THE Government announced stringent cut backs on ministerial travel this week in a bid to tackle the country’s mounting debt – and David Cameron has even ditched police outriders.
But The Insider hopes the measures won’t inhibit his remarkable ability to get about.
Last week, as your correspondent left the Mail’s offices in Osney Mead for a meeting with Mr Cameron, right, in Witney, the PM was being broadcast live to the nation from Germany.
But true to his word, Mr Cameron arrived at the West Oxfordshire Conservative offices bang on time.
He must have gone the back way from Berlin because the A40 is hellish at 4pm on a Friday.
*The Insider was belting out the splendid 19th century hymn Crown Him with Many Crowns at Love Oxford when he felt a little tap on the shoulder.
Greeting him was Nicola Blackwood, the new MP for Oxford West and Abingdon.
She clearly knows the importance of wooing Christian voters and got a round of applause from the 4,000-strong crowd in the marquee in South Park when she told them she wanted to follow in the footsteps of William Wilberforce, who led the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade.
Not to be outdone, Oxford city councillor Mary Clarkson said a few words on behalf of Oxford East MP Andrew Smith.
* More revelations emerged from Westminster this week – relating to tabs left unpaid at the Commons bar.
Last year, David Cameron had run up a bill of £12.80, left unpaid for up to six months.
Ousted Oxford West Lib Dem Evan Harris, right, had taken credit to the tune of £155.50.
But other MPs had run up tabs in the thousands – topped by Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood with a bill of £8,200 (although the MP said his treatment for kidney failure had meant he was unable to stay on top of paperwork).
So why was Mr Cameron’s bill so low?
Is he a prudent head when it comes to the finances, or simply a slow walker when it comes to getting the round in?
Either trait might come in handy in the coming months.
All the bills, which relate to food and drink, and include events hosted by external organisations but booked by MPs, have now been paid.
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