On Wednesday we reported that Ryan Cullen was having financial and technical problems keeping Lib Dem Blogs running. The good news is that the Liberal Democrat blogosphere has had a whip round and Ryan says: A big thank you to everyone who has donated so far. In under 24 hours I had enough money to purchase the new hosting plan, and in under 48 hours managed to get everything back up again.
You may have enjoyed the notice on Have I Got New for You earlier this evening. You can find the original on Flickr. - it comes from a newsagent's in Oakham. A reader from Rutland sent me the link earlier in the week. I would have blogged it, but for some reason I cannot copy the photo properly.
The most interesting point about the Chopwell and Rowlands Gill by-election in Gateshead last week was the big fall in the Conservative vote and share. It falls into a pattern of by-elections and to some extent local elections that has been in place for some time. The Conservative recovery in recent years has been patchy. It has been strong in some areas. In other areas it has simply not happened
With today's sentencing in the baby P trial, Lynne Featherstone has said the initial serious case review has been shown to be incompetent or at worst a cover up. More here. She has also been on Channel 4 News, which you can see here. On the news, she sad: "There is a culture in Haringey of closing ranks, secrecy, not letting the light of day shine in. They would rather defend the indefensible than examine the problem." Rightly, she has continued to call for a full public inquiry, because as soon as the media spotlight is off, Haringey Labour will ...
Who am I voting for? Chris has lived in Wendover with his wife Mary since their arrival 36 years ago. He says that it is an ideal place to bring up a family and he wants to keep Wendover that way. He studied agriculture at university and worked for the National Farmers Union in London for 26 years. Chris has been very active in the life of the village. He stood twice as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the local elections and was on the Parish Council for six years (until 2007). Within the village, he has taken a particular ...
The announcement that Vale of Glamorgan Labour MP John Smith will not stand again does not come as a great surprise to anyone who follows these things. But it adds another name to the growing list of Labour politicians who are bowing out at the next opportunity. Of course, there is always churn, and the proximity of the Parliamentary and Assembly elections is also a factor in exaggerating the numbers, but when does a few become a lot? And when does a lot become an exodus? [please add any I've missed in the comments, and I'll update tomorrow] The book ...
A Conservative Councillor does not display a poster for a candidate from their party as many have brought to my attention and personally I am a little curious. Why wouldn't a Councillor of a certain party display a poster for someone from their own party? Could it be that they don't endorse the candidate? Or is it that the candidate isn't them so a poster isn't going up? All interesting questions can anyone answer them?
There seems to be as many contradictory accounts of today's FOTA meeting and subsequent talks with Max Mosley on the crisis facing Formula One as there were particpants at them, but I'll concentrate on just three. Now, each of these comes with a massive health warning - let's face it the accounts from Ferrari's Luca di Montezemelo, Williams Patrick Head and, in my mind, villain of the moment FIA head Max Mosley could all come under the heading "they would say that, wouldn't they? Each side has put their spin on things. In the worst show of judgment since Sir ...
My House Points column from today Liberal Democrat News continues my current practice of 1) being rather preachy and 2) stealing all Chris Huhne's best lines. Rotten business So, in a reverse of the pantomime that takes place when he is appointed, the Speaker has been dragged from his Chair. And the expense system is going to be sorted out. That does not mean that everything at Westminster is now rosy. On Tuesday the Policing and Crime Bill came back to the Commons. This is a measure that covers - among other things - police reform, prostitution, lap dancing, gang ...
I am cocking furious about the Torygraph's coverage of Jo Swinson this morning. Lib Dem Lovely Jo claimed for some stuff, and on the same receipt - but unclaimed for - were some items of MAKE-UP!!! ZOMG!!! Someone who is female buys make-up! Next you'll be telling me that male MPs bought razors and didn't claim for them! Oh, no you won't, will you, because you don't want to make lazy smears against anybody MALE for buying grooming products you VACUOUS, MISOGYNISTIC TORY SHITBAGS! Well, unless they are gay, of course, like poor Ben Bradshaw, who got a kicking from ...
Conservative Councillor Keith Prince last night lost the vote to become Leader of Redbridge Council, throwing the Tory group into disarray. Three Conservative councillors resigned from their group, reducing the total number of official Conservative councillors to 31 out of 63. This means that the Conservatives no longer control Redbridge Council. From the Wanstead and Woodford Guardian: BITTER infighting among Redbridge's Conservative group has spilled over into a full-blown political crisis, effectively leaving no-one in charge of the council. At a dramatic meeting at Ilford Town Hall (Thursday), Tory leader Cllr Keith Prince lost a vote to become the new ...
I have just filled out my ballot papers and the envelope with them in is by my door ready to post. It would come as no surprise that I have voted for Liberal Democrats in the European parliament and for Mick Spence (Liberal Democrat) in the county election. If you have a postal vote, please fill in and return. I urge you all to vote Liberal Democrat.
Who said "It is difficult to think how much lower our collective reputation might sink" and when? It was Frank Field, in January 2008. The quote is from a BBC report at the time. (Hat tip to Liberal Vision for that one.) The occasion was the outing of Derek Conway's little scam. For more details of that, go to A Man For All Sleazons, and scroll down (you'll have to scroll a fair way to get past all the other Tory crooks.
Just a thought, but I wonder if Labour MPs should be giving this a read: {How to abandon ship: book cover}
Over the next few days Freedom Central will be experiencing a bit of down time as we move over to a smarter, better looking site. This is one of a series of improvements we have planned for FC - if there is anything else you would like to see please let us know.
An e-mail today from Baroness Ros Scott, Liberal Democrat Party President : Dear Fraser, Earlier this week the Federal Executive met. A discussion on expenses was at the top of our agenda. Nick Clegg and I proposed a series of hard hitting points on expenses that were fully discussed and agreed by the committee. Given the importance of this issue I felt it was important that all members are made aware of the action we are taking. In summary we agreed that: 1. There will be a code of conduct binding on Liberal Democrat parliamentarians and candidates. 2. All Liberal ...
On Tuesday evening, LDV emailed those Lib Dem party members signed-up to our private discussion forum inviting them to take part in a survey focusing on MPs' expenses. Many thanks to the 240+ of you who have so far completed it; we'll be publishing the results on LDV over the next few days. You can catch up on the results of all our past exclusive LDV members' surveys by clicking here. 1. LDV asked: On the basis of all that you have read, seen or heard - and trying to put party loyalties to one side - which political party ...
{dorries} In a rather peevish rant on her blog, Tory MP Nadine Dorries has claimed (whether in jest or not, I can't tell) that MPs "fear a suicide" among their precious brethren. Crikey. Could the poor darlings really be under such pressure? Could an MP really be driven to a solemn walk into a heated, marble floored bathroom, to take hold of a Taylor's of Old Bond Street Original Ivory Razor Blade, to slide it across their wrist, now naked of their Swiss watch perchance purchased at a recent UN meeting, to sink their bleeding wrist into an off-jade bespoke ...
The latest edition of Liberator magazine (issue no.333 - May 2009) has just landed on subscribers' doormats. We went to press just before the MPs' expenses scandal broke so you'll search in vain for gratuitous finger-wagging about trouser presses. Instead, here's a summary of the contents: • The editorial column Commentary looks at Labour's poor record on civil liberties and at the prospects of a change in Liberal Democrat policy on replacing Trident. • The insider gossip column Radical Bulletin questions the robustness of the Liberal Democrats' European election campaign. • Our lead article 'The MP caught in the kettle' is written by ...
Last Sunday we braved the persistent rain and went for a walk in Victoria park, Newbury. Rather perversely we decided, sitting under umbrellas, to listen to a few tunes from Basingstoke Silver Band, who had the misfortune to be the band scheduled for the day. You have to hand it to them - the band...er....played on. We enjoyed it.
In a few hours, I will be getting on a series of trains with {[info] - personal} djm4 and three children aged 10 - 12, and heading for Scotland. I don't expect to be online there, as the house we're staying in has no Internet connection and mobile reception is very poor (except on the seafront, but if the weather's good enough to spend much time on the seafront, I'll probably be more interested in looking at seals and gannets than in catching up with my friends lists). See you in about nine days' time!
Do you ever wonder about waste and why people can't eat breakfast before going to meetings.? i do.
Some pretty significant information about Europe has been rather overwhelmed by all the other noise from Westminster this week. Back in 2002 the European Arrest Warrant was agreed across the EU. This speeds up the time taken to extradite criminals between EU countries. Before then it took, on average, 18 months to extradite a British criminal back to the UK so they could stand trial....
What we have in this particular case is the challenge of the interface between medical certainty (it probably is) and legal certainty (on the balance of probabilities). One is far less certain than the other.
This is to remind everyone that next Friday (29 May) is the first Ealing Tweetup. It will be happening at the Rose & Crown pub, South Ealing from 18:00 hrs. The pub is behind St. Mary's Church, just a short walk from South Ealing station and with its own bus stop on the 65 bus route. I have created a Twtvite for this event. This will be a chance for anyone living in and around Ealing to come and meet other Twitterers from the area. Hopefully we can make this a regular event. You can contact @markhillary or myself (@Toranika) ...
Euro polls are all over the place - perhaps unsurprising given recent events along with voters' long-standing willingness to use the Euros as a protest vote. The latest Guardian/ICM poll follows the trend. Conservatives: 30% (+3) Labour 24% (+1) Lib Dems 18% (+3) UKIP 10% (-6) Greens 9% (+3) SNP/Plaid 4% (+2) BNP 1% (-3) Others* 3% (-3) * No2EU, Libertas, Jury Team etc. All the main parties up, UKIP and the BNP both crashing, Greens increase their vote by 50%, mini-parties squeezed off the map. Not exactly following the script, is it? Obviously I'm glad to see UKIP and ...
34) Sue Bender, Plain and Simple: A Woman's Journey to the Amish (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1989, ISBN 0062501860). A thought-provoking account of the author's time with two Amish families and her reflections on it. I was particularly struck with her description of the lack of separation between the secular and the spiritual in the families' lives, manifest in the full attention given to chores as part of their spiritual practice and the relatively small amount of time given to overt prayer (less than five minutes a day.) There's something there I could learn from, I think. 33) The Fertile ...
Michael Martin is a warm and kindly man. I suspect he had little idea how crudely the moth-eaten expenses system was being milked by the MPs who had voted to make him their Speaker. But that he continued to see himself as their champion rather than as the champion of the people who elected them is undoubted. It means that he cannot be the person charged with the reform of expenses, let...
Federal Executive acknowledge the strength of feeling amongst the public and our members and activists concerning the way in which Members of Parliament have been reimbursed for expenses and the revelations about the misconduct of particular Parliamentarians. In expressing our disappointment in the behaviour and judgment of some Parliamentarians we reflected on how this situation is...
Politics Home has written up my comments to the media today on the death of Baby P: Ms Featherstone said the first serious case review into the death of Baby P has been shown to be "incompetent or at worst a cover up" by the second review released today. You can read the full story here.
Commenting on today's RAC report into 'cowboy' car clampers, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Norman Baker said: "The Government has allowed an unfair, two-tier system to develop where council car parks are regulated but cowboy clampers operate on private ones." "Unsuspecting drivers who find themselves ripped off by unscrupulous private clampers have nowhere to turn for...
There are some real gems in here: "Do you know what it's all about? - Jealousy." "I've got a very very large house." "I don't know what all the fuss is about." "This government completely mucked up the system...introduced the Freedom of Information Act" "What right has the public to interfere with my private life? None." ...all delivered in a wonderfully magisterial Tory accent.
So - sentences have now been handed out following the trial over the death of Baby P. This coincided with the publication of the second Serious Case Review which finally lays bare the litany of failures by every agency involved and by all the individuals who did not do their job properly. What is so shocking is that virtually no-one did what I am sure the people would expect when a child is on the at risk register. As to the future. Well, Haringey (who issued a statement then bunkered down not willing to face the media - which doesn't ...
Tory grandee Anthony Steen claimed yesterday that he was the victim of "jealousy" among his Devon constituents who were envious of his large house. He said: "What right does the public have to interfere with my private life? None. You know what it's about? Jealousy. I've got a very, very large house." Steen is clearly so out of touch with the constituents in his 'safe' seat, he may as well be living in a second home on Mars. The public couldn't care less about the size of his house.... It's our having to pay for it and the 500 trees ...
Rutland CC, CottesmoreCon 389 (68.1; +1.1)LD Joanna Mary Burrows 182 (31.9; +31.9)[UKIP (0.0; -33.0)]Majority 207Turnout 26.4%Con holdPercentage change is since May 2007Barton on Humber TC, BridgeCon 746 (62.6)Lab 445 (37.4)Majority 301Turnout not knownCon holdNorth Lincolnshire UA, BartonCon 1576 (64.4; +15.6)Lab 653 (26.7; +6.2)LD Richard Alan Nixon 220 (9.0; -5.9)[Others (0.0; -16.0)]Majority
That EDM relates to opposing the attempts to exempt MPs expenses from FoI.That this House notes the Third Reading of the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill on 18th May; believes that it is inconsistent and unprincipled to seek to exempt the affairs of the House of Commons and House of Lords from the obligations of the Freedom of Information legislation, which applies to all other public
{3408934399_d1d3b5fdc7} The picture above shows me out on the campaign trail recently with Sharon Bowles MEP and our Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Cllr Gareth Epps, discussing issues around the private rented sector . I'm delighted to report that Council officers are recommending to the Labour administration in Reading that all 9 recommendations flowing from our recent scrutiny review into the private rented housing sector should be accepted. The Executive will formally respond to our Review findings at a meeting of the Cabinet on Monday 1 June (at 6.30pm in the Civic Offices). I see no reason why Labour councillors will not accept officers' recommendations. You can download the report ...
Sadly not the one in Holyrood but the one in Stormont. Yes, there has been a valid reason until it was shown the the DUP/Sinn Fein executive could work. As Mick Fealty over on Slugger O'Toole points out the announcement that the MPs will not carry on hold Ministerial or Committee chairs in the Assembly came in my home town of Bangor. It effectively means he is also about to remove his wife from the chair of the Health Committee. So if the DUP can do away with dual mandates after merely a year after resuming a stable and workable ...
After the AGM bit of the Council meeting on Tuesday we were into the usual meeting which includes Question Time - either questions to exec members (which I am banned from because I am one) or questions to the councillors representing organisations like the Police Authority or Merseytravel. For the third time I asked about the money spent on policing the Labour Cabinets meeting in Liverpool. I simply don't believe Merseyside taxpayers and the Merseyside Police Authority should be picking up the bill for this rather obvious PR stunt. The answer to my question this week was to the effect ...
Yesterday was a sad day for the Lib Dems. First, because we lost as chief executive a proven successful campaigner, Lord (Chris) Rennard, who helped save the post-merger Lib Dems from near extinction. And, secondly, because the way in which he was forced to announce his resignation resolved nothing, and was entirely lacking in dignity. It has been clear to everyone since the News of the World alleged that Chris had claimed £41k in Lords' allowances after designating his Eastbourne flat as his main residence (rather than his London house) that Chris and the party would need to make a ...
This must have been one of the most hectic weeks I've had. We're in that period at work when all the student work has to be marked, double marked and the marks recorded (looming deadline on Wednesday). I've had everything from projects on the Masters Degrees, to undergraduate dissertations to essays and logbooks. But this has also been a week of loads of politics and meetings. I've had a group meeting, the Council AGM, I've been on the vetting panel for would be Lib Dem candidates (with more of that to come) and I've got the Liverpool Commission tonight. Oh ...
Regular readers will know how much I love the BBC Formula One Coverage. I think with its combination of no ads, bitching, banter and Brundle it is the best sports reporting team ever. Its website is pretty darned good as well with a regular video blog from Murray Walker, as much background information as you could ever wish for and, at the moment, video highlights of five classic Monaco races, from Stirling Moss winning in a little bug like thing in 1961 to the thrilling event in 1996 when Olivier Panis eventually won after numerous changes of lead. There's one ...
Well we didn't win, but I think the whole Lib Dem team should be extremely proud of a well fought campaign that concentrated on the issues that mattered (both locally and nationally). Personally, it was extremely gratifying to be able to help residents who felt abandoned by their current Labour councillors - and of course we ensured the extremist BNP were beaten into third place. The Tories were an embarrasing fourth, just ahead of UKIP and The Green Party. Lib Dem: 293 (-1%) Labour: 606 (-13%) Conservative: 189 (-4%) BNP: 276 (+5%) Green: 125 UKIP: 123 Turnout: 17.5% Commenting on ...
Well I have just listened to my interview on "More of Less". I thought I came across OK. They cut loads of what I said out including me mentioning the name of the blog so I thought I would post this entry so anyone searching for Mark Thompson in Google Blog Search or coupled with More or Less will have a chance of finding me (and not as Tim actually mentioned get only results about the director general of the BBC)! The relevant post pertaining to what I talked about on the programme is here. If you were listening, please ...
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, is asking readers of her blog for their views on who the next Commons Speaker should be: I just don't want it to be the traditional kind of same old same old that went before. If there was ever an opportunity for change and reform - this is the start of it. Read more at Lynne's Parliament and Haringey Diary.
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, is asking readers of her blog for their views on who the next Commons Speaker should be: I just don't want it to be the traditional kind of same old same old that went before. If there was ever an opportunity for change and reform - this is the start of it. Read more at Lynne's Parliament and Haringey Diary. Crossposted from Liberal Democrat Voice, an independent, collaborative website run by Liberal Democrat activists. Helen is a contributing editor at the site.
The Party President, Ros Scott, has e-mailed all members with the outcome of Monday's Federal Executive meeting. Firstly, it is pleasing to see that there will be a binding code of conduct for Liberal Democrat MP's and candidates. This is good news as is the fact that we will "end the self-regulation of Parliament" although [...]
Four Conservative PPC's published a letter in the Yorkshire Evening Post (May 21st) insisting that the only way to clean-up politics was to elect a Conservative government. However, while David Cameron has made loud reforming noises we have to question how serious the Conservative Party is as a whole is about reform. The Times (May [...]
I have had a constant position in respect to MPs expenses and salary. That position is that they should be determined independently of MPs. I have, therefore, generally not voted on these issues.I managed recently (with the support of colleagues) to persuade my own party to take this position and subsequently the House of Commons has now agreed that the Committee on Standards in Public Life
The hilarious Daily Show with Jon Stewart take on the expenses scandal. Poor old Douglas Hogg and his moat get a fearsome shellacking. And you know what? By golly, by gosh I think they have finally hit upon a decent name for the scandal. Scamalot. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M - Th 11p / 10c Scamalot thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor
Frank Little writes: Apparently, the Telegraph is now trying to pin charges of misuse of expenses on Liberal Democrat MPs Sir Alan Beith (because he has declared he is interested in the Speaker's chair) and Jo Swinson (because she is in the forefront of moves to modernise Parliament. According to Stephen Tall on Liberal Democrat Voice: Sir Alan Beith The Telegraph's story about Sir Alan relates to a rented flat in London he shares with his wife, former fellow Lib Dem MP [and former president of the party] (now a Lib Dem peer) Baroness (Diana) Maddock. You can read the ...
According the the Daily Record Linlithgow and Falkirk East MP Michael Connarty is claiming that some of the luxury items that he has claimed for were not for him but for Ian Davidson the Glasgow South West MP with whom he was sharing a flat, which they started sharing in 2006. The articles claims that Michael Connarty was claiming the items the £249.99 'alarm clock' (actually a CD/Radio) and £1099 for a Plasma TV and then gave the cash to Davidson. Excuse me! Doesn't the rules say the the claims are to be exclusively for personal use? If Michael is ...
The major topic of conversation in the UK lately has — very unusually — been politics, or more precisely the behaviour of the people charged with performing the representative democracy at Westminster. The better question, in my opinion, about the alleged abuses by MPs and Peers of the allowances system is what was actually wrong about the system and why it happened. In every job I've had where I was refunded for expenses I incurred whilst doing that job, the essence was that I shouldn't be left out of pocket; I should not be penalised for working outside my usual ...
The party's Federal Executive met on Monday night. Massive thanks to those (and there were a good few) who sent me their thoughts. The chair of FE is the party president, Ros Scott. She has just issued the following statement as a result of Monday's meeting. It's worth mentioning Kirsty has already issued this statement. Earlier this week the Federal Executive met. A discussion on expenses was at the top of our agenda. Nick Clegg and I proposed a series of hard hitting points on expenses that were fully discussed and agreed by the committee. Given the importance of this ...
The membership have just received an email from the President summarising the decisions made at the Federal Executive meeting on Monday. 1. There will be a code of conduct binding on Liberal Democrat parliamentarians and candidates. 2. All Liberal Democrat MPs will support the proposals from Sir Christopher Kelly's review of MPs' expenses. There will be no picking and choosing of which of his recommendations to support. 3. Our leader and Chief Whip in the House of Lords will undertake a thorough review of expenses and allowances in the House of Lords. 4. We will end the self-regulation of Parliament. ...
So now we are looking for a new Speaker. I just don't want it to be the traditional kind of same old same old that went before. If there was ever an opportunity for change and reform - this is the start of it. Anyway - thought I would ask you all to give your views on who the new Speaker should be! I can't promise to agree with you or go with the majority on this one - but knowing who might inspire public confidence is crucial to choosing the right person. And I do think the public need ...
Two startled Conservative MPs have been speaking out against the reporting of MPs' expenses: Conservative MP Anthony Steen has expressed his dismay at the public's interest in his lavish expense claims for his country house. The MP for Totnes in Devon has claimed £87,000 over four years for his second home. ("Some people say it looks like Balmoral," he offered in his defence.) On yesterday's World at One programme on Radio Four he was indignant: Do you know what it's about? Jealousy. I've got a very very large house. In a breathtaking display of narcissism, he kept on digging: We ...
Two startled Conservative MPs have been speaking out against the reporting of MPs' expenses: Conservative MP Anthony Steen has expressed his dismay at the public's interest in his lavish expense claims for his country house. The MP for Totnes in Devon has claimed £87,000 over four years for his second home. ("Some people say it looks like Balmoral," he offered in his defence.) On yesterday's World at One programme on Radio Four he was indignant: Do you know what it's about? Jealousy. I've got a very very large house. In a breathtaking display of narcissism, he kept on digging: We ...
Years ago the Lib Dems used to bang on endlessly about electoral reform, dampening the groins of many a Lib Dem activist and massively turning off just about anyone else, who thought at best it was totally irrelevent and at worst is was just the Lib Dems changing the system to benefit themselves. Early signs are that we are entering a rare period where electoral reform can be seriously considered and both parties and public will be taking an interest. You can read my recent posts on the subject here, here and here. So there's an opportunity and we need ...
In the penultimate in the series of looking at each of the regions (and nations) for the European Elections I today examine my home region the West Midlands.
{[info] - personal} amazing_holly had her class assembly today. Every Friday one of the classes does the assembly and all the parents can come and watch, and they have a theme. Today's theme was royalty. So they sang Old King Cole while one of the teachers played violin and things like that. Part of the assembly was that five or six of the children had drawn pictures of what they would do if they were queen (or king) and they stood up and showed their pictures and read a little speech off the back of the picture. Holly was last ...
Just a reminder that I make my national radio debut on Radio 4's "More or Less" presented by Tim Harford today. The programme starts at 1:30pm (repeated on Sunday at 8:00pm). They interviewed me regarding the story I broke recently about the apparent correlation between how safe an MP's seat is and the likelihood of them being implicated in the expenses scandal that I posted about here and here. As the programme is about numbers, they wanted me to focus mainly on the numbers and maths behind what I discovered, but assuming they don't cut it out, I did manage ...
Having watched the earlier Question Time last night, I was surprised by the performance of Martin Bell, the erstwhile "Man in the White Suit". He seemed to shy away from any kind of reform and seemed quite happy with the current system. (Having said that, Vince oddly didn't mention electoral reform once, despite being given opportunities) His main argument seems to be that we need to keep the current system with the current strong parties and all that is needed is the occasional additional sprinkling of Independents. He kept using the phrase "a very British revolution", without really saying what ...
Jo Swinson and Sir Alan Beith have both found themselves dragged into the latest set of allegations to be circulating - for the record, and avoidance of doubt, looking at the newspaper reports it doesn't seem either of them have any reason not to be able to look their constituents in the eyes. Sir Alan Beith The Telegraph's story about Sir Alan relates to a rented flat in London he shares with his wife, former fellow Lib Dem MP (now a Lib Dem peer) Baroness (Diana) Maddock. You can read the story here. I assume the Telegraph is publishing now ...
Many people mess around with designs for websites and blogs to try and make them perfect and I personally believe you can not make something perfect. I have this template because it was one that I liked many customise their own templates but some people like them and some don't. Design is one of those conversation topics that can carry on and will never come to an end, everyone has their taste and everyone has their opinion and that is why a design for a website can not suit everyone and neither can it be to every ones taste. I ...
The Telegraph has come out in favour of Anne Widdicombe. Or at least Andrew Pierce has. Iain Dale had already mentioned her interest: winning over Labour is key. John Bercow will struggle to win over Tories, apparently, and Frank Field ditto for his own party. If you can bear to watch the British public in one of its 'periodic fits of morality' (see full Macaulay quote in this FT letter), the BBC's Question Time shows MPs being barracked to a ludicrous degree by an audience that seemed to want a general election. I gave up half-way, with more respect than ...
2 Must-Read Stories MPs' expenses row enters third week Yes, it's a fortnight since the Telegraph began exposing some of the most extravagant claims MPs have been submitting at the taxpayers' expense. Today it's the turn of Labour MPs Ian Gibson and Ben Chapman, to feel the heat with both offering to stand down at the next election (though both deny any wrongdoing). Meanwhile Tory MP Peter Luff (three lavatory seats, three food mixers, two microwaves and 10 sets of bed linen) has seemingly sought to outbid Labour's Fraser Kemp (16 bedsheets) for the highest number of household goods purchased ...
May 22, 2009 source MEN A CANDIDATE standing in the European election for the extremist right wing British National Party has posted racist comments on the internet. Eddy O'Sullivan, the Salford organiser of the BNP, wrote a series of offensive comments about non-white people on his Facebook profile. Party bosses are now investigating the statements on the [...]
The Primary Admissions Working Group held first meeting on Wednesday 20th May at the Hampstead Town Hall Centre. It would be inappropriate to "blog" the discussions of this meeting even before the official minute is produced and circulated to the group. This is just to say that as a active member of this "working group" that this important meeting has now taken place and that the process has started. I hope together with other members of the "group" that we will bring about the required change to provide short-term solutions to the 133 children currently without placement and in the ...
I had the great pleasure last night to accompany my mum and dad to the Annual Meeting of Waltham Forest council. This mainly ceremonial meeting elects the council leader and cabinet and the Mayor for the coming year. It was with great pride that my dad was appointed Deputy Mayor for the forthcoming year.He in turn appointed mum to be his mayoress for the year and my Auntie Eve and myself as his
Oh to be a Formula One boss! If I ever have to have a crisis meeting, it's usually in a boring office or a draughty community hall. Today, though, the setting for the Formula One Teams Association could barely be more opulent - Flavio Briatore's yacht moored just off the glittering principality of Monaco. What I wouldn't give to be a fly on that particular wall as they try to find a way to the crisis threatening to ruin F1 for good. Obviously it would be good if they could all stick together - safety and credibility in numbers and ...
We all keep plodding away, knocking on doors and canvassing votes this week - but I'm finding it very disheartening that so many people don't seem to want to turn out and vote on June 4th. I've stood on the doorstep and debated the issue at length and pointed out that as someone will get elected for each seat it's better to have your say now than complain about it later. Some are swayed - others are not. It's hard to miss the irony that we have people falling over themselves to stand as politicians in the next general election ...
Long day ahead interviewing for AD Transition, wouldn't have minded a bit of a lie in. Working weekend so won't get one till next month !! Lie in Are you trying to tell us something,hope it's a typo and not Labour training only joking mate..
The Birmingham Post has published a list off all claims for the MPs in the area Included in the list are; Liam Bryne (Lab - Hodegehill) & Roger Godsiff (Lab - Sparkbrook) who haven't released his receipts yet Caroline Spellman (Con - Meriden) who claimed £102.13 on a sat nav system - becuase she doesn't know her way around Birmingham
The new Banners a bit scary but what do you think thought i might try it on my next focus get the youth interested? Only Joking a certain Cllr from Salford takes this to serious it will be on his blog tommorow .
Some lucky Finsbury youths could soon be playing music on Pete Docherty's guitar. The Council took the unusual step of closing down a Babyshambles gig and confiscating their kit after a series of noise complaints at the venue. Now they've passed on the kit to a local youth music project EC1 Music based near Old [...]
As if it was not bad enough that he spent taxpayers money on treating 500 trees in the grounds of his house, Tory MP Sir Anthony Steen has hit out at his constituents for forcing his retirement from Westminster. The MP appeared on Radio 4's The World at One to lash out at constituents who objected to his claim for the treatment of the trees. "I've done nothing criminal, that's the most awful thing, and do you know what it's about? Jealousy," Steen said. "I've got a very, very large house. Some people say it looks like Balmoral." With an ...
Another 2 statutory instruments push the amount of cash available for 'Financial Assistance for Industry' by another £1.2 billion to £6.1 billion. Hurray for Stealth Protectionism!!
Fri 22nd
08:37
Is Blears fighting for her political life? is Ian Stuart back in the frame i think the Labour Party ...
Well lets start to look at some of the front runners for Blears Seat Martin Bell high profile pops up when he sees a quick win, whats known in the trade as a carpetbagger. Hazel Blears often found in Salford if there is a camera around, likes Motor Bikes,flash houses, tax payers money, Norman Owen runner up [...]
Jack Straw knows what's important! That's right, it's renewing 28 days detention for another year.
Until his hand is forced in May 2010, the decision on whether or not to call a General Election is in the hands of one person: Gordon Brown. Sad as it may seem, Prime Ministers do not make that decision on whether the people should have a say over expenses, nor on whether their own government is sufficiently dynamic and cohesive. They don't call an election because the leader of the opposition has asked them to, nor because 60,000 people have signed an Internet petition calling for one (that's not even the membership of the Tory party. No. Unless they ...
Due to the start of silly anonymous comments by one or two individuals I am turning anonymous comments off until and will now keep them turned off for some time. I did want this blog to be a little more interactive via the comment section but some people show how immature they are and spam the comment section. Still if you have a Blogger account like most regulars then please do comment!
Well we had a candidate that had every thing you would want, honesty, fearless. integrity, willing to battle against the odds. How many people come into a campaign for the first time, prepared to write and set up their own material, go out and talk to the people. take on cases we found while we [...]
If any of you were reading my Tweets last night you will know that I encountered the shortest, angriest ever encounter that I've ever had on a doorstep while wearing my yellow rosette. But it isn't all bad news. On the way back to the cars Fred Macintosh was telling me that the number that were going out unto the doorsteps with him had been increasing as the campaign went on. The other thing was that when a lot of people say I'm not voting for anyone and you ask why, the main answer is that all this expenses debacle ...
Fri 22nd
07:28Labour hold Salford seat only 17.5% turnout are people turning their back on politics.
LABOUR held on to a council seat in Hazel Blears' Salford constituency tonight in the first test of her party's popularity following the MPs expenses furore. And fears that the expenses row engulfing Ms Blears and nationwide politics could bring more votes for the BNP failed to materialise with the far-right group coming third. I wonder [...]
Reacting to the Government's announcement that all Gurkha veterans with four years' service would be allowed to move to the UK, Nick Clegg said he was "absolutely thrilled". The announcement outlined rules that will allow Gurkhas and their immediate families who retired before 1997 with four years service to settle here with. Nick Clegg said; "I am...
A second day at Bonkers Hall. Tuesday Spring has come to Rutland. Budget day finds me strolling on the quayside at Oakham, and I reflect upon the benefits brought by Free Trade. Once we scanned these waters for Viking longships or German U-boats; now the world's shipping arrives crammed with the good things of the season: wheels of Stilton and toppling towers of Melton Mowbray pork pies; tender asparagus from the Vale of Evesham and plump sticks of rhubarb from the West Riding of Yorkshire; richly patterned carpets from Persia and peppermint rock from Hunstanton and Herne Bay. As I ...
Is David Cameron embarrassed by Anthony Steen? Incredibly, he blamed Labour for introducing freedom of information laws, before adding: 'I have done nothing criminal. Do you know what it's all about? Jealousy.'I have got a very, very large house, some people say it looks like Balmoral. . . but it's a merchant's house of the 19th century. It's not particularly attractive, it just does me nicely.'Mr Steen, who will stand down at the General Election after 35 years, insisted he had behaved 'impeccably' and dismissed the scandal threatening the entire political system as similar to 'an episode of Coronation Street'.Mr ...
{Share photos on twitter with Twitpic} I'm not sure how long they were going for or how long they still had to go but yesterday as I got into Waverley Station wanting to go somewhere, in my case home, I found these two going nowhere fast. They were doing so to raise money for Children 1st the charity looking to provide a happy, healthy, safe and secure future for every child in Scotland. I hope they raise plenty of money to add to my small donation. As I said I don't know how long they had left, but at least ...
Argh. Webserver running slow. Laptop with IE6 (for testing) booting slow. If I put kettle on while waiting I bet that'll never boil either. # #CSS Universal #IE6 stylesheet - neat solution to IE6 headaches, but not convinced many clients will buy it. http://tinyurl.com/odf43t # Just had a visit from Papa, John, Ben and Jerry. Feel a bit sick now, to be honest. #
I've done a fair number of hustings meetings in this European election campaign — far more than ever before — and they aren't over yet. What is notable is that people who come to them really are interested in knowing what the candidates of different parties think about European issues, rather than national or local concerns. [...]
Beware that Cameron arguing for a smaller parliament will entrench the two party system with lots of safe seats. If the HofC was cut to 400 and seat to a well over 100,000 it would be desperately difficult for anyone other than the Lab and Cons to win seats. Little chance for Independents/Greens and even Lib Dems would be pushed. Have a smaller parliament if you wish but it must be by PR and preferably by a system where the electorate and not the party machines decides between candidates from the same party. That system is called STV
If you read nothing else on the expenses scandal please go and look here on Mark Reckon's blog. I am no statistician but Mark is and has worked out the correlation between a safe seat and being caught fiddling the expenses system. Polly Toynbee picked it up in the Guardian and Labour's Ben Bradshaw used his research to argue for PR on Question Time.
I would like to say what a great campaign Steve Middleton as put together in such a short space of time. It as been a pleasure to work with him and his wife. I feel he would have made an excellent candidate for the people of Irwell riverside,sadly that was not to be. I [...]
You really couldn't make it up, when many MP's are embarrassed and ashamed of their role in the expenses scandal, step forward Conservative grandee Anthony Steen. He suggested that people were jealous, because his house resembled Royal residence, Balmoral. He insisted his behaviour has been impeccable and that he had merely been caught on the [...]
