It's sickening to read some of Laws sanctimonious comments on his website about how he was cleared in the expenses investigations. I wonder why he didn't come clean then or at least try to clarify the rules.
David Laws website
Saturday 29 May 2010
Sanctimonious Laws
So David Laws has done the honourabloe thing and resigned over his expenses claim for rent he paid to his partner. Why the hell did he think it was acceptable in the first place - on any level it was totally inappropriate and even immoral.
There will be much written on the many politcal blogs and in the Sunday papers tomorrow.
It's sickening to read some of Laws sanctimonious comments on his website about how he was cleared in the expenses investigations. I wonder why he didn't come clean then or at least try to clarify the rules.
David Laws website
It's sickening to read some of Laws sanctimonious comments on his website about how he was cleared in the expenses investigations. I wonder why he didn't come clean then or at least try to clarify the rules.
David Laws website
Monday 24 May 2010
Cameron vs 1922 Committee
Cameron blinks first and backs down.
Assessment of The Coalition's last few days - leak and weak.
Assessment of The Coalition's last few days - leak and weak.
Sunday 23 May 2010
Coalition confusion
Only one week into The Coalition and there is confusion and disarray already over their Afghanistan policy. It seems that Liam Fox, William Hague and Andrew Mitchell couldn't get their act together and agree what they wanted to say.
Fox was really quite disparaging about the country saying he wanted troops out as soon as possible and referring to Afganistan as a "broken 13th century country" and was clealry not intrested in helping the Afghan people to create a stable society.
Fox's comments were at odds with Hague and Mitchell who both saw a wider role helping to build a "functioning state" with a proper coherent British approach.
A bit of retreating later saw them trying to demostrate that you couldn't get a Rizla between them - but I betyou can.
Also under fire is Theresa May over her policing policy. In a letter to The Observer, police authority chiefs voice outright hostility to the proposals for directly elected police commissioners. They argue that the plans for sweeping reform of the service will make the country's streets less safe.
A major area of concern is that elected people running local police services have a "politically motivated agenda" and will be chasing votes instead of criminals.
Several major policing organisations are pushing for crisis talks with the Home Secretary. So come on Mrs May listen to the people who know what they are talking about.
Perhaps we will see another change of mind by Theresa May.
Fox was really quite disparaging about the country saying he wanted troops out as soon as possible and referring to Afganistan as a "broken 13th century country" and was clealry not intrested in helping the Afghan people to create a stable society.
Fox's comments were at odds with Hague and Mitchell who both saw a wider role helping to build a "functioning state" with a proper coherent British approach.Also under fire is Theresa May over her policing policy. In a letter to The Observer, police authority chiefs voice outright hostility to the proposals for directly elected police commissioners. They argue that the plans for sweeping reform of the service will make the country's streets less safe.
A major area of concern is that elected people running local police services have a "politically motivated agenda" and will be chasing votes instead of criminals.
Several major policing organisations are pushing for crisis talks with the Home Secretary. So come on Mrs May listen to the people who know what they are talking about.
Perhaps we will see another change of mind by Theresa May.
Friday 21 May 2010
May's U-Turn
So Theresa May has changed her mind on some gay rights issues. She has been persuaded by the arguements and now agrees that gay couples should be allowed to jointly adopt.
There is no doubt that Mrs May has a poor voting record on LGBT issues. Mrs May voted against equalising the age of consent, the repeal of Section 28, against gay couples jointly adopting and against lesbian IVF rights. She failed to attend Parliament for the vote for gender recognition or for the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (which she has responsibility for administering) that outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexuality for the provision of goods and services including adoption. She did vote for civil partnerships.
Almost 70,000 people have joined a Facebook group calling on prime minister David Cameron to sack Mrs May as minister for equality. Mrs May has indicated she is well aware of the group.
So is this a genuine change of heart or is it Political convenience. I know what I believe - only time will tell. But Mrs May - we will be watching you!
There is no doubt that Mrs May has a poor voting record on LGBT issues. Mrs May voted against equalising the age of consent, the repeal of Section 28, against gay couples jointly adopting and against lesbian IVF rights. She failed to attend Parliament for the vote for gender recognition or for the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (which she has responsibility for administering) that outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexuality for the provision of goods and services including adoption. She did vote for civil partnerships.
Almost 70,000 people have joined a Facebook group calling on prime minister David Cameron to sack Mrs May as minister for equality. Mrs May has indicated she is well aware of the group.
So is this a genuine change of heart or is it Political convenience. I know what I believe - only time will tell. But Mrs May - we will be watching you!
Tuesday 18 May 2010
Ed Balls to Declare Tomorrow
Ed Balls (Morley & Outwood) will announce tomorrow tht he is joining the race to be the next leader of the Labour Party.
More ConDem Peers to be created
According to reports in The Metro today the new coalition government could create 172 peers to ensure some controversial laws get through parliament.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have promised to reform the upper house but, in the meantime, they want a second chamber which reflects their share of the vote secured in the election, according to their agreement papers. This would imply an increase from 186 to 263 in Tory numbers in the House of Lords and a boost in Lib Dem places from 72 to 167 - a total of 172 new peers.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have promised to reform the upper house but, in the meantime, they want a second chamber which reflects their share of the vote secured in the election, according to their agreement papers. This would imply an increase from 186 to 263 in Tory numbers in the House of Lords and a boost in Lib Dem places from 72 to 167 - a total of 172 new peers.
Labour and Greens in Leeds Council power agreement
According to reports it seems that Leeds City council is about to come under Labour rule again as they Labour Group are have agreed to form a minority administration with Green Party councillors. This will replace the disastrous (in my humble opinion) Tory / Lib Dem coalition which has been supported by the rag bag group of Morley Borough Independents.
Here is the report from The Guardian online:-
Leeds council is set for new political rulers after the Leeds Labour group reached an agreement with the two-strong Green Party to form a minority adminstration, it has been announced.
After more than a week of tense negotiations, the Green's husband and wife team of David and Ann Blackburn have agreed a deal with Labour which will see them vote with the Labour group at key times, such as the budget, council AGM and votes of no confidence.
Labour has today written to the chief executive announcing that they intend to form a minority administration, supported by the Greens, which will see them take back control of the council from the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition that has run it for the past six years.
Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of the Labour Group, said:
"I am delighted to announce that, following successful negotiations with the Green Group to secure their support on key issues, I have today advised Paul Rogerson, chief executive of Leeds council, that the Labour Group intends to take control of the council.
"At the recent local elections, the Labour Group gained four seats, making it overwhelmingly the largest political group. I believe it is our duty to take responsibility for the council on that basis.
"This is not a formal coalition, but we and the Green Group share several key aspirations for this city, and in particular, we look forward to working with them very closely on environmental issues."
Wakefield said this afternoon that he hoped the agreement would be formally ratified at the council AGM next Thursday, although there may yet be a challenge from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Details of the deal between Labour and the Greens will be revealed next week.
The agreement essentially gives the Labour and Greens control of the council by just one seat. However, if any of the Labour or Green councillors failed to attend next week's council AGM, they would not have enough votes to get council control.
No overall control from one party
Labour gained four seats in Leeds at the local elections 12 days ago - but the results left the council still under no overall control from any single political party.
Labour have 48 seats - two short of the 50 needed to take power. The Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Morley Borough Independent coalition, which has controlled the council since 2004 has 49 seats, leaving the two-strong Green Party in a position to take Labour into a position of control by voting with them on key issues.
The Labour-Green control is also dependent on Leeds's lord mayor exercising his right to vote at the council's AGM - this year the lord mayor is Labour's Jim McKenna. Traditionally the lord mayor does not take part in the voting, although legally there's nothing to say he can't.
Wakefield added:
"We are under no illusions that the year ahead will be a tough one, with difficult and sometimes painful decisions to be made in the face of massive cuts proposed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
"Our aim is to protect public services making sure the elderly, the young and the vulnerable get the care and support they need.
"Working with our partners, our priority now is to get people back into meaningful work through training and apprenticeships to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to benefit from Leeds' success as the regional capital.
"In this context we will not forget that transport is a key issue for the city and the region, especially with regard to the New Generation Transport (NGT) proposals."
Here is the report from The Guardian online:-
Leeds council is set for new political rulers after the Leeds Labour group reached an agreement with the two-strong Green Party to form a minority adminstration, it has been announced.
After more than a week of tense negotiations, the Green's husband and wife team of David and Ann Blackburn have agreed a deal with Labour which will see them vote with the Labour group at key times, such as the budget, council AGM and votes of no confidence.
Labour has today written to the chief executive announcing that they intend to form a minority administration, supported by the Greens, which will see them take back control of the council from the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition that has run it for the past six years.
Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of the Labour Group, said:
"I am delighted to announce that, following successful negotiations with the Green Group to secure their support on key issues, I have today advised Paul Rogerson, chief executive of Leeds council, that the Labour Group intends to take control of the council.
"At the recent local elections, the Labour Group gained four seats, making it overwhelmingly the largest political group. I believe it is our duty to take responsibility for the council on that basis.
"This is not a formal coalition, but we and the Green Group share several key aspirations for this city, and in particular, we look forward to working with them very closely on environmental issues."
Wakefield said this afternoon that he hoped the agreement would be formally ratified at the council AGM next Thursday, although there may yet be a challenge from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Details of the deal between Labour and the Greens will be revealed next week.
The agreement essentially gives the Labour and Greens control of the council by just one seat. However, if any of the Labour or Green councillors failed to attend next week's council AGM, they would not have enough votes to get council control.
No overall control from one party
Labour gained four seats in Leeds at the local elections 12 days ago - but the results left the council still under no overall control from any single political party.
Labour have 48 seats - two short of the 50 needed to take power. The Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Morley Borough Independent coalition, which has controlled the council since 2004 has 49 seats, leaving the two-strong Green Party in a position to take Labour into a position of control by voting with them on key issues.
The Labour-Green control is also dependent on Leeds's lord mayor exercising his right to vote at the council's AGM - this year the lord mayor is Labour's Jim McKenna. Traditionally the lord mayor does not take part in the voting, although legally there's nothing to say he can't.
Wakefield added:
"We are under no illusions that the year ahead will be a tough one, with difficult and sometimes painful decisions to be made in the face of massive cuts proposed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
"Our aim is to protect public services making sure the elderly, the young and the vulnerable get the care and support they need.
"Working with our partners, our priority now is to get people back into meaningful work through training and apprenticeships to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to benefit from Leeds' success as the regional capital.
"In this context we will not forget that transport is a key issue for the city and the region, especially with regard to the New Generation Transport (NGT) proposals."
Monday 17 May 2010
Sunday 16 May 2010
Post Mortem Continues - Time for "Next Labour"
The Sunday papers are predictably full of the post election post mortem. Column inches (or centimeters, depending on whether you are pro European or or not) are taken up talking about
I hope The Coalition lasts for the “fixed term”. If it collapses too soon I fear an outright Tory victory in the subsequent election while Labour are still in the process of renewal - whatever that looks like.
As to who was responsible for the failed Lib / Lab talks then the blame is being shared around. There are suggestions that Clegg was playing a clever game of keeping his options open but all along wanted to do a deal with Cameron and the Tory's. It seems pretty clear that Vince Cable preferred a deal with Labour.
Writing in The Observer, Charles Kennedy says that although he was “keen to explore the possibilites of a so-called “progressive coalition”.... there was insufficient reciprocal will within the Labour party”.
The Observer also suggests that a deal between Labour and the LibDems was possible on things like scrapping identity cards, plans for the third runway at Heathrow and even considering the £10k tax threshold (if ways could be found to bridge the estimated £17bn cost).
But it seems that cuts and electoral reform left the two parties miles apart. Which to me now seems at odds with what was being reported at the beginning of last week when offered immediate legislation on voting reform.
The issue of Labour not having a moral mandate to govern was reportedely too much for the likes John Reid, David Blunkett and Jack Straw.
So perhaps Clegg wanted to be seen to be reaching out to Labour to try and secure even more concessions from Cameron's team. It will be a mistake to underestimate this man's ambition and thirst for power - in the national interest of course.
So what about the Labour leadership – as David Miliiband says “New Labour is not the future. I'm interested now in Next Labour”.
I think that David Milliband will appeal more to “Blairite” members and Ed Milliband, Ed Balls and John Cruddas to “Brownites” . OK, OK I know the Party is keen to ditch “Blairite” and “Brownite” from the vocabulary and see the candidates for themselves - and I will I promise.
I missed an opportunity yesterday to be out with my MP, Ed Balls, in the streets of Morley to say thank you to the voters for their continuing support. There was also a social last night for local Party workers. Perhaps if I had been there I might have had a Bloggers scoop this morning - who knows.
Mike
- how long The Coalition will last
- who was to blame for the failure of the Lib / Lab talks
- the Labour leadership
I hope The Coalition lasts for the “fixed term”. If it collapses too soon I fear an outright Tory victory in the subsequent election while Labour are still in the process of renewal - whatever that looks like.
As to who was responsible for the failed Lib / Lab talks then the blame is being shared around. There are suggestions that Clegg was playing a clever game of keeping his options open but all along wanted to do a deal with Cameron and the Tory's. It seems pretty clear that Vince Cable preferred a deal with Labour.
Writing in The Observer, Charles Kennedy says that although he was “keen to explore the possibilites of a so-called “progressive coalition”.... there was insufficient reciprocal will within the Labour party”.
The Observer also suggests that a deal between Labour and the LibDems was possible on things like scrapping identity cards, plans for the third runway at Heathrow and even considering the £10k tax threshold (if ways could be found to bridge the estimated £17bn cost).
But it seems that cuts and electoral reform left the two parties miles apart. Which to me now seems at odds with what was being reported at the beginning of last week when offered immediate legislation on voting reform.
The issue of Labour not having a moral mandate to govern was reportedely too much for the likes John Reid, David Blunkett and Jack Straw.
So perhaps Clegg wanted to be seen to be reaching out to Labour to try and secure even more concessions from Cameron's team. It will be a mistake to underestimate this man's ambition and thirst for power - in the national interest of course.
So what about the Labour leadership – as David Miliiband says “New Labour is not the future. I'm interested now in Next Labour”.
I think that David Milliband will appeal more to “Blairite” members and Ed Milliband, Ed Balls and John Cruddas to “Brownites” . OK, OK I know the Party is keen to ditch “Blairite” and “Brownite” from the vocabulary and see the candidates for themselves - and I will I promise.
I missed an opportunity yesterday to be out with my MP, Ed Balls, in the streets of Morley to say thank you to the voters for their continuing support. There was also a social last night for local Party workers. Perhaps if I had been there I might have had a Bloggers scoop this morning - who knows.
Mike
Saturday 15 May 2010
Aftermath
I went to bed in the early hours of 7th May disappointed but not surprised. I was resigned to a hung parliament - the exit polls had been right. The only question was what the seat split would be.
The events of the following days have been Blogged, reported and televised to death.
We are now ConDemmed to a coalition, so we are told, for the next five years.
I have been a Labour Party voter all my adult life and a member since 1994. We have done so much good over the last 13 years – national minimum wage, low inflation and interest rates, New Deal … and many many more. Here's a link to the Labour Party website listing 50 major achievements Labour achievements
I do think we have been struggling over the last few years and it seemd like we had run out of steam and lost touch with the voters. So now we have an opportunity to renew ourselves - a new leader and a new direction. This will be a challenge as I thnk that the Tory / Lib Dem coalition (The Coalition) now occupies more of the centre ground.
The Lib Dems were so desperate to get a taste of power that I think it was inevitable that Clegg would get into bed with Cameron. Clegg has been prepared to give up some of the Lib Dem key policies to get the promise of a referendum on the voting system - during which the Tories will campaign against the changes. So they are now in a “civil partnerhip” until 2015 - but I tell you I will show my bare arse in Burton's window if they last that long without one or the other seeking a separation.
It was an interesting Question Time on the BBC last Thursday with some people asking whether the people who voted Lib Dem to keep out the Tories should feel betrayed. I think that many will.
I have experience of living in a city run by a Tory / Lib Dem coalition. They are supported in power by a rag bag Independent group made up of disgraced or failed former Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem party members. Perhaps more about them in the future.
As I write the Milliband brothers, Ed and David, have both declared that they are running for the leadership of the Labour Party. I suspect that my own MP, Ed Balls will announce he is a candidate in the next few days. If I was a betting man I would put my money on someone called Ed - but let's wait and see what happens.
So I'm going to try and keep track of events in the political world and post a regular blog full of comments, opinion, links and of course the usual drivel seen in my other blog (Utter Drivel).
I hope that you find Political Drivel interesting and sometimes funny. Please leave your comments and feedback.
Quote - The Tory Party is the cream of society, thick, rich and full of clots. (Anon).
Mike
I have been a Labour Party voter all my adult life and a member since 1994. We have done so much good over the last 13 years – national minimum wage, low inflation and interest rates, New Deal … and many many more. Here's a link to the Labour Party website listing 50 major achievements Labour achievements
I do think we have been struggling over the last few years and it seemd like we had run out of steam and lost touch with the voters. So now we have an opportunity to renew ourselves - a new leader and a new direction. This will be a challenge as I thnk that the Tory / Lib Dem coalition (The Coalition) now occupies more of the centre ground.
The Lib Dems were so desperate to get a taste of power that I think it was inevitable that Clegg would get into bed with Cameron. Clegg has been prepared to give up some of the Lib Dem key policies to get the promise of a referendum on the voting system - during which the Tories will campaign against the changes. So they are now in a “civil partnerhip” until 2015 - but I tell you I will show my bare arse in Burton's window if they last that long without one or the other seeking a separation.
I have experience of living in a city run by a Tory / Lib Dem coalition. They are supported in power by a rag bag Independent group made up of disgraced or failed former Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem party members. Perhaps more about them in the future.
As I write the Milliband brothers, Ed and David, have both declared that they are running for the leadership of the Labour Party. I suspect that my own MP, Ed Balls will announce he is a candidate in the next few days. If I was a betting man I would put my money on someone called Ed - but let's wait and see what happens.
So I'm going to try and keep track of events in the political world and post a regular blog full of comments, opinion, links and of course the usual drivel seen in my other blog (Utter Drivel).
I hope that you find Political Drivel interesting and sometimes funny. Please leave your comments and feedback.
Quote - The Tory Party is the cream of society, thick, rich and full of clots. (Anon).
Mike
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