Chinese Liberal Democrats and Liberal International British Group co-hosted a sell-out dinner at the School of Oriental and African Studies this evening, at which the star speaker was Anna Lo, an Alliance member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the highest elected ethnic Chinese politician in the United Kingdom. Media-savvy and endearingly charismatic, she had [...]
A strong, independent Liberal Democrat opposition Dear All, You may have read in the newspapers about how Gordon Brown spoke to me earlier this week about offering ministerial jobs to Liberal Democrat members of the House of Lords. I share his high assessment of the abilities of our parliamentarians! But I have rejected his offer, just as I did that from David Cameron, when he asked me in April to consider proposing a joint candidate for London mayor with the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrats are ...
Sadly Charlton Athletic Football Club have taken the decision to stop all funding for their ladies football team as a result of the relegation of their mens team from the FA Premier League. This story is on the BBC website HERE. I am not unaware that ladies Football does not make any money and I know that Charlton are facing problems because of relegation. But the cost of keeping a womens team going is something like the cost of paying one male player for three months or about £250,000. This does not include the fact that they will ...
David Cameron ascended to the leadership of the Conservative party promising an end to "Punch and Judy politics". Anyone wondering if this was a sincere promise need only to have watched Newsnight tonight. Alan Duncan was up against Quentin Davies. Duncan was laughing hysterically when the studio came into shot after a filmed segment. He continued to punctuate his appearance with laughter to
Well what else needs to be said about Mr. Davies defection to Gordon Brown. While it's certainly a coup for Mr. Brown and wobble for Mr. Cameron, it's not so bad for us at all. We've being putting out the line of late that there increasingly is very little difference between Britain's two main authoritarian parties. That a pro-Iraq war, anti-fox hunting , anti-gay rights Tory can happily ask for a red rose and be granted it without protest is a far greater indication of their proximity that Shaun Woodwood's defection to Blair or Richard Balfe to IDS. ...
Bugger, I thought I was in with a chance of winning this one. Instead it goes to Harry Calder, the only person to be chosen as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year without every playing a first class game. How did he manage it? During the First World War little serious cricket took place. So much so that the cricket bible Wisden did not nominate its usual five Cricketers of the Year in its 1916 or 1917 editions. (The 1916 volume covered the 1915 season and so on.) In 1918 and 1919 five Cricketers of ...
As the dreary sight of our elected politicians covering up for BAE systems continues, it is perhaps mildly interesting to note that we aren't the only country where our politicians seem to have something to hide, and make increasingly bizarre arguments to avoid their coming out. Specifically, I was amused today to see the Daily Show putting out a rather good piece on Dick Cheney's argument that
It is harder to imagine a more inappropriate job for Tony Blair than being Middle East Peace Envoy. With the UK and US despise across the Arab world and anyone siding with the Americans being resented, it is difficult to understand why any nation would want to deal with an envoy supported by Britain and America anyway. But with Tony Blair, Bush's poodle in the job, it makes the job even harder. So what next ? Kim Jong Il in charge of the World Food Programme, Ahmedinijad in charge of the International Atomic Energy Authority, Mugabe in charge ...
So I'm sitting out on the piazza in downtown Millbank enjoying vino with Senor Gove of the Conservatori, and I say to him "So Gove you pretty smug now I think, you think new Don Brown is weak and maybe 'Hollywood' Cameron can move in on his turf." And he say to me "Liberali, it only matter of time. The associates in Little England, they grow tired of the Labouristi and their demands for protection payments. We are reasonable men, we offer same level of protection, but for lower payments. Provided the businesses keep thriving, it no problem, we ...
So the Prime Minister who today used his last press conference to highlight climate change will be flying from Westminster to County Durham tomorrow to announce that he is resigning from ... er ... Westminster. 
Calm yourself, Elspeth, I am talking about Ming's speech today. I was pleased that he tackled the issue of his age head on. The BBC site says: Sir Menzies, 66, said he would "absolutely" make his age an issue in the battle with Mr Brown and Tory leader David Cameron. "Politics would benefit from more people with experience," he said in a speech to party staff. "If more experienced politicians had taken the decisions, we might not be mired in the conflict that we see in Iraq today."This must surely be a better approach than the ...
The US Justice department apparently need the help and co-operation of UK authorities if they are to properly probe the BAE arms deals with Saudi Arabia. Now I know this is a serious issue and we ought to hope it is properly investigated. But wouldn't it be fair if we were to treat the American authorities in the same way that UK authorities have been treated by the US over getting information about inquests in to soldiers killed by US forces ? Surely this is only fair.
Poor old Sven Goran Eriksson. Now he is set to become Manchester City Manager, he really is going to have a dilemma. When he was England manager, he had an unspoken rule that he would only pick players who played for one of the top four teams plus Tottenham and Newcastle. Now he is manager of Manchester City, has someone broken it to him that he cannot pick Chelsea and Spurs players anymore ?
When I first set up this blog at the start of the year I took the decision to restrict comments to those who were registered with Blogger, thereby ensuring that I would know who was commenting. However, for two reasons I have now changed my mind and am opening up this blog for anyone to comment on. The first reason is that if you are determined enough you can comment 'anonymously' in any case - you just register with a nickname. The second reason is that the requirement to register means that ...
I wonder at the surprise that a supposedly dyed in the wool Tory like Quentin Davies should defect to Labour. Blue may allegedly be the new Green, but Red has been the new Blue for some time! 
The Government of Israel have demolished 25 homes of Bedouins in the Negev, in the village of Attir Im el Hiran leaving over 150 men women and children homeless in the scorching desert. The government of Israel moved the family of Abu el -Qian away from their ancestral lands in 1956, and placed them where they are now in the village of Im el Hiran. Now the government wants to relocate them again so that in the place of their village the government can build a Jewish village. But the people are not moving fast enough for ...
As I blogged earlier, the Tories are furious about Quentin Davies defection to labour. However, there is a shocking level of hypocrisy from the Tories over defections. Put simply, anyone who defects to them is fine, but everyone who defects from the Tories should resign and re-stand for elections. In recent months the Tories have welcomed defectors to their party with open arms and have talked of Lib Dem MP's defecting. Indeed, Lib Dem MP for Yeovil, David Laws, was openly asked to defect by Tory Shadow Chancellor, Gideon Osborne MP. Senior Tories have claimed that Quentin ...
Came across this online the other day (either via Facebook or another blog), but now it comes to link back appreciatively, I can’t remember where. Sorry. Anyway, here’s the link. It’s Science and Faith represented as flowcharts.
I agree with Clare Short (interviewed on Radio Four's PM) that it is not entirely necessary for Blair to stand down as an MP purely because of his Middle East envoy role, which is not full time. It doesn't involve chairing standing talks, for example. It will probably involve just the odd trip, which Blair has managed to fit in with two other roles for years, so fitting it in with one role
Floods of rain, and seemingly, floods of by-elections. Well 2 to be precise as Blair now looks certain to resign as an MP tomorrow. And so, we will have a by-election in Sedgefield in my own North East backyard. Oh joy!
I reckon Alderman Roberts will be spinning in his grave at the news that Grantham is now represented by a Labour MP. The town (which in the 1980s memorably had blue seats on its railway station when the rest of the country had red) is of course where the Blessed Margaret hails from. I must admit [...]
Ah yes the floods. Having done consultancy work twenty-odd years ago (for one of the pre-privatisation Water Authorities) on building information systems on flood incidents, this weeks news comes as little surprise. As I remarked before There is no ironclad criteria for makes a 'floodplain'. Most of the officially delimited floodplains, in planning maps in England anyway, are based on the areas of inundation of the 1947 floods adjusted for the very different experiences of the 1974 floods. Areas that did not flood then may actually be a high risk from flooding. Councillors ...
Some days at Westminster are relatively quiet and there is no political news. But today has not been one of them! In most MP's offices there is a small portable TV set which can be used for monitoring the progress of debates etc. and/or keeping up to date with24 hour news channels. This afternoon I happened to glance at the monitor in my room to see that a Tory MP (Quentin Davies) had defected to Labour! This took me back to the 'good old days', when I was an aspiring Lib Dem candidate in ...
At last some new news on the report from the contractors contracted by Haringey Council to measure the levels of Pollonium 210 in the Litvinenko House and recommend what further work will be needed to clean said house. No - the report is not yet handed to the tribunal and the lawyers for the other side - as it is being finalised and reviewed by the key agencies in charge of our safety. The one thing that is public at this point in time is that the Health Protection Agency has said that there is no risk to any ...
For several months, Iain Dale had been hinting and other Tory bloggers ( The Hunter for one) claimed that on good authority, they were expecting a defection to the Tories. I guess today's news wasn't what they were expecting. As Nick Robinson said on BBC News earlier, if "Cameron isn't worried about this then I am a Pineapple". It fits in also rather nicely with Ming's assessment that their is little to separate the Tories and Labour these days. Perhaps it is merely that Labour mean what they say, even if it is wrong, whilst the Tories ...
Tuesday: At least that's the case in Grantham and Stamford today. This is because their MP, who no one will have heard of, has defected from the Conservatories to the Labour. Mr Quentin Quentin, the man in question, said that, under Mr Balloon, the Conservatory Party "…appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything, or to stand for anything". Which is why he has decided to join the party that GENUINELY does not believe in anything or stand for anything! I am SURE that he will find everything VERY FAMILIAR ...
Second day of the Finance Bill which Julia Goldsworthy is nobly leading on for us. But the big hoo ha today - Quentin Davies' defection from Tory benches to Labour. I don't really know him - other than he has been in the House for 20 odd years. His letter - damning the Tories to hell – is not what Cameron will have wanted on the eve of Gordon's accession! Spitting and blood are the words that spring to mind. Not hugely surprised that the Lib Dems have not become his natural home as haven't truly witnessed a ...
Monday: Lord Blairimort is to bring PEACE to the Middle East. Meanwhile, Dr Henry Kissinger is to give up SATIRE.
Sunday: Well, Mr Frown, obviously. But much MORE interesting – well, interesting if you are a number anorak like Daddy Richard – are the results for the DEPUTY leader. Or as BBC3's news in 60 Seconds put it: Mr Frown gets to be Top Dog, but who gets to be Deputy Dawg? Handily, someone has put the full results on the Wikipedia (thank you to Mr James for spotting this) and they make interesting reading (with the same caveat as above). What is clear is that Mrs Harpic didn't just win in the LAST ...
The Peak Oil APPG was founded today in the House of Commons. The officers are: Chair - John Hemming Vice-Chair - Colin Challen, Robin Teverson Secretary - Austin Mitchell Treasurer - Mark Williams
The Hillary Clinton campaign has taken a bit of a risk with a video which parodies The Sopranos (see below and here on the Hillary campaign site). I say "risk" because I find the thing so schmaltzy it is enough to make me mildly ill. I don't watch the Sopranos, so if you do, you probably "get" it. The video basically shows Hillary walking into what I believe is called a "diner", sitting down at
here are a few photos taken earlier today of the flood waters in lincoln, please take time to see the photo of council workers pumping more water into the already full Brayford
If I were the Lib Dem Sedgefield campaign manager, I’d be using the phrase “cut and run” as often as possible. I’d also use this photo. A lot. Under the caption “the new face of Labour”. I’m sure it will go down especially well on the housing estates. Share This
James Blunt's "You're beautiful" has been voted the most irritating song of all time. It was closely followed by the "Crazy Frog". So, just think on James Blunt. You are more irritating than the Crazy Frog. That is some accolade. "Shout" by Lulu and "Grace Kelly" by Mika also featured in the poll, by market researchers OnePoll. It is a matter of great personal disappointment that "Lady in Red"
Constitution or amending treaty? Rationalisation of institutions or a major change in our relationship with Europe? “Properly protected as a country to make our own decisions” or a “major shift of power”? Too far? Just far enough? Or not even close? Europe’s leaders may have agreed on a new European treaty, but citizens and politicians in the UK are bitterly divided. The contents of the new treaty having been decided for us, the big question now revolves around whether to have a referendum to approve the treaty, or whether Parliament should decided. Normally, this would be a straightforward ...
Yes, he's off as well. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6242788.stm ... I kind of thought there was something more coming after the Conservative defection announcement. Maybe I was just overly worked up - or maybe I should believe other peoples' blogs more. Tony Blair is a somewhat fantasistic choice to be an envoy to the Middle East. The man for the job is Paddy Ashdown, but he was only offered Northern Ireland... Are any more byelections going to be called? Roll up! Roll up!
The next time I write my blog, we will have a new Prime Minister. Our nation will have a new leader for the first time in ten years. Tony Blair came to power when I was 16, and he has been the PM through all of the changes that have happened in my life since then. Ten years ago, I never thought I'd be doing any of the things I'm doing now. The word "blog" didn't exist, for one thing. Big Brother
Work and Pensions: Incapacity Benefit: Disposable Income Q:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median net disposable income of households receiving incapacity benefit was (a) before and (b) after housing costs were taken into account in the latest period for which figures are available. A:Latest available data show that the median net (disposable) weekly income of
Ming Campbell this afternoon gave a speech to Liberal Democrat staff. In it, he set out the party’s approach to the new Brown government, which will take office tomorrow. He promised that the party would be “rattling the cage of British politics and challenging the cosy consensus” between Labour and the Conservatives, exposing the government on [...]
There is nothing like starting a new job with a flourish or leaving on a high and Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have managed to do both today with the announcement that the Conservative MP Quentin Davies has defected to the Labour Party. Mr. Davies' verdict on his former party is cutting: In his letter, he wrote: "Under your leadership the Conservative Party appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything, or to stand for anything. "It has no bedrock. It exists on shifting sands. A sense of mission has been replaced by ...
It would be churlish to begrudge Gordon Brown his assumption of the premiership tomorrow. As architect of New Labour, he helped to make his party electable again. As chancellor, he has avoided the economic crises that proved the undoing of previous Labour governments. And despite the ongoing feud with Tony Blair, he has stayed the course, not resigning nor being so overtly disloyal that Blair could sack him. In the process he has seen all his potential challengers for the Labour leadership fall by the wayside. Nonetheless, Brown should enjoy such honeymoon period as he gets, because none of ...
Ming Campbell's speech will be widely welcomed within the party and by our supporters. During the past few weeks we have been courted by David Cameron over the London Mayoral election and last week by Gordon Brown as he sets out to attempt to show that he is different to Blair. Ming Campbell rightly rejected both approaches. Today Ming set out a clear position for the Liberal Democrats as a radical opposition to the increasingly indistinguishable Lab/Con old pals act. He also set out clear policy reasons why we need to campaign as a strong and independent ...
The MP for Grantham and Stamford, Quentin Davies, has today announced he has crossed the floor from David Cameron’s Tories to Gordon Brown’s Labour. Mr Davies explained his decision in an open letter to Mr Cameron: “Although you have many positive qualities you have three, superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions, which [...]
This is like landing in ice cream. The Guardian have posted more comments from defecting Conservative MP Quentin Davies. This is more of what he wrote to David Cameron: Although you have many positive qualities you have three, superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions, which in my view ought to exclude you from the position of national leadership to which you
Well, Gordon Brown must be smiling this afternoon. Quentin Davies, a Conservative MP since 1987, has defected to Labour. And in his resignation letter he has been devastating in his criticism of David Cameron. "The MP for Grantham & Stamford declared that under Mr Cameronthe party "appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything or to stand for anything". He complained Mr Cameron's "sense of mission" amounted to no more than a "PR agenda". Mr Davies made public his letter of resignation to his ex-party leader, which stated: "Under your leadership the ...
Unlock Democracy launches new campaign for "Citizens' Convention"
I filmed this bit of video north of Grantham as I travelled on the train through some of the areas hit by flooding.
2nd half of the audio recording I made of Ming's speech today at Cowley Street.
First half of the audio recording of Ming's speech to Cowley Street I made today.
Under your leadership the Conservative Party appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything, or to stand for anything. It has no bedrock. It exists on shifting sands. A sense of mission has been replaced by a PR agenda. Those are the words of long-standing senior "One Nation" Conservative MP, Quentin Davies, as he defects to Labour in a letter to David Cameron. At last,
As if to help Ming show how close Labour and the Tories are, Quentin Davies MP (who’s always struck me as a proper old Tory) has defected from the Conservatives to Labour. It’s in the BBC news ticker - will link to the story when it appears. Update: Here it is. The MP for Grantham and Stamford, [...]
A Conservative MP has defected to the Labour Party according to the BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6241928.stm Interesting that David Cameron doesn't have enough leadership or direction to keep his own Party together in the face of Gordon Brown's 'big tent' approach. The MP, Quentin Davies, also says 'that under Mr Cameron the party "appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything, or to stand for anything" ' ... a recurring theme of this blog as it happens. Is he a reader? Of course there's the argument that he's a nobody and this was his only ...
Someone taking the piss right? Or did he get offered a cabinet position and Dave didn’t let him????????? Although you have many positive qualities you have three, superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions, which in my view ought to exclude you from the position of national leadership Quentin Davies to David Cameron Ouch!
Anyone who read my blog yesterday would have seen that I have rather a difficult journey from Newcastle to London. Instead of taking 3 hours on the train, it took 7 hours. I snapped this photo as we were approaching Grantham of some of the flooding of the track.
It looks as though, after a difficult week for the party we're going to have a very good conference in Brighton in September. The three flagship papers going for discussion are some of the strongest I've seen for some time. On tax, we're proposing a 4p cut in the basic rate of income tax. This is even more than the 3.5p required to replace Council Tax with Local Income Tax. So it's an income tax cut for everyone, the abolition of a bad tax, and shoring up the one weakness with LIT that without a corresponding national cut it ...
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg sent a frenzy through the American media this week as he left the Republican party, a move seen to signal his intent to throw his hat into the presidential race. Both the New York Times and The New Yorker see Bloomberg as a potential candidate. Bloomberg is no stranger to cross-party acrobatics — he has “[changed] his political registration as many times as Hillary Clinton has had a geographical makeover and Rudolph Giuliani has torn up his marriage license”. However, talk of an independent run, potentially with respected Senator Chuck Hagel, has amplified the political ...
With great delight, I have read the comments this morning from Menzies Campbell. This is precisely the sort of fighting talk we need. I commend the admirable "filleting" of LibDem Voice's resident fishmonger, Stephen Tall.
Question from: Councillor Roger Symonds Is the Leader aware of the debate in the letters pages of the Bath Chronicle which was sparked by a letter from Mr Steve Devrell published on 31st May 2007? What steps are planned to address the issues he raised? Answer from: Councillor Francine Haeberling 1. Yes. 2. I’m afraid that after 12 years of Liberal Democrat dominance on Bath and North East Somerset Council and, in particular, the previous five years of a Liberal Democrat Council Executive member overseeing issues such as bins, litter, and public toilets it is quite rich for Cllr ...
In a wide-ranging speech to Lib Dem staff today - reported on the BBC website here - Ming Campbell has pledged the party must be “prepared to take risks”. He also promised to make his age (66) a campaigning issue: “Politics would benefit from more people with experience.” Here’s the filleted version… On that offer from [...]
Spy Blog has drawn some worrying conclusions from recent attempts to discredit Ross Anderson a security expert from Cambridge University. The allegation is the information being used to try and discredit Professor Anderson could only be gained from illegally accessing private emails. Ross is an excellent security analyst, he’s unfailingly spoken out against security flaws he’s discovered, [...]
Today, Unlock Democracy has launched its campaign for a Citizens’ Convention Bill. The Bill will be presented to the House of Commons today by Lib Dem Treasury Spokesperson Julia Goldsworthy MP, and it is set for its second reading debate this Friday. The idea behind this Bill is simple: there is now broad, cross-party support [...]
My heart goes out to those who have lost family or friends in the flooding which has hit the country in the last couple of days. And I also send my best wishes to those displaced by the floods. The pictures that I have seen in the media are very worrying, and the carnage that nature can cause in such a short time is quite incredible. It is concerning that freak weather conditions like this will
Friday's meeting of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority saw a deal between the Labour and Conservative Parties to keep the pro-charging LabourParty in power on Greater Manchester's Passenger Transport Authority. This is absolute madness! With no party in a majority on GMPTA, the tiny 5 member Tory Group allowed Labour to take charge for 2007/8 at last Friday's Annual Meeting.
Despite having reached a settlement in the Assembly on Top-up fees that provides some relief for Welsh students attending Welsh Higher Education Institutions there are still external pressures to undo that work. Today's article in The Times is a case in point. They report that Lord Dearing, who first advocated charging tuition fees ten years ago, is to tell vice-chancellors that universities can only remain globally competitive if they charge “differential fees”. He is also going to suggest that in future students could pay some sort of graduate tax. It is likely that in 2009 the ...
On Friday I met up with an old friend from University who now lives in the US. As we were chatting, climate change came up in conversation, and he started to confess his carbon emissions - especially from those trans-Atlantic flights. There’s no arguing with that. However, he had already mentioned how he and his wife didn’t [...]
The South Liverpool health forum organised a meeting last week about Garston hospital (Sir Alfred Jones Memorial). Several services have been withdrawn and local people are increasingly worried. The forum had hoped to give the PCT a chance to listen to views and answer questions. But amazingly the PCT chose not to come because they were not ready yet with the details of their "out of hospital" strategy. And they had a board meeting coming up in July. Now, had I been the PCT, I would have sent a representative along anyway, even if just to ...
Tomorrow will be my last day in school ever apart from to collect results and on the whole I think I will miss it but I am also ready for a change. Certainly one thing I wont miss is the leisurely even institutional homophobia within the student population. The word gay certainly before I entered sixth form, although it hung around was used to describe just about anything in a negative manner. Its not that anyone would launch into a homophobic rant but the very use of that word to mean a negative description is enough to put ...
Last week we had another meeting to gague interest in setting up a "Home Start" scheme for South Liverpool. Home Start basically recruits volunteers who, after training, provide support and befriending to families with children under five. It can be a real help to isolated parents and families who are struggling. I went to the first one of these back in April in Speke, so this was a follow on to see who else we could get interested. If the scheme goes ahead it'll be for quite a big area - taking in Netherley,Belle Vale, Speke, ...
Vince Cable MP, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has labelled the United States’ investigation into BAE an embarrassment for the UK. “It is extraordinary and embarrassing that we have to rely on the higher standards of probity in the United States to investigate alleged corruption by a British company in its overseas business operations. “One [...]
News today revealed that Tom Cruise is to be band from filming on German army bases on the grounds that he is scientologist. Once again, although in Germany this seems fairly typical of Western law that is simply over zealous in how far it is prepared to go in monitoring in policing our behaviour. Liberals have a important role in not just making sure that policing and law and order is carried out but we need to also give a long hard look at the laws themselves. The popular assumption that if it is against the law then it ...
Lindyloo's Muze hits the nail on the head, and then some: The news that the man who was prepared to collude, lie and condemn hundreds of thousands to death in Iraq is now likely to be appointed an envoy to the Middle East beggars belief. I remember the contempt with which Blair was regarded by Palestinians when I was there a couple of months after the Iraq invasion. The idea that Blair will do
With the smoking ban coming into effect soon, Tim Harford destructs the so-called economic arguments for the ban. The irony that the ban is in ‘public spaces’ yet forces people out from private spaces where the public are allowed to enter into actual public spaces is startling. I’m sure debate will rage about this briefly (and then [...]
Over the last few weeks we’ve covered various stories suggesting that the United States’ Department of Justice would be launching an investigation into BAE Systems plc. The company itself has now confirmed this, the BBC reports. The inquiry will include its business dealings with Saudi Arabia. BAE is facing allegations that it ran a multi-million pound [...]
The Independent reports a Communicate Research poll which puts the LibDems on 18%, down one point from their last poll. Interviews were conducted between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th June. So no "bounce" from the Paddyjob farrago, but a lot more sanguine than the last Ipsos MORI poll (with interviews conducted before last Wednesday) which put us on 15%. The Communicate Research poll puts the
I often ponder the value of some sociological studies. This one h0wever, raised more than the usual eyebrow. For the unaware, MySpace and Facebook are both “social networking” sites. Broadly speaking, these are websites that are free to join, where users create profiles listing their interests and link to their friends. In the case of MySpace, [...]
A couple of weeks after escaping from the high-dependency unit at University College Hospital, John Prescott was propping up the Strangers Bar last night, looking quite pleased with himself. And well he might, because it looks like he’s securing a new job. And happily for the rest of us, he might be spending less time in the UK - shagging away my fiscal contributions and stealing my oxygen.
The news that the man who was prepared to collude, lie and condemn hundreds of thousands to death in Iraq is now likely to be appointed an envoy to the Middle East beggars belief. I remember the contempt with which Blair was regarded by Palestinians when I was there a couple of months after the Iraq invasion. The idea that Blair will do anything other than collude with US and Israeli objectives to weaken the Palestinian cause and ensure the Palestinian state remains untenable, seems to me Alice in Wonderland politics. No, the most appropriate job for Blair would ...
Sorry to Duncan Borrowman for the huge delay in replying to this........had to check with Colin Ross what I was supposed to do if I was tagged.........(!!!) but here we go, better late than never, and of course I may well change my mind by tomorrow...... 2 things Gordon Brown should be proud of Being ScottishEr.........being Scottish (sorry that's a hard one to find anything he's actually done to be proud of)2 things he should apologise forNot standing up to Blair over Iraqcynically cutting the 10p rate of income tax - robbing poor Peter to pay rich Paul2 ...
Rumours abound (hat-tips: Dizzy and Guido) that Tony Blair will announce his resignation as an MP this week, triggering a by-election in Sedgefield to be held on the same day as the by-election in Ealing Southall. Labour’s thinking goes that such a double-hander will dilute the Lib Dems’ by-election efforts - and as Labour are [...]
Do they still have "army surplus stores"? All the ones in Oxford were priced out of the retail property market years ago. Or maybe their stock was raided to send to our boys in Iraq. Anyway, the reason I ask is that there's this assumption going about that Bliar will this week get his commission to go sort out the middle east, and, whilst the Guardian is here talking about "popular anger" in the middle east itself, I'm afraid that to my mind such is the inappropriateness of sending the man who has colluded shoulder ...
At our Full Council meeting, I was down to make a statement as a portfolio holder on the subject of ‘translations’. Unfortunately, a previous meeting over-ran and so I did not get chance to regale the chamber with my prose. In case there is anyone feeling deprived as a result, here is what I would have said: I stand now to make a statement which I can confidently predict will not receive unanimous support around this chamber. But, all the same, this administration feels it is necessary to mark out where we stand. On 10th June, ...
Fellow Lib Dem blogger Mark Young has posted the Countryside Alliance news on his blog. Tristan argued against me supporting the EU ban on fur trading of domestic animals a few days ago. My position is clear. I do not draw a moral line between how humans are treated and other sentient life. I trust Tristan would not agree with humans being treated in the way the video I linked to shows, my moral
The Lord Speaker of the Upper House, Baroness Hayman, hosted a reception in the River Room in the Lord Chancellor’s apartments last night, alongside the Baroness D’Souza, for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WDF), which is celebrating 15 years in operation. This worthwhile cross-party body has been promoting democracy and good governance around the world, [...]
Anyone who's been watching the news today will have seen the reports of terrible flooding in Yorkshire - and Sheffield has been badly hit. What originally seemed like a mere repeat of the flooding 10 days ago has turned into a fully-fledged natural disaster. Initially it seemed the flooding would be a minor irritation as rivers burst their banks and caused several roads to be closed, leading to gridlock in the city centre and the Meadowhall area. But as flood waters started alarmingly to take over the city's streets, many people abandoned their cars and headed for safety ...
Saturday: And to think that I LIKED that NICE Mr Sam Tyler in "Life on Mars". A TIME TRAVELLER, looking for a place to HYDE… the CLUES were all there, but I did not spot them! So, I am SHOCKED to discover that SAM TYLER was a MASTER-LY disguise after all! Daddy Richard had better explain it all… This was an episode of moments, racing crazily from one to the next, linked by zest and fun: Gallifrey, Cloudbase, the Doctor's "somebody else's problem" trick with the TARDIS keys and many more, mainly, I admit, moments ... | < | June 2007 | > | ||||
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