Summer recess reading list
So Parliamentary Recess is again upon us. Fling your satchel in the air as you leave through the sally gate and whoop in jubilation as you run full pelt for the train back to your constituency. The House is out for summer.
Now it should of course be noted that plenty of MPs view the six week break from Westminster with a suitably stoic work ethic. For them, it’s back to the constituency office to deal with warring neighbours, planning permission, public libraries and cake sales.
But not all. So for those MPs swanning off for a summer sojourn with their assorted families and friends – leaving the bleak reality of letters from Mrs Protheroe, 16 Abbotstone Way far behind – let us consider summer reading lists. We all enjoy a good book when we’re en vacance, so what will some of SW1A’s finest be buried in on the beach?
Liberal amounts of creative license lead to liberal amounts of speculation…
Tom Watson appears to have the world at his feet at the moment. He might do well to give The Prince by Machiavelli a go in order to really hone his power-consolidating skills.
For Nick Clegg, I recommend Hard Times by Charles Dickens. He can relate.
Ken Clarke may be hoping to do some revision on his brief, if he wants to keep it. How about, The Tough-On-Crime Myth: Real Solutions to Cut Crime by Peter T. Elikann.
For the Miliband brothers, I have done a fair bit of research. For Brother Ed I recommend The Alchemist: a fable about following your dream by Paulo Coelho in order to keep those size 9’s firmly on the ground. For Brother David, check out Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller.
Speaker John Bercow may enjoy The Short Book: Tall Stories, Freakish Facts, and the Long and Short of Being Small in a Great Big World by Zachary Kanin
Moving to the economy, our beloved Chancellor should check out The Mystery of Economic Growth by Elhanan Helpman. A sterling read to be sure. His nemesis Ed Balls may improve his credentials by flicking through the pages of The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness by Linda Kaplan Thaler.
Which leaves us with Chris Huhne, the embattled Energy Secretary. At risk of sounding obvious, might it be The Highway Code, published annually by the Automobile Association? Perhaps it’s too late for that, in which case I’d go with Beat Your Traffic Ticket: How to Have Your Day in Court and Win by F. Keith Johnson
Finally, last but not least, the Prime Minister himself. Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser. Enough said.