A good start to the day

As you probably imagine, I woke up this morning with a wry smile on my face thanks to the Crewe and Nantwich result. I had little side bet running on it with a friend, he had a Labour hold with a majority in the low hundreds, and I went for the Tory win by around 1,000. Well, as you know by now we were both wrong. Not just a bit wrong, but spectacularly wrong.

Edward Timpson's win culminated in a number of factors that spell doom for the government. The first is the campaign that they ran of "the tory toff", it was childish, pissed people off, and was the lowest type of campaign, in that if you can't beat them on policy turn on them personally. The second is the fall of the facade of the NuLabour project. The electorate are fed up being made to pay for the government's mistakes, and that really showed.

But of course, it would be foolish of me not to mention the 10p tax row. This was the icing on the cake for the anti-government vote. However, what makes this result astonishing is that the "traditional" protest vote usually goes to the Lib Dems, but there was no sign of this. In fact the swing is too the tories. People are turning to the conservatives for answers, and not to the Lib Dems to make a protest.

Now, I'm not going to sing too loudly about a single by-election victory as the precursor for a 1997 size of swing against a government, but it is a clear message to Gordon Brown that the electorate simply do not like him. However, if this result "was" replicated across the country at a general election, then there are a few ministers that will be thinking very hard about their loyalties this morning, as they will be out of office, and out of parliament all together.

The promises of listening and learning, aren't believed anymore and the tide does appear to have turned. It is going to be an uncomfortable few months for Gordon, and this autumn's conference will be his one big chance to save himself. Can he do "a Cameron" at conference. Don't put your mortgage on it.

Clegg changes tack again

It is me or are the Lib Dems jumping on more bandwagons than any other party at present. Nick Clegg has today marked a massive policy shift by signalling his intention to cut tax for low and middle-income families.

In a speech today he said that he wanted to go "much further" than previous tax-neutral packages and to see if overall levels of tax taken by the state could be reduced.

Is it my imagination or is trying to steal some of the "traditional" tory ground on this issue in an attempt to try and pinch some of the voting swing that is heading the tories way. Mind you, he can't exactly pinch any voters from Labour at the moment, as they are vanishing even quicker than his own poll rating.

Same old diversion by Gordon

I was lucky enough to sneak in PMQ's during my lunch break today, and found myself looking on at the desperation of Gordon Brown over the Lisbon Treaty issue. In his responses to questions by David Cameron, all Brown could do was throw up old arguements about Maastrict, and accuse the tories of changing their position.

But this is a typical Labour fallacy, if any position has changed it's Labour's. Back in 1992, the Tories, voted for the ratification of the Maastrict treaty, Labour voted against it. Their position was the Europe was bad, and we shouldn't be part of it. However fast forward fifteen and a bit years, and now they are not only voting for an even greater inculsion into to the EU, but won't give the electorate a say. The Tories still say involvement in Europe is a good thing, but are against even further intergration.

So when you look at the two standpoints the Tories position has not changed a great deal, but Labour has gone from not wanting to be part of Europe to all in. A massive shift in policy. So for Gordon to use this arguement is just seen as the diversionary tactic to try and deflect attention away from the break in his manifesto pledge to give the country a referendum.

It also shows Gordon's total disregard for the will of the people. Nearly nine in ten people want a referendum of this treaty, and the majority of other European leaders openly admitting that the Lisbon Treaty is the EU constitution in all but name, his position becomes a little more precarious. Because he bottled an early election he will only have, at the very most, two years before he has to face the electorate, and this will be very fresh in people's memories. The PM has tried the spin of saying how different the treaty is, and hasn't been believed, he has even tried to thrown up arguements from fifteen years ago, but these just highlight the difference in his own party's position. But his biggest failing is that disregard for the electorate, and that he knows best and will get his way. I'm starting to see why some in his own party called him "stalin".

Although, whilst i'm on the subject of the treaty vote, the implosion of the Lib Dems is shocking, their front bench is fighting itself, resignations have already begun, and the individual that issued the now infamous "calamity Clegg" briefing note must have the smuggest of grins on their face. But as i've said before, their position will only do one thing, and that is gift a win for Gordon Brown.

Lib Dem abstention to gift Brown

Some of the most bizarrest behaviour in recent times, from any political party, has been witnessed from the Lib Dem's. First was Ed Davey's rant that got him kicked out of te House of Commons, followed by the "staged" walkout by all Lib Dem MPs in the Treaty of Lisbon debate. However, the latest report on this Lib Dem's new look looniness highlights one simple fact, that Clegg's cronies are a bunch of hypocrits without a clear policy. Yes, they are harsh words but let us look at the form.

Clegg has ordered a three line whip to tell all of his MPs to abstain when the final vote on a referendum takes place. All because he is sulking like a child that his "in or out" policy has been shown up as farce and posturing. So for someone who supposedly wants to give the public a say on EU membership, will gift a win to the government, and see no referendum at all take place. So much for giving people a say.

Now if you he used his brain and got his MPs to vote for a referendum, which like Labour was in their last election manifesto, and by some luck the amendment was won, followed by a NO vote in that referendum, he would perfectly be right to then forward the in or out question. The fact is his abstention will do the opposite. He will side up to Gordon Brown, and effectively be signing the treaty alongside him.

Now this is fence sitting of the worst degree! He tries to speak tough, but all he is doing is ensuring the government's bill gets through without getting his fingers dirty.

The splinters in his arse must be deep.

Farewell Vince

Today will mark the end of the Lib Dem leadership contest. A contest it was hoped to reinvigorate the Lib Dems, but in a lot of commentators opinions has failed to take off.

In fact, the only memorable moment was when Nick Clegg confronted Chris Huhne on the BBC after his campaign team had refereed to him as calamity Clegg.

However, it will be a shame to see Vince Cable go, as he has been a bit of a mini revelation at PMQ's. After all, he was let off the leash with the full knowledge that he only had a couple of months , and wouldn't be stabbed in the back to depose him. This has meant that he has been attacking Gordon Brown in ways that other Lib Dem leaders have not dared. His best moment IMAO was when he referred to Gordon Brwon as being Mr Bean.

I'm going to miss Vince's honesty.

When is a Liberal not a Liberal?

When he is in the middle of a Leadership contest, it would appear.

After watching the BBC's Politics show yesterday, and a hell of a lot of SKY News after that, the Lib Dem contest took on a whole new light as it got nasty.

Chris Huhne is finding himself this morning embroiled in controversy after a briefing from his camp called his rival Nick Clegg a calamity.

Well, I'm no expert, but to have yourself dropped yourself in it like that during a leadership bid, surely that would count as a calamity. Eh Chris?

Gordon feels the backlash.

This may seem a bit of an odd way to start a post, but all will become clear. You know when you walk in half way through a coonversation it always seems as though the two parties that were having that conversation were talking complete filth? Well, that how I felt (ish) when I got home from work to switch on the debate on the Queen's speech.

To my confusion I managed to switch on my TV to see David Cameron answering questions from Labour backbenchers. Then there was a lot of David telling the Labour benches about what he would do. This did not help my confusion, because for a short moment it was though I was in a parallel universe where there had been an election and the tories were in power, and answering questions about their Queen's speech.

Seriously though, it was all quite bizarre. Camerons looked fresh, and on a mission, and Brown bored the pants off me. It was a little unnerving though the amount of times that he said he would gladly give way on subjects, admittedly trying to draw David Cameron out, but Tony Blair to my knowledge never did it, he carried on harder and harder, grinding down the opposition to a point where, and let's be honest, the tories were not a credible opposition.

But Brown today just did not do that. The majority of his speech is old policy, and old ideas. there was no new, and if this is his vision then this country will now face paralysis over he next few years.

However, the biggest surprise was to come, and it came in the form of Vince Cable! As the acting leader of the Lib Dems, stood I thought "here we go", obviously thinking this will be as boring as Ming, but it wasn't. In fact I was shocked at just how direct he was at criticising Brown. He was straight to the point in attcking the repetitivenes of the policies, and how this proved that we now had a tired Prime Minsiter with no new ideas.

When you consider the fact the Lib Dems were contemplatung being in a coalition goverment with Labour, if the election had been held with a hung parliament the result, the attack on Brown seems all the more bizarre.

Overall, this can't go down as a good day for Gordon Brown, and if an acting leader can score points off you, then you know things are badly wrong.

Lib Dems reveal new merchandise

Hat-tip to The Spine for the image

What have we learnt from the conference season so far

Well, here we are two days in to the first party conference, and what have I learnt from the Lib Dems? Well absolutely nothing.

All the old messages are still there, "you're going to get taxed for this", "they're going to get taxed for doing that", Iraq, Ming might not be here next time, yes he will. You know all the old claptrap that epitomises the Lib Dems and will always make them unelectable, IMAO.

It does appear that "Mings Libs" also know that they will never be in power on their own, which is why they are quite openly touting their trade to Labour as a partner in a hung Parliament, only if PR is adopted on Ming's terms of course. However, I think the PR argument may be dropped should the offer of a coalition actually be made, but then again I admit I am just a cynic when it comes to this, so no need to pull me up on it.

This conference hasn't exactly set the season alight, in the ways it used to with Charlie boy in charge.

That offer, and the fallout.

After his offer to former Lib Dem Leader Lord Ashdown, to take on the post of cabinet secretary to Northern Ireland was rejected, it seems as though there has been a bit of a backlash.

However, the backlash doesn't just seem to be within the Lib Dems, who appear to be split on the issue, but Gordon Brown has also upset a few of his own MPs in the process. One of those upset by this offer being made is Gordon Prentice.

The Labour MP for Pendle yesterday tabled this motion yesterday stating:

"That this House recalls the right hon. Member for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath 's speech to the Labour Conference in 2003 when he proclaimed that the Labour Party is best when we are boldest, best when we are united, best when were are Labour; believes that these sentiments sit uneasily with his offer to Lord Ashdown to take a seat in the Labour Cabinet as Northern Ireland Secretary; and regrets that he did not disclose his plan to bring Liberal Democrats into Government when he formally announced his candidacy for Labour Leader and Prime Minister on 11th May."

Not a good start to your premiership if your own party members are tabling motions aginst your decisions, before you even get into office.

New Lib-Lab coalition?

If for one moment, you stood in a voting booth, and considered your voting possibilities, and thought "Hmm Lib Dems, they're different from Labour I'll vote for them", then you couldn't be more wrong. For the last few weeks is has been rumoured, and now finally out in the mainstream media, the secret talks have been held between Gordon Brown and Uncle Ming.

However, we shouldn't forget that it was thanks to the Lib Dems tactical voting strategy over the past that have given Labour whacking great majorities, that has resulled in a raft of legislation the not even close to the word liberal.

So what next. Well, it seems as though Gordon is setting his stall out for a hung parliament, and by approaching a party that seems to sell out it's principles at the drop of a hat, for a taste of power, it's clear that the Lib Dems are not the "true opposition", in fact they're on the same side.

London Lib Dems incensed by GLA selections

I'm glad i'm not a Lib Dem, as all out war seems to have broken out within the London branch of the party over it's GLA selections.

It appears from the post on Lib Dem voice, that its grassroots are very unhappy with the outcome. The comments make very interesting reading for non Lib Dems.

Ming's dream world

You have to admire Uncle Ming, for the way he bumbles through life living in a dream world. But at the same time I can't help feeling concerned for his sanity.

With the very real prospect of a hung parliament, and the even more scary prospect of the Lib Dems holding power in a coalition, Uncle Ming yesterday set-out his terms for accepting a deal from Labour to join them in a coalition.

Uncle Ming, stated that he would only go into a postelection coalition with Gordon Brown, if he abandoned identity cards, scrapped the council tax and ended means tests for pensioners’ benefits. He also stated that tougher action was needed on climate change, including pollution taxes, and a more independent British foreign policy.

Someone should tell him that the Scrapping of ID cards, climate change, and the independent foreign policy are actually Tory Policies, and that you have more chance of hell freezeing over than having Gordon Brown abandon the other two policies.

He really is living in a dream world, if he thinks that will happen.

Sir Ming - One Year on

It's been a year since Uncle Ming took charge of the Lib-Dems, and for me it's been an inspiring year.

Ming has inspired me so much that i've found a cure for my insomnia. In fact, as I watch him on Sunday AM I just can't help myself but to fall back to ...........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Who's been a cheeky boy then?

You would think that by now MPs would learn to never deal with a "personal" immigration issue, as it always comes back to bite you on the arse.

It happened with Peter Mandleson when he checked out the status of his partners passport application, and again when David Blunkett pulled the same stunt with his nanny.

But the accident-prone Lib Dem MP, Lembit Opik, admitted yesterday that he had lobbied a government minister and a Labour MP to prevent his pop star lover from being deported, after the Home Office denied his Cheeky Girl girlfriend, and her sister, further leave to remain in the summer.

Personally I think it's the only sensible decision they've made all year. Anyway, I digress.

However, he is now facing crisis talks with local party chiefs after fellow MPs warned that he has made the party a national laughing stock. Senior party figures last night urged to him to withdraw from the public eye, or risk plunging the Lib Dems into their third crisis in a year.

Senior officials in Mr Opik's constituency party are expected to confront him on Thursday and again over the weekend, amid claims that he might face deselection unless he adopts a lower profile.

Why won't the Lib Dems pay back "that" donation

That's the question I find myself asking, after watching Uncle Ming on Sunday AM, earlier today. Despite what can only be described as clear evidence, he is still adamant that there is no need to repay the £2.4million donation at the centre of the controversy.

Now i'm not accusing the Lib Dems of being crooked, but their background checks have to seriously be called into question. After all, your average Independent Financial Adviser would check to see if the individual's company existed before making a transaction. Plus, if an IFA did fail to perform these checks they would be liable for prosecution.

What Ming has also forgotten is that the electorate do not for a politician if they think that he is tainted, and this whole issue is tainting the party as a whole. No good will come of this if Ming insists on keeping the money. He should return it immediately, and not wait for the Electoral Commission to order him to so.

What little credibility the party has, will be damaged even further the longer this drags on for.


(posted from a 1st class coach, on a GNER train, on my way back from Newcastle)

Lib Dems in election rigging row.

Hot on the heels of their main donor being thrown into prison, the Lib Dems may now find themselves two councillors short, in Burnley, after the pair were found guilty of rigging a local election.

Cllr Manzur Hussain, and Cllr Mozaquir Ali, used proxy votes to secure the Ali's re-election to Burnley council. During the June 2004 campaign, Hussain had knocked on doors, collecting proxy voting forms. Ali then filled in the forms to suggest that each of the original recipients would be on holiday when the election was taking place, and had opted for a proxy vote to be cast.

Their votes were then unsurpringly cast for the Lib Dems. As a result, Ali was duly elected as one of the ward's councillors, securing victory by 369 votes.

The pair now face imprisonment. Serves them right.

Joke of the day.

Ming Campbell is going to make his speech today at the Lib Dem conference....

Couldn't think of a bigger joke than that.

Lib Dem conference

If there was ever a time to be thankful that we don't have a Lib Dem government, then this week is it.

Their annual conference has kicked off with the usual, "we are the real opposition" crap that we have become accustomed to over the years. Although, when I read this morning's Sun (because it was on the seat next to me on the tube), and saw their tax plans I found it a bit rich when they accuse other parties of not costing out their proposals.

However, the fact that the party is still in turmoil over the very public ousting of their leader by the parliamentary party, still bites with activists. Ming could well be in trouble, if he fails to quell the discontent over his election as leader.

Right, enough of joke politics back to serious the serious stuff.

New Kennedy revelations

It appears that it's not only Labour that are doing a spot of "potential leader" muck slinging at the moment.

With whispers of a return for Charles Kennedy, we are greeted with further revelations of his heavy drinking past. In a serialisation of his misdemeanors in a biography written by Greg Hurst, are the claims that he had a drinking problem even before he became leader.

Could this some shameful ploy to hurt him before he comes back, and begin to attack the man that ruthlessly deposed him. Probably. But as it's the Lib Dems, who cares.