---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea of MPs texting and emailing…"
description: "\"The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes my gorge rise, as it does when a minicab driver makes phone calls at the wheel. I'm not payi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg"
---

#  The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes…

![“The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes my gorge rise, as it does when a minicab driver makes phone calls at the wheel. I'm not paying you to keep in touch with your mates!” quote by Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg)

> “The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes my gorge rise, as it does when a minicab driver makes phone calls at the wheel. I'm not paying you to keep in touch with your mates!”

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker criticizes modern politicians for using trivial communication methods during serious debates, comparing it to unsafe driving habits.

**In simple terms:** Political discourse is becoming shallow and distracted.

Key Takeaway

Demand more substantive debate.

Themes

politics communication distraction

Mood

irry critical

Type

satirical observational

When to use this quote

- parliamentary sessions
- media interviews
- public speeches
- campaign rallies

Key Concepts

media saturation public accountability

Questions to Reflect On

- How does technology affect the quality of political discussion?
- What standards should govern communication in formal debates?

A Different Perspective

The quote may exaggerate for humor, ignoring genuine attempts at transparency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driver/) [Emailing Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emailing-debates-2783588/) [Idea Mps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-mps-2783587/) [Minicab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minicab-2783591/) [Paying Touch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-touch-2783590/) [Phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone/) [Phone calls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-calls/) [Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise/) [Texting Emailing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texting-emailing-2783589/) [Wheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheel/)

## Related quotes

> [You can't touch the strippers. Why are you paying to not touch someone? That is weird. How do you win in that situation? That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/you-can-t-touch-the-strippers-why-are-you-paying-to-not-touch-someone/)

[Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/)

> [I pay higher premiums because my speeding points spell 'recklessness' to the insurance company, but you can't imagine how risk-averse I am at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-pay-higher-premiums-because-my-speeding-points-spell-recklessness/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [“Each tool symbolizes one of the four things to keep in mind when supervising any project. •The conch-shell trumpet stands for clear communication. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/each-tool-symbolizes-one-of-the-four-things-to-keep-in-mind-when/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [I like a person that's a little crazy and demanding, but I also like a woman that knows how to let me drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-james/i-like-a-person-that-s-a-little-crazy-and-demanding-but-i-also-like-a/)

[Luke James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-james/)

> [Don't reinvent the wheel, just realign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-j-d-angelo/don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-just-realign-it/)

[Anthony J. D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-j-d-angelo/)

> [do you fix a wheel that isn't broken, or do you wait until the cart collapses?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/do-you-fix-a-wheel-that-isn-t-broken-or-do-you-wait-until-the-cart/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [Id love to work with the team in IndyCar; I just wont be behind the wheel anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/id-love-to-work-with-the-team-in-indycar-i-just-wont-be-behind-the/)

[Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/)

> [America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/america-i-m-putting-my-queer-shoulder-to-the-wheel/)

[Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/)

> [The wheel was invented so we could move faster. Credit was invented so we would have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/the-wheel-was-invented-so-we-could-move-faster-credit-was-invented-so/)

[Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/)

> [The squeeky wheel isn't always greased...sometimes it's replaced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-squeeky-wheel-isn-t-always-greased-sometimes-it-s-replaced/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I am a control freak back seat driver; a map reading co-pilot who directs every turn of the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-am-a-control-freak-back-seat-driver-a-map-reading-co-pilot-who/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [Maybe my caveman ancestors invented the wheel or something. I'm not sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/maybe-my-caveman-ancestors-invented-the-wheel-or-something-i-m-not/)

[Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/)

> [Being a third wheel isn't the best, but use it towards your advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/being-a-third-wheel-isn-t-the-best-but-use-it-towards-your-advantage/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [The book is like the spoon, scissors, the hammer, the wheel. Once invented, it cannot be improved. You cannot make a spoon that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-book-is-like-the-spoon-scissors-the-hammer-the-wheel-once/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

## More by Victoria Coren Mitchell

> [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [If you are actually ordinary, the only way to give royal status meaning is to live an extraordinary life. It can't be jeans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/if-you-are-actually-ordinary-the-only-way-to-give-royal-status/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [Women are under-represented in TV comedy for a variety of reasons, the hackneyed 'fear that women aren't funny' being one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/women-are-under-represented-in-tv-comedy-for-a-variety-of-reasons-the/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [My speeding offences (whether caught or not) are always in situations where the speed limit is 30, but I think it's 40. And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/my-speeding-offences-whether-caught-or-not-are-always-in-situations/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [I dreamed of growing up and becoming a zookeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-dreamed-of-growing-up-and-becoming-a-zookeeper/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [When I was learning to drive, I thought the big milestones were changing gear, changing lane, and three-point-turns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/when-i-was-learning-to-drive-i-thought-the-big-milestones-were/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [I know schools don't have money for everything, but I wish they could all have a couple of violins for kids to try; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-know-schools-don-t-have-money-for-everything-but-i-wish-they-could/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [When I was 15, I still liked climbing trees and hiding in cupboards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/when-i-was-15-i-still-liked-climbing-trees-and-hiding-in-cupboards/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [Given the choice, I'm sure the majority of children would rather have a packed lunch than school meals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/given-the-choice-i-m-sure-the-majority-of-children-would-rather-have/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [London Zoo is amazing. I want to take my child there so that she can feel the awe and wonder I felt (and feel)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/london-zoo-is-amazing-i-want-to-take-my-child-there-so-that-she-can/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise... is the motto of people who are in the business of selling moisturisers. Your body is already 60% water. If that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/moisturise-moisturise-moisturise-is-the-motto-of-people-who-are-in/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [Weight gain is good because it makes your dresses tight. This is not necessarily classy or flattering, but it means you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/weight-gain-is-good-because-it-makes-your-dresses-tight-this-is-not/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [I like snow, but I don't want to live in Siberia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-like-snow-but-i-don-t-want-to-live-in-siberia/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [I never wanted poker to be a job. That's partly because I love it, and it's fun, and I didn't want it to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/i-never-wanted-poker-to-be-a-job-that-s-partly-because-i-love-it-and/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [The phrase 'working mum' makes me nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/the-phrase-working-mum-makes-me-nervous/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

[Explore all 102 Victoria Coren Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

## More Driver quotes

> [All the questions, all the speculation, No. 2 driver and so on, it doesn't get to me. It doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valtteri-bottas/all-the-questions-all-the-speculation-no-2-driver-and-so-on-it-doesn/)

[Valtteri Bottas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valtteri-bottas/)

> [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/)

[Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/)

> [If I had to pick favourite parts of Interlagos, I would say the first and last corners. The first corner is really technical and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romain-grosjean/if-i-had-to-pick-favourite-parts-of-interlagos-i-would-say-the-first/)

[Romain Grosjean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romain-grosjean/)

> [“But this bus was a bit too full. The driver only appeared to control the glass and metal around him. In reality, he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-spaid/but-this-bus-was-a-bit-too-full-the-driver-only-appeared-to-control/)

[Graham Spaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-spaid/)

> [I'd be a race car driver. I love fast cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/i-d-be-a-race-car-driver-i-love-fast-cars/)

[D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/)

> [I think our sport is much better off with a successful female driver in NASCAR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/i-think-our-sport-is-much-better-off-with-a-successful-female-driver/)

[Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/)

> [Kimi is a great driver like Fernando, but together, they could be a time bomb for Ferrari.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-eric-vergne/kimi-is-a-great-driver-like-fernando-but-together-they-could-be-a/)

[Jean-Eric Vergne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-eric-vergne/)

> [It's been 23 years since the last Swede in Formula One, so for me to be the next F1 driver at all these races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-ericsson/it-s-been-23-years-since-the-last-swede-in-formula-one-so-for-me-to/)

[Marcus Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-ericsson/)

> [People say I'm bad at a lot of things. One I agree with is that I'm a bad driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/people-say-i-m-bad-at-a-lot-of-things-one-i-agree-with-is-that-i-m-a/)

[Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/)

> [I am a control freak back seat driver; a map reading co-pilot who directs every turn of the wheel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-am-a-control-freak-back-seat-driver-a-map-reading-co-pilot-who/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [“The most insightful thing I ever heard, was overheard. I was waiting for a rail replacement bus in Hackney Wick. These two old women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/the-most-insightful-thing-i-ever-heard-was-overheard-i-was-waiting/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

> [Some drivers are like that. When they get a bit angry, they can perform better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-verstappen/some-drivers-are-like-that-when-they-get-a-bit-angry-they-can-perform/)

[Max Verstappen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-verstappen/)

> [When you live with someone on the bus, for four days a week, you really have to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-lambert/when-you-live-with-someone-on-the-bus-for-four-days-a-week-you-really/)

[Miranda Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-lambert/)

> [The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-larger-the-disaster-the-more-necessary-it-is-to-have-the/)

[Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/)

> [From 1965 to 1974, I served the best possible apprenticeship for an actor. I learned firsthand how a truck driver lives, what a bartender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/from-1965-to-1974-i-served-the-best-possible-apprenticeship-for-an/)

[Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/)

[Browse all 848 Driver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driver/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes my gorge rise, as it does when a minicab driver makes phone calls at the wheel. I'm not paying you to keep in touch with your mates!",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Victoria Coren Mitchell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-through-debates-makes-my-gorge/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Driver"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-through-debates-makes-my-gorge/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb4/victoria-coren-mitchell-5194_driver_the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-thr_1898134.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The idea of MPs texting and emailing through debates makes my gorge rise, as it does when a minicab driver…” — Victoria Coren Mitchell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Victoria Coren Mitchell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The idea of MPs texting and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-through-debates-makes-my-gorge/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/the-idea-of-mps-texting-and-emailing-through-debates-makes-my-gorge/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
