One of the best wall adverts yet
Sunday 3rd February 2008
11:42 pm
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Fog in Westminster, Europe Cut Off
The United Kingdom is now closer to ’systematic semi-detachment’ from the European Union than any time since it became part of the European family in 1973, according to Peter Sutherland, the former European Commissioner and Director General of the World Trade Organisation. In a hard-hitting pamphlet just published by the Federal Trust, Fog in Westminister, [...] 11:01 pm
The Ghost Goes Gear again again
Imporant news: I have found another clip from this seminal 1966 film on Youtube. Unless the Spencer Davis Group was in the habit of playing gigs in their pyjamas, that is. See the other clips here. 10:42 pm
Its official: Liberals Democrats tough and effective on crime
I’m really pleased that my local Council, Stockport, is one of three Liberal Democrat authorities that have reached the top five list of the Home Office in cutting crime. (see earlier posting: We’re not saying it’s nirvana - we are just using tough liberalism to make Stockport stronger. So remember when Labour do their politics [...] 10:29 pm
Roger Daltrey: Say It Ain't So Joe
Years ago I heard a song called "Say It Ain't So Joe" and was haunted by it, but had no idea who it was by. Then they invented the internet and I discovered it was written and sung by Murray Head. Murray Head is the older brother of the actor Anthony Head of Buffy fame. He appeared in two prominent British films - The Family Way (1966) and Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) - and achieved fame as a singer in 1984 with "One Night in Bangkok" from the Benny, Bjorn and Tim Rice musical Chess. But he is better known ... 10:01 pm
Serbian election: pro-EU candidate beats pro-Russian candidate
The incumbent pro-Western Serbian President, Boris Tadic, has beaten the pro-Russian nationalist Tomislav Nikolic by around 51% - 47%. 9:34 pm
Don't ride Stagecoach
The public transport company Stagecoach, including one of its brandnames Magic Bus, dominate the student-heavy Oxford Road bus route in Manchester. Unfortunately Stagecoach isn't a nice friendly company providing low-cost, environmentally-friendly public transport that students might assume, as it is owned by a man named Brian Souter. Brian Souter is well-known for donating between £500,000 and £1,000,000 to run a corrupt polling exercise in his (failed) attempt to stop the repeal of Section 28, a homophobic piece of legislation which, among other things, set back over 10 years attempts to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. In addition, Stagecoach's employees appear ... 9:32 pm
Imaginative Parallel of the Day
Well done Jonny Wright, writer of Hug a Hoodie, for this comment on Gavin's Gaily Gigest: The Premiership is a bit like the London music scene in the 18th century - loads of foreign talent on display (Handel, for a start!), but we dont produce much of our own. 9:12 pm
Polls say Conway should quit
Last week I set up a poll asking "Should Derek Conway resign as Old Bexley & Sidcup's MP" At the latest count, with 253 votes in, the results are running at 91% YES and 9% NO. Now a quick word about online polls. I ensured that not only did the poll save a cookie on a persons computer to help stop multiple voting, but I also blocked multiple voting from the same IP address. So for instance all 8:26 pm
In Defence of (Most) MPs
The Derek Conway affair has sadly refuelled an old premise that MPs trouser the allowances they are given to support their work. Reports of MPs salaries have therefore been massively inflated as all the sums are added together. The reality is that most MPs receive a salary of around 60,000 pounds for their work and see nothing of the allowances directly as these are properly spent on their legitimate office costs. Indeed, it is not uncommon for MPs to contribute to their political costs from their own funds where necessary. The allowance which has been most helpful to most MPs ... 8:20 pm
"Coming over ere, stealing our jobs", but from a Lib Dem MP this time
The previously seen but not heard Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, "Bingo" Bob Russell has stolen a march on Conservative xenophobia by tabling an Early Day Motion calling: "… on the Government, working in partnership with the football authorities, to discourage football clubs from recruiting so many overseas players and instead to promote the development of [...] 8:10 pm
Rawnsley on the US Presidential race
Andrew Rawnsley has an excellent article in the Observer on the US election, entitled "America's Moment of Truth". He talks a lot about the possibility of the US having its first woman President or its first "Black" (Mixed race) President. But I think underplays the possibility of the US having its first Oven Chip as President. He raises a sobering thought: For the past 20 years, it's been 8:06 pm
Another Tory MP "caught in staffing row"
The Mail on Sunday reports: A second Tory MP was dragged into the row over Commons staff last night for employing his lover's daughter when she was still a sixth-form pupil. Ashleigh Sharp has been Bob Spink's parliamentary assistant since 2006, when she was just 17 and enrolled at a sixth-form college in Benfleet, Essex. Miss Sharp, the daughter of Mr Spink's former partner, Gail Boland, is 8:05 pm
Pompous-arse music festival called off after entries fall below the standard required
Tynedale Music Festival, 104 years old this year, has been called off for the first time since World War 2. Apparently, the “districts oldest and most prestigious music event” couldn’t operate with a mere two hundred entrants. I have terrifying memories of the Tynedale Music Festival. With music teachers locked in combat across the district, we unwitting young musicians were whipped to the point of lunacy to perform better and brighter than so-and-so from St. Joseph’s middle school. I don’t remember ever winning anything, but I do remember the fear. In particular, well I remember the solo singing. It makes my stomach ... 8:00 pm
Tebbit's solution to street violence: Teach boys to shoot!
Norman Tebbit has come up with a brilliant solution to the "culture of violence" on Britain's streets. Teach all boys how to shoot. Brilliant. Well done Tebbers! Nurse, the pills please! 7:57 pm
Updated: Clarified Conservative Home Section 28 comments
Graeme Archer writes a regular Sunday Diary on Conservative Home. His comments today on the Conway saga are arresting, particularly the last sentence: I dont know what annoys me more: that Mr Conways family funding arrangements have given our opponents some sticky mud to fling at us, or that his No.1 son does his best to live up to every toe-curling stereotype about homosexual men known to the 7:41 pm
Time the British gave up their bases in Cyprus
The report that once again British soldiers based in the British bases in Cyprus, have got involved in drunken brawls in local bars comes as no surprise. Only a few years ago two soldiers, convicted of raping and killing a young Danish tour guide were released from a 12 year sentence. Britain has two bases in Cyprus, where soldiers have a really bad reputation with the Cypriots. I have a cousin who until recently was a military policeman on one of the bases, and he told me that the off duty drunken behaviour of the British soldiers was legendary. According ... 7:30 pm
Media confusion between parenthood and lunch
I often lick and bite ice cream, that doesn’t make it my mother figure. What about the Scottish Rabbit Protection League Share This 7:17 pm
Over the Hill and Far Away
The journalistic theme to my week continued on Friday, as BBC political editor Nick Robinson was the guest speaker after lunch at the Liberal Peers Away day - yes, it was the annual team building exercise, the noble equivalent of paintballing. Admittedly, we didnt go away very far - Regent Street as it happens, but its the spirit of the thing which counts. Pep talks from our Leader Tom McNally (we pick our own leader in the Lords by the way - Shadow Cabinets and even Party Leaders come and go, but we plough our own furrow in the Lords.) ... 6:58 pm
Visit by St Johns Ambulance
It was really great to be able to welcome members of the Bath division of the St Johns Ambulance to the Mayors Parlour on Friday 1st February. There was a special reason for the visit and that was to show me the new badge that they were now all wearing depicting part of the city crest that they had received permission of the Charter trustees to wear. The... 
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MPs and buggers
No, not the race of insectoid aliens intent on wiping out humanity. It's about Labour MP Sadiq Khan, who was apparently bugged by the police when visiting constituent Babar Ahmad in jail. Justice Secretary Jack Straw is now investigating matters. He's described it as "unacceptable" for an MP to be spied on when talking to a constituent - and he's on solid ground, since it's completely illegal for the police to carry out surveillance activities against an MP. That's not how some of the public see it, though. Reading through the comments on BBC's "Have Your Say" can be a ... 6:53 pm
The New Battle for Britain are SPLITTERS!
Horrors! The latest issue of Quaequam Blog!’s favourite anti-EU conspiracy rag is in danger of getting pulped. UK Column editor David Noakes explains why: However The New Battle for Britain Group, under the pretext of using a cheaper courier, sent a lorry to collect 87,000 copies and now tell me they have put them in a warehouse in Birmingham. In another few days the whole lorry load (3 tons) will have to be pulped as out of date, which seems to be their intention. The Reform Treaty is going though Parliament now. We could have got January and February editions ... 6:37 pm
Return to School
It was a great pleasure to return to my old Junior School on Monday 28th January and had a rousing reception from the pupils of Southdown Junior School as the car I was in entered the play ground. The reason for my return was a practical one as I was asked to reopen the school swimming Pool after refurbishment. The pool was opened when I was a pupil at the school although no one can... 6:24 pm
Fryern Hill Post Office - now its March
As most local people now know, the replacement post office for Fryern Hill didn’t reopen in January as originally promised. Apparently, the original negotiations for a replacement site fell through. I’ve been told that the post office have a new site in negotiation. The estimated timing is now March. 5:59 pm
Day 2583: Phew! That Was Close
Monday: I understand that it would IRONIC if the Earth was smashed to pieces on Daddy Richard's birthday. 
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Is 42 days a ruse for something else
Say what you like about the Labour government, they are experts at the art of splitting the difference. Even when they lose, by and large they win. For example, the existing rules on allowing terrorist suspects to be locked up for 28 days without charge was a “compromise” eked out of the last time they tried getting their 90 days proposal through. It looks as if the Labour backbenchers are in no mood to fall for that one again and enough of them will join the Lib Dems and Tories to block the 42 days proposal. But is that the ... 5:29 pm
Prisons - the asylums of the 21st century
Today's Observer carries the shocking story of a teenager with a "borderline personality disorder" sent to prison for attempting suicide prompting 90 further incidents of self harm before she was successful whilst on suicide watch in New Hall prison. As a result of the closure of many mental health hospitals the authorities have come to the conclusion that personality disorders are untreatable. In other words if they can't throw pills at the problem they're not interested. In my view, where authorities have saved money closing mental health hospitals, they've certainly lost it again twice over by funding this sick girl's ... 5:21 pm
Crunching Credit - why is Vince Cable still a voice crying in the wilderness
Vince Cable has been warning for many years about spiralling debt in this country. But, rather like Noah, his words have, until now, fallen on stony ground. The stoniest ground it seems to me being in parts of the financial services industry, closely followed by the opposition parties. Now we are all paying the price for this palpable neglect, but none more so than those who face the threat of the repossession of their homes. With my work hat on I addressed a very well attended conference on debt in Norwich on Friday. I shared a platform with, amongst others, ... 5:18 pm
The popes a dope!
Two recent stories about the state of the Catholic Church deserve repeating here. The first regarding Pope Benedict’s decision to pull out of a visit to a Rome university. The reason Students are up in arms over his defence of the notorious trial of Galileo. Yep, that’s right. Ratzinger’s a flat earther and believes it is justifiable to use censorship and the threat of imprisonment to justify his argument. Meanwhile, it emerges, that he has ordered exorcist squads in every diocese. An exorcism centre has been opened in Poland (hat tip: Fortean Times). All this to tackle an apparent growth ... 4:58 pm
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How did you get here Margaret Thatcher is dead
Every week I like to look at my blog stats and find out how people get to my blog from search engines. This week I have had about four hits, which is normal, under the search term "Margaret Thatcher is dead". I hope they are not too disappointed to be linked to THIS story. 4:18 pm
Cllr Blackwell wrong again
Cllr Theo Blackwell (Lab, Regent's Park) recently wrote in the CNJ that energy metering would be a retrograde step in council blocks. As usual Cllr Blackwell only has the flimsiest grasp on reality. If council tenants and leaseholders are to play their part in the battle against climate change, as many of them would like to, then they must be given the incentives and the controls to do so. Currently, if a flat is too hot in winter the only way to cool it down is to open the window and release the heat out into the atmosphere. Thats crazy. ... 4:07 pm
More on Guy Street Parking
The latest round of proposals to fix the parking issues in Warwick was put before the Warwick Area Committee on the 22nd Jan. I was able to speak at the meeting in support of residents in the Guy Street area. The latest plan will create a one way system with cars entering along Broad Street and Guys Street, meeting in the middle of Guys Cliffe Terrace and then trying to get out along Cherry Street. At the same time the cycle path will head into the stream of traffic. I just hope this is not a recipe for an accident ... 4:02 pm
A new Council Chamber - but how much will it cost us
I was appalled to find out that a Freedom of Information request put in by one of our Lib-Dem councillors in Stratford was refused with a Public Interest Refusal Notice. As a member of the public paying for the work it is very much in my interest. Conservative led Warwickshire County Council have refused to reveal the likely cost of refurbishing the County Council council chamber at County Hall, Warwick. A freedom of information request on the costs by the Liberal Democrats was rejected with a Public Interest Refusal Notice. The issue is not that the council is refurbishing the ... 3:40 pm
Bye Bye Billions - lottery in the hole.
So a Black Hole beckons for the National Lottery to the tune of a thousand million pounds shortfall in funds promised to good causes. One thing about the Lottery is that it is the partial nationalisation of charity. It channels giving through a kind of voluntary taxation and hands out benefits to good causes not according to the choices and preferences of the taxed but according to the bureaucratic decisions of a gallimaufry of the Great and the Good. It also makes rather too visible a pot of money that tempts a wider government to direct it for possible beneficial ... 3:32 pm
The Wintertons arent abusing the system - the system is the problem
So, let’s get this straight. Nicholas and Ann “ten a penny” Winterton have used the Commons’ Additional Costs Allowance to buy an expensive Westminster flat and, having bought it, have passed it onto a trust to which they now pay rent - via the Additional Costs Allowance. Shocked Horrified Well, you should be, but not at the Wintertons. They are just taking advantage of a fundamentally flawed system. This trick is played by middle class families across the country on a daily basis - the Mail on Sunday commenter claiming that “One rule for all of us, another for MPs” ... 3:05 pm
Wolverhampton South West's Annual Dinner
Last night Lorely Burt MP addressed the members and friends of Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrats at their Annual Dinner. 2:58 pm
Al-Maktoum Cultural Centre Update
Back in November, I reported that, following a meeting I had with Professor Malory Nye, Acting Principal of the Al-Maktoum Institute, I had received an assurance that the former Logie Secondary site (earmarked for the proposed Al-Maktoum Cultural Centre) would be given a tidy up. Residents had complained that it was overgrown and attracting fly-tipping. (See earlier story by clicking the headline above). I have recently spoke again with the Director of Operations at the Al-Maktoum Institute and I have now received a further update from the Cultural Centre's architect as follows: I can confirm that Mr Al Sayegh has ... 2:53 pm
Scientist of the week: Brady Barr
Well done Dr Barr! In between the laughing, I guess we should remember that this is a very serious topic - better products for protection against the sun would mean less skin cancer - but when the poor chap ends up stuck in the mud, it's a little hard to stop you tail wagging away. Do read to the end for his final quote :-) 2:41 pm
Non-bonfire of the quangos
Last year, Alex Salmond rashly gave a conference speech commitment to cut the number of Scotlands 199 quangos by 25%. It's fairly obvious that the recent announcements by the SNP "government" on the subject are another example of spin, not substance. Nicol Stephen summed it up in last Wednesday's debate on the subject in the Scottish Parliament : Will the First Minister confirm that the budgeted set-up costs of his new skills quango will be £16 million Does the First Minister agree that the problem with his list is that he counts only what he cuts and not what he ... 2:20 pm
Terrorism - The New Godwins Law
Godwin’s Law re-entered the public consciousness this week, when Tory MEP Daniel Hannan compared a measure proposed by a German MEP to the Nazi Enabling Act of 1933. Godwin’s Law states: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one." But as the Second World War and the Holocaust [...] 1:54 pm
Apolitics poisons everything
I’ve been reading the Rothermere Press’ reasonable, balanced interview with the reasonable, balanced BNP parish council by-election candidate Donna Bailey. If liberty ever dies in this country, it will go out not with a bang, but a whimper; a death by a thousand cuts. And it will be nice, ordinary people like Donna Bailey who will be wielding the knife. The thing about this article which most struck me was this section: Simon Birnstingl believes that real disenchantment with Westminster politics has brought the village to this point. He says many locals are so far removed from the political process ... 1:39 pm
More houses - more comment (animation video)
For an alternative take on urban development, look at this short animation from Japan that shows a place changing from a rural area to a metropolis: "Musashino Plateau" - Click the arrow to play the video. Hat-tip to the City of Sound blog for drawing this to our attention. 1:32 pm
Thousands more houses for Yate - some thoughts
As reported by the Gazette, a recent report suggests to the Government that Yate is the right place to put 5000 new homes between now and 2026. The report says that Yate is suitable because the town: is well linked by public transport facilities including bus and rail services (overcrowded trains, and buses that mainly only go to Bristol) education, shopping and leisure facilities (leisure facilities - did we hear anyone say cinema Ah, of course, they must mean the pubs in Sodbury) is well served in terms of employment (mainly in the North Fringe, where the buses don't go) ... 1:23 pm
Mind-Boggling Labour Government Corruption: Unlimited Power To Make Cover-Ups and Fix Trials
News has just broken of Labour Government plans to take control of the legal system. Has the Minister of Justice gone raving mad, or have Labour decided to go all the way and make themselves a junta The new Counter-Terrorism Bill includes new powers to get rid of the two biggest guarantees of our liberty: juries, and an independent judiciary. If this disgusting law is passed, the Government will be able to order that juries dont sit on coroners inquests, and the Government can replace unsuitable coroners with their own chosen puppets. Rule of Law Chuck it in the bin. ... 1:13 pm
Conservatives in shock call for more immigration!
David Cameron has today called for the provision of a dedicated maternity nurse for every new mother for up to six hours a day in the first week after her new baby's birth, according to a front page story in today's Observer. I applaud the notion, as most Liberal Democrats are only too aware that early intervention can make a huge impact on future outcomes. Besides, such a strategy needs to be 1:04 pm
Over-weaning nanny state
Despite all that Shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien said last week about prioritising problems 'without more over-weaning nanny-state lifestyle diktats' it seems Labour aren't the only ones that want us to live in a 'nanny state'. The Conservatives, never ones to be out done, have apparently announced that they want to impose 'more over-weaning nanny-state lifestyle diktats' themselves. Why They want to transform maternity care in this country. An article in todays Observer says that the Conservatives want a dedicated maternity nurse for every new mother in their home for up to six hours a day in their first week ... 12:59 pm
Day 2582: A Degree from the University of Oxford ( that's Oxford Street McDonalds)
Sunday: "once you have got a qualification in management you can probably go anywhere," said Mr Frown. "After all, McDonalds are opening a branch on every high street, these days!" he could have added. Whatever happened to studying because it was a GOOD thing to do Life seems to be only about getting the qualifications that will get you a job. The government are OBSESSED with this CULT of WORK as the cure for all ills. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised: after all they are the LABOUR party. (Mind you, I don't know what the Conservatory Party's excuse is!) ... 12:50 pm
Derek Conway: Oh Yeah!
Derek Conway’s Nixon-like declaration that he “is not a crook” in today’s Mail on Sunday, would ring slightly more true were it not for the fact that he is under investigation by the police for giving his son £40,000 of taxpayers’ money for doing precisely bugger all. For those in any doubt, this is fraud, [...] 12:47 pm
I Am Not a Cook!
"I Am Not a Crook" - says disgraced Tory MP Derek Conway in today's Mail on Sunday. Having failed to account for any work undertaken by his son in order to justify his claim on the taxpayer for... 12:36 pm
Alan Johnson donation: exclusive quote from Labour document
The story so far: Alan Johnson runs for Labour Deputy Leader. His campaign receives a donation in the name of someone who is on the electoral register and eligible to vote. It then turns out the donor was really passing on money from someone else (brother-in-law). This isn’t allowed because (as with the David Abrahams [...] 12:34 pm
Super Tuesday: straws in the wind
Mitt Romney won yesterday’s low profile Maine caucus. (No Democrat contest.) In those states where at least one poll has taken place post-Iowa, McCain is ahead in thirteen, Romney in just two. On the Democrat side, it is thirteen-three in Clinton’s favour over Obama. For both Romney and Obama one of the states they are leading in is [...] 12:22 pm
Healthcare for London: Chief Exec of PCT at Neighbourhood this week
David Smith is the Chief Executive of Kingston Primary Care Trust (PCT). He will be coming to Neighbourhood this week to discuss the major new proposals on healthcare in London. You can find these in the consultation document Healthcare for London: Consulting the Capital and on the dedicated website. The meeting is at 7.30pm on Wednesday (6th) at Southborough... 12:17 pm
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Secret deal over Campsbourne Community Centre
Second piece of bad news courtesy of Haringey Council this week - this one being the secret goings on over the closed community centre site on The Campsbourne. This Hornsey estate would really benefit from the centre reopening - and it would be a great boost for the main residents in the area who are putting in great efforts to all sorts of local schemes to benefit their community. But instead, it looks as if Haringey Council has done a deal with developers - and certainly isn't properly answering questions about the site's future. 12:08 pm
Keeping it in the family
We’re advertising for an intern in the Lib Dem office at present. Grey Goose vodka and peacock hats not included. Most students who intern for MPs do it for expenses and the CV; so employing your own student sons on between £30k and £50k would be unusual even if their work was highly visible. [...] 12:06 pm
The Kite Runner
In 2003 the first novel published in English by an author from Afghanistan was released. The name of that novel was The Kite Runner and its author was Khaled Hossein. Why am I telling you this Well I went to see the film at the cinema last night and, do know what, for once the film did the book justice. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it! Has anyone else seen it If so, what did you think I hear the Bookseller of Kabul is even better 12:03 pm
Muswell Hill Library: Labour cuts funds
Bad news on Muswell Hill Library this week - as Labour-run Haringey Council has gone back on its promises to put in more money to give the library a much needed bit of care and attention. There were worrying signs back in July last year, when at a public meeting the Director of Libraries didn't really seem to know what was going on with the library plans - and it has now been years and years since Labour first started talking about restoring and rennovating the building (e.g. see here). Which brings us to this week - and Labour have ... 12:01 pm
Day 2581: Let's Blame the French!
Saturday Oh hurrah, just when it looked like the world's economy was going to go to hell in a handcart, along comes the jolly old French to offer up a SCAPEGOAT. The news that a Rogue Trader has cost top French bank Société General a whopping 5 billion, even better that the bank had been warned in advance, gives the economic incompetents who are running Great Britain and America the chance to point their fingers and say: "THEY were dumping their dodgy deals; THEY'RE to blame!" Of course, the reality is that it was almost certainly the other way around. ... 11:16 am
Sundays dodgy money round-up: Conservative (update)
For the Conservatives, today’s papers bring bad news for four different MPs: the MP couple who were able to carry on claiming for the cost of a home even after they had paid for it, the one who employed someone at the other end of the country and there’s more about Derek Conway. UPDATE: And then [...] 11:09 am
Lib Dem Children & Young People Conference
Every year at about this time the Lib Dem parliamentary education team gets together with those of us who lead on these issues on councils around England and Wales. Some are executive members, others chair scrutiny committees, others are spokespeople for small groups like ours, but we all have an input into the thinking of the MPs and Lords who try to keep Liberal Democrat ideals alive in 10:55 am
Anne Coulter will campaign for Hillary if McCain is the nominee
How can Hillary win now 10:54 am
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Sundays dodgy money round-up: Labour
Today’s papers brings a bumper crop of new allegations, defences and updates relating to MPs and money. On the Labour side, it is Wendy Alexander and Gordon Brown who are in the spotlight. 10:32 am
Never mind Super Tuesday - Tonight is Superbowl ad night...
The NFL Superbowl 42 is tonight...but I'm unable to find it on UK tv....so have cheered myself up with a quick visit to www.independent.co.uk where thay have a selection of extrememely funy super... 10:27 am
Meltdown
The media really has got the bit between their collective teeth today with revelations galore about which MP is employing which member of their family and a few instances of some strange goings-on with the Parliamentary expenses system. As if he did not have enough to worry about The Sunday Telegraph reveals that Peter Hain employs his 80-year-old mother on a Commons salary of £5,400 a year. She has been his part-time secretary for 16 years. Anybody who has met Adelaine Hain, will know that not only is she a charming, intelligent and highly capable individual but that even at ... 10:17 am
Death by stupid stick
So, for reasons I can’t adequately explain I watched Primeval yesterday evening and had a revelation. OK, first I had the thought ‘dear Lord, this is truly awful’ but my revelation went some way to explaining that: I realised that the show it wants to be isn’t Doctor Who, but 90s BBC action show Bugs. It’s one of those shows - like Hotel Babylon, say - that’s set in Generic International City London, where it’s easy to strip off the soundtrack and redub it in German, Spanish, Russian, Uzbek or whatever, and no one’s going to need to know anything ... 10:10 am
Tom in Casualty
The wonderful Tom Mannion was a guest star on Casualty last night. It wasn’t exactly a speaking role - Tom’s character was incoherent, apparently drunk, but actually suffering from a brain tumour - but fantastically acted. If you missed Tom on TV, you can catch him in Metamorphosis at the Lyric in Hammersmith; the production [...] 10:10 am
Will Dave have the guts to get rid of all the rotten apples from the barrel
Derek Conway is, it seems, just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Tories taking liberties with taxpayers money. It appears that two other Tory MP's (Ann and Nicholas Winterton) have also been caught out using a loophole which is technically legal, but as MP's morally dubious, in order to line the pockets of their family trust. It is hard to imagine that anyone with any sense of public duty would see it as fair to switch their London apartment to a family trust and use their parliamentary allowances )remember, this is taxpayers money)to avoid death duty and ... 9:56 am
Do rural communities matter to the Lib Dems
WEST BUCKLAND, a parish in the western division of the hundred of Kingsbury, in the county of Somerset, 2 miles to the E. of Wellington, its post town. It lies near the confines of Devonshire, at the N. foot of Blackdown Hill. The Bristol and Exeter railway runs near it. The living is a perpetual curacy annexed to the vicarage of Wellington, in the diocese of Bath and Wells. The church, which is old, and partly in the Norman style, is dedicated to St. Mary. The parochial charities are of small value. It has an area of approximately 1,500 hectares ... 8:28 am
Two Tory MPs claim £30,000 a year "rent" on flat their family owns
It is a fasicnating dodge: A husband-and-wife MP couple have claimed £165,000 in Commons expenses for their £700,000 second home six years after they paid off their mortgage. Tory politicians Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton switched their fashionable London apartment to a family trust and used their parliamentary allowances to avoid death duty. Using a loophole in Commons rules, they claim more 8:26 am
Top Posts for January 08
Here are my top five posts from last month, which you may have missed. I'll put them on the side below the blog role for posterity. The most read post was the Filipino Monkey, as it was top of Iain Dale's daily dozen. The Islamist The Petals fall of the Rose Revolution What we learnt from New Hampshire The Bloomberg Bid The Filipino Monkey - Fact or Just Sinister Fiction Ahmadinejad doesn't have that much power after all The Shock Doctrine Democrat Running Mates Hamas' involvement in the Rafah pass incident A night of Civil Liberties 7:22 am
Not being a crook is sometimes not good enough Mr Conway
Derek Conway has insisted to Sunday Newspapers that he is "not a crook". Perhaps, in the eyes of the law, he isn't, but is that an excuse for his behaviour Is it against the law to be rude to people No, but it is offensive. Is it against the law to urinate in your own garden I certainly don't think so, but it is not particularly nice Yes thes emay be silly and extreme examples, but it makes the point that just because it is "not against the law", it does not make it okay. What people do expect from ... 2:25 am
Keep the aspidistra flying
One of the gems of living in north west London is the accidental scatter of famous who have passed through and are variously commemorated or remembered. And this is one of my favourites: George Orwell. The house he lodged in from 1934-35 is rewarded with a plaque by the Heath and Hampstead Society - but less well known is the plaque on the building in which he worked at South End Green. The shop was Booklover's Corner, a second hand bookshop, which gave him access and company of other writers, artists and young people - as well as the access ... 12:01 am
Day 2580: Quantum of Solero
Friday Ooh, James Bond! Mr Daniel has been spending AGES trying to explain what "Quantum of Solace" actually MEANS. I think he should not bother it is not like it is as important as how many EXPLOSIONS he escapes from, now is it! "Quantum of Solace" is one of the few remaining titles that Mr Ian Flemming came up with that haven't yet been used for a movie. The others are "Risico" (which you COULD use but isn't iconically cool and memorable the way "Goldfinger" is), "The Hildebrand Rarity" (it's a FISH) and my personal favourite "Property of a Lady". ... 
