Playing the piano

Well I'm busy at home this week sorting through a mountain of paperwork - and always looking for excuses to take a break from the filing.

By an amazing coincidence I came across this little item that appeared in the Daily Telegraph exactly 15 years ago today.

It effectively marked my "maiden speech" in the European Parliament.

I noticed a little bit of sharp practice when a Christian Democrat ran along the aisle during a vote and pressed the voting pad of an absent friend on the electronic voting system.

Apparently it was - until then - common practice, known as "playing the piano" to vote on behalf of absent colleagues.

One small blow for democracy, and my one and only mention by Peter Simple.