A call from a weekly newspaper to one its local MPs has reportedly interrupted a Cabinet meeting.
Local government secretary Eric Pickles was sat around the table with his Cabinet colleagues when a call came through from his local paper, the Brentwood Gazette.
The call was recognised by its ringtone and reportedly caused the Prime Minister David Cameron to remark: “What does the Brentwood Gazette want now?
Now Mr Pickles has told the paper it must stop ringing him on Tuesday mornings, even though Tuesday is the Gazette’s deadline day.
Mr Pickles recounted the incident in a speech at last week’s Essex Business Awards which is reported by the paper today.
The MP has several personalised ringtones for each of his main contacts and the Gazette’s is John Phillip Sousa’s Washington Post march.
He told the paper: “You have got to stop ringing me on Tuesday mornings.
“Most of the time I remember to turn it off, but last week it went off and the Prime Minister said, ‘what does the Brentwood Gazette want now?'”
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It reminds me of the old chestnut about the editor of the Skibbereen Eagle who, with his deadline fast approaching, was still stuck for a leader.
In desperation he chopped out a subject of suitable length from The Times, adding his contribution: “And what do the readers of the Skibbereen Eagle think of that?”.
The same chap is supposed to have written a storming leader taking the Czar of Russia to task, ending with the line: “Let the Czar of Russia beware, the Skibbereen Eagle has its eye upon him”.
Let Pickles beware…..
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Para two should be “Pickles was sitting” not “Pickles was sat”.
Funny tale, though.
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It is a funny story – and also makes Pickles seem a little more human, and not the loud pompous ass which his public statements usually make him seem.
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Speaking of the Skibbereen Eagle, I remember one of Newsquest’s more eccentric titles firing a warning shot across the Caribbean with the immortal line: “The Bahamian authorities should be in no doubt, the News Shopper won’t rest until we’ve helped get justice.”
Fabulous stuff.
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Really! Do you call that news! “Oh, look at us, they know we exist. How exciting.”
Are we supposed to conclude from this that the Gazette is such an influential paper that it can, by one phone call, bring the prime Minister and his cabinet to attention!
Pathetic! No wonder readers are turning their backs on local newspapers.
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I agree with No Meetings Please …. not much of a story, simply highlights the reporter’s poor English. Not a good reflection on the paper.
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@ ‘no meetings please we have work to do’
Come on, that’s a bit harsh. It’s only meant to be a bit of fun.
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Funny story – particulary as it leads directly into the Get Slim Fast advert at the base of the ad !
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