Iain Dale: Has Been Burgled, Twenty Hours Ago

Oh dear. Iain Dale's outbuildings have been burgled. Not seven hours ago though. That's a fib. It was 12 or more hours before that more than likely.

Having been burgled a number of times, three times in one year being the worst spate - until we got are rather big, barky dogs that is - I sympathise.

But it must be said that even directing traffic or reinforcing the Met at a London derby football match - like the one Iain has been sobbing at this afternoon - are activities that require live police from West Kent more than a burglary that has taken place.

Possibly 12 hours before even being reported, in which no-one was harmed or even scared, in which there are no eye witnesses, in which - though you don't say - nothing much was gone apart from £400 of lead off the roof. Off the roof of some media tart's outbuildings.

If there are worthwhile forensic clues; if the guys that do great train robberies and bullion raids have a moment; and they do decide to send a SOCO they'll quite likely still be some clues there.

The last time the police didn't attend our place when they arguably should have done was when I had a good look at a big crack-addled burglar chappie checking out the back of our house.

Including full face, close up. In broad day light. And with the call within seconds of the miscreant leaving the scene. They have neither sent an officer nor even taken much of a description over the 'phone.

It is of course possible that they knew immediately from release schedules or the basic description who this was or had even picked them up. This is also possible in your case Iain.

We have far more police now than under the Tories. The unnecessary paperwork that has grown up under successive governments - not just Labour - apparently accounts for 3% of police time. Which is less than the circa 15% uplift in numbers.

If Iain Dale can explain why the police should prioritise a bitty blogger burglary over anything else I'd be interested to read it.

And if he could reassure us that he at no point told them he is a top boy blogger, Total Pants publisher and occasional Telegraph op-ed writer and would feature their incompetence en blog I'd be very relieved indeed.

Heavenly Hansard Typos: And Official School Trips

Some loverly typos spotted by Ditzy yesterday right here and also an indication that the government school wallahs do listen and have finally been to Finland. Where school education is cool, results are exemplary and they have retention to 18 of about 98% and further/higher thereafter towards 70%. Until recently they hadn't been to Heavenly Helsinki.

Lucy Powell: Guardian Blogging on the Casino

Lucy Powell's third Guardian blog post leads on the consolation prize for the casino let down here. All down to John Leech and his sanctimonious MP chums from leafy suburbs. Plus the Blackpool posse. Who seemingly failed to notice that their bid was last. They were not close.

This is LOL not Lucy talking. Mr Leech is ignoring the desperate joblessness, over two and three generations in Openshaw, Clayton, Ancoats and Bradford which a leisure-anchored development could tackle with a good supply of C1C2D walk to work jobs of the range unlikely to ensue from any government office.

NOT TRIVIA: The Rev Leech was not even born when the famous Bradford Colliery was closed down on Friday, 6 September 1968. Eye witnesses tell me the workforce went off on their "wakes" and came back to find themselves locked out and redundant. The pit was still very rich in reserves, employed 1500 men, but was causing subsidence.

I was told that the clincher was the erection of the CIS building under which vicinity the workings were planned to extend. But that's not quite right as the tower was opened in 1962.

Breaking News: 14 MP Reprimand on Donations

Oh dear oh dear. Including Nick Clegg - now reprimanded in just two weeks for two £15,000 totals recorded late. And David Cameron - only now declaring a whirlybird ride in 2005. Plus Spelman, Huhne and ten others.

Young Turks: The 2005 Committee Wants to KO Conway

Reports Iain Dale. Inspiration perhaps from the Backbench 1922 Committee formed after the 1923 election precipitated by a 1922 move to break coalition with the Liberals.

This might be seen - in conjunction with Cam's bad fist of PMQs this week - as an attempt at a Clause 4 Moment. A year or so out from a General Election.

EXCLUSIVE Time Travel: When Harry Met Mummy

The Society of Editors drew a veil over Harry's deployment to Afghanistan, but they have missed the above evidence of time travel by the young yahboo.

Tory Donors: Why Do Coleshill Donate Thousands?

Wouldn't it be interesting to find out who exactly is behind "Coleshill Campaigning Services" with decades of experience campaigning against Labour and the Lib Dems who are apparently giving so much to the Conservatives. In the form of office accommodation allegedly worth almost £20,000 per quarter. £40,000 per quarter in all, according to this anonymous comment.

The BBC Politics Show, West Midlands explains why Coleshill could be at the epicentre of a Tory money-throwing Failure to progress.

No Smoke Without Fire: The Fat Owl of the Remove

Light-fingered Boris Johnson MP nicked some nick-knacks from the battlefield in 2003. From a condemned man's lodgings as confessed in the Torygraph. Question is, as he is fessing up to this outrageous looting will he now provide a full list of all items stolen? Instead of protesting inanely that the Art and Antiques Unit of the Met should be working on jay walking and double parking?

Hat tip: Cllr Bob Piper.

Iain Dale 'Reheats': Same Old Same Old Tory Moaning

Iain Dale reheats the old Tory cry about "re-announcements". Leaving aside the sloppiness of the examples given of this phenomenon it's an attempt at cheap points anyway.

If we assume that Iain Dale is an intelligent man who has been round the political block a few times you'd think he's understand that "re-announcement" is in the nature of these things.

Here for example are ten "announcements" that might form part of the gestation and birth of an idea:

1. Consultations
2. Policy forum
3. Conference
4. Green paper
5. White paper
6. First Reading
etc through HoPs
7. Law passed
8. Pilots run
9. Pilots appraised
10. Roll out/Mainstream

If Tory Bloggers (and indeed historic Tory govts) have a way of doing this without several mentions then perhaps Iain could share it?

Iain Dale: Are the Tories Becoming a National Party Again?

In a word Iain Dale the answer would be: NO!!

Dizzy: Supposedly Thinks Before Posting, Not This Time

Dizzy manages a Eats Shoots and Leaves headline: Stealing Tory Arguments and Praising Dictators before mangling arguments in both parts of his treatise. Just a core dump from a Dizzy head. Not an instance of corroboration or context.

Queen's Silver Jubilee: Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

Two wrongs do not make a right. But hey ho. If it is a straight choice between ignoring (or not) the notable anniversary of a young man's victory at all costs, then the celebration wins. Wikipedia. Luke Akehurst, centre right, with fingers in all the pies.

Sarko: Tells Pauvre Proletarian to "Sod Off", On Camera

Derby Day: 300 Simultaneous Defectors? No, Sorry, 25

Losing three hundred valued Labour members to the Tories in one fell swoop seemed a little unlikely. Though as we reported it was not going down well in ever-decreasing Tory circles anyway. A clever chap called James Maskell at Conservative Home commented thusly:

I would urge caution. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. I would put money on it that they all know each other. Its a basic political tool to sign up a political party in order to create change from the inside. Espionage and spying are key tactics in political subterfuge to gain advantage.
Posted by: James Maskell | February 24, 2008 at 13:50

In fact as local press reports after the "mass defection" it was a bit of a damp squib. Just one councillor crossed. And only about two dozen ordinary members. And the Tory deputy leader is standing down.

Thanks to Graeme Smith for the tip off. He says he'd rather cut off his toes than join the Tories. He switched from Lib Dem member to Labour when he found he was still minded to vote Labour! Graeme is now a councillor.

Derby Day: Three Hundred Simultaneous Defectors?

Sheikh Mohammed has long since entered the establishment, above on a traditional Derby Day.

A plot for entryism from some 300 Labourites on a less traditional Derby Day is however causing some consternation in Tory Circles.