You would imagine an MP would want to share a drink with his local political journalist at their annual party conference, keep him sweet, particularly one as astute and as fair as Graham Dines, from the East Anglian Daily Times.

Not so Bob Russell, (pic left) the Lib Dem honorable member for Colchester. It seems he threw a sulk because Graham reported how he had tried to lobby fellow MPs to be named Backbencher of the Year.

Graham was only doing his job. And shouldn’t politicians be thick-skinned, particularly over a story like this, and accept when they have been caught out? He made himself look stupid, and doubly so now as Graham has reported on his blog about how he was cold-shouldered by Russell at the Lib Dem conference. Here is an amusing extract:

“It’s one thing being cut dead in the Members’ Lobby at the House of Commons, but I’ve got better things to do than play Mr Bob Russell’s childish game for five days at the seaside.

“All because he was caught out by The Independent newspaper lobbying fellow MPs to be named to Backbencher of the Year – not the done thing.

“When the EADT ran the story, he got in a strop – presumably because legions more of his constituents read the EADT than The Independent and he couldn’t keep his voters in the dark at his breaking protocol.

“Over such silly things do feuds break out!

“It’s a great pity because Lib Dems are good company and evenings in the bars of Brighton hotels are great fun.”

Bob might regret his childish behaviour one day when he needs a favour from Graham, not that Graham (pic right)would bear a grudge, I’m sure he is not so childish!

Graham’s blog will be compulsive reading for me over the next two weeks, looking forward to some juicy titbits from Labour and Conservative Party conferences.