Peter Luff was on the other side of the world this week. But, if anyone was asking, he was still at Westminster.

The HMS Westminster, that is.

Peter has spent the past week on board a naval vessel in the Falklands as part of a visit by the Parliamentary armed forces group.

He joked: "I was able to maintain all along that I was at Westminster. Politicians never tell a lie!"

But, on a more serious note, he added: "It certainly could not be described as a jolly - since the ship was full and the sleeping arrangements were in a corridor.

"Given the current state of events, it is important to see how our naval operations are working."

MP knows when he's not wanted

PETER Luff is at the middle of a bizarre spat between the mainstream political parties and their smaller, nationalist rivals.

As a senior Tory whip, he is in-line for a place on the Westminster Committee of Selection, which is charged with making non-controversial appointments to bodies such as standing committees.

Normally, the appointment would simply be nodded through at the start of a daily session in the Commons.

But, every day for the past fortnight, the nationalist have shouted "object" when Luff's name has been read out by the Speaker.

There can be no debate on the matter. So they go through the process again the next day. And so on.

The nationalists have assured Peter it is "nothing personal". They are making a stand for greater representation on the many Commons committees.