The Riddle

Jack Layton (NDP) met with the Queen of England.

He asked her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me in case I form the next government?"

"Well," said the Queen, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Layton frowned, and then asked, "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent? "

The Queen took a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy; you just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle."

"The Queen pushed a button on her intercom. "Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?"

Tony Blair walked into the room and said, "Yes, my Queen?"

The Queen smiled and said, "Answer me this please, Tony, your mother and father have a child. It is not  your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Without pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answered,  "That would be me."
"Yes! Very good," said the Queen.

Layton went back home to ask Mike Ignatief, his cohort.

Answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child.  It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure," said Iggy. "Let me get back to you  on that one.."

He went to his advisors and asked every one, but none could give him an answer. Finally,  he ended up in the men's room and recognized Steven Harpers shoes in the next stall.

Iggy asked Harper, "Steve, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Harper yelled back, "That's easy you dummy, it's me!"

Iggy smiled, and said, "Thanks!" Then, he went back to speak with Layton. 

"Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle. It is Steven Harper."

Layton got mad and yelled "No you idiot, it is not. It is Tony Blair!"