tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-109928812024-03-08T23:26:42.271+00:00The Returning OfficersThree of Britain's most popular political bloggers on one page, in real-time, coming from left, right and centre (but not necessarily in that order).Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115840000351791892005-05-25T20:28:00.000+01:002005-08-26T17:13:22.296+01:00Blogging Will Be LighterA quick discussion with my fellow Returning Officers has led to the decision to keep the blog open for occasional posts until the next election campaign. For more on Guido's view see my post on my own <a href="http://5thnovember.blogspot.com/2005/05/blog-today-gone-tomorrow.html">blog</a>. <em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Thanks for your support and attention.<br /></span></em><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="79" src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" width="55" align="textTop" border="0" /></a>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1116864716178405072005-05-23T17:06:00.000+01:002005-05-23T17:15:12.893+01:00Errr, OKNot sure what to make of this...<br /><br /><em>THE ELECTION GROUNDHOGS ARE UP FOR SALE!<br /><br />Gordon and Granita the Groundhogs have worked with the Conservative Party during the 2005 General Election Campaign. Named after Gordon Brown and Granita, the famous restaurant that Tony and Gordon dined at in 1994, the groundhogs have worked tirelessly with the Party for the whole campaign.<br /><br />This is a great opportunity to own a piece of election history. Gordon and Granita came out of hibernation in February and remained with the campaign until polling day.</em><br /><br />They <em>"come complete with a certificate of authenticity signed by Michael Howard and Lynton Crosby"</em>, apparently. It's not really the same as the snow leopard I adopted as a child.<br /><br />Said 2005 ephemera can be bid for <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=367&item=3975991718&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW">here</a>, though clearly the email plea suggests that there's not been many takers so far. Still, Lynton's autograph hey? Phwoar!Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115508045793250412005-05-08T08:19:00.000+01:002005-05-08T00:20:45.796+01:00No Mandate for New Labour in EnglandCharles Moore in the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2005/05/07/do0701.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2005/05/07/ixopinion.html">Torygraph</a> points out that Blair won office on the lowest number of votes since 1922, and it is the smallest share (since women got the vote) that has enabled the formation of a government with an overall majority. Its been three-quarters of a century since the governing party got less than 10 million votes. Its an even worse result when one considers that the population in 1922 was so much smaller. See also this <a href="http://news.ft.com/cms/s/4c782f70-bdda-11d9-87aa-00000e2511c8.html">FT</a> article.<br /><br />The Tories <a href="http://5thnovember.blogspot.com/2005/05/gored-psephology-and-popular-vote.html">Gored</a> Labour in England, winning the popular vote by 60,000 more votes than Labour. (The Tories picked up 8,086,306 votes, Labour trailed with just 8,028,512.) So its fair to say that England is under foreign occupation by a Scottish socialist party unsupported by the population, with only 1 in 5 of the English backing the regime. Expect the <a href="http://www.thecep.org.uk/">Campaign for an English Parliament</a> to gain traction if not actually start an insurgency.<br /><br />Guido commissioned his own research which shows a slightly different result, taking into account all eligible voters the final results were really:-<br /><a href="http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf"></a><br />Nullist 39%<br />Labour 21.4%<br />Conservative 19.7%<br />Lib. Dem. 13.4%<br />Others 6.3%<br /><br />©NotmeGuv, 2005<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">It was the None-of-the-Aboves wot won it...</span></em>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115381274570306872005-05-06T12:55:00.000+01:002005-05-07T22:28:06.906+01:00We're All Brownites NowAm now working to more deadlines than a global courier service but the election's over and so's this blog. As post-election atmospheres go, this is a weird one and no doubt Tony Blair agrees with me. Obviously Egregious George's election was unfortunate. Otis Ferry, what a muppet. Tim Collins, <em>har-har</em>. Chris Maines, what went wrong there? Iain Dale, blimey. Stephen Twigg, Chris Leslie, hmmm. Barbara Roche and Geraint Davies means two new GLA members soon. Roger Casale probably needs to go back to politics lecturing. Peter Law, words fail me.<br /><br />Someone ought to do a <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1478074,00.html">Tory leadership contest</a> blog. I'm not volunteering myself but it would be amusing to note the twists and turns. Then again, Liam Fox is just amusing full-stop.<br /><br /><strong>Update 1:</strong> looks like Guido will be the unofficial Tory leadership contest blog.<br /><strong>Update 2:</strong> reshuffle was a non-event, Amos, Beckett and McCartney still in, Murphy out; Reid not at FCO; Browne, Hutton and Miliband promoted; Blunkett gets some of first Cabinet post back but no 'enforcer' role; Department for Productivity, Energy and Industry?Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115380413427412362005-05-06T12:49:00.000+01:002005-05-06T15:18:59.076+01:00Yeah, Probably For The BestThe Tories are going for weakest link politics and having failed to break that 'psychologically important' 200-seat barrier, <a href="http://www.epolitix.com/EN/News/200505/6992f8a6-6d5c-42e2-9df3-ae2585673bdc.htm">Howard's off</a> to spend more time with his <strike>coffin and cape</strike> Liverpool season ticket.<br /><br />Interesting then that he wants to change the party's rules on electing a successor and has made his hope for a "younger leader" <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4521941.stm">known</a>.<br /><br />Oh, and <a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/article.php?id=6072&issue=2005-05-07">the <em>Spectator</em>'s 'hypothetical' analysis</a> today:<br /><br /><em>A victory for Howard would be a stunning vindication of his courage, resilience, patience, powers of organisation and penchant for spasmodic acts of apodeictic ruthlessness. <br /><br />Whatever happens this Thursday, the Conservative party owes Michael Howard a huge debt of thanks.<br /><br />...<br /><br />If the Tories lose, there will be the usual gleeful post-mortem. It will be asserted that the Tories once again contrived to sound nasty, and that the campaign focused too much on immigration.<br /><br />...<br /><br />The dismal truth is that <strong>Labour has temporarily brainwashed the electorate</strong> into believing that there is no way of improving public services without continuing Gordon Brown’s campaign to turn Britain into a kind of Sweden.</em><br /><br />Damn their oily hides, as Mr Burns would say.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115344254470156102005-05-06T02:48:00.000+01:002005-05-06T02:50:54.476+01:00Reg Keys SpeechBlair had the grace to look choked. He never has visited the wounded soldiers has he?Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115314255631869872005-05-05T18:08:00.000+01:002005-05-05T18:30:55.853+01:00Strangely, I Don't Feel DirtyUnlike the <a href="http://www.honourablefiend.com/archives/2005/05/choose_labour.html">Honourable Fiend</a>, I did choose Labour today, not that it's any of your business, of course. But to my mind the choice was stark, <a href="http://www.labour.org.uk/maps/locinfo.phtml?ctid=2725">anodyne backbench councillor</a> or <a href="http://www.greghands.com">Greg 'the Africans are coming' Hands</a>, with the result being the closest in London by all accounts. <a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/election2005/archives/2005/04/27/snap_yourself_with_a_nose_peg.html">No nosepeg required</a>, therefore.<br /><br />Not that our virile PM (<em>too</em> much information, Tony) should take this as any kind of personal endorsement, after all, it was only lesser-evilism. It seems Will Self agreed with my choice too, bizarrely, according to today's <em>Standard</em>. <br /><br />If only I'd kept my flat in Whitechapel though, I'd have marched to that ballot box with a fixed grin.<br /><br />I spent this morning and early afternoon with some foreign observers and the diminished public interest on the ground was palpable. Tonight will be spent watching with a glass of wine in hand, sleepy but thinking of the time off in lieu.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115310010208135112005-05-05T17:17:00.000+01:002005-05-05T17:20:10.213+01:00Bullish in DefeatBozzer dictates a garbled message via <em>The Spectator</em>'s <a href="http://www.spectator.co.uk/election/">attempt at blogging</a> while out on the stump today:<br /><br /><em>"I've just been standing in a Conservative committee room watching the votes spool ever upwards like house prices in Oxfordshire; I am therefore full of confidence that whatever happens we are now seeing the end of the Blair premiership. Even if – which I do not for a moment concede – Tony Blair hangs on to his job tonight, he will find it increasingly unbearable. Not only will he face a revived and invigorated Tory party, but also ranged behind him will be the vengeful spirits of his backbenchers, consumed with self-loathing for what they supported in Iraq, and determined to jugulate Mr Tony as soon as they can."</em><br /><br />An inverted pyramid of piffle, if you ask me.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115243792724698332005-05-05T10:55:00.000+01:002005-05-05T17:03:04.410+01:00Don't Vote, It Only Encourages Them<p align="center"><a href="http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf"><img class="phostImg" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bbparody.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Click on Image - requires Flash and sound</span></em></p><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="79" src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" width="55" align="textTop" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Surely it's self-defeating for a 'returning officer' to issue such instructions? Anyhow, here's <a href="http://www.ivotedforyoubecause.com/">another new site</a> for the election, slightly against the spirit of your intentions. Don't worry, it'll all be <em>ovah</em> soon.<br /><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="50" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" width="50" align="textTop" border="0" /> <br /><br />Saves on counting. I think you'll find the nullist party is going to win tonight with around 40% of the vote.<br /><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="79" src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" width="55" align="textTop" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My missus hails from a country with compulsory voting -- that's the stuff of your nightmares really.<br /><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="50" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" width="50" align="textTop" border="0" />Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1115123661528318832005-05-03T13:31:00.000+01:002005-05-03T14:08:37.473+01:00Canterbury TalesTo the garden of England, where Tory Julian Brazier is embroiled in another photos on campaign literature row, according to <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/story.jsp?story=635175">today's <em>Independent</em></a>. He reckons his Labour opponent's own literature is "very poor". I wouldn't stand for that sort of claim, Recess.<br /><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="50" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" width="50" align="textTop" border="0" /><br /><br />Someone wants £10 @ 20 /1 odds on <a href="http://www.betfair.com/">Betfair</a> for a Labour win in Canterbury. Good luck Recess. <em>Did I ever tell you about the embarassing time years ago when Julian and I... </em><br /> <a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="79" src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" width="55" align="textTop" border="0" /></a>Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114894059934373472005-04-30T21:40:00.000+01:002005-05-01T11:44:02.756+01:00Coyote Ugly PoliticsA <a href="http://www.boreme.com/bm/APR05/a/channel4-election-virals/fr.htm">trio of viral ads</a> found via <a href="http://hurryupharry.bloghouse.net/archives/2005/04/30/dont_wake_up_with_the_tories.php">Harry's Place</a> that deserve a wider appreciation. After the whole UKIP nonsense and those botched subtitles on the Greens' solitary showing, they're better than what the parties have come up with.<br /><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="50" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" width="50" align="textTop" border="0" /><br /><br />I have to confess to really enjoying the UKIP broadcast, it was like a Harry Enfield piss-take, with Dr Who style EU monsters gobbling up Britain. (Why couldn't Roger Knapman have a shave?) You are right, it was <em>so bad it was good...<br /></em><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 30px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 30px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="79" src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" width="55" align="textTop" border="0" /></a>Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114795780387930802005-04-29T18:27:00.000+01:002005-04-30T12:18:20.556+01:00So Bad It Was GoodThe Ukip <a href="http://www.ukip.org/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://www.ukipshop.co.uk/ppb2005_0001.wmv">party political broadcast</a> aired just now. Think Alan Partridge. Think Rusty Lee warning on the dangers of immigration (what does Wincey Willis make of it though?). Think <em>"minds immeasurably more bureaucratic than ours"</em>...Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114779165163911022005-04-29T13:52:00.000+01:002005-04-29T13:52:45.163+01:00Blair on Iraq : "Move On"<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/1024/moveon.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/moveon.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" border="0" /></a></div>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114731153209553722005-04-29T00:26:00.000+01:002005-04-29T00:32:33.210+01:00Arise Lord Banks of Stamford BridgeMuch ado in store when the <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,19809-1590431,00.html">dissolution honours</a> gets its wider dissection tomorrow. Those heartlands Labour MPs who got the relevant nudges and declined them will rue the day when they fail to get in the second chamber next time round under different circumstances.<br /><br />Andrew Neil referred to this crop as a political C-list and called for Guy Fawkes to be added to liven things up. What could he mean?<br /><br />As for <a href="http://www.republic.org.uk/media/list.php">so-called republican</a> Tony Banks...Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114695724070191352005-04-28T14:40:00.000+01:002005-04-28T22:51:16.536+01:00Give Rover Management An Award<div style="text-align: justify;">Tucked away inside the Labour business manifesto, is the commitment to<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">"Introduce a new award for Phoenix Entrepreneurs to encourage positive public recognition for individuals whose first business did not succeed but who have come back, worked hard and built successful enterprises."</blockquote> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Given the recent demise of <a href="http://www.phoenix-cars.com/index.asp">Phoenix MG Rover</a>, surely their choice of words is more than a trifle insensitive?<br /><br />Hat tip: </span>Thom Dyke</div><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a><br />Indeed. What next, a Dame Shirley Porter Award for Voter Registration?<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" />Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114687719199068742005-04-28T12:25:00.000+01:002005-04-28T12:59:15.653+01:00Blair Out-Tories the Tories - Again!Michael Howard said that one of the first acts of his government, if elected, would be to publish Lord Goldsmith's advice on the Iraq war.<br /><br />Erm, Blair's <a href="http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2005/04/28/legal.pdf">just done that</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Update:</strong> sensing a possible backlash as a result of this, Labour sought to divert attention moments later with <em>another</em> gag-laden email from John O'Farrell.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114600415396176242005-04-27T12:12:00.000+01:002005-04-27T12:13:35.396+01:00The Word on The StreetAs Huggy Bear used to say, is that David Miliband will be taking <em>a lot</em> of interest in how Lords reform pans out after the election.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114590910078160312005-04-27T09:33:00.000+01:002005-04-27T09:49:04.260+01:00Aussie Re-inforcements Arrive<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/1024/people_textor.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/people_textor.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" align="right" border="0" hspace="3" /></a>Sipping my usual 'special order' coffee in Starbucks on Victoria Street yesterday, Guido thought he saw a familiar face (given the <span style="font-style: italic;">special</span> bit is generous slug of cognac from my hipflask, I may have been mistaken). But the shiny slap head, the Aussie twang, it seems to me that it must be, the one, the only, Mark Textor. Here no doubt to help his old mate Lynton give the Tories a final Aussie style finish. Guido fears that it is going to end sadly for Crosby-Textor and the Tories. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><br />But they at least put up a proper fight this time.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And 10 out of 10 to Saatchi for the audacious robbery of New Labour's new campaign slogan. Labour's pitch to the public sector payroll vote <span style="font-style: italic;">"If You Value It, Vote For It"</span> has become <span style="font-style: italic;">"<a href="http://www.ifyouvalueitvoteforit.com/">If You Value The Truth, Vote For It</a>"</span>.</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/1024/blairlies2005.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/blairlies2005.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Click to Enlarge</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a><br />I'm not thinking what <a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15099116%255E2703,00.html">they're thinking</a> ie. portraying the Tories as the underdog and imploring people to vote anti-Labour to prevent a forgone conclusion, will work. They have a different electoral system over there.<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" />Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114468999928333622005-04-26T09:42:00.000+01:002005-04-26T15:58:15.853+01:00You Heard It Here First - Unless You Read Recess Monkey 5 Minutes AgoBrian Sedgemore, retiring MP for Hackney South & Shoreditch has defected to the LibDems, causing a headache for Labour Candidates trying to show the public how right wing the Liberals can be.<br /><br />Is it possible that Charles Kennedy offered him a Peerage after being rejected for an Honour by Blair? Traditionally, the two main opposition leaders nominate 5 people for Peerages at dissolution.<br /><a href="http://www.recessmonkey.com/"><img src="http://bill.verity-networks.com/ext/recess/media/votemonkey.gif" alt="Recess Monkey" title="Recess Monkey" /></a><br /><br /><br />Oh the joys of rushing to post! Great minds think alike (or were watching <em>Newsnight</em> at the same time).<br /><br />Not sure Sedgemore would go for a peerage, after all, he did used to attack 'The Establishment'. And there's the small matter of the Lib Dems' Approved Peers List -- surely Charles Kennedy wouldn't go above the heads of his own party's democratic structures?<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" /><br /><br />So chaps, which bit of the Sedgemore battering do you disagree with? Recess is I know a fan of Brian. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Do you renounce Sedgemore and all his works and pledge loyalty to Blair?</span><br /><br />There is a lot of truth in what he says, half the PLP loathes Blair, half of the candidates do as well. Much of the activists (who are generally more left-wing) will not campaign for him and many voters find him indistinguishable from the Tories. That latter point is key to his success. Will conscientious socialists hold their nose and vote for New Labour? I suspect a lot will vote for the most left-wing candidate, which in many cases will be the LibDems.<br /><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a><br /><br />I have never rated Brian "eminently forgettable" Sedgemore and, for once, agree with Blair that no one will have heard of him until this morning. I must admit to enjoying his and Mayor Ken's hate/hate relationship over recent years, which no one other than those concerned seem to know where the beef is. I expect Ken smirked over his cornflakes this morning.<br /><br />In fact, if you want positive proof to the extent of his lightweight-ness then read <a href="http://oliverkamm.typepad.com/blog/2005/04/those_liberal_d.html">Oliver Kamm's detailed examination</a> of Sedgemore's historic contribution to the Labour Party. I also agree with Kamm's conclusion, we should be happy for Brian now he's found his real political home.<br /><br />As for Recess, he's just a romantic lefty and is aware of Sedgemore's breezing through the pages of <em>Tribune</em> over the years.<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" /><br /><br />Thanks for the irrelevant gossip, but without sounding like Paxo, answer the question - which bit of the Sedgemore battering do you disagree with? <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Do you renounce Sedgemore and all his works and pledge loyalty to Blair?<br /></span><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a><br /><br />I'm baffled as to what I'm supposed to be agreeing with or disagreeing with. Was it a battering? Sounded like a bitter rant by a has-been to me. How can I renounce someone I never rated? Why do I have to pledge loyalty to anyone? I'm sure your question has humour value but as far as I am concerned these events have absolutely no personal relevance to me whatsoever.<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114469051220562192005-04-25T23:27:00.000+01:002005-04-25T23:44:11.220+01:00I Like My Liberalism Tough<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4484043.stm">'Veteran former Labour MP defects'</a><br /><br />I'm inclined to say 'meh' here, after all, he'd been nudging closer and closer to them throughout the last Parliament and it's not as if he was standing for re-election. A Labour to Tory defection would be more newsworthy but I suspect that this defection fits in perfectly with <em>The Independent</em>'s agenda, which is why it's their front page lead. I'm not quite sure how Brian Sedgemore, someone on the Campaign Group left of Labour who used to write books about 'The Establishment', will be received by his new party, but I shan't deprive them of their opportunity to gloat.<br /><br />Perhaps he was swayed by the magnetic charms of Don Foster...Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114442639523075182005-04-25T16:20:00.000+01:002005-04-25T16:23:59.523+01:00Flaming MungrelOK, it's only a couple of comments in a thread over at the <em>Guardian</em>'s blog, but <a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/election2005/archives/2005/04/22/illegal_migrants_need_amnesty.html">is this</a> the nascent stirrings of a 'Deport Lynton Crosby' campaign? Worth a shot for the would-be Dom Jolly types out there.Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114438661363793102005-04-25T15:16:00.000+01:002005-04-25T17:57:42.326+01:00Tough on Dictatorships, Tough on the Causes of Dictatorships?<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.blacktriangle.org/wordpress/wp-content/voteabourlarge.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; width: 388px; height: 219px;" /></div>Well (for balance), if the Lib Dems can ape Michael Moore then Labour might as well get all Aung Sang Suu Kyi on us...<br /><br />(NB: not <a href="http://www.blacktriangle.org/blog/index.php?p=1022">actual Labour propaganda</a>)<br /><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/bowler.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="50" width="50" />Man in Whitehallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06205966447306016114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114426063398872352005-04-25T11:38:00.000+01:002005-04-25T11:47:43.400+01:00This Returning Officer is OutragedBethnal Green is a tough battle-ground, George Galloway (Ba’athist party) is up against Oona (War party). Fortunately, if you fear Baghdad style voter-intimidation a handy official looking card will have popped through your door.<br /><blockquote>POSTAL VOTES CENTRE,<br />FREEPOST NAT C14962,<br />NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE,<br />NE3 3BP</blockquote>The card contains a box where voters can fill in an address other than the one they are registered at in breach of Electoral Commission guidelines. Who could be <a href="http://www.amicustheunion.org/main.asp?page=1718">behind</a> this scam?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Don’t be surprised when Galloway calls the police in on May 6th.</span>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114425382762436612005-04-25T11:33:00.000+01:002005-04-25T11:36:22.763+01:00If You Value It, Vote for ItLabour unveiled their new slogan last week. <a href="http://www.ifyouvalueitvoteforit.com/">www.IfYouValueItVoteforIt.com</a> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Oops...</span><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10992881.post-1114341007363550752005-04-24T12:09:00.000+01:002005-04-24T12:19:32.626+01:00Remember : A Vote for Labour, is a Vote for the War in Iraq<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/1024/ldforwar.jpg"><img class="phostImg" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/90/1404/400/ldforwar.jpg" style="border-width: 0px;" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Next week will be focused on Iraq if everyone but Blair and Campbell have their way. The LibDems, the only party that has been consistent and truthful on the issue, plan to make it the issue <span style="font-style: italic;">du jour</span> Monday to Friday. According to Campbell's <s>emailed</s> leaked memo to the <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1582892,00.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunday Times</span></a>, the Labour spin will be that Saddam would still be in power rather than in prison. The problem with that argument for Labour is that a lot of their activist base would rather not have seen British soldiers fighting and dying alongside the Yanks in Iraq and detests Blair for cosying up to Bush. They would rather have let Saddam stay in power than have the U.S. marines in Baghdad. The LibDems have to target their message to those disaffected Labour voters. <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">For anti-War voters the choice is vote LibDem, Green or stay at home.</span><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Hmmm.</span> Guido reckons he knows from where Cowley Street got the idea for that clever <span style="font-style: italic;">"<a href="http://5thnovember.blogspot.com/2005/02/blog-post_14.html">Labour for war</a>"</span> graphic.</div><a href="http://www.order-order.com/"><img src="http://uk.geocities.com/worldtradecoalition@btopenworld.com/littlemask.gif" style="border-width: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px;" align="texttop" border="0" height="79" width="55" /></a>Guido Fawkeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15091277669318213298noreply@blogger.com1