Good to see that Labour are returning to their working class roots and are orgnainsing a political rally. It seems too long since Neil Kinnock joined Billy Bragg for Red Wedge. Also good to see they are deserting the coffee houses of the M25 set to take the rally north to Lancashire.
Sadly however, it appears that the rally is not to be arranged around the Lancastrian town of Prescott but the Deputy Prime Minister of that ilk. Now I know John is not exactly swelte but surely a walk around his girth, even at 8 abreast, would not take the other 354 Labour MP's very long and nor is there really enough room for all of them on the parade route, even if he was flat on his back.
Alternatively of course they could sup up the two Jags and rally around Dorneywood. However, even that would hardly give all Tony's men and babes a chance to get behind the wheel. Apparently the jags are only used to going 200 yards in windy conditions.
Maybe the call to arms raised by Ann Clwyd the new Party Chairman is not hopeful of a full turn out. Maybe some of them will find croquet matches that need attending, or holidays that have to be taken or maybe their Russian contacts might warn them off attending.
However, I do like the clever use of the word rally by the Beeb in that article. Subtle enough for some of us to get a good laugh out of it and then share it with you.
Wednesday, 31 May 2006
Sweep Stake Blues
I found the following interesting letter in the Glasgow Herald on Monday:
On the same day The Scotsman had a more laid back contributor.
I find myself in a quandary as to whom to support in the forthcoming World Cup. Last week in a sweep run by the Federation of (Scottish) Nationalist Students, I drew out both Paraguay and England. One of these countries is a right-wing junta, currently involved in suppressing human rights and kow-towing to US foreign policy at the expense of its own people. Should I therefore be cheering on Paraguay instead?
On the same day The Scotsman had a more laid back contributor.
Have Tories Given Up on Winning Already
Ok my understanding of Dave's A-List was that these people would have to apply for the party deemed to be their top target seats. However, in today there is a report that the uptake is slow for the first 35 seats.
The article says that the target seats for priority candidates will in future include only those constituencies that the party has a realistic chance of winning. Apparently the first trance of 35 seats are mainly Lib Dem held and the Times says we will hard to shift or else have a sizeable Labour majority. Hardly the talk of a party expecting to form the next Government.
There is also bad news for the A-Lististos. One of the hottest tickets, Finchley and Golder's Green local party (of course part of Margaret Thatcher's seat) where there is only a 741 Labour Majority are not going ahead with their selection despite numerous applications. They want to go ahead with a local candidate not on the A-List who will need the approval of Central Office.
With Bromley and Chiselhurst also seeking to select a local candidate on Thursday another plum seat looks out of reach of the 100 best Tories not in Parliament. Maybe they should practice their croquet more, as that appears to be the current way to get a plum job with no responsibility.
The article says that the target seats for priority candidates will in future include only those constituencies that the party has a realistic chance of winning. Apparently the first trance of 35 seats are mainly Lib Dem held and the Times says we will hard to shift or else have a sizeable Labour majority. Hardly the talk of a party expecting to form the next Government.
There is also bad news for the A-Lististos. One of the hottest tickets, Finchley and Golder's Green local party (of course part of Margaret Thatcher's seat) where there is only a 741 Labour Majority are not going ahead with their selection despite numerous applications. They want to go ahead with a local candidate not on the A-List who will need the approval of Central Office.
With Bromley and Chiselhurst also seeking to select a local candidate on Thursday another plum seat looks out of reach of the 100 best Tories not in Parliament. Maybe they should practice their croquet more, as that appears to be the current way to get a plum job with no responsibility.
Tuesday, 30 May 2006
Right to Cycle
A farmer near Blackridge has blocked off a section of National Cycle Route 75 which runs across his land, this is a major route linking the Forth and Clyde valleys.
The sustainable development charity Sustrans say that £150,000 of public money was spent on the tarmaced section that the farmer Roy Orr has blocked off. Mr Orr claims that this was done without planning permission and has fenced in the section to enable him to farm his land.
Under Scotland's new access legislation however West Lothian Council have ordered the route to be reinstated or appealed by 9 June.
Diversions are currently in operation until this dispute is settled.
The sustainable development charity Sustrans say that £150,000 of public money was spent on the tarmaced section that the farmer Roy Orr has blocked off. Mr Orr claims that this was done without planning permission and has fenced in the section to enable him to farm his land.
Under Scotland's new access legislation however West Lothian Council have ordered the route to be reinstated or appealed by 9 June.
Diversions are currently in operation until this dispute is settled.
Monday, 29 May 2006
Second Weekend of Pre-Wedding Tradedy Hits West Lothian
The news that two West Lothian men died while attending a stag party in Blackpool came on the day David Livingstone, who was killed in car crash in Bathgate last Saturday, was due to be married.
Barry Bryce from Armadale and Scott Hunter from Blackridge got into difficulties when a wave swept them off steps on the sea wall.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families involved.
Barry Bryce from Armadale and Scott Hunter from Blackridge got into difficulties when a wave swept them off steps on the sea wall.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families involved.
Saturday, 27 May 2006
Tory A-List 31-40
Sorry for the break in this series but I've been having braodband difficulties at home. And the other night after 35 minutes on the phone to Mumbai they finally confirmed what I tild them in the first minute of the call that my modem was dead, deceased, fallen off this mortal coil, no more. Anyway after a number of enquires into what I'd found out I'm pressing on with the remainder of the list.
Vicky Ford: Stood for Birmingham Northfield in 2005, see is also a councillor on South Cambridgeshire District Council. In the Telegraph last November she was one of 16 women to sign a letter supporting Cameron as the only hope of the Tories to win over women voters (also signaturies fellow A-Listers Angie Bray, Jane Ellison, Pauline Latham, Amanda McLean and Laura Sandys). She hit the news over a lap dancing club billboard in 2004, for the record she was complaining not appearing in the poster. However, another of her campaigns was about changing the way planning permission for mobile phone masts is carried out.
Jackie Foster: Was MEP for the North West Region from 1999 but was only placed 4th on the list for 2004 thus losing out when the Tories only returned 3 for the region. However, like party leader David she is shortening her name from Jacqueline. She was considered one of the least Eco-Friendly MEPs by friends of the Earth in 2004. She may have to sharpen up her Greenish if she is to become a successful chameleon in the new model Tories.
George Freeman: Was Candidate for Stevenage in 2005. Although he hasn't left mush of a google-trail.
David Gold: David was Candidate for Brighton Pavillion in 2001. He hasd served as William Hagues diary secretary and is another gay man to make the list.
Zac Goldsmith: The son of the Late Eurosceptic founder of the referendum Party Sir James Goldsmith, Zac is the Editor of Ecologist Magazine and is Co-Chair of the Environment Policy Group. He certainly has Green credentials having donated £5000 to the Green Party candidate's campaign in Stroud last May some of the 3056 votes gained might have been better used in turning over the 350 majority by which his new party came second. But he has since said 'A Conservative who is not also in his heart an environmentalist cannot legitimately be described as a Conservative'. Start making your lists now of who's therefore not a legitimate conservative.
Ashley Gray: Has twice stood for Cornwall South East in 2001 and 2005. But though there was a Conservative swing he remained static against Liberal Democrat Colin Breed who actually increased his majority. He has signed up for a number of green campaigns in the region, even getting a mention by Tim Yeo in a debate on wind farms but is listed as a Eurosceptic.
Andrew Griffith: Is also a two time candidate Corby in 2001 and 2005. He is a media consultant. The Telegraph listed him as one of 23 Faces for the Future last year and was one of the authors of Direct Democracy - Agenda for a New Model Party in June 2005.
Andrew Griffiths: Has been Chief of Staff to Hugo Swire MP and worked for Teresa May, PPC in Dudley North in 2001 and European candidate in 2004 4th on West Midlands list although he had also gone for the Welsh list. He currently works for Neil Parish the South West Conservative MEP as his name appears on the website imprint.
Laetitia Gunn As Recess Monkey has pointed out Laetitia is the daughter of Bill Cash and as such has been on Tatler's most invited list. She was PPC for Salford in 2005 having previously been rejected by Wyre Valley with the cautionary statement from local group leader Stephen Cree 'She came to interview, but the association felt she was not at the standard we wanted. We had far better candidates and we selected the best'. Their best either dispite or because he was male failed to unseat Dr Richard Taylor.
Sam Gyimah: Was CBI Entrepreneur of the Future in 2005 and is co-founder of Clearstone, he previously worked for Goldma Sachs. He was born in the UK but raised in Ghana in a single-parent household and is another black candidate on the A-List. He has also edited From the Ashes - The Future of the Conservative Party last year. He was President of the Oxford Union in 1997 from where he graduated in PPE.
Vicky Ford: Stood for Birmingham Northfield in 2005, see is also a councillor on South Cambridgeshire District Council. In the Telegraph last November she was one of 16 women to sign a letter supporting Cameron as the only hope of the Tories to win over women voters (also signaturies fellow A-Listers Angie Bray, Jane Ellison, Pauline Latham, Amanda McLean and Laura Sandys). She hit the news over a lap dancing club billboard in 2004, for the record she was complaining not appearing in the poster. However, another of her campaigns was about changing the way planning permission for mobile phone masts is carried out.
Jackie Foster: Was MEP for the North West Region from 1999 but was only placed 4th on the list for 2004 thus losing out when the Tories only returned 3 for the region. However, like party leader David she is shortening her name from Jacqueline. She was considered one of the least Eco-Friendly MEPs by friends of the Earth in 2004. She may have to sharpen up her Greenish if she is to become a successful chameleon in the new model Tories.
George Freeman: Was Candidate for Stevenage in 2005. Although he hasn't left mush of a google-trail.
David Gold: David was Candidate for Brighton Pavillion in 2001. He hasd served as William Hagues diary secretary and is another gay man to make the list.
Zac Goldsmith: The son of the Late Eurosceptic founder of the referendum Party Sir James Goldsmith, Zac is the Editor of Ecologist Magazine and is Co-Chair of the Environment Policy Group. He certainly has Green credentials having donated £5000 to the Green Party candidate's campaign in Stroud last May some of the 3056 votes gained might have been better used in turning over the 350 majority by which his new party came second. But he has since said 'A Conservative who is not also in his heart an environmentalist cannot legitimately be described as a Conservative'. Start making your lists now of who's therefore not a legitimate conservative.
Ashley Gray: Has twice stood for Cornwall South East in 2001 and 2005. But though there was a Conservative swing he remained static against Liberal Democrat Colin Breed who actually increased his majority. He has signed up for a number of green campaigns in the region, even getting a mention by Tim Yeo in a debate on wind farms but is listed as a Eurosceptic.
Andrew Griffith: Is also a two time candidate Corby in 2001 and 2005. He is a media consultant. The Telegraph listed him as one of 23 Faces for the Future last year and was one of the authors of Direct Democracy - Agenda for a New Model Party in June 2005.
Andrew Griffiths: Has been Chief of Staff to Hugo Swire MP and worked for Teresa May, PPC in Dudley North in 2001 and European candidate in 2004 4th on West Midlands list although he had also gone for the Welsh list. He currently works for Neil Parish the South West Conservative MEP as his name appears on the website imprint.
Laetitia Gunn As Recess Monkey has pointed out Laetitia is the daughter of Bill Cash and as such has been on Tatler's most invited list. She was PPC for Salford in 2005 having previously been rejected by Wyre Valley with the cautionary statement from local group leader Stephen Cree 'She came to interview, but the association felt she was not at the standard we wanted. We had far better candidates and we selected the best'. Their best either dispite or because he was male failed to unseat Dr Richard Taylor.
Sam Gyimah: Was CBI Entrepreneur of the Future in 2005 and is co-founder of Clearstone, he previously worked for Goldma Sachs. He was born in the UK but raised in Ghana in a single-parent household and is another black candidate on the A-List. He has also edited From the Ashes - The Future of the Conservative Party last year. He was President of the Oxford Union in 1997 from where he graduated in PPE.
Friday, 26 May 2006
10 Other Confessions That Tony Might Consider Making
Ok as Tony is getting all confessional how about some other thing he might want to get off his chest.
10. I'm not English after all and will be supporting Trindad and Tobago at the World Cup in Germany. (Don't know why Dave got invited to David and Vicky's bash but not me.)
9. I thought when Cherie first said she would introduce me to C. Chaplin she was talking about the famous film star tramp.
8. My last cabinet reshuffle was made by throwing darts at the usual suspects. I almost had Keyser Soze replace Gordon at the Exchequer.
7. I wish I'm made Robin Cook's resignation speech, people might like me more. But then George wouldn't so maybe not.
6. I am fallible. Just everyone else around me is more so and people don't notice.
5. I voted for Thatcher in 1979.
4. John Prescott gave me a Chinese burn when I threatened to take his priveleges away from him.
3. I wish Cherie had won a Parliamentary seat before me, then I could have followed my dream and become an internationally recognised lawy...rock guitarist.
2. I was really upset that Al Gore didn't become president, but also relieved as he would have hounded me about Kyoto targets all this time and George isn't bothered.
1. Yes Gordon it is unfair me making you pay the Granita bill and not letting you become leader.
10. I'm not English after all and will be supporting Trindad and Tobago at the World Cup in Germany. (Don't know why Dave got invited to David and Vicky's bash but not me.)
9. I thought when Cherie first said she would introduce me to C. Chaplin she was talking about the famous film star tramp.
8. My last cabinet reshuffle was made by throwing darts at the usual suspects. I almost had Keyser Soze replace Gordon at the Exchequer.
7. I wish I'm made Robin Cook's resignation speech, people might like me more. But then George wouldn't so maybe not.
6. I am fallible. Just everyone else around me is more so and people don't notice.
5. I voted for Thatcher in 1979.
4. John Prescott gave me a Chinese burn when I threatened to take his priveleges away from him.
3. I wish Cherie had won a Parliamentary seat before me, then I could have followed my dream and become an internationally recognised lawy...rock guitarist.
2. I was really upset that Al Gore didn't become president, but also relieved as he would have hounded me about Kyoto targets all this time and George isn't bothered.
1. Yes Gordon it is unfair me making you pay the Granita bill and not letting you become leader.
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