Policywonk, in Hobbs and em and ess, LIVE FROM THE G20

[policywonk]

YOWZA

I think Michelle would give Carla a good run for her money in the wrestling but Sarah would be making the tea

My friend who works at ExCel, was not allowed into work today. She was rather disappointed not to get a good frisking from a burly American Security bod.

I've gone and posted three times in a row on the other thread and wondered why nobody was there.

Are all the visiting heads of state staying at Buckingham Palace?

Poor Queen, if so. All that bunch to make small talk with and trying to stop Prince Philip making inappropriate comments at breakfast. It's like 19 state visits in one. I'd have decamped to Windsor for the duration in her shoes.

Just want to reiterate you look bloody good in your photo wonk. Any news on the bloke who has died during the demo?

Apparently it was from natural causes.

Man, I wonder who is watching Prince Philip? So many different nationalities to insult. I wonder if Hu Jintao was carefully steered away from him in case of any further "slitty-eyes" gaffs.

I have this theory that Prince Phillip gets to say all the ridiculous insulting stuff that the Queen would like to say, but isn't allowed to.

That is so true Just as well she's got such a well-trained poker face eh?

urm, so where is the blog . The one linked to from the homepage has only got a few posts, last one on 26th March (although I did go and have a look at your new outfit ).

Or am I just being exceptionally dim?

Policywonk will be interviewed on R5 Live at Midday by Vicotoria Derbyshire...... listen in and send texts to the show.

Prince Phillip is lovely - he has a very dry sense of humour, and enjoys winding the Queen up. When I met him I particularly enjoyed his very down to earth approach - especially after I'd been told to clean up my normal talk, and he brought the presentation right down to gutter level

Bob Geldof is right behind me. Look at the G20 voice site if you want pictures.

He fecking mumbling, can't hear what he's saying. Hang on

He kinda looks like Andy Warhol.

I asked our question!! Lifelong swotty habits served me well and my hand shot up as soon as he said 'questions?'. And he picked me first! I namechecked MN and asked our q. He said, pretty bluntly, that it's because MHN is not a political priority for developed countries. Thought that was a rather brave admission.

He said other stuff too but will post more detail on blog (about reform of IMF, trade credit provisions and crocs). Unless you want detail here?

Wow.

So, what, I might ask, is a priority, then?

You're all looking at Bob, aren't you

Well done pw! It is so illogical though, to prioritise MHN would actually be a short cut to improving so much.

BG was v interesting. He wants fiscal stimulus and expansionism (in a nutshell).

The live stream is a bit confused and sound was not clear much of the time, picture was lost each time a flash went off. Missed your moment of glory pw

giz, I'm pretty sure he meant for other developed nations, not the UK. As far as I can make out, DFID is pretty good on this issue. He says that the absolute priority should be to provide universal basic healthcare, free at point of provision (didn't say it quite as catgorically as that but that was the implication).

Oh god, and something else I absolutely cannot read. Must take my voice recorder to the next one.

'Tis rather a brave admission. Though I guess the UK has signed up to various things that probably give us a commitment to pay some attention to it. Eg they do say somewhere about giving money to health systems (and shurely MNH comes into that...)

I was not able to penetrate the clusterf*ck, Justa - no glory for me.

Essie, I think DFID does fund some of these sorts of programmes (sound like a DFID press officer now - gissa job). Tis other countries, esp. US, that are backtracking on commitments.

maybe I'll try to ask Barack the same question.

g'won g'won you know you want to!

Big plug for MN on the live stream!

Righto - DA is coming to talk to us! Will try to get more detail.

Essie, anything you'd like me to ask Douglas for you?

Was thinking about combining the whole gender thing - MHN, education, economic empowerment of women: are these issues particularly difficult to address because they are so deeply entwined with the cultural legacy of male power worldwide? (Too wank?)

Now that doesn't surprise me...

Go on..ask Barack...dare you...