A weekly newspaper reporter wrote an exclusive story about the shock resignation of a high-profile MP while still in her pyjamas.
Louise Mensch decided to step down as MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire after finding it difficult to juggle family responsibilities and her political career.
She gave the exclusive news about her resignation to Northamptonshire Telegraph reporter Kate Cronin, after phoning her at around 8.30am this morning when she was off work.
The Telegraph then published a story online before Mrs Mensch made her official announcement at 10am, revealing she will now move to New York with her three children to live with her husband, Metallica manager Peter Mensch, who she married last year.
Kate told HTFP she was at home looking after her toddler and still in her pyjamas when she got the phonecall from Mrs Mensch.
She said: “She phoned me and just came out with it and I was a little bit shocked. I didn’t really know what to say. She was very humble and said she thought her constituents should know first.
“I was pretty pleased to get the exclusive. It is nice of her to think of us but she always has done. I know she has got a lot of critics and she has such a hard time with the national media.
“All the best stories start in local newspapers. The best stories just seem to land in your lap.”
Mrs Mensch told the Telegraph that she had planned to move after the next election in 2015 but was concerned that her children would be too settled in East Northamptonshire and it would be unfair to uproot them then.
She told the Telegraph: “I am completely devastated. It’s been unbelievably difficult to manage family life. We have been trying to find a way forward with the Prime Minister’s office but I just can’t spend as much time with my children as I want to.”
A by-election is now expected to be held on 15 November, at the same time as the police commissioner elections.
Mrs Mensch demanded a meeting with Johnston Press bosses earlier this year over plans to turn the Telegraph and the Northampton Chronicle and Echo to weekly titles, after raising concerns about it.
She is also a member of the Select Committee for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and played a prominent role in its investigations into phone-hacking at the News of the World.
Mrs Mensch, who first found fame as the chick-lit author Louise Bagshawe, recently set up her own social networking site called menshn.com to rival Twitter.
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Forgive me for being underwhelmed by the fact that a reporter managed to receive a phone call while still in her pyjamas.
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I once conducted business while naked. My MD’s phone call caught me in the bath.
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I once interviewed Sir Michael Caine on the phone while stark naked. He obviously never had a clue. Happens a lot if you work from home.
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I once took a phone call from Elvis while I was riding a unicorn. Those were the days.
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I frequently work in my pyjamas. I think my colleagues are sick of the sight of them
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This is a good enough story about the local media leading the way without the fact she was wearing her jim-jams. What a pointless piece of information.
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I’m sitting here working from home with a ciggie and small glass of red wine. It’s lovely. As it’s 5pm I’ve got dressed.
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I once conducted an interview with John Inman while we were both sitting in a giant teacup. I can’t remember what I was wearing at the time though.
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