Tony Blair: Thanks LOL for Wonderful Support

10 Downing Street

Dear Members,

As I leave the leadership of our Party, I wanted to thank you for your wonderful support during these 13 years. Through thick and thin, good and bad, you helped me enormously. I shall never forget it. It was an honour to be leader of this great Party of ours.

Lets win a 4th term!
Thank you.
Tony Blair

Verb in every sentence. Just one two grammatical errors of punctuation. We shall miss him.
UPDATE: Jailhouse remarks that is like a paean to a sofa.

Deputy Dawgs: Simon Mayo's Speed Dating Event

Anyone who is still struggling to decide how to vote could do worse than listen to Simon Mayo's Speed Dating Event from yesterday. The preamble starts at 5 minutes in. The action starts at 8:40 minutes in. Each candidate gets 6:30 on their "date". Simon is joined by Miss Wigan Vicky Goulding, a Green sympathizer and Ged Sweeney, an ex-Member.

The approximate start times are: Jon Cruddas 8:40; Hazel Blears 15:50; (Travel News) Peter Hain 24:20; (News) Alan Johnson 35:10; Hilary Benn 42:40; (Travel) Harriet Harman 51:10.

A bit of a round up after news and sport. (about 70:30)

Ged Sweeney: puts the candidates in two batches: No to Blears Hain Johnson. Winner for him Hilary Benn. Articulate and likeable. Wonders how Hain was ever seen as the favourite.

Miss Wigan - 6. Hilary, a bit bland 5. Alan, also quite bland 4. Hazel passion, 3. Peter?, 2. Honest Jon, 1. Modern Harriet her favourite and Vicky liked being asked a question back.

Listener Dr Walter: Cruddas - "streetsmart and surprisingly articulate"; Blears "autocue performance, passionate"; Hain "uninspiring"; Johnson "sucking up expert"; Benn "on the wireless sounds like Tony"; Harman "reassuring but too many soundbites". His choice Cruddas or Benn.

Iain Dale's Dairy: Gullible's Travails

My friend Iain Dale's tribute site Iain Dale's Dairy carries another shooting-fish-in-barrel "fisk" name of Gullible's Travails.

This time, rather than a decisive surgical intervention in Nadine Dorries' half-baked musings on women's reproductive rights, we have a profound and in-depth surgical expose of Dale's half-baked musings on political editors' reproduction rights. So there's some symmetry there then.

My own short post on the subject of Dale's quixotic quest was met with a sullen and comment from the maestro.

This cannot alas be blogged before the watershed.

Sadly the LOL Art Department are still stalling on the other Dale jester pictures.

But here's one they prepared earlier.

Green Poll: When Will Oil Run Out?

Hamer was pointed by Antonia at Green Derek's Rant. This gentleman is the male component in the "leadership" of a party in which "leadership" is a proscribed word.

Mr Wall (right) has maxxed out on his St John's Wort remedy and written a stark, raving mad post on how Shelagh the 16-year-old anti-war protestor and LP member from round the corner and 83-year-old Walter from Richmond are in fact child murderers.

He is getting a well-deserved roasting in his comments section. Meanwhile his readership have voted overwhelmingly for the world's supply of oil to last for ever. This is a relief as I thought it would be all gone by late November this year. But a vote is a vote. This result will be binding on the world's resources.


It is a relief that the Green Party in Manchester, though ineffectual and in the case of their one councillor absent, are not involved in such sectarian and sub-Trot diatribes. I shall be keeping an eye on this site.

Big Brother: Emily's Word Was Nigga

Sounds from the accounts of the incident so far that Channel 4 high ups have got it wrong again. Emily trying to be down with the kids while dancing about in the early hours with Charlie. More may emerge.

But a poor attempt at street argot (cf Eminem, Jackie Brown, NWA etc) from a 19-year-old drama student - however annoying she may be - is not in the same ballpark as the culture clash of celebrity big brother. And the Diane programme was over-egged also.

Are Channel 4 trying to make themselves unprivatiseable?

EXCLUSIVE Big Brother House: Emily Parr Ejected for Racially Offensive Language

It's started. Emily Parr (left) was a nasty, manipulative, bitchy, clever clogs of a contestant. Good riddance. But will this development save Shabs (right) as the two were up for eviction?

. . .


At 10am neither C4 News nor BB Microsite (above) were carrying the story. But the BBC had it. The remark was made to Charlie and Nicky not eviction rival Shabs. Shabs is now safe as the vote if off. The eviction was at 3:30 am BST.

Shariah TV: Well No, It's R.E.M. at the Isle of Wight, No it's Shariah TV After All

Shame, I was looking forward to wise interpretations of the Holy Quran and related hadiths.

But I do love R.E.M.

First saw them at the Mandela Building in 1984 or thereabouts, perhaps 1985.

Looking like just a small cog or a prophet in a big wheel of US Guitar Bands - Lone Justice, Long Ryders, Del Fuegos, Gun Club, Beat Farmers and the like that were coming up.

Plus boring old farts like The Byrds and Flaco Jiminez. Really sad to have to see them in little clubs instead of at a stadium. But anyway, after an excellent left field guitar set, Stipe did a cheesy Moon River for an encore. I remember that I thought that "outrageous" and said so. Don't think I could justify that comment then either.

Hey, Shariah TV is back. From the Dome of the Rock. A brilliant, liberal, free discussion among Muslim people. More free of the holy chapter, verse, revelations and anecdotes than the usual UK studio programme (which is pretty liberal) or typical post prayers chat in the mosque.

The Strict Sheik* is cool as ever. But 'Strict'. The crowd though are liberals and/or open conservatives. I throughly recommend this programme.

* Shariah judge in Nazareth.

Dale's Exclusive: How 'Spinning Iain' Played Journalism With Political Editors

Iain Dale's Exclusive speculation about four leading Sunday political journalists has been completely and utterly rebutted by those very journalists. Three out of the four anyway.

GB might I suppose have discovered one hollow vessel Tory stooge, in no small part thanks to Iain.

Iain claimed that these four journalists had been cowed into not getting opposition comments on a Gordon Brown speech. They simply say they were reporting the speech and didn't want or need rent-a-quotes. Which seems very reasonable.

Iain has written an update on his story but is regretably still arguing the toss and trying to tell senior professionals what's their normal working practice, or should be. Regretably he is wrong again.

While his enthusiasm for his "exclusive" is admirable, and he's clearly got a bee in his bonnet about all sorts of people seeking to control their own media, Iain's clearly taking some wild punts.

Guido meanwhile is having it both ways. Quite pleased at the discomfort, yet saying Iain is somehow right. At least Iain Dale didn't do it on Newsnight as the GUFster did.

Transport and General: J-O-N - B-O-Y - T-O - W-I-N

The Guardian's Mr Henley catches some press relators taking the name Jon in vain. Or perhaps not:

Bless the T&G. Its press office's enchanting daily news briefing yesterday contained 11 items, the first letter of each spelling out the stirring slogan JON BOY TO WIN. That nice Mr Cruddas must be so proud.

Seem to recall someone making a rather longer sentence (scroll to "Dismissal" and see above) in this way but the best I've done I think is R-E-D for an early interview with that nice Mick Hucknall for whom Money's Too Tight To Mention was just a silly phase he was going through.

Libdemologists: Steady the Ship, now Zing for Ming

The Herald has the story. Hot on the heels of the announcement of NOW's Andy Coulson for the Tories, the Lib Dems enter the fray with one Mark Webster, former ITN newsman. The Herald report concludes:

While senior colleagues insist there is "no appetite" for a challenge to the Scot, they realise their party has become becalmed of late - it lost nearly 250 seats in the recent English council elections - they fear its message could get lost altogether in the forthcoming Brown/Cameron battle. Yesterday, Lord McNally, the LibDems' leader in the Lords, admitted the party was "treading water" at the moment. He said with a new Tory leader and a new incoming Labour one, it was difficult for head of third party to "get into the story".

Mark Webster comes from a long line of embalmers and funeral directors. That's a fib. Seemed appropriate. But here's what one of the comments at Herald HQ says:

"First time the LudDims decided to prove Ming's popular touch they did a number of interviews where he explained he was giving up his jag (to be green) by parking it in his garage, approved of efficient lighbulbs, but when asked how many he had said "none". He was a regular watcher of Corrie but the only current character he could name was Bet Lynch.
You can rebrand as much as you want but a silly old duffer is still a silly old duffer."

Hat tip: Fibs Dems' Mission impossible

Nadine Dorries: Superstition Aforethought?

Ministry of Truth has taken apart Nadine Dorries' whimsy and prejudice about abortion and the one true church using facts and arguments.

As Unity says, fisking Nadine is something akin to shooting fish in a barrel. But this is a very patient, determined and extensive piece of work countering a piece of delusional fiction (if I just slip off the fence for a mo).

Nad seems to have no permalinks in place. But her original post is called 'Abortion' and a follow up 'The Cardinal'. Currently 3rd and 2nd on the blog, with the 1st dealing with her, er, silly and clumsy moments. It's hard to believe she has those.

Deputy Dawgs: Political Betting, Turn Up on Turn Out

Political Betting rightly wonders out loud about turn out. But, despite being aware that this is exhaustive not FPTP, they quote a FPTP poll of those committed to vote. The actual betting market is close to the poll, as you might expect.

Turnout and transfers. Turnout and transfers. Turnout and transfers.

It looks to me like this could go to five rounds. I don't think the Hain and Blears transfers will go to one another. They could scatter five ways, then four ways, and then the contest proper. Harman and Cruddas will then have a pretty high mutuality so, if it were around 30, 30, 20, 20 after two eliminations, one of them could leapfrog the leaders.

Political Betting speculates that the turn out will be very low, as there is quite a lot of "who cares?" out there, and that this could favour Cruddas with the edge on keeness of cohorts.

Political Betting: Labour Fourth Win, Democrats Tied

Mike Smithson at Political Betting is now of the opinion that Labour will win an Historic Fourth Term. The bookies have 1-25 seats majority as a 7-1 bet, 11-1 on 26-50, each of which look good value. Bet on 50+ too and you have an all round 10-3 bet on a Labour win. Which is better than 5-4.

Mike also reports Barack Obama drawing almost level with Hillary Clinton despite her rhetoric of invinceability. the polls of polls still show herself ahead but with Gore in BO gets his nose in front for the first time.

West Ham Farrago: Another Point of View

Iain Dale is chuffed that Ken Clarke spares West Ham a debate:

Parliament, he said, should not be debating whether West Ham should have points deducted.

Quite right, the FA and the Premiership should have done it long ago. Too harsh? Well let's use a carrot not a stick and award all clubs who did not fiddle or fib a BONUS FIVE POINTS. That's the way to do it.

Falling Man: 70 Minutes Making of and Preview

Blog Censorship: China, India, and Closer to Home

Un des specials chauds du jour (?Franglais?) is Blog censorship. Here, here, here, here and here for example.

Not really a new phenomenon however. Blogger was accused of being heavy handed almost two years ago and have now gone to a very light touch indeed. Much to the Hitch's delight and their victims' horror.

So this is not always confined to Asia and her developing markets. LOL will be back to this. Meanwhile if any blogger wishes to point LOL at instances of censorship, legal threat, bribe or persuasion please do take a moment to drop me an email or a comment.

Requests for anonymity or sleight of blog will of course be respected.

Car Crash Telly: That Channel 4 Vox Pop 10 Seconds

My mate Barry emails from Manila. He's recently got back from his little "training" trip back to Blighty, including a road race or two and a visit to both The Beech on Beech Road in god's own suburb of Chorlton and to the "Dive" club at the bus station which is the home of an unruly element of Manchester's diving community.

Barry has somehow caught wind of Channel 4 News and my "Parasites" moment on last night's news. Actually from Gaz. But he cannot find it again to spread revolt through the antipodean colonies and Far East markets where he SAPs and Oracles like a good 'un. Between scube-ing at Puerto Galera. This Mindoro resort - just 40 minutes and US$300 (for three) from Manila by seaplane - now has wifi broadband. Barry's dream of working on The Beach (or even The Beech) is nearer than ever.

The programme sections (plural) are here. the first section includes all the talking heads from C4, from the ex-Royal retainer and HM's opposition parties and lasts about 19 minutes. The second section which is seven minutes long has the famous vox pop plus an item with the Falling Man auteur Henry Singer (audio download, tiny at 79 bytes).

The rather serious LOL quote is between 1:43 and 1:53 in.

Here is the unabridged transcript:

I don't really care much about the royal family.
I think they are parasites.
But much as I am a Republican I think that - probably - it would be wrong to show pictures of dead and dying people.

Will stick some screen grabs up and review the assembled company in part 1 soon. After the family lurchers have had a lurch in both directions, a mill round the meadow and a good sniff around.

In short Tory toff Hugo Swires possibly gets to the right answer for quite the wrong and very deferential reasons. He hadn't been "privileged" to see the thing himself.

UPDATE: If you drag the cursor almost to the right on the longer first film you can cut to the chase. It jumps straight to the second.

Norfolk Road Rage: Orange Book vs Blue Lost Boy

So, here we have it. Thrusting Norfolk Blogger has bought himself a lovely new Skoda Golf, while Norfolk Tory 'Lost Boy' Iain Dale has bought his 18th successive Skoda A8. Walt Disney are considering updating their Skoda Beetle franchise. Here's the trailer:

At least it has lovely wild track sound ... instead of Julie Andrews ...

Leadership Letters: Plus No L-U-R-C-H to the Left

Yesterday's Guardian had the good sense to publish letters from both Cllr Luke Akehurst and myself. Less wise is their selection of Mike Allott's "Lurch to the left" nonsense.

Building council houses for example is not a lurch to the left.

Tories and Labour used to vie with each other to build more in a year. 400,000 from us, 400,001 from them. So how is aiming to build 200,000 a lurch to the left?

Respecting trade union rights is not a lurch to the left. Striving for a living wage, fair pensions, less waste, making poverty history? Lurching to the left? I don't think so.

Valuing members and supporters views certainly is not. And nor is trying to avoid future poorly researched, badly implemented and arguably illegal military interventions. That's obvious - left, right and centre.

Of course there are discussions to be had about the best way to deliver our shared aims for improved education and health - and many of us have strong views on the public-private mix. And Trident now, later or never is not settled in the country or the party. Trident's distant cousin nuclear power is of course also moot.

But, tell me this won't you, if increasing private delivery in the health service is NOT a lurch to the right, then how can decreasing that or indeed freezing it represent a lurch to the left?

Two-Facebook: Margaret Hodge has Three Groups

Amazingly there is a Margaret Hodge is Right group. It has nine members. It was created by Madge's political advisor. It has no discussion facility. And it has no "wall" where people can
fly-post comments and news.

Meanwhile 166 people say Sack Margaret Hodge while 27 are immoderate and go further.

On Thursday week there is a by-election in Manchester's Charlestown Ward. Today, after telling Channel 4 that the Royal Family are parasites and that I'm a Republican but that they shouldn't show the dead and dying I had a good chat with Cllr Mark Hackett who loves his ward, and hates fascist haters. The BNP are standing.

Margaret Hodge's barmy statements filtered through The Mail and The Express do not make the job being undertaken by Labour, Searchlight, and the UAF with a little help from the Lib Dems who are running a campaign ... ish ... they do not make it any easier. Cheers Madge.

Luke the Snook: Cocks Yet Another One

Luke congratulates the Socialist Campaign Group on their online hustings. He points out that one of the candidates is AWOL, presumably following an uncontrollable bout of sobbing at his last couple of vicious attacks.

Luke is yet to pick up the mantle of Hazey and make conciliatory noises:

Finally, let me say to all Socialist Campaign Group News readers that we must win the next election, and whether we like it or not, that means staying on the centre ground of politics, winning in the south as well as the traditional Labour areas like mine, and fighting the Tories not each other.

Good to see that Hazel is prepared to lurch to the left like a good un and come over to the centre ground. (Luke: This is a joke).

Channel 4: Car Crash Television

On my way to a meeting about an upcoming Entrepreneurship course I hear a statement from Channel 4 on Radio Five Live. Probably the same as this one. It says they will be retaining the images, that none show dead and dying people and that many of them have already been published.

This was responding to this letter, and this statement and this letter to Clarence House.

All these and more can be found at the Channel 4 Micro-site.

Ho hum. So it seemed Channel 4 had backed off a bit, whatever they may be saying. But on my way back from my meeting I am vox popped by Channel 4 and they say the pictures WILL be used, albeit with some added fuzziness; So what do I think?

Well, I say, I am a republican and I don't give a monkey's about the royal family or Diana or their celebrity. I possibly even suggest they are parasites. Ooo, er. How could I? Quite easily in fact.

But anyway I press on. I say it is interesting how their question differs from the statement read out on the radio. And I say that the same rules should apply to Diana as if the Reporter himself was killed in a road accident. He wouldn't care if it happened to him. He'd be dead and gone. But his family might, even as a widely loathed Channel 4 Car Crash Television Reporter.

UPDATE: Iain Dale has also blogged this. Though his revolution has not been televised.

Luke Akehurst: Smearing and Blearing

Hazel's team have come up with a brilliant new button badge, here modelled by a young Luke (19), before he got cynical.

Hilary Benn?: If She's Not at the Bookies or Down the Pub try The Guardian

Coral the Bookmakers have had a little trouble with remembering who one or two of the Deputy Leadership candidates are:


Iain Dale found a similar transgendering in the early edition of today's Guardian. Meanwhile according to her Facebook group Hilary's clans gathered last night in Trafalgar Square

Exclusive: New Margaret Hodge Petition

Withdraw that silly statement Margaret, or sod off.

USA Democrats: Television Debates

Last night's debate between eight Democratic party hopefuls can be sampled on CNN. Edwards was considered to have had a good night on the stump and may give Clinton and Obama more of a run than expected. Iraq and Saddam and TWOT are one significant battleground.

The three are at it again speaking of Faith and Politics starting at 7pm Eastern Time. Any minute.

Libdemologists and Harmanicas: Digital World Gaffes

Another day and cracks are still appearing and there is still more equality clamour from Lib Dems to boot. The debate has moved on, with just one helpful hint, to the complete lack of 'out' LGBT candidates, as well as BME candidates, and a balance of women in their London Assembly selection.

Lord Tony Greaves has counselled several times that this exchange should be kept in house but he snickers himself at Luke Akehurst's admirably non-partisan story about an email error by the Harriet Harman team. Tom Watson urges others to use the cc list provided in the interests of Jon Cruddas too.

Lord Greaves says:

The follow-up emails are even more amusing. Email is an ever-present disaster waiting to happen. (And let none of us ever forget it - Mike Storey won’t).

LOL counters:

By the way was it email or printed memo that exposed the Manchester Withington members campaigning for John Leech's selection over Yasmin Zalzala because as a black, asian, muslim candidate she could never win OWTTE?

EXCLUSIVE Middle East: USA Forbid Invasion

Associated Press have just reported that the USA have warned one sovereign nation against "invading" another in the war on terrorism. About time too, you're thinking. Turkey must not "invade" Iraqi Kurdistan. And who better to tell them than the USA? Probably applies to all freedom loving nations in the region?

Libdemologists: Ginger Family Should "Dye Hair"?

Kevin, 11, left, Daniel, 9, and Ryelle, 10, have suffered cruel taunts

Listening to Radio Five Live this evening I was astonished at an item on red hair and the extreme bullying and abuse that can ensue. One charming caller from Glasgow insisted over and over again that Ginger hair was a certain sign of an evil nature.

Even more extraordinary was the story of the Chapman Family of two ginger haired parents with nine children, most ginger, who have been terrorised. This has been reported widely, in The Times, The Mirror and The Sun. Worldwide in fact as a Google Search brings 23,000 hits.

Young Kevin Chapman, aged 11, was so distraught that he tried to kill himself by hanging. The Chapmans insist, and their account is compelling, that Newcastle City Council suggested at one point that they should dye their kids' hair. While the Council claim this is not correct I am certainly persuaded by the first hand account given on air.

Whatever next from these Lib Dems? Recommending skin whitening, hair straightening and the like for victims of racist bullying? And continuing to move victims rather than bullies.

Well done to the young wizard Ron Weasley and others for ringing in and joining the discussion.

Libdemologists: Cracks Appear Left Right and Centre

Libdemologists continue to rabbit about their strange London Assembly selection and going beyond The Spectator speculation of Campbell and Clegg being offered Brown cabinet posts we find some still more worrying insights over at The Liberal. One Mr Kovar is predicting that Clegg will go Blue as Ming goes Red and that the party could then split in two.

The Liberal should know I suppose. If this were to happen it would be very interesting to see which directions this league of mavericks scattered in. For example John McLeech was making all the loyal noises about backing Kennedy 100% while in the same breath backing Clegg who did not run. He then signed up for Huhne. Which way would he jump? With the L Ron Hubbard or the Tom Cruise of the Libdemologists?

Lame Duck A L'Orange has been digging away at this for a while but dried up in March. Minger = lame duck, Cleggy = chicken.

We also get a confusing run down of Labour arts policy from me-me-me Ms Clemency Burton-Hill who seems to be crying over milk that's very much filling the glass, and a powerful attack on the murderous Mugabe from Peter Tatchell.

The Big Race: "Tick Tock, Tick Tock"

Apparently this is the midnight Vodaphone text message of choice for Frankie Detorri's jockey "friends" trying to keep a rather jumpy champion on the back foot in his 15th attempt to win the big race. He rides Authorized. His journey to this crown was almost as long as Gordon's.
HURRAH: Frankie wins running away from the field. Although firm favourite at 5-4 others turned up and gave their backers some sport.

Writing to a Prisoner: Gambling on a Favour

It is not an everyday occurrence for me to write to prisoners. I am no Lord Longford. Developing a similar head of hair perhaps. But writing to one convicted of a sexual crime is not my norm.

This is not to tell this chap (on a couple or three years) the good news that sentences for certain child porn viewers could be revised downward (BBC Video Report) if a Mr Gamble's advice is heeded, or to report an immediate backlash. It is to ask a favour.

Does anyone out there regularly write to prisoners? Any tricks of the trade to report? This letter is in the post already. But I'm expecting a return, and probably an expectation of a continuing correspondence.

The Spectator: W Menzies Campbell FCO Swansong?

Speculation in the New Statesman has triggered still more at IDD. This is essentially the story that Gordon Brown will cosy up to Ming Campbell and give him a prominent cabinet job, echoing the Blair-Ashdown pact of yore.

As a campaigner in an exceedingly close Labour-Lib Dem marginal and a citizen of a City plagued by dissembling yellow hordes of misery I wonder, in the remaining minutes or hours before Ming quashes this half-heartedly, what such a move from GB could mean for us? One comment at IDD was especially interesting.

HF said...
Beware an old man in a hurry. Ming either gets into bed with Gordon within next three years or his chances of a cabinet job (and his political career) are over. Ming will see it as part of the Ashdown/Blair discussions in the mid 90s. If the LD party let Paddy do it then why can't they let Ming do it now? He will also protect his MPs from losing their seats at the next GE.

Don't know who HF is, but I do wonder about that last bit and ask:

How will Ming protect his MPs by doing this? ... will (this) mean an electoral pact too? So Lab and Lib Dem candidates in marginals between them and/or in Lib-Con marginals could be stood down?

This could kill the Tories first, with the Lib Dems for afters. So would that be attractive to GB as stage two in the project to move the goalposts and take the ball away from other right wingers for ever?

Sporting Bets: Amaechi, Dettori or Deputy Dawgs?

John Amaechi, Manchester and England's leading Basketball player is to lead Utah Gay Pride Parade. He is seen above with Lance Bass of NSYNC (nice site of it's kind, btw) who had a similarly public coming out, though in a somethingly less hostile milieu.

Right, John's playing as 13 for the Manchester Magic, based a mile from LOL HQ in leafy Manchester Gorton. John's Journey and his Travelogue have been on here before.

Anyway, back to Gorton. That constituency nominated Hazey for Deputy. There was some controversy over something of a lock out of potential voters. Central and Blackley don't seem to have nominated at all for DL. Withington backed Benn and Wythenshawe and Sale East Hain. Full lists can be found at Leadership central under each candidate, and Luke Akehurst has a useful summary of final CLP and Affiliate totals here.

But commentators and gamblers - who would rather back a DL wannabe than Franki Dettori on his Authentic chance of a Derby success in his 15th attempt - and indeed candidates and supporters would do well to recognise as Political Betting are in this and other links that all these FPTP nominations by small to medium groups of delegates are (a) not binding when the ballots land next week and (b) are little help when it comes to exhaustive 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and even 5th preferences which come into play.

"Clever money" on Hilary Benn may be following a shakey analysis. And there is some of that over at Luke's also. Why is Hain toast and his fave Blears not when their nominations across the sections are not dissimilar?

If you must bet, back Dettori, it's better value than going to the Dawgs. Though almost 9-1 on Harman may be worth a little flutter to hedge your sheepish punt on Benn or Johnson or Cruddas.

Positive Inaction: London Lib Dems Day at the Races

Iain Dale lobs his fork across to a neighbouring glass house (rather than curry house, read on) at the Lib Dem list for the London Assembly elections. This is it seems very geographically skewed to South/SW London and has no Black and Ethnic Minority candidates in winnable positions. There is some interesting commentary in both places.

The LD list does have two women in the top three (though no more in the top six) whereas it may be that the Tories have no women at all on the LA after the next election. And many of us remember the toys flying out of the IDD pram when CCHQ announced some positive action which might marginally increase the female representation in the Tory MEP group ... from the current ONE.

Here's the CCHQ statement:

The Board of the Conservative Party has reached a decision in principle on the method for selection of candidates for the European Parliament for the 2009 election. Sitting MEPs who have been re-selected following a procedure similar to that laid down in the Party’s constitution for Westminster MPs will be placed in ranking order by party members in a postal ballot. Members will also be asked to place additional candidates in ranking order. In the wholly exceptional circumstances that there will be no sitting MEPs who are women seeking re-election, and for this selection process only, the top position in each region below any reselected sitting MEPs will be occupied by the woman candidate who gets the most votes in the postal ballot. Detailed arrangements will be developed in the coming weeks.

"In the wholly exceptional circumstances" etc incidentally was and is absolutely amazing double speak, absolutely effing amazing as Dale might say himself, as this is so exceptional that it seems to apply to ALL BUT ONE of the Regions! Tories have one woman MEP Nationwide. Yet the Tory Boy Bloggers are furious about men losing out.

Dale's conclusion: "Why any self respecting male would want to put themselves through this process is beyond me - not that I can see any attraction in being a Euro MP anyway." The comments from the "equality party" are priceless.

Iain Dale's Diary: In Praise of Al Jazeera

Back on Wednesday Iain Dale realised that Al Jazeera is class and not crass. Well done Iain! Next time the USA cook up a rocket attack on Al Jazeera studios we'll be glad of your support.