Daily Referendum

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The Ninetieth Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-05-21 22:44:00
Got some time to kill but don't know where to go?Why don't you climb aboard the Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus? There are still a few places left.Click on STOP 1 and the Bus will take you to your first Mystery Blog location. To get back on the Bus just click the Back Button and click STOP 2 to continue the Tour. I think you can work the rest out.The Bus rolls out on Sundays and Wednesdays - enjoy the ride.- SHOCKER!
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Jan Berry slaps down Jacqui Smith - Police Federation Conference.
2008-05-21 18:02:00
Ever since I started blogging I have followed the speeches and press releases from the Police Federation. The one thing that always makes them interesting is the honest and straightforward opinion of their Chairman for the last six years: Jan Berry . Jan steps down as Chairman on completion of the police conference being held in Bournemouth this week. I will miss reading Jan's press releases and I can only hope that whoever steps into well worn shoes does the job to Jan's high standards. Jan did not disappoint when she made her key note speech at the conference today - She stuck the boot into Jacqui Smith good and hard:At my first conference, I introduced the opportunity to ask questions of the Home Secretary. Although some Home Secretaries have subsequently regretted it – the session has been an important and healthy exchange of views. Home Secretary - I admire your courage. You didn’t have to come here today and I know conference will treat your office with the respect it war...
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Lisbon Treaty - Lib Dems - the most dishonest party?
2008-05-21 07:48:00
Last night Tory peer Lord Blackwell proposed a motion to make it law that a referendum is held on whether Britain joins the Euro. The motion was defeated by 195 votes to 135. Now this is a surprise seeing as Labour promised to hold a referendum on the Euro during their 1997 election campaign. Why would they vote against their own policy? As Lord Strathclyde said: there was "something very fishy" about the government's refusal to back its own policy. I wonder if Gordon Brown has promised the other European heads of state that we will join the Euro shortly after ratifying the Lisbon Constitution Treaty. If that is the case, then this is another example of Brown denying the people their democratic right to vote. There's a good chance that if entering the Euro did go to a referendum we (like the Lisbon Treaty) would vote NO. And Gordon can't let that happen.It looks very much like Gordon Brown is going to railroad us into the Lisbon Treaty, shortly followed by forcing the Euro on us....
More About: Party , Lib Dems , Liars , Nick Clegg

Police majority vote to lobby for full industrial rights.
2008-05-20 17:35:00
Press release from the Police Federation:20 May 2008This afternoon in the Opening Speech to conference (available on the website) Jan Berry announced the results of the Police Federation /Ipsos MORI poll of the membership on binding arbitration and full industrial rights.They are:A total of 60,572 responses were received.Q1. Do you think decisions made by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal should or should not be binding on the Government?Yes, should be binding = 93%No, should not be binding = 3%No opinion/don't know/not stated = 4%Q2. In the current absence of binding arbitration on the Government, do you wish the Police Federation of England and Wales to start to lobby for a change in legislation to allow police officers full industrial rights?Yes = 86%No = 11%No opinion/don't know/not stated = 3%Chairman of the Police Federation, Jan Berry says:" I do not see this as a vote for strike action; it's a vote for binding independent arbitration." This is a wake up call for ...
More About: Rights , Industrial , Vote

Crewe and Nantwich - William Hill take record £40,000 bet (Tory win),
2008-05-20 17:09:00
Press release from William Hill :Conservative Cheer In Crewe As Punter Places Biggest Ever By Election Bet!William Hill have today taken the biggest ever by election bet, when a customer from central London placed £40,000 on a Conservative victory in the Crewe & Nantwich by election at odds of 1/16 and should he be successful he will collect £42,500. As a result Hills have slashed the price of a Conservative victory from 1/16 to 1/20 and offer the Labour party at 8/1 (Lib Dem 20/1)."This is a massive political punt, nobody risks £40,000 to win just £2,500 unless they are certain of victory. We are not 100% sure of the punters political affiliation but the description does not match that of Gordon Brown, who is likely to be in for a miserable few days," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.Also - William Hill have halved their odds for Gordon Brown to be ousted as Prime Minister this year from 5/1 to 5/2 after significant support for him to be out by the end of the year. 'Punters ...
More About: Record , Tory

Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - What sould the Abortion time limit be?
2008-05-20 16:21:00
Tonight our MPs will be debating the Abortion time limit as part of the Fertilisation and Embryology Bill . The debate starts at 18:30 and a free vote should take place around 22:00. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries wants the abortion laws changed. She believes the right of a woman to choose had its limits.She said: "If a baby feels pain as part of a barbaric abortion process - which is what happens post-20 weeks - and if we know that baby could live if it was allowed to be born, then there comes the point when that baby has rights which are of equal parity to the mother's."However, Health minister Dawn Primarolo, said: "There is no science that shows us that the survival rates have changed since we took the decision to have the time limit at 24 weeks."I'll be voting for 20 weeks in this poll. I believe that if their is a chance of survival - then the baby must be given that chance.Fertilisation and Embryology Bill - What sould the Abortion time limit be?Stay as it is - 24 weeks.Re...
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Crewe and Nantwich - Sir Alex Ferguson supports Labour.
2008-05-19 13:23:00
Just when you thought that the Labour team in Crewe and Nantwich had absolutely no policies apart from "Tory Toffs", they've come up with a beauty: putting a picture of Sir Alex Ferguson on their leaflets. Football supremo Ferguson is of course well known as a political mastermind and no doubt his endorsement of Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody will have locals voting labour in their droves. Not.
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Daily Mirror - Has the pro-Labour tide turned?
2008-05-19 12:17:00
I was amazed to read an article in today's Daily Mirror that attacked the Labour "Tory toff" campaign being fought in Crewe and Nantwich. As Tony Parsons points out: "Gwyneth Dunwoody would never have run such a shallow campaign." Such critique of Labour's campaign comes as a welcome surprise after reading Brian Reade's pathetic article in the same paper last week. So I've got to ask: Are the Mirror going the way of the Sun in their support for Cameron's Conservative s? Has the Mirror's pro-Labour tide turned?Here is a snippet from Tony's article:As Labour supporters shrieked about rich Tories in Bentleys, they did not seem to have the faintest idea that Bentley has provided generations of Crewe families with work. In Crewe, a Bentley is a potent symbol of highly skilled, proud working men and a brand recognised around the world. Pointing self-righteous fingers might have worked elsewhere, but using a Bentley as an example of privilege in Crewe is thick. But there are other wo...
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50% of "On the spot" fines are not being paid.
2008-05-19 10:40:00
The Daily Mail are reporting that a Freedom of information request uncovered the fact that 50 per cent of "On the spot" fines (Penalty Notices for Disorder) are going unpaid. Some areas are reporting a payment rate of only 32 per cent. With an estimated 95,000 fines going unpaid the courts are struggling to recover the outstanding £7.7million. Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation , said:?The government must restrict the use of Penalty Notices for Disorder to the most minor of offences. The reality is they don?t deter crime and a lot are never paid. ?It?s high time we were allowed to get back to some common sense policing, using our discretion, and putting these persistent offenders before the courts. Otherwise they are just laughing in the face of the law and feel confident to go on to bigger and more serious criminal activity.? Of course the main flaw in the "brilliant idea" is that yobs being yobs, they tend to give false identities when they are being fined. Who'd have th...
More About: Crime , Spot , Paid , On The Spot

Poll: How will the main parties perform in Crewe and Nantwich.
2008-05-18 15:35:00
A poll carried out for The News of the World puts the Conservatives eight points ahead of Labour in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election. This morning David Davis told Andrew Marr: "We have got a 7,000 majority to overturn. "We haven't won a by-election from Labour in 30 years. But we are pulling out all the stops."Conservatives 45%Labour 37%LibDems 14%How will the main parties perform in the Crewe and Nantwich By-Election?Conservative win by more than 5000 votes.Conservative win.Labour win by more than 5000 votes.Labour win.Lib Dem win by more than 5000 votes. Lib Dem win. pollcode.com free polls
More About: Main , Poll , Parties , Polls , The Main

The Eighty Ninth Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-05-18 14:58:00
Got some time to kill but don't know where to go?Why don't you climb aboard the Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus? There are still a few places left.Click on STOP 1 and the Bus will take you to your first Mystery Blog location. To get back on the Bus just click the Back Button and click STOP 2 to continue the Tour. I think you can work the rest out.The Bus rolls out on Sundays and Wednesdays - enjoy the ride.- SHOCKER!
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David Davis on the Andrew Marr Show - 18th May 08
2008-05-18 13:19:00
I've just watched David Davis on the Andrew Marr Show . What a brilliant performance. I'm not saying that as a Tory, I'm saying it as an ex-Labour supporter who is becoming more convinced by the day that joining the Conservative party was the right thing to do. The difference between the way David and his fellow shadow cabinet members come across compared to our Labour ministers is glaringly obvious. I believe that Andrew Marr enjoyed this interview and actually bought into David's view of a future Tory government.Watch and enjoy: Click HERE. (46min and 15secs in)

Crewe and Nantwich - Dunwoody tears up campaign leaflets
2008-05-18 01:18:00
The Sunday Express are reporting that Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody has been ordered to tear up her campaign leaflets. The leaflets for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election are to be scrapped over fears of a back lash against dirty campaigning. One senior Labour source said: ?They had been told to attack the Tories on policy not the background of an individual. We want to win on policy, not some old-style class war.?The leaflet in question sported slogans such as: ?Do you really think a Tory toff from Tarporley cares??, ?out-of-touch Tory? and ?Stop the Tory Rot?. However I find that mild compared to this Labour leaflet:Con man? Where the hell do they get off calling Conservative candidate Edward Timpson a con man? What's next? Just how far are Labour willing to go?
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Conservatives - 20 point lead in Sunday Times YouGov Poll
2008-05-17 18:09:00
From the Sunday Times: The latest YouGov poll for the Sunday Times makes depressing reading for Gordon Brown ahead of the coming week?s key by-election test in Crewe & Nantwich. The Tories have a 20-point national poll lead, up from 16 a month ago. Labour is on just 25% of the vote (down 2), with the Tories at 45% (up 2) and the Liberal Democrats on 18%, also up 2. David Cameron is beginning to move towards the kind of poll leads that Tony Blair enjoyed before his landslide victory in 1997. What I'm pleased to see from this Poll is that Gordon Brown's tax bribe failed to come off - 47% say it was a cynical ploy ahead of the by-election. 69% of voters say Brown is not up to the job and 59% say he should step down before the next election. Any of the cheering Labour MPs at Darling's tax announcement last week will not be too happy today. The people have seen through them.
More About: Conservative , Conservatives , Polls

Blog under construction - slow weekend blogging.
2008-05-17 11:42:00
I know I said that I wouldn't be changing the look of the blog for a while, but I've decided that seeing as the number of visitors is rising (200 bad day, 800+ good day), it needs to look more professional.Let me know what you think of the new look. Should be finished by Monday.CheersSteve
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Nick Robinson hits Gordon Brown's nail on the head.
2008-05-16 13:00:00
Nick Robinson is often accused of being soft on Gordon Brown by the right and of showing contempt for the PM from the left. To be honest this is probably down to Nick writing his articles from the centre ground - you can't please them all. Anyhoo, Nick's latest post directs his readers to an essay he wrote for the Today programme at the end of Gordon Brown's extraordinary week (as he describes it). The essay gives us an insight into what is really happening behind the scenes in the Labour party. Nick hits Gordon Brown's nail right on the head:"Imagine. Imagine just for a second. What if there had not been an emergency Budget this week. What if the government had not borrowed an extra £2.7 billion to pay for a tax cut to 22 million people? Ministers are in no doubt. Labour MPs would have defeated the Finance Bill - that's the legislation that implements the Budget. That would have been led to the resignation of the Chancellor, Alistair Darling. The prime minister's long-term al...
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Gordon Brown - Staying alive, staying alive, ah, ah, ah...
2008-05-16 10:11:00
According to the Telegraph Gordon Brown is a big Bee Gees fan. Apparently he listens to their music every day and considers it to be "timeless". The titles of some of their songs may explain a Gordon's mood after his drubbing in the Local Elections:The First Of May was The Longest Night, and Overnight a bad result turned into a Tragedy. By the morning I felt like Giving Up The Ghost, but Don't Forget To Remember that I'm Crazy For Your Love. I told Cameron You Win Again and You Should Be Dancing and I feel so Alone. The electorate is nothing but a Heartbreaker, but How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?So I'm saying to you the electorate that I've Gotta Get A Message To You, no more Jive Talkin'. I believed in my own Immortality. I was Guilty of not understanding your Ordinary Lives, but now I say Run To Me my children, because If I Can't Have You, I don't care if I Live Or Die. This is more than just Words, you mean the World to me. If you will only believe me, I could be Saved B...
More About: Gordon Brown , Alive

Poll - How will you vote in the next General Election?
2008-05-15 16:37:00
How will you vote in the next General Election ? Will you be changing sides or sticking with what you've got?Sorry I couldn't fit all the other parties in the poll. If you will be voting for a party other than the three main parties, please check the "other box".How will you vote in the next General Election?Did you vote Labour last time and intend to next time.Did you vote Labour last time and intend to vote Conservative this time.Did you vote Labour last time and intend to vote Lib Dem this time.Did you vote Labour last time and intend to vote for "other" parties next time.Did you vote Conservative last time and intend to next time.Did you vote Conservative last time and intend to vote Lib Dem this time.Did you vote Conservative last time and intend to vote Labour this time.Did you vote Conservative last time and intend to vote for "other" parties next time.Did you vote Lib Dem last time and intend to next time.Did you vote Lib Dem last time and intend to vote Conservative this t...
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42 day detention - The committee say NO.
2008-05-15 13:19:00
More bad news for Gordon Brown. A committee of MPs and Peers have poo-pooed his call for the terror detention limit to be extended to 42 days: "Our view is that the government has not made out its case for the need to extend pre-charge detention beyond the current limit of 28 days". I wonder why the 42 day question has been moved to take place after the Crewe and Nantwich by-election? What are the chances of Brown and his goons listening to, and learning from the committees' recommendations? Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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Gordon Brown is getting on with the job?
2008-05-15 10:48:00
This morning Gordon Brown told Sky's Adam Boulton that he was not considering his position and would be getting on with the job. I'd like to know when he bloody started. He's just borrowed another £2.7bn when we are already up shit creek, and he is spending like kid on pocket money day. The Guardian are reporting that £2.8bn is lost each year by Revenue and Customs because it is not cost-effective to chase it up. Surely the system needs sorting out. What kind of financial system accepts losses on such a massive scale? Oh yes, that's right, one run by Gordon Brown for ten years. Muppet. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Tamsin Dunwoody - Is Gordon Brown an asset or not?
2008-05-14 22:37:00
I think the answer Tamsin is looking for is: "Yes, Gordon Brown is a great asset".Do you get the feeling that she is trying to distance herself from Gordon? Also - I didn't realise that Gordon Brown was unanimously elected as our Prime Minister.Hat Tip: Ordovicius.
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The Eighty Eighth Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-05-14 21:50:00
Got some time to kill but don't know where to go?Why don't you climb aboard the Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus? There are still a few places left.Click on STOP 1 and the Bus will take you to your first Mystery Blog location. To get back on the Bus just click the Back Button and click STOP 2 to continue the Tour. I think you can work the rest out.The Bus rolls out on Sundays and Wednesdays - enjoy the ride. 12 34 5
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Simon Heffer - A little bitter are we?
2008-05-14 09:26:00
I've just read Simon Heffer's article in the Telegraph. He's not a happy bunny - not happy at all. He is a little upset that David Cameron is not Tory enough for him. Let's be straight about this; this not Heffer questioning Cameron's motivation - it is an attack on the man Heffer never fancied for the job.This is a bitter little article penned by a man who cannot put his hand up and say "I was wrong". He claims that "the Conservative party still stands for very little". Well if that is true Simon, why are the only policies coming out of this Labour government, policies stolen from the Tories? Even today Brown will be announcing more Tory policies. It is time that Heffer and all the other Cameron haters shut the hell up - it's getting bloody embarrassing.I and many others have joined the Conservative party not because they are traditional Tories. We have joined because we genuinely believe that they have the right ideas for getting the country back on track. Heffer - get a bl...
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10p tax - See you next year Darling?
2008-05-13 20:13:00
OK, Darling has announced his fix for the 10p tax fiasco. This apology patch bribe is welcome news for around 4 million of those ripped off by Darling's first budget. However there are a couple of problems with this fortuitously timed solution (by-election?):For a start this will cost £2.7bn. Where is it coming from? Darling is going to borrow it. So much for "Tories and their unfunded tax cuts". And we are already in serious debt.Rather than helping out the 5.3 million people who needed help, everyone earning up to £40,835 will be £120 better off - except, that is, for over a million of the lowest paid.George Osborne stressed Alistair Darling 's announcement was a one-off payment rather than a long-term plan to compensate those hit by the axing of the 10p tax rate.Let's summarise for those Labour supporting idiots who are crowing about this: Brown and Darling are only responding to their own cock-up. Over a million people are still worse off. If Brown had not been forced to act o...
More About: Gordon Brown , Year

Irish Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty 12th June 2008
2008-05-13 19:56:00
The date has been set for the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The 12th of June could be the day the Irish save the UK from the EU superstate. The Irish government under their new Prime Minister, Brian Cowen are supporting the "yes" vote. However a yes result is not set in stone. In a recent poll 38 said yes, 28 no and 34 were undecided. A previous poll was even closer with only a 4 point gap between yes and no.It's clear that the strength of feeling is stronger amongst the "no" voters, and they are more likely to turn out on voting day. Here's hoping anyway.Come on you Irish beauties. Do Europe a massive favour and vote NO. Please!Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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Victory in Europe day - 12th June 2008
2008-05-13 16:28:00
The date has been set for the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The 12th of June could be the day the Irish save the UK from the EU superstate. The Irish government under their new Prime Minister, Brian Cowen are supporting the "yes" vote. However a yes result is not set in stone. In a recent poll 38 said yes, 28 no and 34 were undecided. A previous poll was even closer with only a 4 point gap between yes and no. It's clear that the strength of feeling is stronger amongst the "no" voters, and they are more likely to turn out on voting day. Here's hoping anyway. Come on you Irish beauties. Do Europe a massive favour and vote NO. Please! Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
More About: Victory , June 2008 , 2008

Labour MPs are thrown to the lions by Harman.
2008-05-13 11:55:00
Harriet Harman has ordered Labour MPs and Ministers to help out in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. I bet they are chuffed about that. "What, me? Face the voters? Are you mad? they'll tear me apart. "Anyway, why do I have to go if Gordon is bottling out?"If I were a Labour MP, I'd be avoiding the public like the plague. And if I was a journalist, I'd be following them with great interest.Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
More About: Election , Lions , Harriet Harman

The Eighty Seventh Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-05-12 19:41:00
Got some time to kill but don't know where to go?Why don't you climb aboard the Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus. There are still a few places left.Click on STOP 1 and the Bus will take you to your first Mystery Blog location. To get back on the Bus just click the Back Button and click STOP 2 to continue the Tour. I think you can work the rest out.The Bus rolls out on Sundays and Wednesdays - enjoy the ride. 12 34 5
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William Hill - Tories to win Crewe and Nantwich.
2008-05-12 08:02:00
From William Hill:GORDON BROWN IS ODDS-ON TO SUFFER CREWE CUTTHE CONSERVATIVES have been installed as hot favourites by William Hill to heap further humiliation on Gordon Brown and Labour by capturing the Crewe and Nantwich constituency in the forthcoming by-election. Hills have made them 2/5 favourites to win the former safe seat, for which Labour are offered at 9/4 with the by-election specialists, the Lib Dems, at 10/1.William Hill have made Labour the longest odds they have been since coming to power 11 years ago to win the next General Election . They are 13/8 to do so, with the Conservative s now offered at 4/9 - the shortest price they have been for a General Election since they lost power. The Lib Dems are 66/1.A Hung Parliament is a 7/4 chance.Hills make Gordon Brown 8/13 to lead Labour into the next General Election and 6/5 not to.WILLIAM HILL: WHEN WILL BROWN CEASE TO BE PM? 6/4 2010; 7/4 2009; 5/1 2008; 14/1 2015; 16/1 2017; 16/1 2016; 16/1 2014; 20/1 2013; 33/1 2012; 50/1...
More About: Tories

Gordon Brown in a Celebrity Death Match (Poll).
2008-05-11 18:26:00
Roll up!, Roll up! For one night only: Gordon "the clunking fist" Brown will be fighting in a Celebrity Death Match. It's up to you to choose his opponent. If you can't find the opponent you like in the list below - make a suggestion in the comments section.If Gordon Brown was to take part in a celebrity death match, who would you like to see him fight? (one must die). David CameronNick CleggWendy AlexanderTony BlairBoris JohnsonRed KenJohn PrescottHarriet HarmanPiers morganMichael Portillo pollcode.com free polls
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