Maggie’s delight at bossy dossiers

By BLACK DOG FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: | Updated:

A political obsession with secret dossiers is nothing new. When Margaret Thatcher became Tory leader in 1975, one of the first things she did was to demand to see the secret file kept on all Conservative candidates, including her, by her party HQ. 

According to one of her confidants, it said: ‘Thatcher M: high-handed, arrogant and opinionated.’ The friend added:  ‘You’d think she would have been furious. Not a bit, she took it as a compliment.’

Cecil Parkinson and Margaret Thatcher: She was impressed by the file that Tory Central Office kept on her

Cecil Parkinson and Margaret Thatcher: She was impressed by the file that Tory Central Office kept on her

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The name of the late Tory MP Sir Peter Morrison, who was for a time Margaret Thatcher’s parliamentary  private secretary, has emerged in the furore over paedophilia.

Morrison was the subject of a police caution for cottaging with a  boy of 15. He also had a fixation for cuddly toys and had an array of teddy bears and other furry dolls ‘on parade’ in his Commons office.

Anyone who had the misfortune to visit was introduced personally to each one as a preliminary  to any business transacted.

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Boris Johnson’s priapic reputation is being used to promote a dating agency on the London Underground.

An advert on trains proclaims: ‘Get lovestruck in London. Use code “Boris” to enjoy a free premium upgrade.’

If the London Mayor, left, wants to complain, he can write to the head of the Underground. Himself.

If you live in London, use the word 'Boris' to get a discount on a dating website

If you live in London, use the word 'Boris' to get a discount on a dating website

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More from Black Dog for The Mail on Sunday...

A veteran Labour politician who knew that scourge of paedophiles,  the late Tory MP Geoffrey Dickens, offers one explanation as to why he won little support from other parties in the 1980s.

‘Geoffrey was a nice chap, but didn’t make it easy for we Lefties,’ said the MP. ‘His other campaigns included birching hooligans, restoring sporting links with apartheid South Africa, the rope for murderers and the forced repatriation of immigrants.’

We all know about David Cameron’s bald spot, but Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has a growth problem of his own.

When Cleggy took questions in the Commons last week, Dog, watching from above, was unable to ignore a distinct thinning of hair at the crown of the Clegg barnet.

After beers... a Coffey!

Dog salutes the stamina of Tory MP Therese Coffey for being accorded the honour of ‘Beer Parliamentarian of the Year’ by fellow MPs after visiting all 118 pubs in her Suffolk Coastal constituency.

Hic, hic, hooray.

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Our report that Franco and Fabio,  the Italian head waiters in the Lords’ ‘Barry’ dining room had been dubbed the ‘Mussolini twins’ by peers after being ordered by the authorities to drop their white shirts for black ones, has forced a change.

Now they wear red shirts and peers instead call them the ‘Caribinieri twins’  – after the Italian police known for the red stripe on their uniforms.

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