The great weight of political correspondency minced into Downing Street for their monthly feast of Prime Ministerial meat…his final press conference of the year.
And the leading man provided a seasonal appetiser before the main dish.
The appearance of mince pies stirred the gathering to action - arms akimbo to snatch the passing prize.
"Bet they're Tesco's value range; past their sell by date," one of the hacks spat through the crumbs.
Always ahead of the game in every respect Sky's own pie master, cameraman Keith Hopkins, quickly rejected such fourth estate calumny.
"Nonsense," he offered. "Any idiot can tell they're Mr Kipling."
But that wily observer, Daily Mail political editor Ben Brogan, was assessing the wider picture, calculating who won the pie snatching competition.
The result was duly recorded on his blog a short time later - and yes I hold my hand up Ben…I snatched all the pies, well, six anyway.
All in the interests of feeding the troops, you understand.
How sad and cynical journalists have become when they take a simple kind and thoughtful act on behalf of the PM and try to turn it into a party political point.
It really does seem that the NuCons have infiltrated every part of the news media, not to mention, the Labour Party at various levels, because some of what they have done cannot have been done without 'insider' knowledge.
However, the good sense of the British people will prevail as they are already beginning to realise they have been duped by Dave and his heartless and truly nasty Eton Toffs.
It would be a huge step back to Victorian Britain if that lot ever get their hands on power. They are not fit to run a school raffle never mind this great country of ours.
Britain really will be 'broken' if the Nucons get in.
The biggest slice will go to the rich and the crumbs will go to the poor who will have to work even if they are sick.
The Nucons will treat the exchequer like a 'tontine' for themselves and their rich gfriends from the shires.
Posted by: carol-ann 27 Dec 2007 17:42:50
Apparently David "Hilton" Cameron was wanting to have his Shadow Press Conference, so he could have given the assembled press and media (including the good guys at Sky News) a pork pie or two. That was a nice gesture of him, and speaks volumes about the man. I think I might decline the 'kind' offer of a porky pie from him, one wouldn't be sure how long it had been lying!!
Posted by: Mike Simpson 21 Dec 2007 14:33:41
Gordon paid for the pies himself, you know. Out of his own pocket.
Posted by: Christmas celebrant 21 Dec 2007 14:17:59
Damon – Birmingham,
The supply of mince pies was truly a gesture of goodwill towards the assembled journalists; however it was the ex Chairman of the Young Conservatives who is now financed from the public’s license fee payments who chose to attempt to score a political point.
The lack of festive goodwill was clearly demonstrated by this individual along with all other employees of this corporation are supposed to operate a balanced policy; this attempt backfired on the individual in question and apart from his timely blush was less partisan than normal.
It is not Mr Brown who is being accused of anything; on the contrary it is the bias of the journalist in question which was exposed; I would have understood the point you have made more clearly if the aforementioned mince pies were delivered in the previously recorded method of delivering such inducements, i.e. in a brown envelope.
Posted by: Peter, Fife 21 Dec 2007 12:29:29
If the journalist (and some bloggers on here) were really as biased as Effie and Peter make out they would have accused Mr Brown of trying to compromise the integrity of the press by plying them with free food! I'm sure though most of us see the pies as a gesture of goodwill in the Christmas spirit.
Merry Xmas everyone.
Posted by: Damon - Birmingham 21 Dec 2007 11:36:11
Morning Mail
Its says as much about David Cammeron as playing crocquet in office hours at his grace and favour mansion did about your very own champagne socialist John Prescott! Thank goodness he was'nt around when Gordon handed out the pies. Nobody would have got a look in!
Posted by: The Morning Post 21 Dec 2007 10:43:51
Nice change from all the porky pies we have been accustomed to hearing from David "Hilton" Cameron and Co. during 2007!
Posted by: Mike Simpson 21 Dec 2007 10:35:40
I've heard spiv Dave prefers champagne and canapes at his Nottinghill pile.
However, as the recent case of the two ambulance workers who were shown the door, it seems to depend on your social class or breeding.
Says a lot about 'man of the people' Shameron.
Posted by: The Morning Mail 20 Dec 2007 20:37:36
Good on Gordon, a nice way to end 2007 with the press-pack. Cameron is going to have such a hard time of it in 2008, he might be in need of some brandy-filled mince pies, I can recommend M&S range!
Posted by: Mike Simpson 20 Dec 2007 20:05:07
Gordon was probably hoping that with a mouth full of mince pies nobody would have been able to ask questions, and Alistair was worried that undercover men from the Royal Mint had been invited when he learned that 'Mint Spies' had been arranged!
Posted by: Merv. Beszant, Dubai 20 Dec 2007 11:15:00
I think you two could start a fight in an empty room - you are so continually bitter if Gord is offended. Mince pies for heaven's sake.
Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 20 Dec 2007 11:10:16
I do not know who ate all the pies but I do know who won the best foot in mouth award, the BBC’s representative who tried to deliver a jibe about the mince pies supplied to journalists being funded by taxpayers.
I think this individual actually blushed when the Prime Minister retorted that he had paid for them personally; it seems that the onetime Chairman of the Young Conservatives seems more intent on attack than providing viewers and listeners with unbiased journalism.
Posted by: Peter, Fife 20 Dec 2007 10:05:39
Thats why its called "the gutter press" Effie.
Posted by: L.P.CUTTLER 19 Dec 2007 17:53:17
Glad you at least did not get a red face by asking the PM who paid for the pies.
I thought that remark spoke volumes about the manners of some of the more disgusting press pack than it did of Mr Brown himself.
Posted by: Effie 19 Dec 2007 16:20:51