A Defence debate was held last Thursday in the House of Commons. Take a look at the picture of the event itself and look at how many MP’s could be bothered to turn up. A smattering of Tories but one…count them all…one…Labour backbencher present.

Scandalous. As a famous Oliver once said: “In the name of God, go!”

TheEye accepts that holding any debate on the same day as local and MEP elections is bound to get a poor turnout – indeed Nick Harvey mentioned this in his speech, calling it a “graveyard slot” – but the attendance was not that much lower than is par for the course. James Arbuthnot called it an “absolute disgrace”….”we are talking to an empty Parliament”….”We might as well not be here.”

Ann Winterton called it an “insult to our armed forces” but probably only between scribbling fake receipts on the back of beermats for her next expenses claim.

“To hold a debate on this day does suggest a calculated insult …” said Dr Julian Lewis who is particularly admired by TheEye. A pavement or three were pounded on his behalf to get him elected first time around. Neither Dr. Lewis or TheEye tried to claim back the shoe leather either.

Hat/Tips: Various but EUReferendum probably the original source of them all.