Manchester Confidential: Yes, Glinert is in Fact a Wind Up

Have always had a soft spot for Manchester Confidential. Since the convicted porn baron Mark Garner started this experiment we have been watching completely non-judgementally.

Anyway, within moments of being set down by rally drivng cabbie Konnie Huq at Euston, I bumped into the object of MC's desires, a Mr Ed Glinert (right). Repeatedly authoring books. Factual, but always controversial. And his journalism often, in the past, just a tad sloppy if truth were told.

We did our best with the kid. At Mancunion, and at City Life. He's improved. It's not always been easy. But the kid's done good.

Ed's taken to writing these "factual Books" rather than investigative journalism of yore because basically he got really fed up with the idea that that stuff had to be true or balanced or real. Even in Private Eye.

Which does not apply to factual books. Apparently. Anything that winds up pompous and soon-to-be ex-Lib Dem councillors to apoplexy is alright by me.

POSTSCRIPT: Where's that review copy?

David Lindsay: New Labour Are Cleaned Up Trots

David Lindsay formed his own party last year and promises to field candidates nationally for this all-encompassing BPA (British People's Alliance).

Now, in a short notice re Gwyneth Dunwoody's death, he is pointing out that New Labour were/are troublesome Trotskyites.

London: Johnson Claims Extreme Anal Retention

Thanks to Conservative Home for linking to Boris Johnson's Q&A in Health and Well Being Guardian HERE. A chucklesome taster:

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
An excessive and almost hysterical attention to detail.

Mmmm. Just like On The Buses. Left to right: Powell, Cameron, Johnson.

Kate Nash: Provides Riffs for BoZo Dick Headery

Max Lib Double O Seven is a new You Tuber (23 years old, 23 hours ago, spooky) who has rather taken up the flash animation mantle of Tim at Bloggerheads who has been unusually silent on the Johnson-Dickhead for mayoralty issue.

Alert readers may remember that Tim Ireland created Boris Johnson's personal website which is now credited to some dickheads at Wibbler. Also the credited designers of young Tim Ireland's site. Cosy little world we live in.

Thanks to Mark T' Mark for the heads up in comments HERE.

UPDATE Sunday 11:00: Clearly these YouTube offerings are homage to Ireland's ouevre as Tim always signs his political works in his own name.

UPDATE Monday 11:44: Clarification.
Wibbler main man Simon H appears as a stag weekend dickhead on the banner of his homepage here, linking to free web-sms services (detail, left) and the title was intended to be observational rather than derogatory.

London: Johnson Chain Smoking Behind Bike Shed

Paul Waugh in the Standard points out that the Buntery Johnson, B is still one for smoking behind the bike sheds. Chain smoking all the way to some £10,000 of donations from tobacco pushers.

Nothing new in Tory support for Tobacco pushers of course. One of the most agonisingly desperate chaps I have ever seen was a former Tory Cabinet Minister firing the starting gun at a healthy living fun run last summer in his Rushcliffe constituency.

Although the winner, Tarus Elly as it goes, was only about 30 minutes in running 10k, Mr Ken Clarke, for it was he, could not be persuaded to hang on and present the prizes. Much money was raised for the Kenyan Orphans Project which involves UK Medics in various splendid development projects in Kisumu and elseswhere.

All kinds of rationales for departure were offered. Including paying his paper bill, or he'd be in trouble with the missus. And packing for his trip that afternoon ... to South Africa on BAT business. In actual fact Ken was gagging for a smoke and finally exited stage right at quite a trot for a man of his build.

London: Unofficial YouTubery Sets Pulses Racing

Liberal Conspiracy draws attention to the above attack advert saved for the nation by Hopi Sen. This has had a startling effect. Will Parbury has woken from a long slumber. Pickled Politics is delirious and Dave Cole is not far behind alongside Tory Troll. Dave tags Septic Isle on the Standard.

Hopi has also dubbed Sadie Smith the political Charlie Brooker because as we all know Charlie's been such a fence sitter on the Johnson issue.

UPDATE: A militant Compass Youth member has tagged an unsubtle collection of Johnson-abilia to the soundtrack of "You Fascists Are Bound to Lose!". A few spolling mistakes, but that's C21st edukashun for you.

Oldham MBC: Quite Good Really New Branding

Oldham's new fish eye logo slightly pilloried here is quite good actually. Bit blue. But bit good too actually. Congrats to Hemisphere.

Class Act: Tory Johnson Rumbled on His Bus Nonsense

Gwyneth Dunwoody: Rest in Peace

Gwyneth Dunwoody MP has died. A battler and a character first elected in Exeter (1964-1970), but latterly (1974-2008) MP for Crewe/Crewe & Nantwich. Longest serving woman MP (39+ years) and longest continuous woman MP (34+ years). Formidable and independent chair of Transport Select Committee since 1997.

Question Time: Cheeky Estonian on RoB Speech

Lembit Opik's contribution on the influx of central european people to the UK was nowhere near as embarrassing as expected. Never mind.

Lib Dem Voice: Sod London, Vote for Johnson Chaos

Lib Dem Voice guest poster Andy Mayer says: Sod London, vote for Lib Dem franchise careers. Damning stuff. Geoffrey Payne writing in comments there is right. That is politically bankrupt. Bit like jewel in the Lib Dem local government crown Liverpool.

Cassilis: Republicans as BNP, Brown Evades Snow Shower

Today Liam at Cassilis draws attention to some Republican theorizing on the Obama approach to economic interest as motivation. Almost equating the Republicans to the BNP. Surely not? ... but, then again it's not so far off the mark.

And yesterday there was some wondering about Jon Snow vs Gordon Brown. With the latter deemed highly evasive even by politician standards. That's a view some will share. But Snow is a rather inept interviewer at times. Not half as clever as he thinks he is.

ASIDE: Dan Snow - whose dad is Peter Snow who is Jon's cousin and apparently the connection who got Jon moving in journalism despite his shortcomings in that area - was unexpectedly eager to point out in an R5L interview I heard (sorry can't find a link just now) that the Snow men are dire thickos. He gets his brains he says from mum Ann and auntie Margaret.

PICTURE (Telegraph) : "Then you put the other boot on the other foot Jon".

Many Happy Returns: Buzzcock Pete Shelley is 53 Today

DJ Dr Roops wishes Pete Shelley a happy 53rd HERE and then, what's this neat segue to New Wave Asian Beats?, she sticks Ed Husain loud and proud on the other deck.

Good skills. Funniest Shelley story I can recall was the time he was propping up the bar after his solo sound check at the late lamented International Club - now an east mediterranean super-delicatessen - talking with the late lamented promoter Roger Eagle. Along came a flowers delivery. "Pete Shelley? Peter Shelley?", "Yes I!" said the man accepting delivery gleefully.

"Who can these be from?" he wondered aloud, tearing open the message. Inside, hilariously, a summons from the taxman. Many happy returns Peter.

So Weak: GOO-ey Nonsense Given Bum's Rush by MSM

Iain is not responding very well to his treat. He follows an extraordinary piece of pig-ignorant spin from Sir gGOO - threatened with reshuffle by Conservative Home readers - and indeed from the source Bloomberg in this really rather ridiculous misrepresentation.

We expect better of Britain's leading political blogger Iain. As Ann Widdy might say: "Buck Up!" Why on earth has Iain repeated this cock and bull?

The Chancellor DID NOT say "Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour government" now did he? That's Bloomberg substituting a complex unpacking of the word "We" now isn't it?

And as for the non sequitor argument that follows? That this quote means it's power for power's sake:

"All governments and parties go through difficult patches," Darling said. "This is a time when we should remember why we stand for government, the purpose of being in government."

No reasonable person with half a brain could think it means what Iain says he thinks it means. Now, we know GOO is a perverse man who will twist words and figures well beyond reason as soon as blink. But Iain Dale? Surely not.

REAL WORLD ASSESSMENT: It is gratifying that BBC News 24 and even the Tory-backing Sky News are NOT carrying this piece of GOO-ey nonsense.

Brown Succession: Burnham To Restore Tribal Differences

With Tribune now muttering about Gordon's future we might as well link to the book on his successor at Political Betting. No sign of John McDonnell though Livingstone (100-1) and Jon Cruddas (16-1) are there. But non-lefty lefty John Denham is perhaps the highest surprise on tens.

Mike Smithson is tipping Andy Burnham as the best value bet. Perhaps the Leigh MP could restore Britain to a place where people know and feel the differences between the parties? In the way he told a Fabian debate at the Leadership Conference in Manchester last year we used to. When we were thin.

But Gordon's not going anywhere anyway. Apart from Washington. Where contrary to the TBB spin he's beginning to gain some news traction and emerge from under the Pope Bennie roadshow's long shadow.

Boris Johnson: Tribune Retread for Sun Advert 1992

LabourHome has a sneak preview of tomorrowFriday's Tribune Poster Cover.

Conspiracy theorists will also notice a "Brown Must Go" item trailed.

Dr Huq concludes her review of this and last night's Mayoral debate by suggesting the designers might have used an energy-saving lamp.

But they were probably quite right, don't you think?

One of the biggest problems with Johnson and the Tories generally is that their Greenwash don't. Don't wash.

Fascists Thwarted: Shove Ads Where Sun Don't Shine

Luke reports the success fo a campaign to stop Archant London papers carrying BNP adverts. There is some controversy in the comments. Would editorial coverage of the refusal in the likes of the Guardian boost BNP fortunes? Er, NO!

Back in Sedgefield last year Newsquest's Northern Echo did take this BNP advert but gave the money away to charity and ran a weaselly editorial comment about free speech. Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe dealt with that line in first link above.

Newsquest's parent company is called Gannet by the way. Thanks to Miles for that info. In comments.

Iain Dale's Treat: Don't Say I Never Do Anything For You

Was in Liverpool last evening, talking with Cllr Joe Anderson who will hopefully be leading the Council and Liverpool out of the slough of despond come May 2. Assisted by bloggers Dr Bill Jones ("Skipper") and Stephen Newton I managed with great expertise and at great expense to prepare this treat for Iain.

Shadowy Reshuffle: A GOO-ey End for Dave's Pal?

The very first comment on Conservative Home's shadow cabinet reshuffle discussion is from the comedically named David Belchamber. Saying clearly that Sir G George Oliver Osborne MUST be moved. As he is so very inept with figures and a convicted fibster too that would indeed be a good move for Tories.

If that is Cameron had the guts to can his cokey Bullingdon Bully buddy. I don't think Cameron is remotely close to that level of crony-free decision-making. Which is ultimately a good thing for Labour, and so for the country.

Libdemologists: Clogg Tory, Huhne Got More Votes?

Greg Hands MP has published proof that Nick Clegg paid a subscription for one year to the Cambridge University Conservative Association right here on Conservative Home. This is something which Clogg has repeatedly denied and which that other saintly Lib Dem Huhne has repeatedly claimed.

I found this reference following a lead on Mr Bean - Conservative related to my previous post. But Dr Huq lists some of the blogsters who got there first.

Rupa also links to this Indy story indicating that Christmas Post (and/or dim-witted Lib Dems) saw some 1,300 postal votes arrive too late to count and with at least 906 of them for Huhne. In other words enough to change the result in Huhne's favour.

Of course in Rochdale one ward selection which looked to bring de-selection of a particular sitting councillor - who had allegedly been collaborating with Labour - was over-turned by cronies of Paul Rowen MP, Dave Hennigan and their ilk by simply disqualifying five of the voters on one side while not bothering to scrutinise the other side.

Lib Dems ... the not-very-nice, not-very-fair party.