Fallen Welsh secretary Ron Davies has started his political rehabilitation.

In a calculated campaign to get himself back into the swing of the House of Commons he attended a high-profile media party last Tuesday night and was then seen mixing with politicians and the press in the Strangers' Bar.

Ron Davies in happier times

There is no doubt that, if the reception he got from colleagues is anything to go by, he will have no problem resuming a full political career.

He was quickly surrounded by MPs offering their support and praising him for his bravery and so on.

They were particularly angry that the man he was alleged to have picked up on Clapham Common, Donald Fearon, is desperately trying to sell his story.

Just nobody mention Commons and Strangers.

The funny side of Europe

Brace yourselves, it looks like the days of "Up Yours Delors" are back with a vengeance - only this time the attacks are aimed at "'Orrible Oskar".

The ill-advised outburst by Germany's new left-wing finance minister Oskar Lafontaine that he wants to strip Britain of its EU veto has prompted an hysterical bout of "I told you so" politics by the Euro-sceptics and their supporters in the media.

Certain newspapers are pursuing a concerted campaign against Britain ever joining the single European currency and there will undoubtedly be more to come.

Oskar Lafontaine: Tabloid hate figure

And it probably won't stop with Herr Lafontaine. In the past, attempts to blacken Brussels' name saw ludicrous stories about Brussels wanting to ban all sorts of things like jelly babies and mucky seaside postcards.

The constant flow of "loony laws" stories deeply embarrassed and angered the Brussels Commission, which finally ordered its spokesmen to beef up their act and go into full rebuttal mode.

The irony of it all was, however, that many of the stories started out as a joke.

One Euro-MP, who will remain nameless to spare him his blushes, took great delight in parodying the more outlandish claims by coming up with his own.

One of the more infamous was that Brussels wanted to harmonise the size of needles on Christmas trees.

Unfortunately, once the jokes were in wide circulation it was only a matter of time before they were passed on to newspapers as facts - and another myth was born.

Hello ding dong

Despite his fire and brimstone temperament, Ian Paisley has a well-developed sense of humour - as former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten can testify.

Mr Patten has a habit of starting sentences with "I must confess..."

He recently opened a conversation in such a way with the Democratic Unionist leader who, quick as a flash, put his hand on Mr Patten's shoulder and declared: "Not to me you don't."

And later, referring to Mr Patten's new role as head of the commission examining the role of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Dr Paisley told him: "So it's goodbye Hong Kong and hello ding dong."

Selective praise

Former Labour MP Oonagh McDonald - who made a guest appearance in this column recently - reminded me of her selection meeting for Thurrock which she held for 11 years until being defeated by Tory Tim Janman in 1987.

Apparently as her train took her through the constituency towards her destiny she became increasingly appalled by the place and decided she wouldn't be at all displeased if she was not selected.

So, in her speech to the local party she broke with the tradition of claiming her long life ambition had been to serve the constituency and instead launched into a detailed critique of the area and its many unattractive qualities.