12-May-08
Weston MP tackles Area's Regional Assembly on Junction 21 [ 08-May-08 1:41pm ]
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As the row over a referendum for Scottish independence continues, the prime minister has said he will do "whatever is necessary" to preserve the United Kingdom.
Never mind the Human Rights, feeeeel the diplomatic recognition! [ 12-May-08 12:15pm ]
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From The Scotsman:
Something Alex Salmond once said:
Consolidating "diplomatic relations" with the oppressors of Tibet, is that an example of Alex's "ethical foreign policy", advancing "the cause of peace and justice"?
To be fair though, following Ms Hyslop's March visit, during which she pledged to stress the SNP's human rights concerns, perhaps the Chinese authorities have indeed seen the light and decided to turn over a new leaf.
ALEX Salmond is considering moves to build a Scottish 'embassy' in China under plans to expand the country's presence in the East.
Scotland on Sunday can reveal that officials at the Scottish Government are studying plans to open a 'Scotland House' in Beijing, along similar lines to the building in Brussels where the Government's EU 'ambassador' is based.
Something Alex Salmond once said:
"Scotland needs independence and the freedom to pursue an ethical foreign policy in the world - one which advances the cause of peace and justice, not war and occupation."
Consolidating "diplomatic relations" with the oppressors of Tibet, is that an example of Alex's "ethical foreign policy", advancing "the cause of peace and justice"?
To be fair though, following Ms Hyslop's March visit, during which she pledged to stress the SNP's human rights concerns, perhaps the Chinese authorities have indeed seen the light and decided to turn over a new leaf.
Dalai Lama locked out of Downing Street
Another fine display of courageous indecision from Gordon!
Just like Lisbon, he'll hide away behind closed doors at Lambeth Palace.
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Here is
a post on Harry's Place by Ben, who describes his journey from Stopper (not "We Are All Hezbollah No a I am glad to say, but Stopper none the less) to Decent, and says he is ashamed to have gone on that disgraceful march in 2003. He tvbecame important again that year, as Oxford people were drafted into Reading West but not East. But good for Ben for his honesty. There should be more posting like him.
a post on Harry's Place by Ben, who describes his journey from Stopper (not "We Are All Hezbollah No a I am glad to say, but Stopper none the less) to Decent, and says he is ashamed to have gone on that disgraceful march in 2003. He tvbecame important again that year, as Oxford people were drafted into Reading West but not East. But good for Ben for his honesty. There should be more posting like him.
Cllr Paul Gittings, who I always thought was a decent bloke, is compounding the big lie about Reading's election results on 1st May with this piece
in the New Statesman, which says Labour won in Reading. It doesn't even say that Labour lost control of the council, and it certainly does not say that party chiefs knew Tony Jones had left the party on 28th April, before most people had voted. Nor does it say that, far from pledging to vote with Labour, Tony Jones has said the opposite. Still, never mind the facts, eh Paul?
in the New Statesman, which says Labour won in Reading. It doesn't even say that Labour lost control of the council, and it certainly does not say that party chiefs knew Tony Jones had left the party on 28th April, before most people had voted. Nor does it say that, far from pledging to vote with Labour, Tony Jones has said the opposite. Still, never mind the facts, eh Paul?
Who Wants to Be Done for Copyright Theft?A leaflet to promote BNP hopeful Alan Girvan in Dewsbury East was withdrawn after Carl Morphett of the anti-fascist group Kirklees Unity highlighted the breach. The leaflet featured Labour councillors Paul Kane and Eric Firth above the caption: 'Q. How many years have you promised to clean up Dewsbury?'
2waytraffic, the company that owns the copyright on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? images, wrote to Mr Girvan's agent, Coun David Exley, demanding that the leaflets were withdrawn.
Coun Exley said the leaflet was no longer being distributed by the time the complaint occurred.
He said: "The company telephoned me about it. There was no shouting and bawling. They said they weren't happy with the image being used to promote any political organisation - not just the BNP. I gave them notice that it had been withdrawn."
He said the agreement was formalised in writing - and that was the end of the matter. He said he was furious over comments from Carl Morphett "It makes my blood boil. Carl Morphett has nothing better to do than criticise other people's efforts," he added.
Mr Morphett said: "Mr Exley should know that as an agent for Mr Girvan he should have played by the rules."
Dewsbury Reporter
Thanks to our friends at Kirklees Unity for the heads-up
This is of course, far from the first time that the BNP has happily ignored copyright. A couple of years back, we reported the party's use of one of the children's characters, the Mr Men, dressed as a suicide bomber, on the party's so-called 'jokes' page. Chorion, the company that holds the copyright on the Mr Men, was much perturbed at any association with the far-right party and demanded the removal of the image. Similar breaches occurred with the Apple iPod ad images and the Books for Dummies series images. Anything goes at the BNP.
Just a few weeks ago, we reported the sale of Usborne children's books through the party's Excalibur merchandising site. Presumably the BNP hoped to achieve some spurious and undeserved respectability through their sale and a perceived link between Usborne and itself. Following complaints from ourselves and many of our supporters, Usborne forced the party to remove the books from the Excalibur website.
We need to keep a close watch on the BNP for anything of this nature. We already know that the party will ignore the law wherever it can and on the thinnest pretext, and we need to bring these constant breaches to the attention of a wider public. Keep your eyes skinned, folks.
Council hands back sponsorship cash after newspaper's BNP ad [ 12-May-08 12:13pm ]
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A newspaper's sponsorship money for a community awards scheme has been given back after it carried an advert for the British National Party.
As one of seven sponsors, the Hampstead and Highgate Express gave £5,000 to the Exceptional People in Camden awards, which will celebrate the work of community volunteers in the paper's patch. But now the local council has decided to cancel the sponsorship arrangement for fear of damaging the event's reputation following concerns raised by the community after the ad was published.
Ham&High editor Geoff Martin said: "It seems to be a decision that was taken without consultation with us. I would say it's a spineless decision. I am supposed to believe no undue political pressure was exerted? I am sure there has been. This decision has blemished the awards irreversibly."
The Archant weekly caused controversy last month when it ran the BNP advert ahead of the local elections but the company later said it would donate revenue from any adverts to charity.
The paper has been heavily involved with the awards, including running publicity stories, and was due to be represented on the judging panel. Geoff believes that invitation is likely to be withdrawn in due course.
A spokesman for Camden Council said: "Camden Council has now made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship agreement. This followed strong and very public concerns raised by the local community and councillors across the political spectrum after the paper accepted an advert from the BNP.
"Our decision was taken by council officers after careful consideration around concern for the reputation of the council and the EPICs. This was not a political judgement about the Ham&High accepting advertising from the BNP. The focus of the event should be on the winners and other issues should not be allowed to get in the way of this important aim. We have explained our reasons to the Ham&High and thanked the paper both for its long-term support and the contribution it has made to the EPICs over the last two years."
The spokesman added that the council had enjoyed a "mutually respectful history" with the paper and hoped that it would continue.
"We do have a public notices contract with the Ham&High and will continue placing these along with adverts in the paper," he added.
"There is a clear difference between entering into a sponsorship agreement to promote our high-profile community award event and paying to place statutory public notices in our local paper to provide information to our residents."
Hold the front page
As one of seven sponsors, the Hampstead and Highgate Express gave £5,000 to the Exceptional People in Camden awards, which will celebrate the work of community volunteers in the paper's patch. But now the local council has decided to cancel the sponsorship arrangement for fear of damaging the event's reputation following concerns raised by the community after the ad was published.
Ham&High editor Geoff Martin said: "It seems to be a decision that was taken without consultation with us. I would say it's a spineless decision. I am supposed to believe no undue political pressure was exerted? I am sure there has been. This decision has blemished the awards irreversibly."
The Archant weekly caused controversy last month when it ran the BNP advert ahead of the local elections but the company later said it would donate revenue from any adverts to charity.
The paper has been heavily involved with the awards, including running publicity stories, and was due to be represented on the judging panel. Geoff believes that invitation is likely to be withdrawn in due course.
A spokesman for Camden Council said: "Camden Council has now made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship agreement. This followed strong and very public concerns raised by the local community and councillors across the political spectrum after the paper accepted an advert from the BNP.
"Our decision was taken by council officers after careful consideration around concern for the reputation of the council and the EPICs. This was not a political judgement about the Ham&High accepting advertising from the BNP. The focus of the event should be on the winners and other issues should not be allowed to get in the way of this important aim. We have explained our reasons to the Ham&High and thanked the paper both for its long-term support and the contribution it has made to the EPICs over the last two years."
The spokesman added that the council had enjoyed a "mutually respectful history" with the paper and hoped that it would continue.
"We do have a public notices contract with the Ham&High and will continue placing these along with adverts in the paper," he added.
"There is a clear difference between entering into a sponsorship agreement to promote our high-profile community award event and paying to place statutory public notices in our local paper to provide information to our residents."
Hold the front page
The Local Onliner: Kill the Innovators: San Diego U-T Lays Off Online Leaders [ 12-May-08 10:52am ]
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"[N]ewspapers ... are taking severe measures to get back on track. .. [S]ometimes, it means consolidating power under the old print hands that believe they need to "own" the online efforts because that is where the action is."
Like everyone else in politics Brian Paddick has sold his diary to The Mail on Sunday. The difference is that his are funny:
Find myself broadcasting on Deptford Pensioners Radio station in East London. Wonder, not for first time, who exactly my Press officer is working for.
[...]
Following a complaint from a family about dog mess in Kilmarsh Road, Hammersmith, on Tuesday, April 29th, I emailed a senior official in H&F's Environment Department with the expectation that it would be dealt with. Two days later, on Thursday, May 1st, my constituent and I saw that it was all still there. Sadly, this type of weak response is not a one-off.I was then surprised to learn that H&F Council has failed to issue any fines to people who allow their dogs to foul our streets.
To me, a local authority's ability to maintain a clean environment is one of the basic tests of its priorities and its competence. I think that the ruling Conservative Administration was wrong to cut the street cleaning budget and I question why relatively simple matters like this are not dealt with to residents' satisfaction. It does not seem that keeping our streets clean is currently a priority of this Council.
Please email me here to let me know if you have or have had any similar problems with dirty streets where you live. I will keep raising these matters until H&F Council responds in a way that residents find acceptable.
Draw your own conclusions:
The Co-operative Group is bidding to build an eco-town called Pennbury on land it owns between Stoughton and Great Glen in Leicester.
However, objectors are circulating literature pointing out that Labour received £500,000 from the group in 2005/06 and has a £13.5 million overdraft with the Co-operative Bank, an offshoot of the group.
The [...]
Wendya Alexander's latest announcement: she will not stand in the way of the SNP's Referendum Bill in 2010. That to me suggests that Labour will abstain, guaranteeing passage of the Bill. However, she can still amend it to death, as - and the Tories' David McLetchie has confirmed this - the SNP's proposed wording on the referendum question is just about legal, insofar as the Scottish Parliament would ask it. Wendy currently favours "Do you want Scotland to be ripped out of the UK kicking and screaming?", or something like that. This would be ultra vires. So she could strangle the Bill by making it breach Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act: she could, by getting Tory or LibDem support, support the Bill in such a way that she destroys it. So although she could let the Bill through, we have to wonder in what state it will complete its passage. Any welcome should be cautious.
Of course, it's doubtful that the Tories or LibDems would play ball: the Tories (with the exception of Michael Forsyth) are saying a flat no, just as they did in 1997. The LibDems are so opposed to a referendum that they refused even to sit down and discuss Coalition with the SNP, ostensibly on the grounds that they didn't want a referendum to be discussed. And this whole debacle has soured relations between Labour and the other Unionist parties. It's also made the Calman Commission an exercise in pointlessness.
And we don't even know if Wendy will be the Leader by January 2010? What stance would Andy Kerr take? Or Iain Gray? Or Malcolm Chisholm?
Nor do we know what Labour's view will be tomorrow. Any bets on a quadruple U-turn?
Of course, it's doubtful that the Tories or LibDems would play ball: the Tories (with the exception of Michael Forsyth) are saying a flat no, just as they did in 1997. The LibDems are so opposed to a referendum that they refused even to sit down and discuss Coalition with the SNP, ostensibly on the grounds that they didn't want a referendum to be discussed. And this whole debacle has soured relations between Labour and the other Unionist parties. It's also made the Calman Commission an exercise in pointlessness.
And we don't even know if Wendy will be the Leader by January 2010? What stance would Andy Kerr take? Or Iain Gray? Or Malcolm Chisholm?
Nor do we know what Labour's view will be tomorrow. Any bets on a quadruple U-turn?
If you are going to make classical references, best you spell 'em correctly...Hat-tip : Phil Donohue
From The Independent yesterday:
A highly sensitive internal report into the state of the British Army has revealed that many soldiers are living in poverty. Some are so poor that they are unable to eat and are forced to rely on emergency food voucher schemes set up by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Some of Britain's most senior military figures reacted angrily yesterday to the revelations in the report, criticising the Government's treatment of its fighting forces.
You couldn't make it up. You wouldn't want to.
The analysis, described by General Dannatt as "a comprehensive and accurate portrayal of the views and concerns of the Army at large", states: "More and more single-income soldiers in the UK are now close to the UK government definition of poverty." It reveals that "a number of soldiers were not eating properly because they had run out of money by the end of the month". Commanders are attempting to tackle the problem through "Hungry Soldier" schemes, under which destitute soldiers are given loans to enable them to eat.
The scheme symbolises a change from the tradition of soldiers getting three square meals a day for free. Now hard-up soldiers have to fill out a form which entitles them to a voucher. The cost is deducted from their future wages, adding to the problems of soldiers on low pay.
The controversial Pay as You Dine (PAYD) regime, which requires soldiers not on active duty to pay for their meals, has seen commanding officers inundated with complaints from soldiers unhappy at the quality of food that they get and the amount of paperwork involved.
Senior officers warn in the report that "there is a duty of care issue" and add that the "core meal" provided to soldiers on duty "is often not the healthy option". The confusion of which soldiers even qualify for free meals while on duty is revealed in the admission that "in some areas the soldier has to pay and then claim back and in others the duty meal is included in the contract".
Read the whole article HERE
Hat tip to Tony Sharp
Alistair Darling will urge the European Union on Monday to extend the suspension of import tariffs on grains and re-think its biofuels policy to help ease soaring food prices in the 27-nation bloc.
In a letter to his European counterparts, Darling will say the EU must ensure its policies are not unnecessarily inflating the cost of food.
European Union finance ministers meet in Brussels on May 14 and rising global food and energy prices are expected to be high on the agenda. "The EU has a clear responsibility to play a full role in the international community's collective efforts to address the consequences of spiralling food prices by tackling the causes," Darling wrote.
"It is unacceptable that at a time of significant food price inflation the EU continues to apply very high import tariffs on many agricultural commodities."
The European Union agreed in December to temporarily drop import prices on all cereals except oats, buckwheat and millet as a response to tight supplies and soaring prices.
Darling said the tariff suspension should be extended and import tariffs on other agricultural commodities should be cut.
He also called for an end to direct payments to EU farmers and the phasing out of all elements of the Common Agriculture Policy that are designed to keep agricultural prices in the region above world market levels.
"Barriers and distortions in the global food market increase volatility and stifle the incentives to increase supply to match demand," he wrote.
Soaring food prices have sparked political discontent in Europe as they have in other parts of the world, putting pressure on politicians to act.
Wheat prices have risen by around 150 percent over the past two years, fuelled by dry weather in key growing areas, competition from biofuels and growing demand from emerging Asia.
"We need a close examination of the direct and indirect effects of EU biofuels policy, including a full assessment of its effects on food prices," Darling said.
Via
IRAQ The Iraq War: Key Trends and Developments - Anthony Cordesman, CSIS Drive in Basra by Iraqi Army Makes Gains - Farrell and Karim, New York Times Deal Decreases Violence in Sadr City - Sudarsan Raghavan, Washington Post Cease-Fire Put to the Test, Fails - Gordon and Farrell, New York Times Fighting Eases Under Short-term Truce - Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times Hasty Sadr Truce Tests Sway - Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor Violence Eases in Baghdad Slum After Truce - Reuters Ope
According to Dr. Redell Olsen, in her chapter "Postmodern poetry in Britain" (from The Cambridge Companion to Twentieth-Century English Poetry), there has been, and remains, an "important and decisive split in post-war poetry in Britain". This split, I believe, still festers, while in America, there are moves to think beyond 20th century quarrels and divisions. As Dr. Lisa Sewell writes, in her Introduction to American Poets in the 21st Century: The New Poetics, the poetry wars, in America, may
If Spandau Ballet had worked with the Angelic Upstarts . . . the proposed album cover.
Hat tip to SCWR blog.
David Cameron has apparently promised to make the abolition of the 10p tax rate the key focus of the Conservative Crewe by-election campaign. No doubt Elizabeth Shenton, our candidate there, will lose no opportunity to point out that Conservatives voted in favour of the measure in 2007, when Liberal Democrats voted against. Vince Cable's view is that: "David Cameron is involved in the worst kind of political posturing. "He cries crocodile tears for those who are losing out from the abolition of the 10p tax rate, but the only tax cuts he has proposed are for millionaires. "If he wants ...
Commenting last week on the independent review of the postal service, which finds that liberalisation of the market has produced no significant benefits for either households or small businesses, followed by the revelation that Royal Mail's profits have fallen by almost a third, Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary, Sarah Teather said: "The Government really should have seen this coming. Asking the Royal Mail to compete on the open market, without first making sure it had the resources to do so, was always bound to compromise the company. "They have allowed this great British business to fall apart at the seams. ...
The BBC uses Racism to Justify Prejudice - Goff Revisited [ 12-May-08 10:30am ]
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Y'all may recall that I wrote to the Beeb about the article on The Sunday Show in which they unjustly described all Goths as neonazi satanists. I got a reply yesterday.We were sorry to read that you felt that the item on Goths was inaccurate. We raised your concerns with Amanda Hancox, Series Producer of Sunday Life. She asked us to pass on the following: The feature on the Sunday programme was commissioned following a significant rise in the number of desecrated Christian graves in France. Our reporter was told by the Miviledes, the French Government's anti cult task force, ...
Does Boris actually want to be Mayor ? / Brian Paddick reveals he is a natural LibDem [ 12-May-08 9:43am ]
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I have changed my mind about Brian Paddick after reading his campaign diary in the Mail on Sunday. The man is a natural LibDem - he has a sense of humour! Give that man a big pile of Focuses to deliver! At the Eco Build exhibition in Earl's Court. Had no proper briefing so did it myself on Google. Is it meant to be like this? ...er....yes One point which Brian repeats several times is his
Clegg outlines Liberal Democrat approach to City tax loopholes [ 12-May-08 9:42am ]
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Via the FT: Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader, will today use a speech in the City to call for the scrapping of tax loopholes that make London the accountancy equivalent of "a Swiss cheese" and to propose using the proceeds to cut corporation tax. Mr Clegg will accuse the Treasury of devising a complex tax system for [...]
It's a question I've often asked myself. I've worked out that it can't be for any deep rooted ideological reason. By his own admission; Brian considered "for a few hours" being a conservative. It can't be because he's a career politician, hasn't he just announced that he intends to withdrawing from politics completely? So, what are we left with? Is it conceivable that Brian's decision to stand as Lib Dem mayoral candidate was any way linked to his autobiography, Line of Fire? Surely not! But then again ......
After 16 days away Mark and I have just got back from our honeymoon in India, and we're feeling that strange disorientation which comes with a really good holiday - a sense that whilst you're away the rest of the world seems a long way off and that the moment you're back, the trip seems like a dream. I hadn't ever really hankered after a visit to India, but Mark was keen to show me the country of his fathers' birth, and to introduce his new wife to his family in Mumbai, and I was more than happy with that. ...
Hugo Chavez does not seem to be up to speed with German political history, judging from this little outburst at Frau Merkel:
"The Venezuelan leader criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for belonging to the conservative Christian Democratic Union, calling the movement "the same right wing that supported Hitler and fascism".
Well, the CDU was founded by Adenauer, who would have no truck with the Nazis, and consequently spent time in The Big House. Still, why let the facts stand in the way of a good rant?
"The Venezuelan leader criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for belonging to the conservative Christian Democratic Union, calling the movement "the same right wing that supported Hitler and fascism".
Well, the CDU was founded by Adenauer, who would have no truck with the Nazis, and consequently spent time in The Big House. Still, why let the facts stand in the way of a good rant?
I am not a fan of quangos, but I make an exception for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency because of the prose style of its media people.
Here is a classic:
Headlined "Drink and stupidity lead to two in the water at Studland", and continues "Portland Coastguard have been co-ordinating in the wee small hours of this morning a search for two young people who took off from a beach in a dinghy just after 3.00 am this morning with no visible means of propulsion".
That pretty much relays all the necessary information, and I wish that other quangos, government departments - well, all press rooms, actually - could be as forthright.
Previously the MCA has erred on the side of polite, as with this release:
""At ten minutes to nine yesterday evening Solent Coastguard received a 999 call from a concerned gentleman. The man was concerned for two ladies, they had both gone for a walk with a dog at half past four in the afternoon".
Further MCA shenanigans can be retrieved by clicking on the quango tag.
Here is a classic:
Headlined "Drink and stupidity lead to two in the water at Studland", and continues "Portland Coastguard have been co-ordinating in the wee small hours of this morning a search for two young people who took off from a beach in a dinghy just after 3.00 am this morning with no visible means of propulsion".
That pretty much relays all the necessary information, and I wish that other quangos, government departments - well, all press rooms, actually - could be as forthright.
Previously the MCA has erred on the side of polite, as with this release:
""At ten minutes to nine yesterday evening Solent Coastguard received a 999 call from a concerned gentleman. The man was concerned for two ladies, they had both gone for a walk with a dog at half past four in the afternoon".
Further MCA shenanigans can be retrieved by clicking on the quango tag.
The Spike Surplus Scheme is a community-led initiative in Peckham that has been operating on a voluntary basis for a decade. It was reclaimed from an abandoned fly-tipped site and the land opened up for community activities.
In a borough where nearly half the population is poor or borderline poor (according to Southwark Council website), the [...]
The government has set out new guidance calling on councils to monitor communities and do more to prevent local tensions.
Gordon Brown is launching a consultation on how to fund social care for an ageing population, with a promise to build a "fairer Britain".
A reduction in the legal limit for abortion from 24 weeks would give false hope to the parents of severely premature infants, the public health minister has said.
The four main party leaders in Northern Ireland have written to Westminster MPs to state their opposition to plans to extend the 1967 Abortion Act.
Social reactionaries of the province unite!
Jeffrey Donaldson, chairman of the assembly's pro-life group, said: "The pro-life group in the assembly thought it would be useful for the four leaders to write to each MP re-stating that position.
I think it's a very powerful message we have here, four political leaders coming from very diverse political perspectives but united in their view that we do not want the 1967 Act, with all its implications, imposed on Northern Ireland and that the issue of abortion is a matter that should be left to the assembly itself."
Matters of social conscience should not be left anywhere near the Assembly.
The Assembly (like the churches and the bloke down the pub) have, of course, the right to express an opinion and persuade people over to their point of view. It does not have the right to dictate the social and cultural mores by which all of us in our claustrophobic society are forced to conform- for those of us who believe firmly in the concept of personal individual choice (DUPes and SF supporters should carefully check its definition in the dictionary) Westminster is our guarantor of last resort in that respect.
James Forsyth in The Coffee House gives three reasonable reasons why Brown should back the independence referendum...but the fourth one?
Seriously, if the survival of the Union depends on Brown showing passion, then we might as well fold up our Union flags and hand in our passports now.
2.It would allow Brown to show his passion:
Seriously, if the survival of the Union depends on Brown showing passion, then we might as well fold up our Union flags and hand in our passports now.
Labour MP with a Stalinist streak
Can you imagine Cllr. Jimmy Foreman announcing to South Tyneside parents that they cannot have a school place for their infants unless they have all had the MMR jabs and can provide a certificate to prove it?
No, neither can I.
Yet a Labour MP, Mary Creagh (Wakefield) has proposed just such [...]
EU Commissioner target of opposition to treaty in Eire
The face of the European Commissioner for Trade now adorns thousands of placards and "Stop Mandelson" posters as Irish opposition to the EU treaty grows ahead of a referendum next month.
Oh, to be Irish on June 12th as they become the only European state to hold [...]
Have you seen Labour's disgusting leaflets for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election? You might have been glad that the poisonous British National Party aren't fielding a candidate, but you have to wonder if it's just because the BNP are satisfied the Labour candidate shares their 'principles'. Populist class-based personal attacks on other candidates? Check. Whipping up fear about crime? Check. Prejudice against immigrants and special laws to victimise them? Check. To pose as 'caring', finish by saying it's all 'for the children'? Check. With Labour and BNP campaigns now indistinguishable, did the BNP pull out after signing an electoral pact?
This sort of poisonous excrement has no place in British politics. Even for the Labour Party, with its record of immigrant-bashing, fear-stoking and personal attacks in by-elections, this disgustingly negative leaflet marks a new low. No doubt they're terrified they're going to lose and want BNP-inclined voters on side - but in what morally hopeless universe is that an excuse? And as for the hypocrisy of attacking a "Tory toff" when the Labour candidate was only selected because she's the daughter of the former MP and Labour 'toffs' want to make the House of Commons a palace of privilege to which you gain entry by being in the right families…
"Making Foreign Nationals Carry An ID Card"
No doubt they've noticed how unpopular their bossy, cock-up-ridden, appallingly expensive ID cards idea has become, but the Labour Government is so addicted to being able to control every aspect of our lives and tell us what to do that they can't bear to let go of it… So now they say it's all to attack "foreign nationals". Well, Labour's own legislation says every British citizen will have to have one, at a cost of a hundred quid each, fines of thousands if we don't do as we're told, and will cost about twenty billion pounds to run. I'd rather have the money spent on police tackling actual crime, but Labour wants it wasted on being able to keep control of us - because they've forgotten that they work for all of us, and not the other way round. And they've not forgotten but just ignore the fact that they've already caused the biggest data disaster in the history of the world, yet are still obsessed with throwing more untold billions of taxpayers' money down the drain to make it easier for crooks to get their hands on all our personal data in one handy leaky Labour Government database. That all makes it even more cowardly and deceitful that now they're trying to imply these cards will just be compulsory for immigrants.
But assume for an instant that that was the truth: how would it work, then? Tell every foreign tourist they've got to have their fingerprints taken and their eyes zapped by lasers, then pay an extra £100? Great way to destroy the tourist trade and push more of the economy into meltdown. And how do the police enforce every immigrant having to carry an ID card? The only answer can be that the Labour Government wants to waste countless hours of police time by having them harry anyone who doesn't 'look British'. Sounds like pure BNP policymaking to me (meaning racially 'pure', according to bigoted Labour / BNP thought processes, of course).
Labour Members Ashamed of Their "Abhorrent" Campaign
No doubt any Labour members reading will want to call me shocking and over the top. I suggest they do three things first.
This sort of poisonous excrement has no place in British politics. Even for the Labour Party, with its record of immigrant-bashing, fear-stoking and personal attacks in by-elections, this disgustingly negative leaflet marks a new low. No doubt they're terrified they're going to lose and want BNP-inclined voters on side - but in what morally hopeless universe is that an excuse? And as for the hypocrisy of attacking a "Tory toff" when the Labour candidate was only selected because she's the daughter of the former MP and Labour 'toffs' want to make the House of Commons a palace of privilege to which you gain entry by being in the right families…
"Making Foreign Nationals Carry An ID Card"
No doubt they've noticed how unpopular their bossy, cock-up-ridden, appallingly expensive ID cards idea has become, but the Labour Government is so addicted to being able to control every aspect of our lives and tell us what to do that they can't bear to let go of it… So now they say it's all to attack "foreign nationals". Well, Labour's own legislation says every British citizen will have to have one, at a cost of a hundred quid each, fines of thousands if we don't do as we're told, and will cost about twenty billion pounds to run. I'd rather have the money spent on police tackling actual crime, but Labour wants it wasted on being able to keep control of us - because they've forgotten that they work for all of us, and not the other way round. And they've not forgotten but just ignore the fact that they've already caused the biggest data disaster in the history of the world, yet are still obsessed with throwing more untold billions of taxpayers' money down the drain to make it easier for crooks to get their hands on all our personal data in one handy leaky Labour Government database. That all makes it even more cowardly and deceitful that now they're trying to imply these cards will just be compulsory for immigrants.
But assume for an instant that that was the truth: how would it work, then? Tell every foreign tourist they've got to have their fingerprints taken and their eyes zapped by lasers, then pay an extra £100? Great way to destroy the tourist trade and push more of the economy into meltdown. And how do the police enforce every immigrant having to carry an ID card? The only answer can be that the Labour Government wants to waste countless hours of police time by having them harry anyone who doesn't 'look British'. Sounds like pure BNP policymaking to me (meaning racially 'pure', according to bigoted Labour / BNP thought processes, of course).
Labour Members Ashamed of Their "Abhorrent" Campaign
No doubt any Labour members reading will want to call me shocking and over the top. I suggest they do three things first.
- First, look up what Dr Freud called "projection".
- Second, read that Labour / BNP attack and see if there's any way they can defend it.
- And third? Well, I saw this on John's blog last night and immediately decided to attack Labour's disgusting BNP tactics - but to do it more calmly in the morning, rather than straight after I'd seen it and spitting tacks. This morning, I glanced at my e-mails and found a message drawing my attention to some more people who are "horrified" by Labour's tactics and draw exactly the same explicit Labour-BNP connection about this "inflammatory," "offensive" and "abhorrent" leaflet. But rather than Liberal Democrats, these are members of the Labour Party.
Deeply indebted to Brian Monteith for this extreme childishness. The writer would, I suspect, make a top swearblogger.
For the past week, Blogger has been well irritating the tripes off me. No matter what I did, what I tried, I couldn't bloody upload anything!
This morning however, everything seems to be working....... Wordpress is beckoning so it better not happen again.
This morning however, everything seems to be working....... Wordpress is beckoning so it better not happen again.
If you want to witness perhaps the worst piece of writing I have seen for along time, then take a look at this extract from Cherie Blair's book. It is just horrendous.
IMHO it is hard to follow, the text does not flow, it has awkward and stunted sentences, and fails to convey the story. Utter drivel.
Brian Blessed in another hat
An occasional series of Brian Blessed wearing a hat - number 2
I have returned from Canada, leaving the 3ft of virgin powder which fell overnight the day we left unskied, which is a crying shame. Travelgall has entertained you royally in my absence, I trust? He's now been promoted to international editor in chief, with additional "calling Gordon Brown a cunt" duties. Thanks Travelgall for all your hard work, there's 200 Marlborough Lights courtesy of Calgary Duty Free for you next time I see you!
I've decided I like Canada. It's a big, beautiful country, with fewer annoying people than America and HMQ on the currency. The skiing's fantastic, the resort was deserted. On the last day's skiing, having climbed up above the last lift for a couple of hours, we skied fresh tracks for nearly an hour and a half, non stop. Anyone jealous?
Anyhow... I am doing the Britblog Roundup for the first time on the 18th, so any nominations in the comments or to britblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
I've decided I like Canada. It's a big, beautiful country, with fewer annoying people than America and HMQ on the currency. The skiing's fantastic, the resort was deserted. On the last day's skiing, having climbed up above the last lift for a couple of hours, we skied fresh tracks for nearly an hour and a half, non stop. Anyone jealous?
Anyhow... I am doing the Britblog Roundup for the first time on the 18th, so any nominations in the comments or to britblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
In a way you have to admire the sheer brass balls of the man. [ 12-May-08 9:45am ]
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"John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, disclosed on Sunday that he had urged Mr Blair to sack "the annoying" Mr Brown as chancellor". I'll just repeat that as I didn't believe it either… "John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister, disclosed on Sunday that he had urged Mr Blair to sack "the annoying" Mr Brown as chancellor". The pie hurler has the sheer Chutzpah to call Brown annoying. Now we all know Brown is a incompetent fool, but if you look in the dictionary under annoying I think you'll find your picture there John.
Oh and has anybody actually bought this book for any other use than a draft excluder or to prop up an uneven table?
Oh and has anybody actually bought this book for any other use than a draft excluder or to prop up an uneven table?
Blogs
Critical Labour Left blogger Dave Osler has started a discussion on the class nature of Ken Livingstone's "progressive alliance" following Ken's latest Guardian article.
Green Left blogger Jim has an article on the Green-Ken "alliance" from the Green perspective (responding to the Independent publishing a critical letter on it from a "former" ultra-rightist, political tourist and all round dodgy individual), and also talks about Burma.
Sian Berry, the Green's Mayoral candidate posted her response to the result of the campaign on her New Statesman blog on Friday.
Meanwhile, GPEW Male PS Derek Wall posted an appeal for support for Zimbabwe's persecuted trades unionists on the Socialist Unity Blog.
Human Rights
The Amnesty International short film The Stuff Of Life exposing the reality of the torture known as "waterboarding" has been creating a real stir. You can watch it (not for the faint hearted or squeamish) here.
Nuclear Issues
An interesting analysis of some of the reasons why the British Government's enthusiasm for nuclear new build is misplaced by a member of the ruling party and former Cabinet Minister was published in the Guardian last week.
The Left
Former Soviet dissident and Socialist Boris Kagarlitsky had an article published by the CPGB this week giving his take on the choices facing the Left in Europe. Basically he diagnoses a fatal combination of utopianism and then disastrous alliance with the neo-liberal captured "centre left" in the name of "realism".
International
The Australian Green Left magazine last month had an article on the global food crisis and the role played in that by Biofuels.
Green Politics
The Crewe and Nantwich By-election is scheduled for next week on 22nd May and campaigning is well under way. The Greens have a young candidate, Robert Smith, fighting on a progressive platform with a focus on transport and the issue of the disaster that has been rail privatisation.
Critical Labour Left blogger Dave Osler has started a discussion on the class nature of Ken Livingstone's "progressive alliance" following Ken's latest Guardian article.
Green Left blogger Jim has an article on the Green-Ken "alliance" from the Green perspective (responding to the Independent publishing a critical letter on it from a "former" ultra-rightist, political tourist and all round dodgy individual), and also talks about Burma.
Sian Berry, the Green's Mayoral candidate posted her response to the result of the campaign on her New Statesman blog on Friday.
Meanwhile, GPEW Male PS Derek Wall posted an appeal for support for Zimbabwe's persecuted trades unionists on the Socialist Unity Blog.
Human Rights
The Amnesty International short film The Stuff Of Life exposing the reality of the torture known as "waterboarding" has been creating a real stir. You can watch it (not for the faint hearted or squeamish) here.
Nuclear Issues
An interesting analysis of some of the reasons why the British Government's enthusiasm for nuclear new build is misplaced by a member of the ruling party and former Cabinet Minister was published in the Guardian last week.
The Left
Former Soviet dissident and Socialist Boris Kagarlitsky had an article published by the CPGB this week giving his take on the choices facing the Left in Europe. Basically he diagnoses a fatal combination of utopianism and then disastrous alliance with the neo-liberal captured "centre left" in the name of "realism".
International
The Australian Green Left magazine last month had an article on the global food crisis and the role played in that by Biofuels.
Green Politics
The Crewe and Nantwich By-election is scheduled for next week on 22nd May and campaigning is well under way. The Greens have a young candidate, Robert Smith, fighting on a progressive platform with a focus on transport and the issue of the disaster that has been rail privatisation.
Have you seen Labour's disgusting leaflets for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election? You might have been glad that the poisonous British National Party aren't fielding a candidate, but you have to wonder if it's just because the BNP are satisfied the Labour candidate shares their 'principles'. Populist class-based personal attacks on other candidates? Check. Whipping up fear about crime? Check. Prejudice against immigrants and special laws to victimise them? Check. To pose as 'caring', finish by saying it's all 'for the children'? Check. With Labour and BNP campaigns now indistinguishable, did the BNP pull out after signing an electoral pact? ...
Labour party internal anger about Crew & Nantwich campaign [ 12-May-08 9:19am ]
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Over at Labour Home, "For the Union" thinks the Labour Crewe & Nantwich campaign is "disgusting". Referring to a leaflet question about ID cards and "foreign nationals", the blogger says: What has our party come to? Do we not know who we sound like with such inflammatory, nationalist statement. Unless of course - the plan is to TRY and appeal to the BNP - in which case, i may leave the party now.
After a local resident approached councillor David Dixon about the problems for pedestrians at Morrisons, changes are due to make life safer. Traffic lights engineers have now spent some time assessing this junction and the conclusion was that the problem is being caused by vehicles from Bath turning into Morrisons through signals that are on red. This has resulted in some near misses. To prevent this bad driver behaviour we are going to contact the Avon and Somerset Camera Partnership together with our own Traffic and Safety team to propose installing a red running traffic camera. In addition to this ...
The Monday morning blog no. 2: the battle of the autobiographies [ 12-May-08 8:27am ]
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"War!? I must write my memoirs." So went the classic line from the Goon Show. The moment war was declared, there was a rush by the generals to go into print. It feels like we have had a similar experience over the weekend. With Labour now falling apart at the seams, it appears to be first choice of the ancien regime to join the internal Labour war by lobbing a grenade at the embattled Prime
I know this is primarily a political blog but it's also about me and in this case my wonderful daughters who both completed sponsored races to raise funds for Breast Cancer research this weekend. One, expecting our second grandchild, walked in unseasonably hot weather in the Midlands on Saturday and the other, not having done any running for some time, ran in rather colder weather in the Southern
It's gone largely unremarked so far, but Mark Walklate, who is standing as an independent candidate in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election, is a former Conservative activist. He stood for the Conservatives in both the 2006 and 2007 local elections. Moreover, his nomination papers look to have been signed by two prominent local Conservative activists. All [...]
As if things could not get any worse for Labour, Peter Hain went onto the Politics Show yesterday to defend the Prime Minister. He told viewers that Wales Labour were not listening to voters and that they needed to change the way they campaign: He criticised some in the Welsh party for blaming their council election losses on problems at a UK level. He admitted the 10p tax issue had been "toxic", but said his party was not keeping pace with the "incredibly fast" rate of change across Wales. The Neath MP said Welsh Labour would continue to suffer defeats ...
At a constituency meeting in Stockton at the weekend a new Parliamentary candidate for Stockton South was chosen. Jacquie Bell has a long association with this area and we're looking forward to working with her on the things which have to be changed at national level - there's only so much that the local council can do as those of you who want us to stop certain types of planning applications
Clegg outlines Liberal Democrat approach to City tax loopholes [ 12-May-08 9:42am ]
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Via the FT:
Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader, will today use a speech in the City to call for the scrapping of tax loopholes that make London the accountancy equivalent of "a Swiss cheese" and to propose using the proceeds to cut corporation tax.
Mr Clegg will accuse the Treasury of devising a complex tax system for [...]
Seats and candidates: Even Labour activists are disowning their party's campaign in Crewe
David Eyles on Platform: Is food security incompatible with a free a market?
Why do we have fewer by-elections these days? - Peter Riddell in The Times
Will Cameron offer the same strong sense of direction that characterised Margaret Thatcher's 1979 manifesto?
"There is a myth around that her 1979 manifesto was not especially robust. It is certainly an interesting document in retrospect. The section on Europe which condemned the "obstructive and malevolent attitude" of some in the Labour Cabinet towards Brussels and which calls for a common EU foreign policy is ironic. The core of it, however, is unambiguous. It stated "we shall cut income tax at all levels". It noted that: "Any future government which sets out honestly to reduce inflation and taxation will have to make substantial economies, and there should be no doubt about our intention to do so." It was scathing about the nationalised industries and there were more words devoted to reducing the power of the trade unions than any other subject. Although the Tory majority that year was not vast (43), it had immense authority behind it to introduce necessary reforms." - Tim Hames in The Times
But Max Hastings, in The Guardian, thinks that the Tories are offering enough policy beef: "Since the local elections, there have been blasts of media hot air about the Tories' need to strengthen policy commitments, to underpin their image-making with substance. This seems otiose. The opposition has produced policies on the issues about which the public cares most - rescuing education, capping immigration, curbing benefit fraud, reforming sentencing. Rather than threaten radical change, for which there is little public appetite, the Tories promise competent administration, for which there is an intense hunger."
Two political lists: The Western Mail draws up a fantasy Cabinet listing the best Welsh politicians of all time and The Telegraph lists the top fifty influences on David Cameron
Johann Hari questions David Cameron's claim to be a progressive - Independent
Brown set to outline the need to reform social care for ageing population - BBC
William Hague criticises Gordon Brown's decision to meet the Dalai Lama away from Downing Street - Times
A review of 'Squandered' - Trevor Kavanagh in