Andy McSmith's Diary: Who would dare deprive Dennis Skinner of his seat?

The timeless ceremony of the re-election of the Speaker was nearly disrupted by MPs squabbling over front row seats. Scottish Nationalist MPs were determined that the SNP’s new status as the third-biggest party in the Commons would be recognised in the seating arrangements. Normally, MPs can reserve seats by placing what is known as a “prayer card” in a slot in the bench – but this was the one day in five years when, by a quirk, that rule did not apply. The only way to bag a seat was to