Isn't the Tories criticism of Labour over voting reform just the slightest bit hypocritical ?

There are plenty of people in both the Labour and Conservative Parties who have long sought to label the lib Dems as political opportunists over the issue of voting reform because a more proportional system favours the Lib Dems. However, the ignore the fact that the Lib Dems are the only party who have ever stood on a platform, of "elect us as a majority and we'll introduce a voting system that will ever prevent us from having a majority government again", which if STV ever gets introduced, will be the result. However, we have seen in recent week s the very worst political expediency from members of both the Tory Party and Labour over the proposals to have a referendum on AV.

Now let's be quite clear here, the Liberal Democrats are not  cleaner than clean when it comes to being politically expedient. the very nature of coalitions is to compromise, but in my opinion (and certainly any study of psephology will show this), AV is an inherently less proportional system than FPTP, so claims that AV is more proportional are not true. But this does not get the other parties off the hook.

Labour, who were committed to AV before the election, now say they will vote against the AV referendum bill because it also includes a call to reform the inequalities in constituency size. Now this current inequality favours Labour quite dramatically. So it is clear that Labour are voting to oppose a reform which will see their electoral advantage removed. In effect, the current electoral system gifts a number of bonus seats to Labour, effectively live a Formula One car being given a one lap head start. Nobody would in any way describe that as fair, but for Labour to so completely vote against one of their manifesto pledges (AV) because part of the same bill threatened their constituency advantage is the very worst kind of political posturing.

The actions of the Labour Party have been widely criticised by the Lib Dems and Tories, but it is the Tories that I really do have an issue with in their criticism of Labour.

The Tories want Labour's electoral advantage removed, claiming that they want a fairer distribution of constituency seats. However, if they are so keen on fairness, why not scrap plans for a referendum on AV and introduce a truly fair system of voting, which brings us back to the Single Transferable Vote (STV), the system the Lib Dems favoured in the first place ?

It is true that Labour want fairness, on their terms, and with s system that favours them. But the Tories too only want fairness for themselves, not for everyone. Whilst Nick Clegg may have been fooled in to believing the Tories are converts to reform, it remains clear to me that the Tories have not changed, and neither have Labour.

Party politicisation of the police ? Ridiculous

The coalition government (yes my fellow Lib Dems, we can't escape the rap for this one) are to introduce elected police commissioners, who will be party political. In other words, the police force and its policies are to become politicised in a way we have never seen before in this country.

In so many ways this an affront to the independence of the police force and digs away at the principle that the police force enforce the law by consent from the public.

It will be so easy now for people to blame the police for being political servants, enforcing the will of a given political party, and it will do nothing to raise confidence on policing.

Moreover, the principle of another (yet another) election to elect a police commissioner does little to set any pulses racing. When was the last time you heard someone on the doorstep say "What we really need around here is an elected police commissioner, an extra layer of bureaucracy, and as a result less cash for front line policing". Because this is another lay er of bureaucracy and as we all know, elections do not come cheap either !

An utterly pointless policy that heaps more expense on to the police, and inevitably means less money for front line police.

The wrong time for Norfolk Tories to be cutting funding to the careers service

In good economic times I am sure there are many who just walk in to jobs straight from school or university who never have to seek advice from anyone before joining the working population. In hard times, many people, but especially school leavers need to know they are getting the right advice. That is why it is beyond comprehsnion that Norfolk County Council Tories are to half the Connexions career service in a mass cull of jobs.

The EDP has more about the Tory cuts HERE.

We know the County has to make cuts, but why not start with cutting perks to councillors, perhaps halving the entertainment budget for the leader  Chairman of the council (which the Tories raised by tens of thousands a few years ago). It seems illogical to hamper the future of Norfolk school children finding the right courses and jobs in order to save money. This is short term in its savings as it will have a long term effect on the county. But its typical of the Tories to think about the short term, not the big picture.

Tories to ignore Lib Dems graduate tax ideas

A few days ago Vince Cable launched his ideas on student finance, in many ways gaining favourable coverage in the press and from the NUS. It appears Vince had done the impossible in garnering support for a new method of student finance which was supported by voters, graduates and the NUS.

Now, a few days later, a senior Tory has declared the policy to be a non starter.

Isn't it nice to know that the coalition is a two way street where Lib Dem ideas and policies are accepted with the same amount of zeal as Tory ideas.

Labour conspiracy ?

I looked at the Liberal Conspiracy website/blog today. How do you report a blog for misrepresenting itself ?

Articles by Chukka Ummana (Labour MP), Ed Balls (Labour MP), Jon Cruddas (Labour MP), Diane Abbot (Labour MP) and numerous other articles about Labour. Where is the Liberal content ?

I would link to the site, but I wouldn't want to give it any credit.

More reasons to be proud of the coalition ?

The Observer lists today a number of things that we are implementing, as part of the coalition, that I cannot see anyone taking pride or pleasure in, unless you are a right wing Tory.

It's worth a read HERE.

Did you vote Lib Dem to help the Tories dismantle the BBC and the NHS ?

Nick Clegg attempted to to sell the idea of the coalition to Lib Dem members on the basis that the Lib Dems would be a moderating influence over the excesses of the Tory right, but it seems clear that far more policy coming from the coalition is Tory, and only a tiny party of it is in any way Lib Dem.

This week we have seen the Tories announce a major overhaul of the NHS. Indeed the plan has been described as the most radical overhaul of the NHS since it was created. It essentially removes any democratic control of the NHS, it removes much of the strategic planning that currently exists across areas, and with the removal of the PCTs it eradicates the economies of scale that are clearly evident in a Primary Care Trust that covers, for example, a whole County. Instead, we are to have groups of Doctors (this weeks government buzzword is "consortia" who will have their own admin staff, their own accountants, their own HR people, their own IT staff, who will run what services they want to provide locally.

Anyone who knows anything about economics can see that this is going to save absolutely no cash at all. Indeed, Paul Burstow, the Lib Dem MP wheeled out by the Tories this week to justify the Tories latest insult to the intelligent, argued that many PCT staff who will lose their jobs will find themselves employed by the new consortia. So no doubt having received a redundancy pay off (from out taxes) these people will then get the same job back with the doctors. Now that really is saving cash !

At present we have PCTs who can refuse to prescribe certain drugs (particularly life saving cancer drugs). Whatever will happen now if a local consortia have a cancer patient who needs an expensive cancer drug ? Do we think that a local doctor is more likely to give this from their budget ? Don't be so stupid.

Of course, it wouldn't be so bad had any of this been in the party manifestos. According to the Lib Dems own health policy, the party pledged;

We will scrap central targets and guarantee that you get your treatment on time. We will give people the power to stop hospital closures in their area through elected local health boards. And we will put doctors and nurses back in charge of their hospitals and wards.

Clearly handing power to Doctors removes any vestiges of control away from people and democratically elected officials, so clearly the Tories have got the better of the deal.

Did Liberal Democrat voters vote Lib Dem in order to see the Tories introduce a much more divided, less democratic system which is at odds with Lib Dem policy in so many areas ?

Then we read that the BBC is to be cut back in order to show that the BBC must take its share of the pain in the recession. I don't buy this for one moment.

We all know that the Tories have for a long time wanted to see the BBC become a pale shadow of what it is. There are many Tories who would rather see 150 channels of the rubbish produced by SKY, Living TV, Challenge TV, and the many other cable and satellite channels, which cost the consumer up to £70 a month, rather than see the BBC set a standard not only for British TV and Radio, but also to the rest of the world, and all this for only two months of a full subscription to SKY.

Of course, there are the other reasons for the Tories wanting to attack the BBC. Firstly, the Tories got the full backing of Murdoch. Murdoch hates the BBC and has attacked it for years. The other reason is that the BBC is the very antithesis of Conservatism. It does not make a profit, but it provides a valuable service. This is something the Tories don't get. For all their talk of regret over making cuts, we all know that Tories loathe anything that does not turn a profit.

So in a few years time we are faced with the prospect of an emasculated BBC as the price the Tories are willing to pay for the support of The Sun and Murdoch, and the Lib Dems will have played their part in ensuring that this happens.

Is this why you voted Lib Dem ?

It's not why I voted Lib Dem.

Shameful FIFA

Whilst the World Cup in South Africa has in many ways been a success, it has again highlighted that World Football is run by a bunch of self satisfied cronies who care little about the game, and more about money.

Firstly, because of an exclusive agreement, a finanical agreement with Adidas, FIFA agreed to use the new Jabulani ball, which has been widely seen as making the matches worse and preventing some of usual long range goals that light up so many games. It is interesting to note that even the ex Liverpool player Craig Johnson, inventor of the Predator football boot (which was developed with Adidas) has described it as the worst ball ever).

To compound the problems with the ball, FIFA allowed this special ball to be used by the German FA, in the Budesliga, for the last six months, thus giving the Germans a massive advantage over other teams. If FIFA are to introduce comedy balls in to matches, it does seem the be a basic principles of fairness that one team should not be given an advantage. I know the Bundesliga also has a deal with Adidas, but FIFA should have made sure that they had exclusivity over the new ball. Of course, the head of FIFA, Sepp Blatter is German speasing, so we can draw our own conslusions for the German advantage.

They there is the issue of goal line technology. Trials a couple of years ago proved that goalline technology works, it gives referees an instant "yes/no" answer as to whether the ball has crossed the line, and it can be provided at no cost (with the makers seeing it as good marketing). But FIFA, still said no. They claim that football has a "universality" and that is must be the same, whereever it is played in the world. This is, of course, ridiculous.

On a Sunday morning in parks across the UK, matches take place with substitutes running the line as linesman, and in many cases, managers acting as referees. Football pitches are not all the same size and some have potholes. In short, football in different countries and football played at different levels is always very different. There is no universality in football. It is ridiculous for FIFA to stand opposed to to gaolline technology for so long, only to change their minds when confronted with a blatant goal that makes the game look like a throwback to previous decades. Every major sport makes use of technology. Tennis has "hawkeye" on certian courts, but not on others, and this causes no problems. Yet football, and Mr Blatter, make themselves look foolish and out of touch. Well done FIFA.

Then there is the issue of of "infrastructure", FIFA like to mona about the cancellation of flights to South Africa leading to passengers missing matches, but did nothing to stipluate top the South African authorities that scheduled flights hsould have precedence over the celebrities flying to the matches in their private jets. the problem is that FIFA are the ones who want to see the celebs at the matches. how were these celebrities able to get last minute tickets if it was not without FIFA's help ?

Now, to top things off, we read that FIFA are presuurising Nelson Mandela to attend the final tonight. The 92 year old is said to be unwell and very frail, and still  mouring the recent death of his granddaughter, yet FIFA again seem to care not one jot. After all, a photo call between Mr Blatter and Nelson Mandela will look good on Mr Blatter's mantelpiece ?

Shame on FIFA.

Stop the "Government by Press Release" culture

I was sick of the contempt Labour showed for parliament. They did nothing to reform it in any meaningful way in 13 years, hired hordes of spin doctors to speak in behalf of ministers and "brief" the press, and in general, treated parliament with disdain. So I had hoped things would change under the coalition. Sadly, I have seen no evidence of this.

Every day we hear the headlines "Ministers are expected to announce in parliament today that ...", with in recent days news of election referendums, withdrawals of troops from parts of Afghanistan and and ending of the school building programme all being announced in the morning, usurping the role of parliament and treating the institution with disdain.

What is wrong with a minister going to parliament without having briefed the press first about what they intend to announce ?

I had hoped for much better.

The best time to hold a vote is on election day

A bunch of Tory MPs are complaining that the referendum on changing the voting system is to be held on the same day as the English local, Welsh and Scottish parliamentary elections.

What a bunch of losers these Tory MPs are.

At a time when the government is trying to keep costs down, are they really suggesting that the referendum be held on a different date, thus costing millions more to administer ?

The date makes sense on every level.

Update : I am pleased to see Iain Dale agrees too.

Do you believe the right wing press ?

The right wing gutter press have been printing ridiculous stories all week claiming the EU want to ban the sale of eggs by the dozen.

If you read this story HERE on Liberal Burblings, you'll see the story is made up poppycock. But satill people believe these gutter rags when the print such rubbish !

Taverham Summer Fayre

I've been helping out at Taverham Summer Fayre today, and the day couldn't have been better.

Thankfully (or sadly as the case may be) England did the Fayre (and many others) by losing last week and avoiding a TV clash with Argentina on the afternoon of the fayre, so the number of people attending was high and the weather was warm and pleasant rather than been scorching.

I was asked a few weeks ago if I was interested in helping, so got their bright and early at 7am to help set up and was impressed at the small but dedicated team of helping on the organising committee who turned the village hall field in to a traditions British summer scene of stalls, gazemos, raffles and show rings, with the ubiquitous straw bales, bunting and booming PA system in a matter of two and a half hours.

Upon arrival I was thanked for doing more to help in one morning that my Tory predecessor did in 7 years as a councillor. I know I shouldn't be shocked given that my predecessor had an awful attendance record in turning up to Broadland Council meetings, and was invisible at Parish meetings, but to serve as a District Councillor for this area is an honour, but it comes with a responsibility to give something back to the community. So when I was asked to be involved  with the organising committee for next year's fayre, I said I will do whatever I can. So hopefully I can help make the fayre just as good next year, although I cannot guarantee the weather will be so good !

My favourite school day of the year !

Today I have been enjoying my favourite day of the school year, our trip to the Royal Norfolk Show !

For those who do not know, the Royal Norfolk Show is one of the biggest agricultural and trade shows in the country, attracting tens of thousands of visitors, including many thousands of school children from across the county.

For me, the highlight still remains getting stickers and freebies from the stands, and I make something of a competition of it to see who can get the best stuff. I would like to think I did well with frisbees and baseball caps amongst my haul.

I did see a couple of celebs, with Mike Liggins from BBC East wandering around and a Big Brother winner (I was assured by a 9 year old). But my personal highlight was seeing my friend Simon Wright, now MP for Norwich South wandering around in a very official capacity.

Of course, the show is not just a nice day out. It is a fabulous learning opportunity for children too. Children were able to learn about road safety, lifesaving, healthly eating, and of course, something of the farming heritage of Norfolk which many city dwellers may know very little about.

All in all, a great day and one I will look forward to next year.