According to THIS posting, Conservative MEPs think that it is not the role of MEPs speak out on issues in Africa.
However, THIS posting makes clear that Conservative MEPs do think it is the role of MEPs to speak out on issues in Africa.
I'm confused.
Is it because the Tories don't actually care about gay rights or am I reading too much in to this ?
P.S. And for the record, I agree 100% with Robert Sturdy. It's a shame his South West colleagues do not use their role and influence to speak out similarly against wrongs and injustices.
1/31/2010
Six stories that won't make Iain Dale's Daily Dozen
1) Iain fails to report the selection of a Lib Dem candidate in Broadland (the seat which comprises part of North Norfolk where Iain has stood and part of Mid Norfolk where is friend Keith Simpson is the Tory MP.)
Iain was very keen to write of Lib Dem chanches here in his EDP column when no Lib Dem MP candidate was selected, but has been strangely silent since the selection of a well knwn local campaigner. Iain claims never to have heard of Dan Roper, which is odd as he really is not that unknown (unless you really are out of touch with Norfolk politics).
2) Southport Tories in meltdown.
Not the "We're going to win and Cameron is great" sort of stuff that Iain usually likes to highlight.
3) Tories below 40% in the polls
Errm, again, not realy good Tory spin.
4) Iain's PPC chances gone ?
Some of the comments are really insightful and explain why he is "being played" and unlikely to ever be selected for a winnable seat (which in my view would be a shame).
5) Another Cameron gaffe ?
Oh no, not again. Once, twice, three times a gaffer ...
6) The not so Rainbow Tories
Tories are all talk but no action on gay issues.
Iain was very keen to write of Lib Dem chanches here in his EDP column when no Lib Dem MP candidate was selected, but has been strangely silent since the selection of a well knwn local campaigner. Iain claims never to have heard of Dan Roper, which is odd as he really is not that unknown (unless you really are out of touch with Norfolk politics).
2) Southport Tories in meltdown.
Not the "We're going to win and Cameron is great" sort of stuff that Iain usually likes to highlight.
3) Tories below 40% in the polls
Errm, again, not realy good Tory spin.
4) Iain's PPC chances gone ?
Some of the comments are really insightful and explain why he is "being played" and unlikely to ever be selected for a winnable seat (which in my view would be a shame).
5) Another Cameron gaffe ?
Oh no, not again. Once, twice, three times a gaffer ...
6) The not so Rainbow Tories
Tories are all talk but no action on gay issues.
1/29/2010
Despair over Blair
Watching Blair today just serves to highlight what it is that people so dislike about politics. After everything that has happened, despite the weight of evidence, in spite of all the facts, he still does not get it.
Like an MP justifying his excessive expenses claim, Blair stood out as being slick, but ultimately so intransigent that whilst he may go away from today feeling that he gave a good account of himself, I think his performance will ultimately come to haunt him.
The line, which I paraphrase here that "I'ts not about a deceit or a lie or misleading, it's about a decision", makes clear his lies.
Blair had already made a decision, no doubt when he met Bush, that Britain would invade Iraq no matter what. So Blair did mislead, he did deceive, he did lie, and all of those were just to get parliament and the British people to back his decision, made on the basis of flawed evidence.
Blair might be the consumate politician, but his legacy will be that of a Prime Minister who wasted some of the best economic conditions in years, missed an opportunity for parliamentary and electoral reform, who failed to take action to fix those parts of broken Britain all in the name of having his war.
Like an MP justifying his excessive expenses claim, Blair stood out as being slick, but ultimately so intransigent that whilst he may go away from today feeling that he gave a good account of himself, I think his performance will ultimately come to haunt him.
The line, which I paraphrase here that "I'ts not about a deceit or a lie or misleading, it's about a decision", makes clear his lies.
Blair had already made a decision, no doubt when he met Bush, that Britain would invade Iraq no matter what. So Blair did mislead, he did deceive, he did lie, and all of those were just to get parliament and the British people to back his decision, made on the basis of flawed evidence.
Blair might be the consumate politician, but his legacy will be that of a Prime Minister who wasted some of the best economic conditions in years, missed an opportunity for parliamentary and electoral reform, who failed to take action to fix those parts of broken Britain all in the name of having his war.
Yet again, what is the point of the Met Office ?
Forget the forecast for rain, its been snowing here for several hours and despite what the Met Office are predicting (more rain) I suspect we are in for several inches of snow.
If they cannot even accurately report what the weather is doing now, how can we believe their forecasts ?
1/28/2010
Stating the bleeding obvious
The National Audit Office has reported that the BBC does not always provide best value for money when covering large events. This should be little surprise to anyone.
Some of the big events justify a large staff and big costs. The Olympics instantly spring to mind. But more than sic months ago it was reported that the BBC sent almost as many staff to Glastonbury as they did to China to cover the Olympics.
As I wrote at the time, I am not fan of the BBC devoting itself so entirely to a niche event like Glastonbury, and I hope the report today make the BBC come to grips with the fact that events like the Olympics and World Cup are not the equivalent of an annual music festival.
Some of the big events justify a large staff and big costs. The Olympics instantly spring to mind. But more than sic months ago it was reported that the BBC sent almost as many staff to Glastonbury as they did to China to cover the Olympics.
As I wrote at the time, I am not fan of the BBC devoting itself so entirely to a niche event like Glastonbury, and I hope the report today make the BBC come to grips with the fact that events like the Olympics and World Cup are not the equivalent of an annual music festival.
British overseas aid - Money well spent ?
A few years ago I asked why it was that we are giving £825 million in aid to India.
Today we read that India is to spend more double the amount we give them in aid on a space programme to put Indian astronauts in to space.
Is it really a good use of our money in these hard times to gives British taxpayers money to fund projects in India when the Indian government seem to think that a space programme is more important ?
Today we read that India is to spend more double the amount we give them in aid on a space programme to put Indian astronauts in to space.
Is it really a good use of our money in these hard times to gives British taxpayers money to fund projects in India when the Indian government seem to think that a space programme is more important ?
How many children have been hurt by this disgraceful GP ?
It has been announced that a hearing in to the GP who claimed links between the MMR jab and autism has found him to have been guilty of misconduct.
The report on the hearing is HERE.
The one question that has not been answered yet though is how many children did not get the MMR jab and as a result, hat was the increase in children getting measles, mumps and rubella. These illnesses, very serious to people of different ages, can leave permanant damage.
You still occasionally hear people quiting MMR as a reason not to get a flu jab or the HPV jab, so this idiot doctor really does have a lot to answer for.
The report on the hearing is HERE.
The one question that has not been answered yet though is how many children did not get the MMR jab and as a result, hat was the increase in children getting measles, mumps and rubella. These illnesses, very serious to people of different ages, can leave permanant damage.
You still occasionally hear people quiting MMR as a reason not to get a flu jab or the HPV jab, so this idiot doctor really does have a lot to answer for.
1/27/2010
The iPad review Apple fans won't want to read
A great summary of the iPad HERE.
The are many millions who will buy it because it is an Apple product. Those people would also buy a dog turn if it was prefixed with the letter "i" and was carrying an Apple badge.
And before people ask, I do own 4th generation ipod Nano, so I know Apple do make some good stuff.
The are many millions who will buy it because it is an Apple product. Those people would also buy a dog turn if it was prefixed with the letter "i" and was carrying an Apple badge.
And before people ask, I do own 4th generation ipod Nano, so I know Apple do make some good stuff.
Fed up with government ads filling ad breaks
Watching the last ad break in Celebrity Big Brother tonight I am totally fed up with the amount of adverts from the government filling each break.
Firstly I had to watch the ridiculous advert telling me to drive five miles less each week. Given the price of petrol these days the times when I used to go out simply for a drive are long gone, so I find the adverts patronising and silly. Then I had to watch an avert about apprenticeships, again paid for by the government.
It's even worse if you listen to commercial radio with whole ad breaks sometimes being 90% made up of government funded ads.
It seems in this recession the only source of advertising income for ITV, Channel Four and commercial radio is the UK government. I know the banks received a bail our, sadly I know the reasons why. But is commercial radio and TV really in need of such subsidy ?
Firstly I had to watch the ridiculous advert telling me to drive five miles less each week. Given the price of petrol these days the times when I used to go out simply for a drive are long gone, so I find the adverts patronising and silly. Then I had to watch an avert about apprenticeships, again paid for by the government.
It's even worse if you listen to commercial radio with whole ad breaks sometimes being 90% made up of government funded ads.
It seems in this recession the only source of advertising income for ITV, Channel Four and commercial radio is the UK government. I know the banks received a bail our, sadly I know the reasons why. But is commercial radio and TV really in need of such subsidy ?
1/26/2010
Someone try and justify concurrent sentences for horrible crimes
A child rapist repeats his horrific crimes over and over again and is given "concurrent" sentences for each of his further crimes. How can that be justified ?
If criminals at any level are allowed to believe that repeating their crimes does not result in a suitably larger punishments, what is the point of our justice system ?
If criminals at any level are allowed to believe that repeating their crimes does not result in a suitably larger punishments, what is the point of our justice system ?
1/25/2010
Damned if they do and damned if they don't
We are always being told by those who hate the BBC that the corporation should act like other commercial companies in the real world. So why is it when the BBC does this it is attacked for it ?
The BBC has very successfully expanded BBC worldwide in to a profitable business which provides income to the BBC. Yet a parliamentary committee feels that the BBC should be forced to dilute its stake in the business which sell BBC shows and intellectual property to another company. Why ? Apparently to allow the BBC to make more money from the venture. This would not be so laughable were it not for the fact that the BBC has been criticised for growing Worldwide too quickly and aggressively.
The fact is that there are many people who will seek to criticise the BBC whenever it is successful because they so hate to see the BBC do anything well. I am not saying the BBC is perfect, far from it, but when it generates income which could be used to reduce the license fee then making it sell off these profitable parts serves no purpose other than to ensure that the BBC stands a better chance of failing. And that is what these people want at the end of the day.
The BBC has very successfully expanded BBC worldwide in to a profitable business which provides income to the BBC. Yet a parliamentary committee feels that the BBC should be forced to dilute its stake in the business which sell BBC shows and intellectual property to another company. Why ? Apparently to allow the BBC to make more money from the venture. This would not be so laughable were it not for the fact that the BBC has been criticised for growing Worldwide too quickly and aggressively.
The fact is that there are many people who will seek to criticise the BBC whenever it is successful because they so hate to see the BBC do anything well. I am not saying the BBC is perfect, far from it, but when it generates income which could be used to reduce the license fee then making it sell off these profitable parts serves no purpose other than to ensure that the BBC stands a better chance of failing. And that is what these people want at the end of the day.
1/24/2010
Not another hypcrite Tory ?
I await the first Tory to step forward and defend the leader of the Scottish Tories for THIS.*
*With thanks to Stephen Glenn.
*With thanks to Stephen Glenn.
Brown and Cameron both trying to weasel out of the election debates
As Dizzy comments HERE, it seems increasingly likely that any election debates will be rather sterile affairs due to the rather stupid and deliberately unreasonalbe requests of both David Cameron and Gordon Brown. So what are they scared of ?
The only person not being accused of making silly demands is Nick Clegg, which makes sense, because Nick is neither scared of public scrutiny of himself or his policies, and he also knows that such debates provide the Lib Dems with an amazing opportunity to break the current two party stranglehold on politics.
Perhaps this answers my first questions as to what the Tories and Labour fear. If Nick Clegg were to come across as the more reasonable, the more human of the leaders, and his party suddenly got a 5% bump in the polls, the would be a real danger to the old parties of the Lib Dems suddenly gaining traction with the electorate, and that is the last thing the Tories and Labour want. The old parties want the Lib Dems to be a think tank from which they can steal the best ideas, but neither of the old parties are liberal, and the lack a real understanding of democracy.
So whilst the broadcasters mght be hoping that the debates go ahead, my fear is that they won't.
The only person not being accused of making silly demands is Nick Clegg, which makes sense, because Nick is neither scared of public scrutiny of himself or his policies, and he also knows that such debates provide the Lib Dems with an amazing opportunity to break the current two party stranglehold on politics.
Perhaps this answers my first questions as to what the Tories and Labour fear. If Nick Clegg were to come across as the more reasonable, the more human of the leaders, and his party suddenly got a 5% bump in the polls, the would be a real danger to the old parties of the Lib Dems suddenly gaining traction with the electorate, and that is the last thing the Tories and Labour want. The old parties want the Lib Dems to be a think tank from which they can steal the best ideas, but neither of the old parties are liberal, and the lack a real understanding of democracy.
So whilst the broadcasters mght be hoping that the debates go ahead, my fear is that they won't.
1/22/2010
Another good reason to vote Lib Dem in Hull North
Andrew Allison highlights on his blog just how useless the Labour MP for Hull North is. Of course, with the Lib Dems in a clear second place, it gives people even more reason to try and get her out of Westminster at the enxt election.
It's a shame that there is no decent opposition to Nadine Dorries who, according to people I follow on Twitter, is also adept at blocking anyone from her Twitter feed if they don't agree with what she says.
It's a shame that there is no decent opposition to Nadine Dorries who, according to people I follow on Twitter, is also adept at blocking anyone from her Twitter feed if they don't agree with what she says.
1/20/2010
Norfolk Tories make swinging cuts to funding for schools in deprived areas
The EDP writes today
Interesting to note that despite Cameron's pledge to defend eduction and the NHS, when it comes to what Tories are doing, on the ground, cuts to education are one of the first things they do.
No doubt Norfolk County Council will be asking the schools they are cutting significant funding to why their results are not as good as they hoped. Appalling.
Norfolk's neediest youngsters could miss out on lifeline support because of a £1.9m cut in funding to more than one-third of the county's schools, many in the most deprived areas.
The county council is set to slice the sum out of the grants it makes to schools to help them boost results among vulnerable children.
In all 167 schools will get less money than they were promised - with cuts ranging from a few hundred pounds to almost £93,000 for the biggest loser, Great Yarmouth High.
Interesting to note that despite Cameron's pledge to defend eduction and the NHS, when it comes to what Tories are doing, on the ground, cuts to education are one of the first things they do.
No doubt Norfolk County Council will be asking the schools they are cutting significant funding to why their results are not as good as they hoped. Appalling.
Norfolk's nutty Greens show just how nutty they are
The Green candidate in Great Yarmouth is standing down in order to support and help the Tory candidate.
You really couldn't make it up, but it sums up what many of us find about the Greens here in Norfolk. The oppose things they support, the offer no solutions, only criticism, and they even support other parties which are widely acknowledged as being the most sceptical when it comes to climate change and have the poorest eco credentials.
People in Norwich South ought to take note.
You really couldn't make it up, but it sums up what many of us find about the Greens here in Norfolk. The oppose things they support, the offer no solutions, only criticism, and they even support other parties which are widely acknowledged as being the most sceptical when it comes to climate change and have the poorest eco credentials.
People in Norwich South ought to take note.
1/19/2010
More ammunition for the Taliban
It's this sort of religious nuttiness which makes Celebrity Big Brother contestant look slightly norman in an American context, although still very odd by usual British standards.
Dan Roper chosen as Broadland Lib Dem candidate
Dan Roper has been seleted as the Lib Dem prespective parliamentary candidate for the new Broadland constituency.
I attended the selection meeeing and was genuinely impressed by the passion Dan showed, his previous and recent campaign experience and his commitment to work hard at winning the seat for all the right reasons, for as long as it takes.
Dan, spoke of his previous membership of the Labour Party and the shameful way they have betrayed this country and all those people who once believed in their message. It was quite amusing then to hear so many members at the meeting then state there was nothing wrong with being a member of another politcal party in the past, with various people owning up to having been members of the Labour and Conservative parties in the past. And, of course, that is the point of being a Lib Dem campaigner. You have to change people's views from being Labour or Tory to being Lib Dem.
All in all, I am so pleased that my local Lib Dem candidate is genuinely the sort of person I would be proud to go out and campaign for. I wish him luck and will do whatever I can to help him.
I attended the selection meeeing and was genuinely impressed by the passion Dan showed, his previous and recent campaign experience and his commitment to work hard at winning the seat for all the right reasons, for as long as it takes.
Dan, spoke of his previous membership of the Labour Party and the shameful way they have betrayed this country and all those people who once believed in their message. It was quite amusing then to hear so many members at the meeting then state there was nothing wrong with being a member of another politcal party in the past, with various people owning up to having been members of the Labour and Conservative parties in the past. And, of course, that is the point of being a Lib Dem campaigner. You have to change people's views from being Labour or Tory to being Lib Dem.
All in all, I am so pleased that my local Lib Dem candidate is genuinely the sort of person I would be proud to go out and campaign for. I wish him luck and will do whatever I can to help him.
1/17/2010
The simple statement that shows the stupidity of Cameron's marriage tax break
The Tories are proposing a tax break for married couples. This statement from Nick Clegg on the issue says it all.
"What does is mean for the poor woman who has been left by some philandering husband who goes on to another marriage and gets the tax break and she doesn't?"
1/16/2010
And news just in, the Pope is a Catholic
Whilst it would be ludicrous to say all Tories are anti gay, it is true that the Tories party clearly has a record of its MPs being the least friendly towards gay people of all the political parties. And if any proof were needed, the facts, figures and voting records are listed HERE.
1/14/2010
Spoiling my eco credentials
I have a new car. It is another Skoda, this time a Skoda Yeti 4WD.
Whilst people will question my eco credentials, I would simply point out that I do less than 6,000 miles a year and my new car will average more than 40 miles to the gallon.
Now all I have to do is work out how all the gadgets work.
1/13/2010
A sign that any media source is not to be trusted is if they get excited about the release of school league tables
BBC East tonight almost wet themselves with excitement talking about the "incredible" High School league tables produced today.
Anyone who knows anything about education knows that league tables show only what is recordable, not what is important. The fact that BBC East, not noted for their fantastic journalism locally, reported this with such gusto and excitement rather underlines why I don't watch the BBC local news.
Anyone who knows anything about education knows that league tables show only what is recordable, not what is important. The fact that BBC East, not noted for their fantastic journalism locally, reported this with such gusto and excitement rather underlines why I don't watch the BBC local news.
1/12/2010
Flu - Will the new government be as inept and stupid as Labour ?
One of the things that has highlighted the utter incompetence of Labour to me and underlines why they do not deserve another chance in power has been their handling of the swine flu outbreak.
In the first place, they had a policy of mass over reaction in the media coupled with a complete lack of real action by the government when it came to taking real action. The government's overreaction might have made sense were it not for the fact that the UK government was pressing the World Health Organisation to not declare the swine flu out break as a pandemic. It might have also made sense had the UK government taken immediate action to prevent people flying to Mexico. As it was. the weekend that the swine flu story broke and the inital fears were that the death/kill rate was as high as 8-10%, the UK did nothing to stop flights. of course, in hindsight there may have been no need to cancel flights, but the government did not actually know this.
Then there was the doling out of tamiflu to anyone. This is never a good idea as it breed resistance. My own experience with my son having flu over Christmas was that although he was issued with tamiflu, the doctors advice was "don't take it unless absolutely necessary". Does this make sense to anyone ?
Then there has been the absolute lash up that has been the vaccination programme. After being told we were "as prepared as anyone in the world", it turned out we weren't. The fool that is our Cheif Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson, said that we would have a vaccine by july, then August, then September, then they didn't actualy arrive until the very end of October. And if we were so prepared and ahead of every other country, why did we not get our vaccines until three weeks after Australia ?
So the vaccination arrive, then we start the vaccination programmes by only getting 1 million people injected in the first month. An appallingly low figure. Following this, and hundreds of thousands of asthma sufferers, who were promised a jab as they are "at risk", find they are not entitled at all to a jab because this government changed the definition of asthma patients so that asthmatics who use inhalers are not asthmatics. Does this make sense ? Ask the Labour government.
To top things off, the government, it turns out, did not include in GPs' contracts the commitment that they would carry out vaccinations in the case of a pandemic meaning millions of children under the age of five will still not have got a swine flu jab.
According to an expert on the the local news today reporting on "What now for Swine Flu ?", swine flue will be the predominant flu strain for the next few years and he urged under 5s and vulnerable people to have jabs if they are offered. However, what was not mentioned is that annual flu jabs wear off and are not a "for life" vaccine. This means that under fives would need another injection next year. Will they be offered this as part of the annual flu jab programme ? Of course not, because under fives are not given a seasonal flu jab !
Whilst it might seem trivial and swine flu has not killed millions, it underlines that this government did very little right in the outbreak and had it been H5N1 bird flu or another serious flu, we'd all have died and Labour would not have had a clue.
In the first place, they had a policy of mass over reaction in the media coupled with a complete lack of real action by the government when it came to taking real action. The government's overreaction might have made sense were it not for the fact that the UK government was pressing the World Health Organisation to not declare the swine flu out break as a pandemic. It might have also made sense had the UK government taken immediate action to prevent people flying to Mexico. As it was. the weekend that the swine flu story broke and the inital fears were that the death/kill rate was as high as 8-10%, the UK did nothing to stop flights. of course, in hindsight there may have been no need to cancel flights, but the government did not actually know this.
Then there was the doling out of tamiflu to anyone. This is never a good idea as it breed resistance. My own experience with my son having flu over Christmas was that although he was issued with tamiflu, the doctors advice was "don't take it unless absolutely necessary". Does this make sense to anyone ?
Then there has been the absolute lash up that has been the vaccination programme. After being told we were "as prepared as anyone in the world", it turned out we weren't. The fool that is our Cheif Medical Officer, Liam Donaldson, said that we would have a vaccine by july, then August, then September, then they didn't actualy arrive until the very end of October. And if we were so prepared and ahead of every other country, why did we not get our vaccines until three weeks after Australia ?
So the vaccination arrive, then we start the vaccination programmes by only getting 1 million people injected in the first month. An appallingly low figure. Following this, and hundreds of thousands of asthma sufferers, who were promised a jab as they are "at risk", find they are not entitled at all to a jab because this government changed the definition of asthma patients so that asthmatics who use inhalers are not asthmatics. Does this make sense ? Ask the Labour government.
To top things off, the government, it turns out, did not include in GPs' contracts the commitment that they would carry out vaccinations in the case of a pandemic meaning millions of children under the age of five will still not have got a swine flu jab.
According to an expert on the the local news today reporting on "What now for Swine Flu ?", swine flue will be the predominant flu strain for the next few years and he urged under 5s and vulnerable people to have jabs if they are offered. However, what was not mentioned is that annual flu jabs wear off and are not a "for life" vaccine. This means that under fives would need another injection next year. Will they be offered this as part of the annual flu jab programme ? Of course not, because under fives are not given a seasonal flu jab !
Whilst it might seem trivial and swine flu has not killed millions, it underlines that this government did very little right in the outbreak and had it been H5N1 bird flu or another serious flu, we'd all have died and Labour would not have had a clue.
1/10/2010
Atlantic fronts to warm Britain up by end of the week - The end of snow is in sight !
Looking at weather forecasts from various sources, it is clear that by the end of the week most of the country will be having rain, as opposed to snow, and evening temperatures should be above freezing, meaning an end to the ice and snow.
And all I can say is thank goodness for that !
And all I can say is thank goodness for that !
Tory bloggers on Zac Goldsmith
The latest revelations that donations from Zac Goldsmith to the Tory Party may have been covered up are in the papers, So what are Tories bloggers saying about it ?
As of 10:16 am
Iain Dale says nothing.
Guido Fawkes, who claims to be independent but leans heavily in his postings towards attacking almost anyone except the Tories, says nothing.
Conservative Home says nothing.
Tory Radio says nothing
And of all the other Tory bloggers, I could not find one mention.
In stark contrast, after revelations about Gordon Brown, this issue was being discussed on Labour Websites and blogs like Labour List.
As of 10:16 am
Iain Dale says nothing.
Guido Fawkes, who claims to be independent but leans heavily in his postings towards attacking almost anyone except the Tories, says nothing.
Conservative Home says nothing.
Tory Radio says nothing
And of all the other Tory bloggers, I could not find one mention.
In stark contrast, after revelations about Gordon Brown, this issue was being discussed on Labour Websites and blogs like Labour List.
1/09/2010
Tories prefer Labour to Lib Dems
Apparently there are so few differences between the Lib Dems and the Tories that the Tories are specially organising fundraising to unseat Lib Dems rather than fighting Labour.
Perhaps Conservative voters should take note that when it comes to winning seats of Labour or the Lib Dems, the Tories prefer to attack the Lib Dems.
Perhaps Conservative voters should take note that when it comes to winning seats of Labour or the Lib Dems, the Tories prefer to attack the Lib Dems.
1/08/2010
No wonder David Cameron wants to hug a hoodie
David Cameron told us a few years ago that we should be more understanding of the issue of those "hoodies" who exhibit antisocial behaviour. Now we know why. He employs people with the same credentials as your typical hoodie.
1/07/2010
Surely Cameron would know or he would know who to ask ?
David Cameron has said in response to questions about whether his photo was airbrushed that "he hopes it wasn't". I don't think that he answered the question though.
He claims he was not responsibly for the photo so does not know about it. However, as leader of the Tory Party, surely he would know this or he would know who to ask ?
The fact is that if it had not been airbrushed, he would have answered immediately "no". As Stephen Glenn points out, the evidence of airbrushing does seem pretty clear. I'm sure I would know if a picture of me was airbrushed by the fact that that the photo would not accurately represent what I see in a mirror each morning. Is "Dave" saying he has no reflection ? Now that would make sense.
He claims he was not responsibly for the photo so does not know about it. However, as leader of the Tory Party, surely he would know this or he would know who to ask ?
The fact is that if it had not been airbrushed, he would have answered immediately "no". As Stephen Glenn points out, the evidence of airbrushing does seem pretty clear. I'm sure I would know if a picture of me was airbrushed by the fact that that the photo would not accurately represent what I see in a mirror each morning. Is "Dave" saying he has no reflection ? Now that would make sense.
Lets use the snow to spell out the message of the sort of Britain the Lib Dems would like to see
The Lib Dems are all about empowering people to take action and make a difference, yet the law of the law really does seem to stand in the way of this. Just look at this article about clearing snow from your path or road. The truth is the law in this country prevents people from taking action themselves, puts artificial barriers in the way of people and communities taking independent effective actions themselves, and makes people even more dependent on and expectant of a nanny state that will do everything for them.
Why doesn't Nick Clegg take the snow as an opportunity to spell out the sort of Britain we want to see. Where people take responsibility for clearing snow from their driveways instead of fearing that they could be sued for doing so. A country where people know their rights, but also know their responsibilities. A Britain where we don't just moan about the lack of gritting, but where people actually bother to walk to the gritting boxes and grit the bit of their road themselves.
We hear on the radio and TV all the time about people helping each other out in the snow. People offering shelter, people taking medicines to the ill. People going out and doing shopping for the elderly and infirm. Yet too many people these days take the "there is no such thing as society" line, sit back and expect someone else, government, or the council to do everything for them and if it isn't done, then they still won't lift a finger to help.
Why doesn't Nick Clegg take the snow as an opportunity to spell out the sort of Britain we want to see. Where people take responsibility for clearing snow from their driveways instead of fearing that they could be sued for doing so. A country where people know their rights, but also know their responsibilities. A Britain where we don't just moan about the lack of gritting, but where people actually bother to walk to the gritting boxes and grit the bit of their road themselves.
We hear on the radio and TV all the time about people helping each other out in the snow. People offering shelter, people taking medicines to the ill. People going out and doing shopping for the elderly and infirm. Yet too many people these days take the "there is no such thing as society" line, sit back and expect someone else, government, or the council to do everything for them and if it isn't done, then they still won't lift a finger to help.
1/06/2010
Utterly totally useless information from the Met Office - See which version of the weather forecast you would believe
Here is a copy of the screenshot from the BBC Weather website (information provided by the Met Office) giving the weather forecast for the next five days.
The first weather forecast is for Norwich (Norfolk) and features heavy snow on Friday and Saturday.
The second weather forecast is for Norwich International Airport which is actually just three miles from Norwich City centre and is actually within the boundaries of Norwich. According to them Norwich International is getting completely different weather from Norwich (which is the same place) on Friday and Saturday ?
Is it me or is this just totally confusing and further emphasises that the Met Office provide an unbelievably poor service ?
It is difficult enough making decisions about travelling without the Met Office providing two totally contradictory weather forecasts for the same place.
The first weather forecast is for Norwich (Norfolk) and features heavy snow on Friday and Saturday.
Is it me or is this just totally confusing and further emphasises that the Met Office provide an unbelievably poor service ?
It is difficult enough making decisions about travelling without the Met Office providing two totally contradictory weather forecasts for the same place.
1/04/2010
What is wrong with our legal system that takes 14 months for a traffic offence to come before a court of law ?
Ashley Cole, the footballer, adulterer and husband of Cheryl Cole, was found guilty of speeding by a court today.
Astonishingly, the arrest was made in November 2008 ! Why the hell do our courts react so slowly ? Why has it taken 14 months before this case was heard ? Is it any wonder people have no faith in the legal system ?
The fact is that the CPS and our court system is held in such low regard by people in general. I was told be a friend who is related to a barrister that he knows which cases, even when his client is guilty, that he will win based on which CPS person turns up. Apparently some are "utterly useless" and "do not understand the cases they are presenting and in some cases offer lesser charges because they do not have the knowledge to prosecute the more serious charges."
Astonishingly, the arrest was made in November 2008 ! Why the hell do our courts react so slowly ? Why has it taken 14 months before this case was heard ? Is it any wonder people have no faith in the legal system ?
The fact is that the CPS and our court system is held in such low regard by people in general. I was told be a friend who is related to a barrister that he knows which cases, even when his client is guilty, that he will win based on which CPS person turns up. Apparently some are "utterly useless" and "do not understand the cases they are presenting and in some cases offer lesser charges because they do not have the knowledge to prosecute the more serious charges."
Rabbit in the headlights ? Cameron crumbles under the spotlights
It is not a good start to the Tories unofficial election campaign that under proper scrutiny, the sort of scrutiny he can expect every single day of a general election campaign, David Cameron appeared to flip flop, changing Tory party policy from the previous policy then changing it back again in the space of a few hours.
As the BBC reports
As the BBC reports
(Cameron) was forced on to the defensive over tax breaks for married couples after telling the BBC he hoped to bring them in but could not promise them.
Mr Cameron later issued a statement saying they would "definitely" come in.
1/03/2010
Of all the things to worry about - Harman shows why she IS a political lightweight
With international terrorism in the news, the recession dragging on, Afghanistan returning British servicemen in coffins on a weekly basis and enough domestic matters to keep any government busy, what is Harman banging on about now ? Read HERE.
1/02/2010
What about the blood on your hands Mr Major ?
John Major seeks today to criticise Tony Blair in his handling of the Iraq War. Much as I would like to agree with John Major, I cannot forget or forgive the fact that his government knew about the murder of 5,000 muslims in Srebrenica in 1995, was warned about it by then Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown, and the UK government let it be known that the "safe areas" would not be defended.
John Major will not be judged well by history, and I beleive in 16 years time when the 30 year rule is applied to government data and we find out the full facts, history will judge John Major's government to be even worse.
You can read more about what John Major's government knew and how they acted HERE.
John Major will not be judged well by history, and I beleive in 16 years time when the 30 year rule is applied to government data and we find out the full facts, history will judge John Major's government to be even worse.
You can read more about what John Major's government knew and how they acted HERE.
This should suddenly make me popular with the movers and shakers in Lib Dem blogging
I've never really written in depth on this blog before about a particular subject which seems to energise a number of "top" Lib Dem bloggers. But since this subject seems to be a prerequisite in order to gain any recognition in the Lib Dem blogosphere , I thought I chuck in to the melting pot my opinions about Dr Who based on having watched the Christmas and New year episodes.
I, as people will read, am only a casual watcher of Dr Who. I probably catch a couple of episodes each series, so am in no way an expert on the subject of Dr Who. But watching the last two episodes really does make me wonder if the appear of the programme to 9 year olds is based on the fact that the plots seem to involved the same level of detail and thoughtful planning typically expected of a 10 year old child. Thinking about it, that's not really fair, because if a nine year old in my class had turned out the storyline for the last two episodes as a story plan, I would have been extremely disappointed and told him to do it again.
Things just happen in Doctor Who. Doors lock for no reason, planets long destroyed, re-appear because of a diamond being found, spaceships lose power for good reasons and get them back for no good reason. Characters forget things for a reason then remember them for no reason, in short, events happen just because the writer decides on them on a whim whilst the plot development and the reasons for the events happening are completely glossed over by ludicrous science or simply the Doctor being clever.
The shame of it for me was that the final episodes were really well put together, brilliantly acted, full of fabulous effects but ultimately rather pointless given the fact that the writer Russell T Davies felt that he could allow more or less anything to happen in the story because it is science fiction and all the rules of cause and effect and plot development could be tossed away.
Whilst Russell T Davies might have revived Doctor Who, he has also left it as a niche programme with people like me, open to the idea of watching the show, finding is juvenile plots unchallenging and far too light weight. I will tune in to the next series of Dr Who. With the brilliant Steven Moffat as the man in charge of the scripts, the show should be a must see.
I, as people will read, am only a casual watcher of Dr Who. I probably catch a couple of episodes each series, so am in no way an expert on the subject of Dr Who. But watching the last two episodes really does make me wonder if the appear of the programme to 9 year olds is based on the fact that the plots seem to involved the same level of detail and thoughtful planning typically expected of a 10 year old child. Thinking about it, that's not really fair, because if a nine year old in my class had turned out the storyline for the last two episodes as a story plan, I would have been extremely disappointed and told him to do it again.
Things just happen in Doctor Who. Doors lock for no reason, planets long destroyed, re-appear because of a diamond being found, spaceships lose power for good reasons and get them back for no good reason. Characters forget things for a reason then remember them for no reason, in short, events happen just because the writer decides on them on a whim whilst the plot development and the reasons for the events happening are completely glossed over by ludicrous science or simply the Doctor being clever.
The shame of it for me was that the final episodes were really well put together, brilliantly acted, full of fabulous effects but ultimately rather pointless given the fact that the writer Russell T Davies felt that he could allow more or less anything to happen in the story because it is science fiction and all the rules of cause and effect and plot development could be tossed away.
Whilst Russell T Davies might have revived Doctor Who, he has also left it as a niche programme with people like me, open to the idea of watching the show, finding is juvenile plots unchallenging and far too light weight. I will tune in to the next series of Dr Who. With the brilliant Steven Moffat as the man in charge of the scripts, the show should be a must see.
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