Thursday, 24 September 2009

Frobisher denies Starkey snub

Daphne Frobisher: The special relationship has never been stronger

Daphne Frobisher, Prime Minister of Freetannia (also Queen but residents are scarce so everyone simply mucks in) has denied being snubbed by Dr Phyllis Starkey (Labour MP - Milton Keynes South West) after diplomatic sources told the BBC her team had been "frantic" to secure bilateral talks.


PM Frobisher

Mrs Frobisher said she and Dr Starkey "talk all the time" and she insisted the special relationship was "strong and continues to strengthen".


Dr Phyllis Starkey (Labour MP - Milton Keynes South West)

No 10 Frowning Street said they had a wide-ranging chat after an MK Council dinner - understood to have taken place in the council kitchens.

And the MK Council described the claim of Mrs Frobisher being snubbed as "absurd".

'Without foundation'

She was responding to the news that Labour officials rejected repeated requests from Freetannia for a formal meeting - even though the Dr Starkey has held private meetings with the leaders of Japan, China and Russia.

Frowning Street said reports of a snub were "completely without foundation".

Asked whether there were five requests for a bilateral meeting as has been suggested, she said that in the run-up to the trip there would have been numerous calls, but the number was not the issue.

'A mistake'

The council also rejected any suggestion that Mrs Frobisher had been given a lower priority than other leaders.

A spokesman said: "Any stories that suggest trouble in the bilateral relationship between the Milton Keynes and Freetannia are totally absurd.

The row comes after Dr Starkey described the planned relocation to Milton Keynes as a "mistake".

NIGEL'S MILTON KEYNES

I don't mean to suggest Dr Starkey has any negative feelings towards Freetannia, I just don't see why she would see us as all that special.

Nigel Andrews
BBC Freetannian editor

HAVE YOUR SAY

My respect for Dr Starkey grows and grows, whilst Daphne Frobisher is just an embarrassment.

Frannie Haddock, King’s Mews

Send us your comments