Respect where due - a second child for Galloway

* George Galloway MP, Pandora salutes your indefatigability in the sack. For I hear that the honourable member for Bethnal Green and Bow is once again to become a father: his partner, Rima Husseini, is due to give birth in early May.

The Lebanese-born Ms Husseini, 36, who presumably does actually believe that George is gorgeous, used to work as an aide at his constituency office. Their low-key relationship has been commented on since she began accompanying him to political and social functions.

It will be the Respect parliamentarian's second child: he has a daughter, Lucy, 24, from his first marriage to Elaine Fyffe. Lucy has given birth to Galloway's two grandchildren.

Fyffe and Galloway divorced after 20 years in 1999 and a year later he wed Palestinian biologist Dr Amineh Abu-Zayyad. They separated before his May 2005 general election victory over Oona King.

Galloway, 52, is said to be "chuffed" about the new arrival to the clan. He declined to comment on his private life, so was unable to answer the many questions that come to mind... Will it be "Georgina" or "Baby Che"? Godparents: Fidel? Hugo? Will he quit chomping cigars, near the baby at least? And will he carry it around the House of Commons in a sling over his stomach?

Pandora wishes them all the best.

* Environmental types turned from green to puce after British Airways began budget daily flights to Newquay on Tuesday.

The route presents Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley with a conundrum. Last April, following a campaign by her colleague Scott Mills, Newquay Airport bestowed upon her the flattering honour of opening the Jo Whiley Departure Lounge. Her name was also painted on a low-budget jet operating out of the airport.

The hitch? Whiley fronts BBC coverage of Glastonbury, which is partnered with Greenpeace. "We'd like to catch up with Jo at this year's festival for a pint of scrumpy to try to persuade her to take her name off the airport," says a Greenpeace spokesman.

"If she agrees, then we promise to campaign on her behalf to have Great Western name one of their London to Newquay trains 'The Flying Whiley' in her honour."

* Like any serious method actor, Carmen Electra prepares meticulously for new roles. This was a less time-consuming task than usual for her latest film I Want Candy, in which she plays Candy Fiveways, "the world's No 1 adult star", who stars in a blue movie for two wannabe film directors, shot in their parents' house.

"No, I didn't need to watch any porn films to prepare for the role because I've seen enough of them already," the Hollywood actress told Pandora at the film premiere in Leicester Square.

Sadly, she was unable to say whether any single jazz flick had influenced her interpretation of the part. "I couldn't tell you if I have a favourite one. I can never remember the names, can you?"

Jimmy Carr appears as a porn-loving video-store employee.

* The splendid old boy of British abstract painting, John Hoyland, contemporary of David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Patrick Caulfield etc, was in rambunctious form on Tuesday night at The Arts Club in Mayfair, where he was opening an exhibition of his new work.

"Hockney!" spluttered Hoyland, 72, a dapper figure in a pinstripe suit and black shirt, whose female companion looked about 32 - at the very most. "He's a load of rubbish, he's a crap painter."

The Sheffield-born Royal Academician added, twinkling: "Look at this!" He waves around the gallery at his enormous colourful canvases. "I'm bloody terrific, aren't I?"

* The gargantuan bronze statue of Baroness Thatcher in the Members' Lobby has been well-received - with the exception of a few lefty MPs, as well as Dale the MPs' messenger (spooked by Maggie pointing at him all day long; Pandora passim).

Fair to say, in fact, that the bronze has been extremely well-received: several members of the Palace of Westminster's security outfit have been spotted looking up the Iron Lady's metal skirt.

It is, one assumes, some sort of safety check to ensure that no explosive devices are secreted in the gloomy hollow. Although a lady called Parrot from the Department of the Serjeant at Arms did not call back to deny the suggestion that it was a policeman's wheeze to jollify mundane duties.

pandora@independent.co.uk