Spin Blog

Brown's Adviser

2008-05-10T06:09:00.003Z

Apparently Tony Blair is advising Gordon Brown. Has anyone else been watching Headcases on ITV on a Sunday?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I6-DGLsN1sA&feature=related

Brown's Recovery Plan

2008-05-05T11:01:00.003Z

Reading the papers and listening to the news this morning it seems like Brown's recovery plan is about preventing things getting worse rather than fixing all the broken stuff that is making him and his party massively unpopular. Not raising fuel duty, scrapping bin taxes and controlling food prices are all about the future and nothing about the past.

What measures are there to make Government more efficient and reducing the huge number of bureaucrats who spend there time meddling and enforcing change as a means of avoiding the focus on constant failure? What about simplifying the tax regime so that money goes into public services rather than on unnecessary administration? These are the sorts of things that will help endear the Government to the people.

Brown's Smug Smile?

2008-05-03T15:55:00.004Z

Gordon Brown is not a man renowned for smiling. So how does he manage a smug grin as he says the word "disappointing" in yesterday's speech about the Labour local election disaster? I watched it and thought it was wierd- take a look for yourself.

At about 20 seconds in he says "It's clear to me that this has been errrr {smug grin} a disappointing indeed a bad night for Labour"

Maybe I'm seeing things, but I noticed it the moment I saw it.

Freedom for Boris

2008-05-03T06:07:00.003Z

The commentators were saying that a 3% majority for Boris would be a disaster for Labour. The actual result was a 6% majority - so what does that make it?

We need to recognise that having a Conservative in a position of significant power offers a challenge for David Cameron, not least because anyone who is Mayor of London has to be a free thinker and has to put what he thinks is best for London first. A Conservative Mayor has to work with Conservative principles rather than through a Conservative whip.

The difficulty is that the moment there is a potential conflict between Boris and the Conservative Party the media will seize on it. For this reason I hope that David Cameron makes the point soon that he expects Boris to have a free reign, free of party pressure to Govern using his own conscience and recognises this may occasionally cause conflict.

Boris' acceptance speech was magnificent yesterday, as was Ken Livingstone's speech - I expected him to tear into the Labour machine (with just cause) and it is to his credit that he did not.

Don't Let the BBC Tell You that They're Dumbing Down Politics

2008-05-02T17:14:00.002Z

What was with Jeremy Vine, doing his analysis in a cowboy suit and a stupid accent last night? At first I thought I wondered if i had dropped off and dreamt it, when I realised I was awake I decided it was a night to watch Sky.

But the BBC aren't dumbing down their political coverage, no sirreee no.

More of the same from New Labour

2008-05-02T16:07:00.004Z

Obviously from a New Labour perspective last night was as bad as it could get. I understand that the Conservative successes take the Party to a position that is better than we were in 1997 - in fact the best since the local government review in 1974.

So the disillusioned Labour voter will be further disillusioned by seeing more of the bluster and hype that has got them to where they are. The truth is that the 10p tax issue was only part of the story, New Labour, under Gordon Brown are incompetent, they will not and cannot become competent without a change in Leadership.

I was interested to hear Ian Gipson, MP for Norwich North on 5 Live earlier and, whilst he was supportive of Gordon Brown, seemed to drop a big hint that the dour one has until Party Conference season to sort himself out.

As for the Lib Dems. Well it hurts me to say that things were better for them than many, including me, had expected but they certainly haven't capitalised on the unpopularity of New Labour anywhere near as much as they could and they are looking forward to losing MPs come the next General Election. Nick Clegg is trying to be another David Cameron, my own view is that people will not wash that - if they want a David Cameron they will vote for the original and turn away from 2nd best.

Is Gordon Brown The Modern Michael Foot?

2008-04-30T07:02:00.004Z

Everyone is claiming that a Ken Livingstone victory tomorrow would be good for Brown, I am not so sure, it would not be difficult for someone to make the claim that Ken won despite Brown and therefore that people are willing to Vote left-wing, but not for New Labour.

So a Livingstone victory could spark a left-wing revival in the Labour Party leaving both the Blairites and the traditional wing of the Party fighting for power, with Brown stuck in the middle with nowhere to go. It could also create a massive left/right split in the Labour Party - Gordon Brown would become New Labour's Michael Foot!!

Here's hoping for a Boris victory anyway.

A Government Unable to Govern

2008-04-24T09:31:00.002Z

Yesterday's climbdown was very welcome. But it should not have taken a test of brinkmanship for Gordon Brown to realise that he had got the abolition of the 10p tax rate wrong.

We now have a Government that is unable to govern, they are alread making noises about not bending on 42 days, after yesterday who believes them? I certainly don't.

Brown's days are looking numbered.

Cost of the Olympics

2008-04-23T10:10:00.003Z

I am sure there are more peole than me who saw the supposed �4bn cost of the olympics and recognised that this figure was just the usual New Labour spin.

The olympics was always going to cost far more than �4bn, but it was always going to be worth doing (providing Government keep their fingers out and let competent people do the organising).

Chnese Minders for the Torch

2008-04-07T22:02:00.003Z

I am really uncomfortable with the idea of the Chinese bringing in their own henchmen to supervise the torch on its procession through our streets. Who were they, and who said they could be here? I strongly suspect they were soldiers, so who knows whether any of them have been involved in the slaughter of innocent Tibetans?

Arrogance of Ben Bradshaw

2008-03-22T09:34:00.002Z

Ben Bradshaw's attitude over the embryo bill is a perfect statement about the arrogance of the Labour Government. It is pretty much "we're right, you're wrong do what you are told", this attitude is bad enough anyway, but over a contentious issue of conscience like this it is shocking.

One of things that needs to change to bring National politics back in touch with people is less three line whips not more, less of a formal tie to party and more of a tie to personal conscience and opinion. Of course I wouldn't expect Gordon Brown's New Labour t0 understand that.

Here's What Dave Really Meant..

2008-03-21T22:16:00.005Z

David Cameron was caught breaking a few rules on his bike. His statement is very apologetic - I suspect this is what he wanted to say:

"I know it is important to obey traffic laws but I have obviously made mistakes on this occasion and I am sorry. "It is disturbing to realise the extent that the Mirror are stalking me - I will have to be on my toes."

Dalai Dillying

2008-03-18T18:05:00.004Z

Am I the only one who thinks the lack of a decision over whether Gordon Brown should meet the Dalai Lama is a disgrace? It is a no brainer, China are in the wrong over Tibet and meeting the Dalai Lama will make that message plain and clear.

We all now that our Gordon is a ditherer, but procrastinating over this meeting in the vain hope that you might be able to avoid upsetting China is taking things a bit far.

The Illiberal Liberals

2008-03-16T18:55:00.005Z

This story about the Lib Dem run City Council wanting to give an 18 certificate to any film which features smoking is more evidence that the Lib Dems use the term "liberal" as a convenience and the term "illiberal" as a label for anything they don't like.

This is a stupid idea, it cannot be done with any legitimacy unless they also give 18 certificates to films that feature alcohol, drugs, speeding vehicles and drug taking as well as any minute form of violence. It is totally unworkable.

How about recognising that the way to get people to resist crime, drugs, smoking and the worst aspects of alcohol revolve around building self-esteem so individuals have the inner-strength to resist peer pressure. Solve the problem not build stupid laws and regulations to dance around it.

Gordon Brown on a par with Michael Foot

2008-03-15T18:56:00.004Z

According to the latest Times/Yougov poll the Conservative lead is up to 16% with Labour trailing behind at 27% - their lowest point since 1983 when Michael Foot was leader.

The way the economy is going at hte moment that lead is only going to increase. I suspect that the Blairites may start to make noises about a disaster in May. I stick by my prediction that Brown will not be PM by the end of the end of the year.

The Lib Dems will also be disappointed by this poll because it has them trailing way behind on 16%. Deservedly so.

Balls doesn't care

2008-03-13T10:15:00.002Z

Guido has highlighted Ed Balls' reaction to the excellent put down of him by David Cameron yesterday.

Underlying this is an appalling attitude from a Minister of state which is, to me, of more concern than the fact that Balls doesn't like it up 'im.

Cameron was making comment about the appalling levels of taxation in today's Britain, Balls' response was "So What." That is a disgraceful comment and just shows the utter contempt that the Government shows for the people that they serve. This is the reason why people are falling out with politicians as much as it is about conduct.

Why the Media Should Report the Budget on Friday

2008-03-10T17:07:00.003Z

Guido is doing a great job of highlighting the economic failures of the New Labour project and the ways and means that the persistent spinmongers are using to hide the reality from the public. They won't be able to hide much longer.

It does seem that the media have failed to learn from New Labour's spin tactics on budget day, maybe it is about time they did. Alastair Darling will, almost certainly, follow in the footsteps of the previous incompetent and deluded incumbent of No 11 and spin the budget speech as a great giveaway, only for the truth to emerge from closer analysis of the budget book. The media need to respond to this by burying their reporting of the budget speech deep within their papers and using the front page on Friday to report the inevitable deceit in the budget speech and the emerging truth.

Clegg Pledges Honest Campaigning for the Lib Dems?

2008-03-09T13:20:00.005Z

I did an 11 mile run this morning and got back in time to watch Clegg's speech. The run was the least painful bit.

His speech was full of stolen ideas and hypocrisy, in fact the very means of delivery was stolen from David Cameron - I have a feeling he will soon discover that if the Nation is looking for a David Cameron they will vote for the original.

How can you talk about Alastair Darling stealing George Osborne's policies and then, a few minutes later, accuse the Conservatives of having no policies - how opportunistic is that?

I was really interested to hear him say that in the forthcoming local elections he wanted the Lib Dems to "campaign like they have never campaigned before". Is that a pledge about honesty because that would be truly different for them?

Interesting Civic Functions

2008-03-07T15:11:00.004Z

I have, in the past, been accused of having a thing about men in make-up because of my liking for a certain rock band (on Tour in Europe May/June).

On Wednesday night I was in Blackpool and found myself surrounded by a different sort of men in make-up. Whoever first came up with the idea of using Funny Girls as a venue for Civic events is a genius; such a surreal experience. Normally at these dos you are served by waiters and waitresses in the normal black/white attire, this time it was by cross-dressers in very high heels and very short skirts, What a way to stretch the minds of some of our more conservative (with a small "c") politicians.

We were then treated to the Funny Girls Cabaret show - which was more of the same. I have to say it was a really fun night and I take my hat off to everyone involved.

Does Stolen Conservative Immigration Policy Go Far Enough?

2008-02-29T10:15:00.002Z

Well, it seems that the Conservative immigration policy the Labour Party tried to brand as racist in the last General Election has been stolen and implemented.

I suppose I welcome it as a step forward, but it is only that. It is right that we should make sure immigrants into the UK are able to demonstrate they will contribute to the economy; the points system will help with this. However, the major flaw is that we still have an open door to large tracts of Eastern Europe and unless our new immigration policy covers *all* immigrants there is little hope that it will engender confidence in the communities that are impacted by it.

Many of the misconceptions about immigration arise out of a broad distrust and dislike of the National situation and the open door to EU Nationals. A policy that ignores that is only half a solution.

Harry: That's the way to do it

2008-02-29T09:14:00.002Z

Hat's off to Prince Harry for finding a way to get out there and serve on the front line with his troops. Doing it by stealth was far better than hailing his deployment from the rooftops like they tried to do with his Iraq deployment and which was a recipe for disaster.

The British media also deserve some credit for keeping this story quiet.

Now the news is out I am afraid he has to be pulled out. It is not about him, but the fact that his presence is known means that he will be targeted and that means the troops he serves with are under more threat.

Some of the stuff flying around now about whether his involvement makes him more of a terrorist target back home is absolute claptrap. In the current environment the Royals are all targets and will remain targets whilst the situation remains the same.

Do the media have any morals

2008-02-20T08:41:00.002Z

The situation around Bridgend is really, really disturbing. Yesterday a number of people and organisations highlighted that the media coverage given to the situation may be contributing.

So what has the media response been like? The most astonishing is from the Sun who ignore the criticism and run with the story on their front page, made worse by the headline "17 deaths, 13months, 1 town, 1 question..... Why?" which is factually misleading. The problem exists around the County of Bridgend and is not confined the Town. That may be a subtle change, but it is one area of misreporting that has been covered and criticised over the last few weeks because it is an easy way of makig the problem appear worse than it is. The Sun also chooses to ignore the criticism that was made of the media in their reporting of the latest tragedy (at least it does on line - I will not buy a copy to check if it is me ntioned elsewhere).

The rest of the media are nearly as bad, almost universally using the criticism made of them yesterday to prolong the story through a new angle: "is media reporting making the situation worse?"

The best thing the media can do is just shut up. This is a real tragedy with families and the lives of young people at the heart of it. If there is any hint that media reporting is making it worse there is only one angle to take don't even mention it.

Maybe the Sun could also consider an anonymous donation to the Samaritans to support their initiative in Bridgend (note anonymous - not a donation in a blaze of glory). This would be a fitting compensation for its incorrect and irresponsible actions.

Why Big Brother Government Doesn't Work

2008-02-17T17:18:00.004Z

There are two stories doing the round at the moment that show why the sort of Big Brother Government which Gordon Brown loves just doesn't work.

The first is the story that the latest New Labour whim is a move towards Super-Surgeries to replace single GPs. In Whittlesey we have two similar surgeries and they work well. But then we are in a Town where, for the most, people don't have to go far. Any system that moves towards bigger solutions has to take transport and access into account. But you can guarantee that this Government (who simply don't do rural) will stagger on blindly.

The other story is that the Government are going to ease back on police targets so they can focus on violent crime. I don't have a problem (in the right sort of places) with focusing on violence, but the reason to cut back on targets is so that the police can focus on priorities that are right for local communities rather than to suit Jacqui Smith's desire for a positive Home Office story. The police need to be freed up to deal with whatever they need to, not just to kowtow to a New Labour agenda. My fear is that those smaller towns which are blighted by low level crime and Anti-Social-Behaviour will now have police officers withdrawn to work in the cities to deal with the latest whim.

Police Paperwork

2008-02-07T08:53:00.001Z

One of the outcomes of Ronnie Flanagan's review is that civilians should do much of the paperwork currently completed by police officers. No surprise there then, one of the ways that New Labour have been able to make their claim about record numbers of police officers has been to get rid of civilian staff and replace them with police - who still do the same job. That is why the emphasis has to be about police on the beat not on the number of officers.

I have been out with the police on patrol a couple of times. Both times I was impressed with the professionalism and dedication I saw, both from the police and from PCSOs, but the amount of form filling when they stopped young children with alcohol was a surprise to me and it is something that needs to be sorted - why can't we move to a wider use of "helmet-cams" as a way of recording information.

I will never understand the notion that a unifromed officer can go out on patrol without powers of arrest or a power to detain - which is what our PCSOs do. That is not a criticism of PCSOs by the way, but a criticism of the political structure that allows such a ludicous system to come into being. As an example, what happens if a PCSO stops someone on suspicion of drink-driving (for instance after seeing someone stagger out of a car to a cash point machine) only to find that they have no immediate access to a breathalyser and have to wait for someone to arrive with the right equipment. As the law stands at the moment they have no power to detain that person after 30 minutes -a drunk driver gets away.

Don't Ditch Dan

2008-02-06T11:18:00.000Z

Conservative MEP Dan Hannan is under a bit of pressure and may face expulsion fro the EPP following some rather robust remarks which draw comparisons between a change within the EU Parliament and an event in Nazi Germany in 1933. I hope Dan Hannan is not subjected to some sort of witch hunt because he chose to express himself in the way that he did. There needs to be a factual analysis of his comments to examine whether there is any ring of truth in what he said. If there is a legitimate factual comparison between the situation now and the historic reference Dan Hannan is making, then any punishment will mean that our political system is turning a blind eye to the lessons of history. The facts from Dan�s perspective seem to be:

1. In 1933 the Enabling Act was passed in the Reichstag allowing the then Government to enact laws without further involvement of the Reichstag.

2. In 2008, the Authorities at the EU were grated the right to change rules within the parliament, at will, in order to stifle a legitimate, polite protest by Eurosceptic MEPs.

Dan Hannan is not daft (evidenced by his blog), but he is someone that the bureaucrats within the EU would have an interest in stifling because of his excellent service to the Eurosceptic cause. The treatment of Roger Helmer MEP is evidence that the EU institution does not like opposition.

As Dan quite rightly suggests, this provides more evidence than anyone could ask for that the EU needs opposition from within; the Conservative withdrawal from the EPP cannot happen soon enough.