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Labour can win fourth election - yeah - right.
2008-05-03 14:57:00
Apparently Jack Straw is going around telling anyone who will listen that Labour can win a fourth election. It's not impossible, but it is improbable. Jack, and many other Labour ministers believe it was the 10p tax that "did them in." When that is sorted they are hoping all will be well and the nation will once again love Gordon and Labour. Not a chance. Do these politicians live in a different world to us? Do they really believe that we have such short memories? Labours' problems go much deeper than the 10p tax debacle, and so does public contempt for them.I'm just a blogger; I'm not a journalist or a politician. I'm just your average working man. I live in the real world and not the political one where everyone has the memory of a goldfish. And I know why I and many other former Labour supporters despise this government so:There are many who are angered about Gordon Brown's undemocratic refusal to allow us a vote on the Lisbon Treaty.I'm angry about my local hospital closi...
More About: Election , Yeah

Boris Johnson - Mayor of London 2008.
2008-05-03 00:45:00
Boris Johnson is the new Mayor of London !Magic our Boris!!!Boris 1,168,738 votesKen 1,028,966 votes
More About: Boris , London Mayor

Gordon Brown - Your members don't believe you.
2008-05-02 22:27:00
Over on Labour 's website, there is a message from Gordon Brown (listen and lead). Unfortunately for Gordon, someone forgot to turn the comments off. He's getting it right in the neck from the (ex) party faithful.Warning it is not pretty. Here's a small sample:To late! You won't! You haven't! I used to support Labour......You ignored me and no doubt thousands like me. My wife has just picked up her pay packet and guess what you've been into that. She takes home a miserly £708 per month but you want that.See how Gordon's words have gone down with Labour supporters by clicking HERE.
More About: Gordon Brown , Members

Local and London Mayor Election - The morning after.
2008-05-02 11:22:00
11:11 Oh what a night! Time to catch up with the news. I'll keep you updated as the results come in.11:14 Lets hope Boris can put the icing on the cake. Counting began at 0830 and is expected to take up to 12 hours.11:23 Labour lose Brookmeadow to Tories.11:25 Conservatives hold on to Hale.11:26 102 of 159 councils have officially declared. Seats so far: CON +152, LAB -166 and LIB +8.11:37 Conservatives take hold of Bury Council.11:46 From the BBC: The last time Labour did this badly in a local election, the Beatles were in the charts and Flower Power was all the rage. 11:49 Labour battered in South Shields.12:03 Con +166, LAB - 182, LIB +14.12:07 Shropshire Star - No hiding place for Labour.12:17 The Spectator - The Tories have friends in the north.12:29 Conservatives have won the Maidstone local elections after 25 years of a hung council.12:34 Western Morning News - Labour suffered a heavy defeat in Plymouth this morning, losing five early seats to the controlling Tory Party.12:4...
More About: London , Election , Local , Mayor

Local and London Mayor Election night as it happens.
2008-05-01 23:15:00
Live Blogging through the night.22:15 The Polls closed about 15 minutes ago. Already Conservative Home are calling London for Boris . I hope they are right.23:05 Polly Toynbee (on Question Time) says Boris becoming mayor will be a disaster for London. God I hate that woman.23:25 Labour hold Gorse Hill. Roger Berry, Labour, who has been a councillor for 26 years, retained his seat in Gorse Hill.23:26 Conservatives take Chorley from Labour.23:27 Tories have complained to the police and the returning officer about alleged intimidation of voters at two polling stations in the Crompton ward.23:30 Labour hold Warndon, Alan Amos polling 635 votes to Tory rival Robert Campbell's 371.23:32 Tories hold Cathedral, Francis Lankester held on to Cathedral ward polling 1,154 votes.23:40 Conservatives keep hold of St Stephen ward.23:44 From FT.Com - Labour on Thursday night claimed it was heading for a dire set of local election results. Labour officials said their supporters had stayed at home in ...
More About: Night , Election , Local

Local Elections - 2 hours to go - Vote Conservative!
2008-05-01 21:10:00
You have just less than 2 hours to vote in your local election. Mrs G and I both voted at lunchtime and there looked to be a steady flow into our polling station. I think the general discontent with Gordon Brown and Labour is really energising people to vote. I'll be up all night watching the results come in and blogging as it all happens.See my prediction HERE.Now get out there and vote. If the Lisbon Treaty gets ratified, this could be your last chance to vote in a real election.
More About: Elections , Conservative , Local , Vote

Local Elections - Go out and vote Conservative.
2008-05-01 10:55:00
It really does matter. Even if you live in an area where the Conservative s have historically not done very well in your local elections - you'd be surprised how many people are feeling like you. This is a chance to send a message to Gordon Brown and his party that enough is enough. Enough of being denied a vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Enough of colossal incompetence across many government departments. Enough of massive tax increases. Enough of throwing money at public services without any results. Enough of the nanny state. Enough of intrusions into our privacy. Enough of poor education standards. Enough of closing our A&E wards. Enough of closing our maternity wards. Enough of closing our Post Offices. Enough of dirty hospitals. Enough of overcrowded prisons. Enough of underfunding our Armed forces. Enough of crushing national debt. Enough of fudging inflation figures. Enough of the welfare state. Enough of uncontrolled immigration. Enough of the police being stuck behind desk...
More About: Elections , Election , Local , Vote

The Eighty Fourth Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-04-30 22:24:00
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
More About: Blogging , Minutes

Thursday's elections - How the day will be won. (local and Mayor).
2008-04-30 20:55:00
It's the evening before the day we have been waiting for. Tomorrow could be make or break time for Gordon Brown . Iain Dale is predicting the Conservatives will gain more than a hundred seats in the local elections and that Boris will win by 3-5%. On Boris I agree - on the local elections I disagree: I am expecting a total and utter demolition job of Labour. Every single person I have talked to is supremely incredibly exceedingly hacked browned p*ssed off with Gordon Brown and his incompetent Cabinet. I have total confidence that tomorrow will bring a crushing defeat that Labour will not be able recover from for many, many years.There are two possible outcomes following tomorrows results:As I have been predicting since last year, the Labour party will get rid of Gordon Brown in an attempt to save their own necks.Or, David Cameron will be in a position to call for the vote of no confidence in the government that many have been calling for.So my prediction: Boris to win. And a slaug...
More About: Elections , Election , Local , Mayor

Gordon Brown also talks with a forked tongue. 10p tax.
2008-04-30 09:50:00
Gordon Brown apparently has admitted to making a mistake over the abolition of the 10p tax rate. He said that he: "didn't cover as well as we should have" those who lost out, and that he was "learning".Let us be perfectly clear on this; he made no mistake - he knew exactly what he was doing. And the only "learning" that Brown is doing, is to learn that he has gone too far this time. He's a man who believes that he has the power to do anything, and sod the little people. Like Jack Straw 's apology, this one from Brown is an outright lie. This is the truth, either: he is so incompetent that he can't set tax levels without realising he is putting the less well off in an even worse situation (not likely), or he knew exactly what he was doing and thought he would get away with it (more likely).What a git.
More About: Gordon Brown , Gordon , Tongue

Prisoners won't be getting a pay rise. 10p tax?
2008-04-30 09:23:00
The BBC are reporting that prisoners are not going to get a planned pay rise. The rise, which has disappeared off the government website, would have taken the minimum wage from £4 to £5.50/week.Ministry of Justice said:"The issue as to whether pay rates should be increased is now being reviewed as part of [prison minister] David Hanson's proposals for a new compact balancing the opportunities we give to offenders to turn away from a life of crime with what the community is going to expect of them in return. "That means meeting certain standards of behaviour whilst in prison and on release, for instance getting off and staying off drugs."Shocker - another government review. Whenever this government haven't got a bloody clue what they are doing, or they want to hide the truth, or they just want to put off a contentious policy until a more fortuitous time (i.e. after local elections) they announce yet another sodding review. I wonder if this U-turn on prisoner pay has anything to do...
More About: Crime , Prison , Rise , Prisoners

Tibet's living Buddha Slags off the Dalai Lama
2008-04-29 22:08:00
Tibet's twelfth Samding Dorje Phagmo (female living Buddha ) has criticised the Dalai Lama over last month's riots in Lhasa saying: "Old Tibet was dark and cruel, the serfs lived worse than horses and cattle. "Watching on television a tiny number of unscrupulous people burning and smashing shops, schools and public property, brandishing knives and sticks to attack unfortunate passers-by I felt boundless surprise, deep heartache and indignant resentment. "The sins of the Dalai Lama and his followers seriously violate the basic teachings and precepts of Buddhism and seriously damage traditional Tibetan Buddhism's normal order and good reputation." A little China friendly perhaps?
More About: Living

Jack Straw talks with forked tongue. 10p tax.
2008-04-28 15:27:00
In a radio five live interview (*that Gordon Brown should have attended) Jack Straw apologised for the 10p tax debacle. He said:"Sometimes even with the best brains available to government there are inadvertent consequences of changes. "We put our hands up to that, we should have known more about the impact of the abolition of the 10p rate."I say: What a complete and utter lie. There is no way on God's earth that those "best brains" did not know what the consequences of scrapping the 10p tax rate would be for over five million of our most needy. I believe they underestimated how the public and their own back bench MPs would react to this slap in the face. They have got so used to riding rough shod over the public, that they thought it would pass with hardly a whimper. How very wrong they were.Producing the understatement of the year, Jack went on to say: "Government is not perfect." You will note he couldn't go so far as to say "this government".* Cameron and Clegg turned up - Gor...
More About: Tongue , Jack Straw

Exclusive - Nick Clegg lives!
2008-04-28 13:07:00
I know what you were thinking when you saw Nick Clegg's name in the title of this post - isn't he dead? You could be forgiven for thinking so. For a leader of one of the big three political parties he seems to keep a very low profile - we see more of McCavity than Clegg. It was the same during the Lib Dem leadership race, Huhne was all over the media while Clegg skulked in the shadows. I was sure Huhne would win, I bet many Lib Dem members are now wishing he had.Talking of Lib Dem leaders, Vince Cable has been reported as saying that the party was "not doing as well as we hoped we would be" in recent polls. However, with only two days until the local elections, Clegg has now stepped from the shadows to claim:"I am in fact extremely pleased with where we are in the polls. "The polls yesterday we're at 20%, that's considerably higher than 13% just a few years ago. "It's far, far higher than we've ever been at this point in the political cycle two or three years after a general e...
More About: Exclusive , Lives , Nick Clegg

Gordon Brown and the Englishman joke.
2008-04-28 04:50:00
Gordon Brown is taking a stroll around the grounds of Chequers to take his mind off his current woes, when he spots a man cupping his hand to scoop water from the lake.Gordon shouts, "Dinnae drink thon water min, it's foo o' coo's shite n pish."The man replies, "My good fellow, I'm English.... repeat that in English."Gordon replies, "I said use both hands - you get more that way."
More About: Joke , Blogging , Gordon Brown , Gordon

Boris Johnson must beat Ken Livingstone on May 1st.
2008-04-27 16:29:00
With only three days to go until the election for the next Mayor of London, the polls are showing Boris and Ken on level pegging. Having been (until recently) a life long Labour supporter, I can say with all honesty that I cannot understand how Ken Livingstone became Mayor, or continued to get elected. He always reminds me of an evil villain from a Bond movie, or the corrupt official at odds with Batman. When do you ever hear anything good said about Red Kenneth in the media? how often has his name been linked to the dubious activities of others? Why the hell do people vote for him? it's beyond me. Maybe he has a massive family.I'm reasonably sure that Boris will come out on top - the main reason being that I believe there are now more people who want to stop Ken winning than there are wanting to bash Boris. Boris has been at a disadvantage in these latter stages due to his less than polished public speaking ability. It's a shame he can't articulate the message he writes so eloq...
More About: Johnson , Beat , London Mayor

The Eighty Third Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-04-27 16:03:00
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
More About: Blogging , Minutes

See the next Prime Minister on the Andrew Marr show.
2008-04-27 08:25:00
I think I can almost guarantee that if watch the Andrew Marr show this morning you will be able to see the next Prime Minister of this great nation. Andrews guests this week are David Cameron, David Miliband and Michael Palin. The sad thing is that if Michael Palin stood for office, he would win by a landslide - do you know anyone who doesn't like him? If I was a betting man (which I am occasionally) I would put my money on Miliband to be the next PM, followed closely by Cameron.
More About: Show

Best political article of the year - Iain Macwhirter.
2008-04-26 22:14:00
Iain Macwhirter of the Sunday Herald has produced an excellent article which expertly describes the situation Gordon Brown finds himself in. It's a great piece of writing.Click HERE and enjoy.
More About: Political , Article , Labour , Year

Bad news for Gordon Brown in ICM Marginals Poll.
2008-04-26 18:25:00
I'm just off to work so I don't have time to blog about an ICM poll for the News of the World. The poll shows the expected results in many of the marginal seats around the country. However Iain Dale has covered it and it's terrible news for Labour.Read Iain's post by clicking HERE.
More About: Bad News , Brown , Poll , General Election

Daniel Hannan on more EU corruption.
2008-04-26 17:59:00
THIS short but important article from Daniel Hannan in today's Telegraph rightly shows us where the real corruption in politics is taking place. Daniel points out that the EU now passes 84 per cent of our laws, and yet it seems to be beyond the kind of scrutiny our MPs are under. He believes this could be down the the fact that we expect MEPs - and the EU in general - to be corrupt. That is a sad state of affairs considering we are going to be further under the EU's influence if Gordon Brown forces the Lisbon Treaty on us. The EU parliament recently voted to keep secret a report that proved corruption amongst its MEPs. And that should tell us all we need to know about our future masters in Brussels.I still want a bloody referendum.
More About: Corruption

Junk food ban - Sense 1 Nanny State 0
2008-04-25 23:00:00
I'm working shifts at the moment so time is a bit limited for blogging. However I was pleased to read this report on the failed attempt to ban junk food adverts. I've always believed that there aren't any "Bad" foods, it's how much and how often you eat certain foods that can cause problems. Fat kids don't eat loads of junk food because they want to, it's because their parents can't be arsed to cook. If the credit crunch does come, we may see a reverse in obesity when parents can't afford to shove fatty take-aways down their kids throats. Until then, all the government should be doing is giving advice, nothing more nothing less.
More About: Food , Sense , Nanny , Blogging , Labour

Amy Winehouse arrested for assault
2008-04-25 22:51:00
Good. If she is found guilty of assault, I hope she gets time.
More About: Arrested , Assault , Blogging , Amy Winehouse , Winehouse

Conservatives - 18 point lead in YouGov Poll.
2008-04-24 20:00:00
How long do you give Gordon Brown? The Conservative s now have an 18 point lead in the latest YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph. Labour are down three per cent on a pathetic 26 points. Even the Lib Dems managed to get 17 per cent - it won't be long before Labour become the nations third party (unless they dump Gordon of course). The Conservative 18 point lead is the largest since 1987, and I've got a feeling that the gap is going to widen. No doubt, so do many Labour MPs who are now trying to choose between Gordon Brown and their mortgage repayments. Out of interest, this poll gives Cameron a 50 plus majority.Happy days.
More About: Poll , Conservatives , Polls , Point

Climate Change My Arse Part 27 - More Labour stealth tax.
2008-04-24 14:11:00
Iain Dale points out some sterling investigative work done by Tory MP Justine Greening. Justine's work shows that the car tax rise announced in Alistair Darling first budget means we will be handing over £2.5 billion to the Treasury. All for LESS than a 1 per cent reduction in emissions. Not so long ago I wrote a post about the extremely stupid EU directive to fit daytime running lamps on all motor vehicles from 2011. Here is an extract from Hansard written answers on the subject: From Hansard written answers:Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of the likely increase in annual fuel consumption resulting from the requirement to have daytime running lamps on motor vehicles.Jim Fitzpatrick: Research undertaken for the Department for Transport indicated that the requirement for new types of motor vehicle to be equipped with dedicated daytime running lamps would result in an increase of about 5 per cent. in fuel consumption....
More About: Climate Change , Climate , Change , Labour , Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown turns on a tenpence (Nick Robinson interview).
2008-04-23 23:04:00
Nick Robinson has interviewed Gordon Brown following his disastrous U turn and an equally pathetic PMQs. It could have been a chance for a bit of honesty and humility, but Gordon doesn't dance to that tune. Instead, Brown - well how can I put this? oh yes that's it - lied through his teeth. Nick did his best to get Brown to admit that today's panic announcement was a U turn on his repeated stance of last week - to no avail.See for yourself by clicking HERE.
More About: Interview , Labour , Gordon Brown , Nick

The Eighty Second Magical Mystery Blog Tour Bus Leaves in 5 Minutes!
2008-04-23 19:45:00
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
More About: Blogging , Minutes

Stuart King, Labour PPC: No merit or honour being a Labour MP.
2008-04-23 10:53:00
Labour Party parliamentary candidate for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Stuart King , describes his unease with Gordon Brown's abolition of the 10p tax rate:I understand the difficulty normally loyal backbench Labour MPs are now in: I am not standing to be your Labour MP to go to Westminster and then habitually vote against a Labour Government. So in no way do I underestimate the dilemma loyal Labour backbenchers face - and the distaste voting down our own government leaves them with - it's the same for me. But the government is wrong on this and if it refuses to back down or rectify its mistake - as they have said they will not, I can see no purpose, merit or honour in being a Labour MP if that role is to make life harder for the least affluent, the pensioners and the part-time workers of Putney.You can read Stuart's full post over on his Blog by clicking HERE.
More About: Labour

Gordon "EU lover" Brown wants to wipe England off the map.
2008-04-23 09:27:00
Today Gordon Brown has ordered the St George's Cross to be raised above Number 10. Meanwhile back in his evil EU lair, he is plotting with other European heads to wipe England off the map. England is to be split into three separate "EU zones" made up of parts of other countries including: France, Ireland, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Norway and the Netherlands. How the hell are we supposed to protect our country's interests when it has been subject to a divide and conquer plan from Brussels? If this is not the basis of a superstate I don't know what is. They intend to split up existing nations to remove any sense of individual nationalism. Countries will merge and disappear into the state of Europe and no doubt the great schemer Tony Blair will be crowned Emperor.Eric Pickles, the Conservatives' communities spokesman, said: "We already knew that Gordon Brown had hoisted the white flag of surrender to the European Constitution. "Now the Lab...
More About: Lover

Gordon Brown, Man cannot afford to live on bread alone.
2008-04-23 08:40:00
A report in the Daily Mail will be more bad news for Gordon Brown . The cost of a basic basket of staple foods as risen by 15% this year alone. Coming at a time when Brown is facing a rebellion over the abolition of the 10p rate of tax, the timing could not be worse. Government claims that inflation stands at 2.5% (CPI) this month are very misleading to say the least. The CPI is staying low because "nice to have" goods are holding their price. However the price of "must have" goods such as milk (up 17%) and bread (up 25%) is shooting up. This will obviously have the greatest impact on the poorest in our society. Scrapping the 10p tax rate could not have come at a more damaging time for the 5 million affected. We are all seeing large increases in gas, electricity, transport, council tax, water, petrol - and don't forget, we still have Alistair Darling's 2p hike in petrol prices to deal with later this year. This government, and Gordon Brown in particular, have failed those who the L...
More About: Labour , Live , Bread