³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

The parliamentary debate du jour was the Queen's Speech debate on foreign affairs [], notably discussion of Baroness Ashton's appointment to the post that David Miliband turned down.

When it comes to the foreign secretary, nearly all commentators made the most of the oft-used image of the "Boy David" and/or as "so vibrant, vital, attractive, smart" and "so young".

the "cougar" US secretary of state's new-found "crush":

"The only woman facing him in the chamber today was Anne Main (C, St Albans) and she is a mere seven years older than him. A puma perhaps, or a lynx. And in any case she didn't exactly look smitten."

Mr Miliband a "Miliboy":

"David really is a brilliant child and I don't just mean that he makes me feel 180 years old. He sat on the front bench yesterday running two of his fingertips back and forward over his upper lip like a pubescent boy feeling strange new hair growing there."

that the foreign secretary tried to compose himself with a look of "statesmanlike solemnity" during proceedings.

"This pose lasted about two seconds, after which Mr Hague's raillery burst through Mr Miliband's defences and forced the Foreign Secretary to start laughing.

"Mr Hague is so difficult to resist, not just because he is witty, but because he is unscrupulous enough to be witty in a friendly tone of voice."

one of the lighter moments in the discussion of Baroness Ashton's new job:

"The Tories seemed a tad dismissive of her, with Michael Fallon claiming her main task will be 'handing out the Ferrero Rocher'.

"Everyone giggled. In Europe they have bon mots. In Britain we have bon-bon-mots."

with the unlikely pairing that is Mr Miliband and his constituency:

"Were one to present him with an upside-down map of South Shields, would he correct the mistake? Were one to ask him to name his top five pubs in the town, would he manage even two?

"Yesterday, however, he did manage to say the word 'Government' in an uncharacteristically North-Eastern way - that is, the way that my 12-year-old son's pin-up, Mrs Cheryl Cole, might be expected to pronounce it.

"'Goovamunt,' said Mr Miliband. Goovamunt, Foreign Secretary? Are you feeling quite yourself?"

•
•
•
•
•