MPs’ ‘sexual magnetism’ explained
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
A senior MP has updated his guidebook to new recruits with a chapter explaining MPs' supposed sexual magnetism.
Seventy-six-year-old Paul Flynn updated his 1997 book How To Be A Backbencher with passages on sexual relations with female colleagues and making good use of Twitter.
"For reasons that are inexplicable, MPs – even the most superficial, unattractive, mis-shapen ones – are attractive to the other sex," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"It does present serious problems of going astray. There is a magnetism to this."
His wry advice for not deviating from the matrimonial bed includes one section which encourages MPs to go to sleep "thinking of the immediacy of death". He also suggests the use of cold baths.
MPs' sexual attractiveness – or otherwise – was highlighted by the recent launch of the sexymp.co.uk website, which gives users the chance to rank MPs through the virtues of their bodies, not their principles.
The Newport MP is on slightly more traditional ground when discussing the merits of Twitter, which he says gives him the discipline to keep his parliamentary questions down to 140 characters – the limit for tweets.
"If you do it this way your questions are much more pithy. You make every word count, without any verbal Polyfilla," he commented.
Last week, Mr Flynn said: "Is not this big society, badger-slaughter spree a combination of bad science and animal cruelty by the nasty party?”
Mr Flynn also adds a few sections on how to "cultivate enemies" and use the animosity to make him a better MP.
"This place is full of pitfalls. It makes you a better MP if you have people you loathe. I don't know where I would be without mine," he said.
