GREG Pope and Jack Straw have had an unneighbourly spat in the Commons over Gibraltar.

Hyndburn MP Mr Pope asked the Foriegn Secretary a question about government policy on the Rock.

In reply at the House of Commons Foriegn Affairs Committee,

Blackburn MP Mr Straw gave a long and incomprehensible answer.

Mr Pope accused his friend and next door neighbour of talking "waffle''.

Mr Straw, sounding distinctly aggrieved. said: "I am disappointed in that. I always try to give you an especially good answer as you are one of my neighbours and colleagues.''

An unimpressed Mr Pope replied: "If that is the case, God help my fellow MPs!''

RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans was this week schmoozing with Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall.

Despite the fact that the pop star is a leading Labour supporter, the Tory front-bencher was more than happy to chat to him at a meeting of the House of Commons all-party Music Group.

Mr Evans, vice-president of the Westminster body, listened intently as Mr Hucknall attacked the system whereby pubs had to apply for entertainment licences if more than on person was to sing on the premises.

The singer said this outlawed even folk duos and groups of regulars bursting into spontaneous song, let along aspiring would-be pop groups.

Mr Hucknall also accused some local authorities of abusing the system by charging exorbitant prices for entertainment licences.

At which point, Mr Evans asked if would not be better to scrap the entertainment licencing system altogether. Mr Hucknall agreed.

GREG Pope was recently out of radio contact when his mobile phone went sick. It turned out that the Orange signal for London was down. The Hyndburn MP said: "It was marvellous. Nobody bothered me. I could do all sorts of things I normally never get round to ."