Ex-Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson was ‘official gossip’ to the Queen

11:20am Tuesday 24th April 2012 in Politics news Photograph of the Author By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

TELLING TALES Former MP Janet Anderson TELLING TALES Former MP Janet Anderson

A FORMER East Lancashire MP has published letters she wrote to the Queen from her time as the Palace’s ‘official gossip’ at the House of Commons.

Janet Anderson, who held the post of MP for Rossendale and Darwen from 1992 until 2010, has released excerpts from her notes to the head of state from when she was vice-chamberlain of the royal household.

In her position, Mrs Anderson was charged with reporting the day’s news from the House of Commons to Her Majesty each evening, as well as taking her messages from the Commons and acting as the ‘hostage’ during the State Opening of Parliament.

The letters, published in the Mail on Sunday, are peppered with scathing comments about other politicians, describing how former Home Secretary Michael Howard was seen by many as ‘particularly loathsome’ and calling John Bercow, current Speaker of the House, ‘a rather nasty little MP’.

She even corresponded with the Queen about rumours and gossip in Parliament, writing that five labour MPs were reported to have had babies or got pregnant since the general election, when they were aware of just four.

Mrs Anderson wrote: “Who is the fifth? And, more importantly, is she married, or at the very least in a stable relationship?”

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She admitted another occasion where, while at a lunch at Buckingham Palace, she filled in the courtiers on ‘MPs’ misdemeanours’.

Tony Blair, who was Prime Minister at the time, is reported to have congratulated Mrs Anderson on her daily reports at the end of her time in the job, saying the Queen had enjoyed them.

Mrs Anderson, who was also the personal assistant of current Blackburn MP Jack Straw until 1987, said to Mr Blair: “Oh, good... I expect that’s because I used to give her all the gossip.”

In 1998, she was promoted to the role of parliamentary undersecretary of state at the department of culture, media and sport, but returned to the back benches in 2001.

Mrs Anderson left parliament in 2010 and is now working as a freelance consultant.

Comments (18)

11:33am Tue 24 Apr 12

Keep Darwen Green says...

I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship.
Another professional MP trough dipper.
I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship. Another professional MP trough dipper. Keep Darwen Green

11:34am Tue 24 Apr 12

notchuffed says...

I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting.

Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt.

Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts?

If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm"
I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting. Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt. Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts? If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm" notchuffed

11:35am Tue 24 Apr 12

happycyclist says...

Keep Darwen Green wrote:
I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship.
Another professional MP trough dipper.
Sums her up very well.
[quote][p][bold]Keep Darwen Green[/bold] wrote: I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship. Another professional MP trough dipper.[/p][/quote]Sums her up very well. happycyclist

11:41am Tue 24 Apr 12

Keep Darwen Green says...

notchuffed wrote:
I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting.

Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt.

Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts?

If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm"
That'd be some blade to get through that big fat brass neck.
[quote][p][bold]notchuffed[/bold] wrote: I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting. Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt. Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts? If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm"[/p][/quote]That'd be some blade to get through that big fat brass neck. Keep Darwen Green

12:00pm Tue 24 Apr 12

spendmymoneywisely says...

I agree with all the above comments. Sadly this woman's behaviour will only serve to reinforce the negative stereotype of a politician. Lacking in taste, decency & common sense she is obviously good at 'feathering her own nest'. I bet the money she received from the newspaper didn't even go to charity.
I agree with all the above comments. Sadly this woman's behaviour will only serve to reinforce the negative stereotype of a politician. Lacking in taste, decency & common sense she is obviously good at 'feathering her own nest'. I bet the money she received from the newspaper didn't even go to charity. spendmymoneywisely

12:01pm Tue 24 Apr 12

notchuffed says...

Keep Darwen Green wrote:
notchuffed wrote: I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting. Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt. Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts? If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm"
That'd be some blade to get through that big fat brass neck.
I was going to add if they do the deed make sure the head is not put on the spikes outside the Tower. It will ruin this year's Tourist trade, it would be ok in London Dungeons though as the centre piece
[quote][p][bold]Keep Darwen Green[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]notchuffed[/bold] wrote: I consider the placing of private and personal correspondence like this into the Public Domain as disgusting. Obviously it is someone trying to gain extra limelight and shows the depths politicians of her party will stoop to just like her former bosses B&B simply beyond contempt. Do they still hold places in the Tower for committing such acts? If so then she should be taken there forthwith as a permanent hostage and if no remorse is shown then like Ann Boleyn the verdict should be "Off with her Head" then she can walk round there with it "Tucked underneath her arm"[/p][/quote]That'd be some blade to get through that big fat brass neck.[/p][/quote]I was going to add if they do the deed make sure the head is not put on the spikes outside the Tower. It will ruin this year's Tourist trade, it would be ok in London Dungeons though as the centre piece notchuffed

12:15pm Tue 24 Apr 12

spendmymoneywisely says...

Going by her history she would probably have some sort of contract drafted at the execution to ensure some form of 'royalty' is paid for the right to exhibit her head!!!!
Going by her history she would probably have some sort of contract drafted at the execution to ensure some form of 'royalty' is paid for the right to exhibit her head!!!! spendmymoneywisely

2:46pm Tue 24 Apr 12

goz says...

Something to aspire to being the parliamentary 'Ena Sharples' the word 'grass' springs to mind.
Something to aspire to being the parliamentary 'Ena Sharples' the word 'grass' springs to mind. goz

4:13pm Tue 24 Apr 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

Did she tell the Queen the joke about her expenses ?
Did she tell the Queen the joke about her expenses ? disgusted tunbridge wells

4:53pm Tue 24 Apr 12

english rose 1 says...

happycyclist wrote:
Keep Darwen Green wrote:
I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship.
Another professional MP trough dipper.
Sums her up very well.
Errrr...she went to live with her partner...who happens to be an MP in London.
At least whilst she was an MP Janet Anderson lived in Darwen.....unlike the current MP ! (to be fair, however, he does have a house in the Constituency, just not in Darwen). Maybe you can name any Darwen MP who stayed to live in the town after losing ? Trippier...nope ! Fletcher-Cooke...nop
e...
[quote][p][bold]happycyclist[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Keep Darwen Green[/bold] wrote: I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship. Another professional MP trough dipper.[/p][/quote]Sums her up very well.[/p][/quote]Errrr...she went to live with her partner...who happens to be an MP in London. At least whilst she was an MP Janet Anderson lived in Darwen.....unlike the current MP ! (to be fair, however, he does have a house in the Constituency, just not in Darwen). Maybe you can name any Darwen MP who stayed to live in the town after losing ? Trippier...nope ! Fletcher-Cooke...nop e... english rose 1

4:55pm Tue 24 Apr 12

english rose 1 says...

disgusted tunbridge wells wrote:
Did she tell the Queen the joke about her expenses ?
Maybe you can do a bit of research disgusted, tunbridge wells ? Compare the current Darwen MP's expenses with Janet Anderson's. See who is higher. (Clue: - start with accommodation & office costs).
[quote][p][bold]disgusted tunbridge wells[/bold] wrote: Did she tell the Queen the joke about her expenses ?[/p][/quote]Maybe you can do a bit of research disgusted, tunbridge wells ? Compare the current Darwen MP's expenses with Janet Anderson's. See who is higher. (Clue: - start with accommodation & office costs). english rose 1

10:39pm Tue 24 Apr 12

happycyclist says...

english rose 1 wrote:
happycyclist wrote:
Keep Darwen Green wrote:
I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship.
Another professional MP trough dipper.
Sums her up very well.
Errrr...she went to live with her partner...who happens to be an MP in London.
At least whilst she was an MP Janet Anderson lived in Darwen.....unlike the current MP ! (to be fair, however, he does have a house in the Constituency, just not in Darwen). Maybe you can name any Darwen MP who stayed to live in the town after losing ? Trippier...nope ! Fletcher-Cooke...nop

e...
Hence the quip, "Another professional MP trough dipper".

Flogging correspondence she had with the Queen is disgraceful. I'm ashamed to have had her as my MP.
[quote][p][bold]english rose 1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]happycyclist[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Keep Darwen Green[/bold] wrote: I see once the gravy train had stopped she quickly moved out of the area to which she said she had a very close relationship. Another professional MP trough dipper.[/p][/quote]Sums her up very well.[/p][/quote]Errrr...she went to live with her partner...who happens to be an MP in London. At least whilst she was an MP Janet Anderson lived in Darwen.....unlike the current MP ! (to be fair, however, he does have a house in the Constituency, just not in Darwen). Maybe you can name any Darwen MP who stayed to live in the town after losing ? Trippier...nope ! Fletcher-Cooke...nop e...[/p][/quote]Hence the quip, "Another professional MP trough dipper". Flogging correspondence she had with the Queen is disgraceful. I'm ashamed to have had her as my MP. happycyclist

12:21am Wed 25 Apr 12

english rose 1 says...

Did she flog it ???? Have you evidence of that ??
Did she flog it ???? Have you evidence of that ?? english rose 1

11:31am Wed 25 Apr 12

bb3_brfc says...

In response to the English rose. She had her chance as MP she showed herself to be untrustworthy and let the people of Darwen down. This isn’t about what other MP’s past and present have done she let herself down and she let her community down. I for one am glad she has left the town good riddance.
In response to the English rose. She had her chance as MP she showed herself to be untrustworthy and let the people of Darwen down. This isn’t about what other MP’s past and present have done she let herself down and she let her community down. I for one am glad she has left the town good riddance. bb3_brfc

11:31am Wed 25 Apr 12

bb3_brfc says...

In response to the English rose. She had her chance as MP she showed herself to be untrustworthy and let the people of Darwen down. This isn’t about what other MP’s past and present have done she let herself down and she let her community down. I for one am glad she has left the town good riddance.
In response to the English rose. She had her chance as MP she showed herself to be untrustworthy and let the people of Darwen down. This isn’t about what other MP’s past and present have done she let herself down and she let her community down. I for one am glad she has left the town good riddance. bb3_brfc

3:51pm Wed 25 Apr 12

Progressive Penguin says...

No mention of who is currently in that position to add a bit of context then?
No mention of who is currently in that position to add a bit of context then? Progressive Penguin

4:54pm Wed 25 Apr 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

Sir David Trippier lives in Rossendale
Sir David Trippier lives in Rossendale disgusted tunbridge wells

6:30pm Sun 29 Apr 12

amazed says...

Methinks that "English Rose" is our beloved Councillor David Smith!! The remarks have all his hallmarks. You MUST NOT CRITICISE Janet Anderson. She can do no wrong.
Methinks that "English Rose" is our beloved Councillor David Smith!! The remarks have all his hallmarks. You MUST NOT CRITICISE Janet Anderson. She can do no wrong. amazed

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