I mentioned last week that there was something I had to keep out of my blog. The something is on page 9 in today’s Mail on Sunday.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021733/How-Harriet-Hardwoman-whipped-wavering-abortion-votes.html

Simon Walter’s has proved today that investigative journalism is alive and well.

Simon rang me the day after the vote to tell me that he had been given information that Harriett Harman had organised a huge whipping operation after the abortion vote. He wouldn’t disclose any details, however, I did get the feeling that maybe his information had come from Labour MPs as there was no way I, or any other Conservative, would have access to that kind of information.

His article today bears that out.

I love the picture of Harriet Harman watching my speech from behind the speaker’s chair, hand on hip – with a look that says it all!

Apparently, mine was the only speech she came into the chamber to listen to.

Harriett Harman’s mistake was to politicise an issue which has always been a free vote. She has now altered the basis upon which abortion discussion takes place within Westminster for a very long time.

Do you remember the film ‘Pretty Woman’ and shop assistant on the strip, who looks down her nose with disdain at Julia Roberts as though she is not worthy of her attention? And in particular the scene where Julia Roberts walks back into the shop, arms loaded with designer bags and says to the commission paid gobsmacked shop assistant "Big mistake, big, HUGE"

I do too.