Simon Hoggart: Hard man of Labour toughs out the teasing

“Every month, we have questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - or teasing Alan Milburn, as I think of the session.”

For those of us who’d like to see the bouffanted stick-at-naught taken down a peg, the Hansard transcript of questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster makes for satisfying reading.

On a less cheery note however, this strutting buffoon is being paid by us taxpayer to write New Labour’s new election manifesto. That said, if he makes as big a pig’s ear of it as some suspect he might, it’ll be money well spent.

“An over-promoted bloody popped-up backbencher”