Brian Pallister: Live from Centre Block!

Well, we all knew it was going to happen. It was only one week before Brian Pallister, the self-appointed poet laureate of the House of Commons, fell prey to temptation and launched another poetry attempt in his private member's statement yesterday.

However, to make things worse, he attempted to sing. In the style of Pink Floyd:

Mr. Speaker, we don't need no information
We're in charge of thought control
Fine wines with caviar in the back room
Hey Tories, leave those Grits alone
All in all, it's just another ding in the wall—

(As an aside, it's a shame really about David Dingwall's name. He got to be referred to earlier by Conservative MP Jeff Watson as Dine-well and Swine-well. Perhaps he should consider changing it to something with far less potential for humour -- say, McClelland?)

Anyway, it turns out the Speaker of the House is a music critic:

The Speaker: I am sure all hon. members appreciate the hon. member's singing ability, but perhaps he could do that after hours. While the House is sitting, I would urge him to stick with the spoken word, which is what he is invited to do. He has the floor for speaking.

Bad decision, Mr. Speaker. Because now Brian got to do rap, accompanied by the Tory Backbenchers on their 2005 Centre Block Tour:

Our limousines are chauffeur driven
The Challenger is near our home
High on the hill where we are living
Hey Tories, leave those Grits alone
All in all, it's just another ding in the wall.

The people can't get in our golf club
But we can have them buy the balls
They'll clean our shoes and pay the tab then
Hey Tories, leave those Grits alone
All in all, it's just another ding in the wall.

Shortly afterwards, Tory MP Carol Skelton spoke about Mental Illness Awareness Week. I wonder if every recognized the irony?