Sicilian mafia boss Totò Riina is gravely ill and a court may send him out of prison soon. According to reports, he has severe cardiovascular disease and kidney cancer.
So we've got 10 abstentionists in the new parliament (7 Sinn Fein and 1 Speakers and 3 Deputy Speakers (2 Lab, 1 Con)).
It's looking like an effective majority of 16 in the house for the government. This'll increase to 18 if she keeps Kensington and Chelsea.
Right/Centre Right
Conservative 316 (if they don't hold Kensington and Chelsea)
DUP 10
Government 326 + Sylvia Hermon = 327
Left/Centre-Left
Labour 259
SNP 35
Lib Dem 12
Plaid Cymru 4
Green 1
Total: 311
That's a hell of a lot better than it could have been for Theresa May. It also means she'll be able to win some votes without the support of the DUP'; crucially. Can imagine the whips will be working overtime this parliament, may we see the return of politicians being taken to the house of commons on stretchers as in the 1974-79 parliament?
Barbara is 92 today.
No doubt at this point that George will see 93, seeing as his birthday is in 4 days. Just a matter of how long he'll last after that...
This week on Last Word: John Noakes, Manuel Noriega, Pat Stewart, Wing Commander Rex Sanders, and Gregg Allman. Totally predictable week.
Also my 3000th post. I really need to get a life...