LibDem Blogs - Archived! - Tuesday 16th October 2007

Hancock's half hour

I with Capo 'KallKwik' Burstow, a Family enforcer, baby-sitting Capo Hancock today who appear to have gone slightly loopy-loo following Don Campbell vanishing act yesterday. "It business not personal Mike," he say "only Don Cable has instructed me to ensure Capo Liberali hits you with this rather big stick every time you put foot in mouth about your colleagues... until you stop doing it." "Ah ha... then you're one of them... oh yes you are..." say Capo Hancock "And who is 'them' Mike?" "The plotters, the filthy shits who bought down Don Camp..." WHACK! "I really not enjoy this Mike" ...

A message for Lib Dem MPs

Please no coronations. The full spectrum of views in the party must be presented to the membership. Please make sure the full spectrum get nominated.

David Laws will not stand for leadership

From the Chard & Ilminster News: "I believe that the Party will now have an excellent choice between a number of high quality candidates for the leadership of the Party."I will announce who I am supporting when the candidates have announced their intentions to stand. I have decided not to put my own name forward for the leadership, but will instead concentrate on my work as local MP and on my new responsibilities as Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families."

Ming: why I quit

Ming Campbell has given a series of interviews this afternoon setting out his reasons for choosing to stand down as Lib Dem leader. You can watch Ming’s interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson here. And here are extracts from Ming’s conversation with Sky News’s Adam Boulton: MC: … at the end of last week I worked [...]

Spooks: promoting the human face of recognition software

Hmmm. I've just been watching the new Spooks series. I won't give too much away but I was interested to see that they portrayed the security services using CCTV in London with facial recognition software to identify people they wanted to get to hospital for life-saving tests and vaccination. I guess this is supposed to make us feel that such software and equipment has benign uses. But of course for this method to work, it needs a databank of facial images as large as the ID cards biometric database. Does the Home Office use BBC drama to get its points ...

Railways on Skye

On holiday on Skye a few years ago, I was convinced that there had never been a railway on the island. Except that when I got the map out to plan a walk in Trotternish (the island's North-East peninsula) I came across what look remarkably like the track of a disused line. And it was. For when I got off the bus and went walking I came across the remains of the Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway. This narrow gauge line ran from Loch Cuithir to the coast at Invertote and was open between 1890 and 1920. Diatomite is a mineral ...

The War on Pies

Earlier today I qustioned the War on Drugs. Stumbling and Mumbling suggests that the War on Pies is equally flawed.

Will Steve Webb stand for Lib Dem Leadership?

There are several online campaigns in favour of Steve Webb standing for election as the next Leader of the Liberal Democrats. There's a Facebook Group "Steve Webb for Lib Dem Leader" - and a website - Bloggers4Steve.blogspot.com. These campaigns seem very appropriate seeing the impact Steve has been making with his online campaigning. Steve is expected to say later this week whether he will stand. The election timetable is as follows: 16th October - nominations open. To run, an MP must be nominated by at least 7 MPs; and also by at least 200 party members in 20 local parties. ...

Sexing up Tory Health policy

An oasis of calm in the middle of the day; hosted the reception for Pharmaceutucal wholesalers. In the absence of a Minister I was asked to say a few words and I thought it was a good idea if we balanced things out and asked Mark Simmonds (newly appointed to the Conservative Health Team) to say a few words. We all occasionally stumble over our words (it makes us endearingly human) and I was

Lib Dem Leadership - have YOUR say

If you've been thinking about joining the Liberal Democrats, and you would like a say in who the new Leader will be, now is the time to join. Our understanding is that if you join before 30 October you will be able to vote in the leadership election. You can join the Lib Dems online here or you can contact any of the Sodbury, Yate and Dodington Focus Team.

Postscript

I gather my blog of a week ago was quoted on the TV and radio news. I have declined all offers to talk to the media because I did not wish to add to what was said in my blog. Moreover the cacophony was already deafening. But I write this to make it clear that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the Channel 4 News reporter's suggestion today of a conspiracy by Chris Huhne supporters was utter rubbish. Ming resigned the leadership for his own reasons and because he put the cause we are all working for above ...

So, who next?

I supported Chris Huhne last time and hope that he will stand again. It has been an interesting 24 hours though. I still have to return Steve Webb's pager message and get back to Ed Davey (are they thinking about standing or are they a front for someone else?). John Hemming has e mailed his colleagues and some people have heard from Susan Kramer. Hmmmm. I am left to wonder why I haven't heard

But the day job goes on

Weightwatchers showed that I have lost two pounds! I am sure all this was worked off today in the constant dashing to and fro between Millbank, Westminster and the Green. The leadership was one cause but two other issues have been high on my agenda. The first is that a number of post offices have been fingered for closure by the media and this is a real concern to communities such as Chilworth,

Makes Me Want to Study Shakespeare!

A little trip down to Folkestone Library and strangely enough I was drawn to a copy of Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". In the light of events this year I think it rather an appropriate read. Antony's speech in Act III, Scene 2 is truly a great one: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Ceasar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a ...

Batgirl for equal pay!!!

They don't make em like this any more.

Thoughts prompted by Ming

Shock doesn't begin to describe it. The first inkling we all had was at 6:15 yesterday when a pager message told me that there would be a speech by the party president. I'm usually quick to see connections but on this occasion I was not very quick on the uptake and pondered aloud on what this could mean. The penny soon dropped but we could still hardly believe it. The initial reaction was that

Crude oil jumps to all-time high

The Financial Times reports that crude oil has hit an all-time high price.

My choice for Lib Dem leader

A day of weighing up thoughts on the Lib Dem leadership contest. First - many thanks to everyone who has been lobbying me to run for the leadership. It's flattering - but sorry, I'm not in the running. Instead, I am sticking with Chris Huhne. You know he had real balls last time - took the risk - gave the party a real choice. And in the campaign - it was Chris who had the big ideas - so much so that the other leadership contenders followed his agenda. I want the person who sets agendas - that is leadership. ...

Why Menzies had to go

I'm just watching "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and the guy on it - a firefighter and not an obvious idiot - didn't know that Ming was leader, and clearly had never heard of the name because he couldn't pronounce it. Sorry Ming, but having that total a lack of impact on the popular conciousness: not good enough.

The South African supporters of Mugabe's destruction of Zimbabwe

South Africa has a lot to answer for regarding the mass starvations in Zimbabwe, the political murders and the collapse of the economy there. Whilst the world denounced Mugabe's regime, South Africa maintains its tacit support for Mugabe and forgets that it has responsibilities to stand up for the oppressed people in that country. In the same way as Russia defends the inhuman treatment of protesters in Burma, which bodes ill for the Russian democracy, we all ought to look at South Africa and question the ANC's commitment to democracy and free speech whilst they maintain their support of Mugabe. ...

Why do some journalists use The Daily Mail as a source of information about the Lib Dems ?

I was annoyed but not surprised to hear Radio Five Live presenter Nicky Campbell interviewing Simon Hughes today not on the basis of what Simon had to say, but on the basis of a series of character assassinations by national newspapers that clearly have an axe to grind with Simon Hughes. The fact that Nicky Campbell used the Daily Mail as the main source of his attack on Simon should leave nobody in any doubt that Mr Campbell is in need of some journalist's qualifications and should have been consigned to Radio Two when his Radio One days were behind ...

Farewell Martyn, you’ll be sorely missed

The funeral of former Sandwell Liberal Democrat leader Martyn Smith took place this afternoon at West Bromwich Crematorium. The service was very well attended with Liberals from all over the country, a good number of Sandwell Councillors and of course Martyn’s family and friends from outside politics. Ian Garrett, former Sandwell Councillor and Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for West Bromwich East in 2001 and 2005, gave a fascinating summary of Martyn’s political career. Steve Webb MP, born in Great Barr and a potential leadership candidate, sent a short tribute which was read out. The service was concluded with the singing ...

Zimbabwe's slow suicide

There is a good article by Susie Linfield in Dissent. She traces the collapse of Mugabe's Zimbabwe through a study of five widely available books: When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa by Peter GodwinMukiwa: A White Boy in Africa by Peter GodwinDon’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood by Alexandra FullerAfrican Laughter: Four Visits to Zimbabwe by Doris LessingThe Stone Virgins by Yvonne VeraSee the This is Zimbabwe blog too.

Those Lib Dem leadership odds in full

Politicalbetting.com has the latest odds.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Jumped, pushed, knives, back, coup, too old, ageist, zzzzzzzzzz… Right, who’s next? Here be the official OBN commentary and analysis of the Liberal Democrat Leadership Fight Election 2008. Woo woo!First up – Mr David Laws. A man of intelligence, spirit, and a rather healthy bank account. OBN is a big fan of Laws, but is told of two reasons why he allegedly cannot stand: He Does Not Want ‘Media / Tabloid Attention’The ‘Sandalistas’ Won’t Have It I refuse to indulge in the rumours about Laws’ supposed aversion to ‘media attention’. Frankly, this kind of thing is so depressing it makes ...

Is this a dagger I see before me?

Thunder and lightning, enter three cloaked characters: Chris When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Nick When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. Steve That will be ere the set of sun. This sets the scene for how the press see the plotting for Ming's departure.. Then later: Is this a dagger I see before me... I see thee yet, In form as

How to avoid choosing between Clegg and Huhne

Of course I have spoken to both Chris and Nick about the leadership contest. I often joked with friends that when the time came (and who was to know it would be this soon) I would have to run myself to avoid choosing between them! Having gone for Chris Huhne last time (indeed, done a lot to actually get him to run in the first place) and then worked closely with Nick Clegg for a year and a half in the Home Affairs team before I was promoted to the Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet with the International Development brief - ...

Norfolk Blogger on Radio 4

I was interviewed at teatime by Radio Four for their new iPM slot, a new podcast support to the PM show. The have entitled the piece "Ming Campbell - My part in his downfall", although that is massively overstating the case. I do feel, and made clear a number of times to the interviewer, that bloggers are more of a litmus test for the party, and whilst we didn't fire the shots, we might be guilty sometimes of loading the weapon. The printed press, of course, would like the Party and bloggers to take the rap for Ming's demise, but ...

Cheeky Girl slams Barnett formula

icWales reports that Gabriela attended the Liberal Democrat conference in Aberystwyth with Lembit at the weekend. The website quotes her as saying: “The only issue that wasn’t raised was one I really wanted, the Barnett formula. Probably if I’m coming next year I’ll push it harder and everybody can see I’m a dead boring girl.”It also says that Lembit admitted he never intended being the Lib Dem candidate for London Mayor but played up to the hype because he found it funny.

Consensus breaks out (amongst the papers at least)

Unsurprisingly, the news of Ming Campbell's departure has been met with a huge splash of media coverage.Perhaps more surprisingly is the amount of agreement that the different commentators and leader writers manage to muster:The frontpages and sketches talk about the rather bizarre announcement (see Simon Hoggart in The Guardian and Andrew Gimson in The Telegraph).There is lots of praise for Ming in the leaders. Not just for his qualities, but for knowing when to go. The general impression is that the Lib Dems will do well from it. The Telegraph is typical in saying: "It is inconceivable that the new ...

A slightly eccentric theory about Ming's leadership

It occurred to me today that perhaps Ming's Leadership didn't last as it broke the sequence of Scot, non Scot Leaders we have had back as far as 1935. The list is as follows: Archibald Sinclair - Scot Clement Davies - non Scot Jo Grimond - Scot Jeremy Thorpe - non Scot David Steel - Scot Paddy Ashdown - non Scot Charles Kennedy - Scot Menzies Campbell - Scot perhaps if the last Leadership campaign had lasted a couple of weeks more Chris Huhne would now be Leader and the sequence and fates would be appeased! No comments suggesting that ...

Position Statement for Leadership Election

It surprised me just as much as anyone else when Ming resigned yesterday. We must thank Ming for the way in which he brought stability and improved the professionalism of the party although we still have further to go. Unsurprisingly I am interested in putting myself forward for Party Leader. I am writing this note as a “position statement”. The reason I wish to stand is to be able to argue

Ambition is not a four letter word

The next leader of our party might consider looking backwards for their key inspiration after they are elected. When we were significantly worse off in the polls, Paddy Ashdown nevertheless stated his ambition as winning the General Election. Sure it was outlandish, but it got the blood pumping. Putting aside all our thoroughly principled talk about green taxes, Europe, sensible immigration policies and the rest, wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear our next leader coming out with a bold statement of intent, such as their desire to double the number of our MPs at the next election or to push ...

Oop she did it again - Labour MP praises herself for a 2nd time (and recycles her EDMs)

Readers of this blog may recall a few weeks ago I massively raised the profile of the unknown Labour MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, Sharon Hodgson, by revealing that she had lovingly lavished praise upon herself in an early day motion that slagged off Ryanair (MP praises herself) For those of you who have never heard of Ms Hodgson, she was a union hack who was gifted the Gateshead

Anti-drug laws make things worse

There was an exchange in the Commons yesterday that demonstrated the mindlessness of the "War on Drugs". There was a question from Dr Brian Iddon, the Labour MP for Bolton South-East: I welcome the reduction in the misuse of any drug, whether legal or illegal, but does my hon. Friend the Minister recognise that enforcement action can have unintended consequences, as evidenced by the shift from the smuggling of low-tetrahydrocannabinol-content cannabis from places such as Morocco to the large-scale farming in rented properties of high-THC-content cannabis all across Britain? I can report that, in the past three or four months, ...

Surprise? Really?

The BBC and others have described Ming's decision as a "surprise". While I am gratified that the description "surprise" at least gives some leeway for Ming's decision to be regarded as his own in respect, at least, to its precise timing, I am surprised that the "media" are surprised. In Brighton at the conference last month, Ming gave 70 media interviews and was asked about his age in every

Not a posting about the leadership… a bureaucrat regrets (with apologies to Sir Menzies Campbell)

(Embargoed until I feel like it) When I was elected as Secretary of the London Liberal Democrats in November 2004 I had three objectives. First, to restore stability and purpose in the bureaucracy following my predecessor’s decision to spend more time with the people of Ealing Southall, second, to make the internal operations of the party more professional, and third, to prepare the secretariat

Anyone here speak Giddens?

Can anyone translate the conclusion of today's Guardian article by the former Blair guru Anthony Giddens into plain English? It goes: Therapists such as Susie Orbach have long insisted that developing emotional literacy should be the foundation of most areas of social policy. I agree. Whenever individuals' behaviour is controlled by habits that they should control, we are at the fulcrum of the relationship between domination and freedom. Government has been reluctant to intrude, but now it must.

Youth Live - number two

We've got a bit of a party today (I am stuck at work but the others have a party!) to celebrate the production of our second edition of Youth Live. The magazine, produced by the Youth Communications Network, is a bit more edgy this time as young people have been able to be a lot more involved in the editorial process (in fact they have led it). The do today I am told will feature the "best milkshakes in Liverpool". Youth Live magazine gets distributed around schools, youth groups, libraries etc. The idea is to give young people more of ...

Yet another resignation… but where now?

The last 12 hours have certainly been eventful. Only an hour after getting back to Sheffield from my weekend away I heard the news about Ming Campbell’s resignation. I’m still feeling pretty stunned. Despite all the criticism I just didn’t believe Ming would decide to step down in this way, and it’s such a shame he’s ended up going like this. His comment that he didn’t want the speculation about his leadership standing in the way of the party’s success is a good measure of the sort of person he is. He wouldn’t want to go, but he realised it ...

Clegg

Just as I begin to shake of my parochial ways and embrace up country as not a bad place, along they come meddling in our affairs. I was interviewed by Radio Cornwall yesterday, on an important local item, that was to run on the breakfast program. But Ming's ill timed resignation speech has meant that my item has been bumped off the program! Well that's it for me and up country. Except for one comment on the leadership election. At Brighton Andrew Neil came at me with two mugs. One full of Clegg badges and one full of Huhne badges, ...

More lack of common sense

I missed this story which surfaced about a month ago. How old does the gentleman above look to you? 52? 62? Well actually he is 72 but clearly over 21 According to the BBC "Supermarket staff refused to sell alcohol to a white-haired 72-year-old man - because he would not confirm he was over 21. Check-out staff at Morrisons in West Kirby, Wirral, demanded Tony Ralls prove he was old enough to buy his two bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon. Mr Ralls asked to see the manager who put the wine back on the shelf. The grandfather-of-three said he had refused ...

Talking to voters

I have no intention of making this blog a leadership-focussed one so this is the last post on the subject for now. However, I could not resist drawing attention to this post by my former researcher Francesca on what happened in Italy when the Italian Democrats chose their new leader. They adopted the Tory idea of primaries but went much further than just collecting names, addresses and e-mail lists for future fundraising, they charged a minimum fee of one Euro to each participant. The result was that 3 and ½ million Italians turned out to vote for the new leader ...

Warning after cold caller incident

Police are urging residents in Chipping Sodbury not to let bogus callers into their homes (Story from Avon and Somerset Constabulary website). It follows two incidents in Woodlands Close on October 2 when two men claiming they were from the "water board" called on properties in the area. On one occasion a resident was asked to run a water tap but discovered that a bedroom may have been entered although nothing was taken. Another resident in the same street was told to check her taps as a water pipe had been damaged in a nearby road. The resident became suspicious ...

Elections bleeding elections

By the end of the year I'll have taken participated in Local Government elections, Scottish Parliament elections (Constituency & Regional list), 3 internal Scottish Party elections, European list selection and Leadership election. At least Broon bottled it so that wasn't yet one more. All this democracy takes it out of you after a while!

Are we being rail roaded again?

There is that beautiful biblical phrase about the " sins of the fathers being visited upon the sons". The english translation doesn't really do justice to the Hebrew. Its more of a sence that the consequences of past mistakes flow through the generations and to some extent we are free of other past actions. Thus we commit fresh sins. I can't help but wonder if we are in this territory now. Ming has clearly been forced out and already (a) people are spraying around endorsements for Nick Clegg (b) FE announce a very short in my view timetable for a ...

Sandwell BNP implosion continues

Cast your minds back to May. The BNP in Sandwell were telling anyone that would listen that they were set to make 2, 3, maybe 4 gains at the local elections and would overtake the Liberal Democrats as the third party in the Borough. They made no gains to add to their 4 Councillors. This summer Councillor Simon Smith left the party after questioning Nick Griffin’s “leadership”. Their group went down to 3. Now (hat-tip to West Brom Blog) it seems their group could lose another member, as James Lloyd, BNP Councillor for Princes End ward, has not attended a ...

East Dulwich Says No to Unwanted Bags

Last night Dulwich Community Council agreed this year’s Cleaner Greener Safer grants. For me the highlight was the relatively modest £16k allocated to the Say NO to Plastic Bags campaign. This is a community campaign, supported by locals and traders, to promote cloth bags in and around Lordship Lane. The East Dulwich councillors have been involved from the beginning. We gathered signatures in support at the Dulwich Green Fair and I am on the SNUB committee. Hopefully we can agree a design quickly and and make a real impact reducing plastic bag waste as soon as possible. The aim must be to make Lordship Lane the greenest shopping street ...

Statement

I am quite probably the last Liberal Democrat supporter to discover that Menzies Campbell has resigned as party leader. I have some heartfelt and robust views on this issues, but as I am currently being shooed out of an internet cafe in the South of Iran I find it rather hard to express them.

In Hertford, Hereford and Hampshire hurricanes hardly ever happen

Twenty years ago my father woke on the morning of his 70th birthday to the news that much of southern England had been swept by a hurricane. His home in Wales had been spared the worst of the strom, but I wished him a Happy Birthday and described how all the roads around Hook were swathed in green branches and fallen trees. The storm had kept us awake for several hours during the night and we had...

Four leaders in eight years!

Scattered throughout the media I have seen the phrase that the Liberal Democrats have had 3 leaders in 2 years. Of course this is a contrived figure, it counts from the end of the tenure of the first, to the start of the tenure of the third i.e. all it actually measure is the duration of Ming Campbell's leadership. On the same measure, the Tories from the end of William Hague in late 2001 to the

Mayoral Hustings

Last night Chipping Barnet hosted a hustings for our Mayoral candidates. Chamali FernandoFiyaz MughalBrian PaddickI thought they were all excellent. They all have different strengths and performed well. We gave each candidate 15 minutes to set out their stall and then the audience were able to question them. The membership have a real choice and who ever wins we will have a really strong contender to take on Ken and Boris.

Leadership contest

Very sad about the manner of Sir Menzies Campbell's departure. He must to some extent have felt hounded out by commentators who knew very little about the nature of the party or the task of leader. Having said that though I had felt for a while that he was someone in the "wrong job". He seemed uncomfortable with the "showman" part of the leadership role and I really hope now we can have more of his talents used on the key foreign affairs issues which he knows well and excels in. He could probably have hung on - but going ...

Al Gore for President

I think we’d all agree that Al Gore deserved the Nobel Prize for his work on raising awareness about climate change. You may be interested to read about the nine so-called errors in his film “An Inconvenient Truth”: www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2189279,00.html and www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=483 Any Americans among you - perhaps you could join the campaign to persuade Gore to stand for President? www.draftgore.com/ or www.algore.org/

Good news from China

I interrupt the current frenzy around the blogs about the Lib Dem leadership to bring you news from China - promising news from President Hu Jintao's opening speech to the Communist Party's once-every-five-years congress. He talked about the need for China to "promote a conservation culture" and "energy and resource-efficient and environment-friendly industries". Of course words in speeches come more easily than action - but it's good to see him setting out the need for China to become more green - and that should mean good news for our one, shared global climate.

The Ming thing continues…

I’m still in a state of shock about the Ming thing. And the more I think about it, the sadder I get. Ming’s own absence from the steps of Cowley Street when the statement was read out on his behalf only adds to the image in my head of a dejected old man wandering lonely back home having been told he’s too old for the pub dominoes team. Everyone seems to be of one mind that the decision was right, even if the chatter leading up to it was entirely wrong. I suppose we all looked at the depressing polls, ...

An ale filled evening

I couldn't have wished to learn of the sad events of yesterday evening in a more appropriate venue. I was in Glasgow on a course yesterday and had planned to meet up with Norman Fraser and Amy Rodger at The Best Pub in the World, the Station Bar near G-Cal Uni. It's a fab place with a lovely atmosphere and a mixed clientele - people who work or live locally, or who are rehearsing or playing at the Royal Concert Hall. The beer last night was not as spectacular as it has been in the past - Hydes Brewery's Thriller ...

Another quirky observation

Evidence of just how quickly the announcement was made can be found in Hansard. Lord Rennard, Chief Executive (and Returning Officer in a leadership election), was on his feet in the House of Lords about 3:11pm talking about voting systems!

Thank you Ming

Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it - Shakespeare, Macbeth Charles Anglin used this quote on the comments at LibDem Voice and I couldn't think of any quote more fitting (relating, of course, to political party leadership 'life') for Ming's departure. Paddy put it most eloquently on Today this morning. This is Ming's day. Amidst the bundle of emotions of the last few days (

Ming's resignation

Here's what I posted on LibDem Voice at 4.29pm yesterday: "I don’t think Lady Elspeth will let him stand down. Seriously though, I’ve got really mixed feelings on this one. I didn’t vote for him, actually that’s not true, I gave him my 3rd preference primaraly becuase I was furious that all of our Scottish MP’s (excepting Charles of course) came out en-masse as Ming supporters. I strongly believe that it’s wrong for MPs to try and bounce the membership like that. Also believed that the candidate I was supporting was a much better choice for the job. Ming was ...

Strike threatens US television and film

A strike by one of the main unions within Hollywood is threatening, the production of major TV shows as well as upcoming movie blockbusters. The strike organised by the Writers guild of America, will start effective immediately on November 1st, unless a new contract is signed between the union and the major studios. But why is the strike happening (or at least probably going to happen)? Well the Writers guild of America represents all TV and Film writers and their current contract expires on October 31st. Now there used to be talk of the writers carrying on with their jobs ...

If Newsnight Doesn't Understand, How Can Anyone Else?

So let me get this right; according to the combination of Newsnight and BBC Ten O'Clock News, Simon Hughes is the representative of the social democratic wing of the party, Nick Clegg is represents both the economic liberal wing and the right wing, and Steve Webb and Chris Huhne represent the left wing. If the telly was mine I'd be throwing things at it... Whoever our new leader may be (and let

Campaign Period not long enough

I am angry at the FE's decision to impose such a short campaign period on us. In 2006, after Charles' resignation, it was vital to get a leader in place for the start of the local election campaign. I am not sure that announcing our new leader at the start of the Christmas holidays is going to give them the right sort of momentum. They will hit the ground running and everything will stop for Christmas. I think they would not have lost anything by announcing the result in mid January. That way, ballot papers would not get bogged down ...

One quirky thought…

Ming Campbell is often credited with creating a more efficient party, and some evidence of that might be the choice of venue for the resignation announcement last night. Presumably the reason it was done on Cowley St’s dark doorstep is because the studio-lit boardroom, which Charles Kennedy used for his resignation, is still full of desks and converted in to a General Election war room.

Theo Butt Philip pays tribute to Sir Menzies Campbell

Liberal Democrats across the country owe a great debt of gratitude to Sir Menzies Campbell. Sir Menzies became Leader of the Liberal Democrats at a very difficult time. He has given stability to the party. Before becoming Leader, Ming was an excellent Deputy Leader and Shadow Foreign Secretary. His judgment over the years, particularly on Iraq, has been invaluable. I am deeply personally

Dr Crippen is back

With witty words about Gordon Brown and informed comment about hospital infections. http://nhsblogdoc.blogspot.com/ I'm glad Wales has a devolved health service. - Frank Little

Make sure you can vote in the leadership election!

Join the Lib Dems today to have a say in our next leader. You can sign on here!

The Perfect Leader

On logging onto Facebook this morning, I was inundated with requests to join groups in favour of various potential leaders - Reid to Lead, Nick Clegg, Alastair Carmichael, Lorely Burt. I was surprised that there was not a Pink Dog for Leader group. I can only assume that he was so snubbed at his failure to get on the ballot last time that he has simply gone off in the huff. Anyway, I haven't made up my mind who to support yet, but there are a few qualities which I think are essential in the next leader: an ability to ...

Chris Huhne - young Turk !

...and just for balance, here's a young radical student called Huhne trying to bash in the door of the establishment with a bench. What an appropriate image for the position of leader of the Liberal Democrats in an archaic parliament whose procedure assumes only two parties. Sorry there's no dog, Chris, but if you send me a picture of yourself with a dog, I will publish it.

Liberal Democrats Italian style?

The Lib Dems have managed to lose three leaders in a couple of days; it shows how much a small group of determined people can achieve given the chance. I wish we were like that at election time. Lembit Opik MP resigned from his leadership role of the Welsh Lib Dems, Mike German AM announced he will step down as leader of the Welsh Lib Dems in the Assembly next year and, of course, Menzies

Sir Menzies Campbell: Old Jokes Revisited

Remembering a leadership life in gags: 15th October 2007: "Any similarities between "Menzies" and "Menezes" are entirely coincidental - one was killed by those he trusted most, the other was mistaken for a suicide bomber." 20th September 2007: "Is a supporter of Ming Campbell a "Minger"?" Apparently not, they're called Minglers. 18th September 2007: In an article on Nick Clegg's immigration plan

I think we should be told !

Has anyone noticed the amazing resemblance between the Mountie Fraser in Due South and Nick Clegg. I wonder if they are related. I think we should be told, before we decide how to vote.

‘tis a far, far better thing…

The media has been scurrying over the body looking for intrigue but it does appear that Ming decided on his departure of his own volition – albeit in the face of endless rumours about his appeal to voters and his ability to hold the position until a possible 2010 election. The truth will come out over the ensuing months, years and decades but if Simon Hughes, Vince Cable and David Laws – last night’s media sacrifices – are to be believed it does seem to be the truth. Which makes Ming one of the most courageous and honourable politicians in ...

Contest

I am already being asked who I will support in the contest for Liberal Democrat leader. So who are the candidates? Seriously, though any candidate would do well to avoid asking me. So far I have supported John Pardoe (lost to David Steel), Alan Beith (lost to Paddy Ashdown) and Simon Hughes twice (lost to Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell). Not a good record I admit.

Where I was when I heard the news…

It was my hypnotherapist who told me that Ming had resigned. You couldn’t make that up, so I haven’t. After we have finished unpicking my brain in search of the little button marked “smoke yourself into an early grave” I rush home and channel-surf frantically. This doesn’t take long as we only have terrestrial tv in the People’s Republic. We are in the mid-evening news drought! I fire up the computer. It shakes its head listlessly, and refuses to move beyond the startup screen. It says there is a system error - what it really means by this is that the ...

The Liberal Democrat Leadership timetable

The Liberal Democrat Federal Executive met last night and agreed a timetable to elect a new Leader.

So farewell, Ming

What a strange, superficial world British politics has become ! Ming resigns because he is too old ? Or doesn't land punches in his two questions at the weekly Punch & Judy show known as PMQs ? How ridiculous. I have been critical of Ming within the party because I disagreed with him about Trident and generally I felt his approach to policy was too cautious. The latter complaint applies not

Off the mark

And getting into the swing of things early on - I’m sure this will be a hard-fought leadership election, as everyone releases their pent-up electoral urges from the general election that wasn’t - I’ve created the Chris Huhne This Time Facebook group, if anyone wants to join me.

I wasn’t expecting that…

I’m sure everyone knows that Ming has resigned. I supported him in the leadership election and I thought he’d stay for a while longer. I have had some reservations about him - his performance has been a little erratic, he’s been trying to keep everyone totally happy (and made many people unhappy) on many issues. My biggest [...]

The Curse of Liberator?

Liberator has never held back about criticising leaders and calling for their resignation in the past. Although the esteemed radical organ had had some stern words to say about Ming's dithering after Gordon Brown's job offers to Lib Dems, only a few days ago I received my copy in which it gave its opinion that he should stay until the next General Election. So what happens? As soon as Liberator takes his part, the leader goes and resigns:-( I have to say I agreed with Liberator's position - much to my surprise. I would rather have held a worm in ...

How Apt

Simon Hoggart has excelled himself today in The Guardian but not perhaps in the way he intended. This quote is very apt: "At Mafia funerals it's always the capo who ordered the hit who makes the most fulsome speech over the coffin - about the departed's wonderful qualities, his integrity, his patriotism, his love of family". I think that Ming made the decision in consultation with others. I think he had several scenarios in mind and spoke to a number of people about what he should do. I don't think that he was assassinated.

Ming told me before Conference he was going to resign

In fact he told a whole roomful of people - and although obviously we all realised that it meant a new era for the party, no-one seemed particularly surprised. Over the last few weeks this had become quite widely known by staff and MPs and others who were interested. He had clearly given thought to smooth succession planning, and in fact had a preferred successor lined up. (more…)

It was the Press wot’ done it

Last night, as Simon Hughes and Vince Cable finished their announcement to the press on the doorsteps of the Liberal Democrats Cowley Street headquarters, a voice from amongst the serried ranks of journalists cried out “Who wielded the dagger?” For the answer to that question, the press might be better looking closer to home. Sir Menzies Campbell has been dogged by a hostile press since his election to lead the party just 18 months ago. He had had an inauspicious start: the Conservatives had just elected their new leader only weeks before the Lib Dems only leadership crisis, in a ...

Sad for Ming, sad for the Lib Dems and sad for politics

I had intended to give up my blog, having taken up a new job that requires a degree of political impartiality, however yesterday's events are just too much for me to allow to pass without comment... Ming has always been a real liberal, a decent man of integrity, everything he has said and done as Leader has shown that. He was in many ways the right man at the wrong time. I was one of a number of people who repeatedly tried to convince Ming to stand in 1999 when Paddy resigned. He wavered and in the end decided to ...

And another one bites the dust

So, now we have yet another living former Lib Dem leader from Scotland. The perfunctory nature of his letter of resignation makes clear the bitterness in Ming's heart over his treatment by his colleagues. Ok, this time there was no ominous knock on the door from the men in grey suits, but if ever a man was damned by faint praise, it was Ming Campbell over this past weekend. I didn't put him

Decency, Dignity, Honour

Decency, dignity, honour - 3 words that sum up Ming and he has all 3 in abundance. He has also put party before personal interest. From the inside I have seen the improvements to the party machinery and policy that have happened under Ming's leadership. It seems so unfair that the real improvements have counted for so little in terms of Ming's image and profile.---Sent via BlackBerry

Opinion: Let’s Get Honest With Ourselves

The departure of Ming Campbell gives a tremendous opportunity for the Liberal Democrats to be honest with themselves: an opportunity that only arises rarely in the middle of a Parliament. The media will ignore it, but the leadership contest can and must be used by those who have been spelling out the obvious, critical issues of [...]

Standing easy

I’m giving this blog a rest for a short while. With the Lib Dem leadership race about to get underway, my role as commissioning editor for Liberal Democrat Voice is going to keep me quite busy enough (while also holding down a full-time job and being a councillor). Doubtless I’ll be back at some stage, though it’s unlikely this time I will declare for any particular candidate. I recorded a

North Herefordshire and Rugby advertise

Both North Herefordshire and Rugby Liberal Democrats have now advertised for their Parliamentary candidates.

For Ming, with thanks

Yesterday was a sad day for the Liberal Democrats; but in particular for Ming Campbell, a good, decent, honourable man, and someone who - if politics and life were fairer - could have proved to be a highly effective leader. But, in truth, he never looked comfortable in the job. For a gent whose attire is always immaculately tailored, the suit of leadership hung awkwardly on his frame. The early

So the Huhne-Clegg battle will commence

So - five minutes is a long time in politics! Yes - I knew there were rumblings from those in seats under threat. No - I had no idea that Ming would go. But he is a man of integrity - and as the media leaks and damage escalated - he did (as you would expect) the honourable thing. Whilst I didn't support Ming for the leadership, since he was elected I thought he did a good job with the mess he inherited after Charles's departure. But the external world is unforgiving. So the Huhne-Clegg battle will commence. We do ...

The leadership election timetable

16th October: nominations open for the vacancy of leader of the Liberal Democrats. To run, an MP must be nominated by 10% of the Parliamentary party, currently seven MPs; and also by at least 200 party members in 20 local parties. 31st October: nominations close. 17th November: ballot papers will be sent out to party members. 15th December: [...]

Setting out a Liberal Future

I wrote in June about the challenges that faced Ming Campbell in renewing the Liberal Democrats. Those challenges will not be less under a new leader. In fact, although the media circus has painted the leadership in the blackest terms, Ming Campbell has many substantial achievements under his belt. He has renewed much of the organisational side, and most importantly he created a more open and collegiate leadership style. Whichever leader now emerges ought to continue those positive developments. Sir Ming is a transparently decent and honest figure- and his competitive streak is for the pursuit of Liberalism and the ...

Reflections on the fall of Chairman Campbell

In light of yesterday’s events, I suppose people must think I look rather foolish for taking the Observer to task over its reporting of the plot against Ming. Fair enough, but my point still holds. Both of those articles suggested that MPs were plotting a coup, yet neither of them included a direct quote from an MP saying as much or gave any details as to how the journalist came by that information. I still think that is pretty unacceptable. We appear to have gone beyond the usual practice of anonymous briefings to the press now to a system whereby ...

Don Campbell go missing

Well it pretty exciting today in Cowley Printworks. This afternoon I chatting with Signor Davey by windows in Boardroom when we see two masked men load a tarten carpet into van by door and drive off at high speed. Hour or so later Singors Cable and Hughes call meeting of Family Capos and looking very grave announce to us Don Campbell decide to spend more time with Signora Campbell writing his Olympic memoirs. Signor Cable now acting Don until new Padrino emerge from Family ruthless elevation procedure. Signor Cable say "The Don decided that rather than let speculation drag on ...

The Ming is Dead, Long Live The Ming

On Sunday morning I wrote that Ming needs to make a decision, either way, and make it quick. Despite writing that, I didn’t expect to hear news of a resignation so soon. For that, I have the upmost respect for Ming. He has put the interests of the party ahead of his own, preventing the daggers that would inevitably have appeared, so preventing the kind of embarrassment that the party suffered when Charlie was ousted. Let us hope for a leadership election that doesn’t result in the party becoming the laughing stock of the media once again. Assuming Nick Clegg ...

Ming’s Dignified Departure

{ming-campbell-3.jpg} I have long held Ming Campbell in high regard, as a man of integrity and courage. I have huge respect for his sound judgement and wise words on foreign affairs, in particular. His performances on Newsnight during the launching of the Iraq War and its aftermath will long live in memory. Over the 20-odd years that I have known him, I have been constantly impressed by his courtesy (even when we disagreed, on issues such as nuclear disarmament), his incisiveness and his cool head. The manner of his departure — entirely on his own initiative, whatever the media may ...

Oh to be a floating voter, now that Autumn’s here

With Simon Hughes’s announcement that he won’t stand in the forthcoming Liberal Democrat leadership contest, I find myself a floating voter for the first time in any election. I probably shouldn’t admit this, as I gather the new rules mean that each of the campaigns will be given my contact details, so I am opening myself up to a phalanx of phone calls here. For the election itself, I just have a few pleas: Can we have the same cross-UK hustings arrangement as last time? Can we bloggers resist the urge to plumb the depths of endless “my candidate is better than ...

It’s deja vu all over again

Now that’s rather annoying - I was just looking for my blog posts from the time of the last leadership election, and discovered that they were among those that got lost when Lycos messed me around and prompted my move to the fine people here at Sonnet. Anyway, since getting back from my meeting earlier I’ve been reading the various reactions across the blogs and the forums as well as chatting to a few friends, and I’ve come to the same conclusion I did in January 2006 - I want Chris Huhne to be the next leader of the Liberal ...

The web site that wasn’t

As a reasonably constant critic of Ming Campbell, it would be pretty unpalatable if I suddenly leapt in with a glowing political eulogy. Let me just say this - he promised to steady the ship and he did so, which was a real achievement. He should be commended for standing down before he found himself in danger of de-steadying the ship again. I believe he has resigned with his dignity intact. Not least because in resigning when he did, he spared us all the launch of this web campaign, which was all set to go: {Recall Ming Campbell - recallming.org} ...

Tuesday 16th October 2007

Previous days:

Archives

Search for...

Adverts

Buttons

LibDem Blog Box

Contributors

Campaigns

From the BBC...

Backlinks...

From the LibDems...

From the Independent...

From Politics.co.uk...

From the Guardian...

Adverts