BLACK DOG: Mitchell - now it's snobgate

By BLACK DOG FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: | Updated:

As revealed in these columns before his downfall in the 'Plebgate' scandal, Tory MP Andrew Mitchell was known as 'Thrasher' in his days as head boy of Rugby School. Dog is now intrigued to learn he had a second nickname: 'Mitchell-snob'.

A fellow Old Rugbeian observes drily: 'It had the advantage that you could drop the hyphen and insert an apostrophe between the 's' and 'n' of snob.'

Tory MP Andrew Mitchell was known as 'Thrasher' in his days as head boy of Rugby School

Tory MP Andrew Mitchell was known as 'Thrasher' in his days as head boy of Rugby School

When Mitchell ran Tory pal David Davis's Conservative leadership campaign in 2005, political broadcaster Michael Cockerell asked Mitchell: 'What do you say to those who argue Davis is Iain Duncan Smith with hair?' 

Adopting a pantomime-villain glower, Mitchell hissed: 'Tell me their names and I'll sue.' How he must wish he had only joked about suing The Sun over PC Toby Rowland.

Hot 'babe' Pepi gets hooked on Vegas 

Ex MoD official Pepi Simpson sashayed in to hear a husky American accent drawl in her direction: 'That's what I call a babe'

Ex MoD official Pepi Simpson sashayed in to hear a husky American accent drawl in her direction: 'That's what I call a babe'

A chance visit to a high rollers' bar in a Las Vegas hotel while on holiday with a girlfriend had unintended consequences for Pepi Simpson, sporty wife of Tory MP Keith Simpson. Ex-MoD official Pepi, pictured in the bar, dolled up after a visit to the crimper, sashayed in to hear a husky American accent drawl in her direction: 'That's what I call a babe!' No one told her it was a hookers' pick-up joint. Pepi replied tartly: 'Not bad for 61.'

Hats off to gutsy Andrew Marr, who has thrown away his walking stick nearly two years after a debilitating stroke. In between hosting his Sunday morning TV show and gruelling physiotherapy sessions that set him on the road to recovery, Marr has just completed a second novel and is working on a poetry project. Dog would like to know what he has for breakfast.

On hearing that Alex Salmond was among guests at the Spectator magazine Parliamentary Awards lunch at The Savoy, veteran Tory Norman Tebbit mused he had always wanted to meet the now ex-SNP leader. When a fellow guest asked why, out came 'Chingford Skinhead' Tebbit's razor: 'I've always wanted to sprinkle salt over him to see if he dissolves into slime like the slugs in my garden.'

Theresa May reveals all 

The Spectator's attempt to keep guests in suspense over the winner of the Parliamentarian of the Year award was ruined when Theresa May opened proceedings with a jokey video presentation and pressed the wrong button on her remote control. 

Up flashed the winner's name: Edward VII lookalike and former Commons Clerk Sir Robert Rogers, who was forced to quit after falling out with Speaker John Bercow.

It seems John Bercow has paid a heavy price for falling out with Sir Robert. David Cameron rubbed his nose in it by giving Sir Robert a peerage – and there's worse to come. Another of Bercow's tormentors, former Speaker Betty Boothroyd, is tipped to be at Sir Robert's side as one of his two 'sponsors' when he takes his seat in the Upper House. 

 

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