Andy McSmith's Diary: MPs who talk fearful drivel and fight pointless battles

There is a Conservative quartet of Peter Bone, Christopher Chope, Philip Davies and Philip Hollobone who cannot be faulted for the amount of time they spend on their feet in the Commons, arguing. Chope spoke in 75 Commons debates last year, well above the average for an MP, but he was eclipsed by Bone, who spoke in 95, Davies 136 and Hollobone 185. Given that the Commons sat for only 162 days in the 2013-14 session, there was hardly a day when they did not hear from one or more of the quartet.