The Duck House: Politicians duck first night of play about MPs’ claims scandal

 
11 December 2013
The Weekender

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There was scarcely a politician in sight at the opening of The Duck House, a new play on the MPs’ expenses scandal.

But its star Diana Vickers has already taken the future audience guest list in hand, by ambushing Chancellor George Osborne and asking him to come.

The former X Factor contender, who plays an MP’s future daughter-in-law in the production, bumped into the millionaire Cabinet minister at a Starlight Children’s Foundation party for the severely sick and disabled at 11 Downing Street this week.

Vickers, 22, said Mr Osborne revealed that he had been invited but was uncertain whether to accept.

“I told him, ‘Don’t worry, we make sure we don’t just pick on one party’,” she said during the first-night party at The Trafalgar, opposite the former Department for Culture.

Leading man Ben Miller, who plays the scandal-hit fictional MP Robert Houston, was even more reassuring to any politician, admitting he had some sympathy for their plight and had even fallen for the lure of Westminster.

Being “close to the engine of democracy” was very appealing, he said, adding: “I went on a visit and I loved it. I suddenly thought, ‘What an amazing life, this would be an incredible privilege’. I can see why Robert would do anything to keep his seat and stay in this fabulous club.

“But why would anyone want to be an MP now? They have to declare every single thing and it’s on a public website for voters to scrutinise. So we’re in danger of making it a rich man’s game.”

It was “very kind” of the independent watchdog to recommend an 11 per cent pay rise for MPs “just in time to publicise the play”, he added. “Like most people, I’m torn. I think MPs are public servants and they should be paid properly. But when everybody else is getting about one per cent, it’s a little bit rich to pay them 11 per cent.”

The first-night audience mixed comedians — including David Mitchell and Chris Addison — with political journalists such as the BBC’s Emily Maitlis, James Landale and Andrew Rawnsley.

Squeaky-clean Alan Johnson, the former Labour home secretary, was the only MP to accept the first night invitation and go, though others have sneaked into previews.

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