover?
That Duncan extended the invite to Heydon Prowse, editor of a magazine called “Don’t Panic”* – after Prowse had trashed his flowerbed as a post-Expensesgate prank – seems to reflect quite well on the Tory MP.
And anyone who has met Duncan would think his comment about “living on rations” could well be a joke, albeit a typically silly one.
Don’t get me wrong: Duncan was foolish to moan about his expenses with someone he hardly knew – especially given that his substantial personal wealth. And I should emphasise that we have criticised him in the past.
But his point about people not wanting to become MPs because of the ever-growing scrutiny is not without substance.
* By contrast, congratulations to Prowse for his Nobu/bluefin tuna stunt.
UPDATE
Prowse now says he regrets getting Duncan into trouble because he had been a “very charming and generous guy”. (More details here on Andrew Sparrow’s Guardian blog.) Hmmm.
FURTHER UPDATE
Tory blogger Iain Dale has some similar thoughts at greater length.
FURTHER UPDATE
Michael Crick advises Cameron to keep Duncan inside the tent, urinating outwards.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey