uk politics

The revelations in the Telegraph may be the Jack Straw that breaks the camels back. As Gordon 'son of a preacher man' Brown is included in the list of expenses claims - New Labour's true dodgy dossier - how much longer can he survive?

What is the point of this administration?

However, the Tories have the strangest claim: Two packs of Tampax at £1.11 each, claimed by a Conservative MP who lost his seat in 2005. His seat? His? What on earth was he using them for?

Once again Martin Bell nails it: Where's the remorse?

Mandy isn't showing any remorse

It's getting hard to keep up with the torrent of sleaze, corruption, authoritarianism, abuse of power and mismanagement coming from a governing party in its death throes. The resignation of former Halifax Labour MP Alice Mahon from the party sums up the disillusionment and sense of betrayal felt by those who didn't sign up for the 'New Labour' agenda. 

Check out her interview with the BBC.

Two linked stories, yesterday and today.

The Sunday Express issued a grudging and weasel worded apology for their shameful treatment of the Dunblane survivors. Not adequate at all and no real responsibility taken either by the reporter nor editor.

Today, the Sun also have a "It's not our fault" type of apology  over Hillsborough. Click on 'more' on the right hand column. Notice that they blame everything on a Yorkshire news agency

People thinking the Sun's apology is sincere, should read this from then editor, now columnist, Kelvin McKenzie. Note that they are blaming everything on a Liverpool news agency.

When you were editor of the Sun you've said you apologised to Liverpool because you were told to by Murdoch and you didn't mean it."

"That's true", replied MacKenzie.

It's probably obvious that Blairwatch has no great love for Mandelson, but throwing green custard in his face is just plane stupid. Describing Mandelson as 'slimy' is an opinion, one that is shared by many, but does it advance a debate? Of course not.

One of the main aims of Blairwatch is to try to lessen the distance between the citizen and its political class. To physically attack politicians will have the obvious effect of them being forced behind a security screen and more distant, more unapproachable from the people.

In the film of the event, Mandelson is seen approaching the lady, clearly intending to listen. Instead of talking to him, or even telling him what her concerns are, she threw custard.

Earlier this week, she sounded a klaxon horn whilst Geoff Hoon was speaking. We're no friend of him either, but surely he should be allowed to speak? If you don't like it, rebut it. I'll bet the farm that she, who tried to silence an elected politician, is in favour of free speech. But, of course, only free to people she approves of.

In her defence, she says Mandy is unelected. Well, Mandy has previously been elected by the people of Hartlepool and is in his current position at the request of an elected government. Precisely who elected Leila Deen? Who elected Plane Stupid to represent them?

God save us from spoilt middle-class angst. Lord preserve us from privileged  kids feeling guilty and angry at Mummy and Daddy. They've been a blight on the Left for decades.

Sadly, many seem to approve of the action, purely on the grounds that they don't like Mandelson. It's either OK to assault politicians or it isn't.

Brussels has civilised Mandy. He arrived with his usual panache, his joyful spinning and smearing. Within a week he was in deep, deep trouble as EU politics are much more sophisticated than the rough and tumble of the UK. Over here, it's about concensus, about coalition building, not the "Yah! Boo!" of the Common's animal house Question Time. He learned his lesson well.

Whenever I meet a politician, no matter what I feel about their party or policy, I deal with them politely and talk to them. Usually, they respond well and we can have a useful and interesting discussion and they do tell me what they really think and can be very open indeed. Most of these conversations are 'off the record' but they do inform my views and what I write.

It also means that I can talk to them in future. I can't see Plane Stupid having many high level meetings in future, can you?

They can gleefully boast about this juvenile act as much as they want, but they have done a disservice to their cause and to those of us who want a more open, a more democratic politics.

The row over the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green is not going away. Nor should it, all it takes is some evidence to emerge that either the Home Secretary or the Prime Minister did have prior knowledge of the arrest and they're toast. What is interesting is Ms Smith's latest outburst on the Andrew Marr programme where she said it would be wrong for ministers to intervene in a police investigation.

I'm wondering now if we could have a statement from Ms Smith condemning the ministerial interference in the Police investigation into the corruption at BAE as 'Stalinism'. After all it's something Ms Smith is also involved with.

Hazel Blears has been applying her first rate mind to the question of why electoral turnout in Britain is falling.

Have a guess who's responsible.

No, not the corrupt, spin obsessed New Labour. Not a party full of its own hubris. Not a cloying dash to the undefined centre.

No. Its us. Political bloggers.

Bless.

ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER CLEANS UP THE CITY

I was a clerk there: I’ve seen the greed

How wealth and power eat hope and need

Now they’re eating each other but they’re still screaming

‘No interference’ – I start dreaming…

‘Self regulation?’ OK, I say

‘I’m a stockbroker – let’s do it my way’

And that’s the beginning of this little ditty:

Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!

Each gets a red nose so everybody knows

Just who they are and where all our money goes

No more speculate, no more accumulate -

This is a lifestyle we’re going to eradicate

Dealers on the floor meet squads of the poor saying

‘Here’s the twist, Oliver – we want more

Work for us or we take the whole kitty’

Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!

‘Hello Mr. Hedge Fund, have a cup of tea.

Financial Services Authority? Me.

You’re a parasite on the population

Convicted of criminal speculation

Time to atone for a life so greedy -

Twenty years working for the poor and needy.

Want to appeal? Try the Central Committee…’

Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!

Morning Mr Banker, you’re in for a shock.

We’re taking much more than just Northern Rock!

All the banks nationalised – Stock Exchange too.

Utilities, railways, grabbed from the few.

Mr Billionaire? You just lost your money.

(Hey there, Chelsea fan, isn’t that funny!)

The future’s brown. The future’s shitty.

So Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!

Capitalism is a John Cleese parrot.

Let’s give it stick and not a single carrot!

Bollocks to the dealer, the broker, the lender -

Social justice back on the agenda

Radical stylin’ going on here

Smoked Mammon sarnies and really good beer

For the poor no fear, for the rich no pity

When Attila the Stockbroker cleans up the City!

Ruth Kelly is to step down in order to spend more time with her cult family. Funny how she chose to announce it just after Gordon's speech.

 Oh dear God, just how low can New Labour go? Here's the latest example of the policy vacuum and lack of strategic thinking. They're planning to pay for a TV series that will encourage people to get off the dole and go into work. The show will be fronted by Jeremy Kyle. It's is provisionally titled Jeremy Kyle Gets Britain Working

I cannot imagine anything more inappropriate. Kyle has made his name by exploiting and bullying people who are frequently uneducated or inarticulate.

Jeremy Kyle's screen behaviour is that of a clinical psychopath.

Here's an article about the filming of his Christmas DVD. To see the government team up with Kyle is genuinely disturbing.

The Home Office continue to show themselves as 'not fit for purpose' by losing yet more highly confidential information:

Who is responsible for this? Who would be so daft as to decrypt this information and put it on a memory stick, then lose it?

PA Consulting. Who were appointed by Blunkett to prepare the ID Card scheme.

PA Consulting. Who boast on their website about being a finalist in the Change Management Awards for their work on the project where this data was lost.

David 'Call Me Dave' Cameron is promising to be as radical as the Blessed Margaret:

Well there's an old saying; If you broke it, you fix it.

The social problems Britain faces were largely caused by Thatcher and her turning large parts of Britain's towns and cities into economic wastelands. She gave us long term unemployment, the elimination of major industries, the demonisation of single parents and the poor.

Cameron's invocation of Thatcher shows that he just doesn't get it.

Africa Confidential is running a story on BAE bunging 25 million quid to an ally of Mugabe.

Will they sack Gordon? This is like history repeating itself. A long whispering campaign, hint filled speeches and interviews, protestations of loyalty. Perhaps Gordon should have contemplated the Good Book:

The boy Miliband is talking about change in typical New Labour soundbites.Interesting to see what Alan Johnson has to say about it.

Rachel North has posted a detailed update on the campaign for an inquiry into the July 7 bombings, together with a damning account of what has been discovered do far, and asks three vital questions:

Could the bombers have been stopped?

Have lessons been learned?

Are we any safer now than we were on 7th July 2005?

Her post is essential reading for all of us.

I'll admit I was stunned when I read the story that Brown 'Will only stand for one General Election'. My first thought was "as many as that?" Then the Shakespearean tragedy that is New Labour became obvious.

This is a man who spent over a decade and a half plotting to gain the crown and as soon as he crowned himself, he blew it. He blew  it so badly that already his best hope is in the careful leaking this line of "He'll soon be gone, so please, just vote for him the once. He's off soon. Promise. No, seriously, we mean it this time".

Looks like the backbenchers are getting very restless indeed. Probably because they might well be sitting on the other side of the Commons after Gordon's single stand before the electorate.