Freedom of Information: Tories Had Done Deal With Labour

Don't get me wrong. I shall enjoy any bounty from FOI requests on hypocritical MPs of all parties - calling for openness while secretly hoping, or indeed plotting to stymie this. Thanks to Sam Coates for this digging.

The secrets of John Leech, Paul Rowen and other "Freedom of Information champions" in the Liberal Democrats will be particularly interesting given their craven bleatings, the published accounts of their local party units, and their often strange arrangements.

But with or without the FOI exemption the new rules and the increased granularity of expenses accounting are a great leap forward. And although I may have to share some of my receipts with the taxman and/or VATman and my accountant I do not have to share these with the press and bloggers of the nation. Which makes the level playing field argument defunct doesn't it?

Here is the order paper for the non-debate on FOI showing the increased openness being brought forward by the government, lettering scheme as forwarded to me (see update):

Main Business

† 1 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE [Until 6.00 pm]
Ms Harriet Harman

That, at this day’s sitting, the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the Motions in the name of Ms Harriet Harman relating to Payments to hon. Members (Publication Scheme), Members’ Allowances (Green Book), Members’ Allowances (Audit and Assurance) and Committee on Members’ Allowances not later than 5 pm; in each case such Questions shall include the Questions on any Amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved; proceedings may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.


† 2 PAYMENTS TO HON. MEMBERS (PUBLICATION SCHEME)
Ms Harriet Harman

(1)

(2) In addition, information relating to Members’ expenditure from the beginning of the current Parliament shall be published in relation to each financial year, to the extent that such information is separately identifiable, under the following categories:

(a) Administrative and Office Expenditure:

(i) accommodation costs for offices, surgeries, etc;

(ii) office equipment and supplies;

(iii) telephones and other telecommunications;

(iv) professional fees and charges;

(v) agency and other staff costs;

(vi) travel costs;

(vii) utilities;

(b) Personal Additional Accommodation Expenditure:

(i) mortgage interest;

(ii) rent;

(iii) hotel costs;

(iv) council tax;

(v) fixtures, fittings and furnishings;

(vi) subsistence;

(vii) other household costs, including service charges, utilities, telecommunications, maintenance and repairs;

(c) Communications Expenditure:

(i) websites;

(ii) reports and surveys;

(iii) delivery charges, postage and stationery;

(iv) advertising;

(v) equipment;

(d) Staffing Expenditure;

(e) Travel Expenditure in relation to travel by Members:

(i) car, including third party vehicle rental and mileage;

(ii) rail;

(iii) air;

(iv) other UK and European travel;

(f) Resettlement Grant;

(g) Winding-up Expenditure;

(3) The Committee on Members’ Allowances shall keep the categories listed in paragraph (2) above under review and may modify them from time to time as the committee may think necessary or desirable in the interests of clarity, consistency, accountability and effective administration, and conformity with current circumstances.

† 3 MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES (GREEN BOOK)
Ms Harriet Harman

That this House approves the Guide to Members’ Allowances (the Green Book), published as Annex 1 to the First Report of the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee (House of Commons Paper No. 142) and endorses the Principles set out in Part 1 of the Green Book as the basis for all claims made by Members;

That the rules set out in the Green Book shall govern all expenditure on Members’ allowances with respect to all claims for expenditure arising on or after 1 April 2009;

That the Members Estimate Committee shall carry out a review of the provisions of the resolutions of this House relating to such expenditure, make such modifications to them as are necessary to ensure that they are consistent with the provisions in the Green Book, and report to the House; and

That this House thanks Ms Kay Carberry CBE, nominated by the Trades Union Congress, and Mr Keith Bradford, nominated by the Confederation of British Industry, for having acted as the Speaker’s external appointees to the Advisory Panel on Members’ Allowances.

† 4 MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES (AUDIT AND ASSURANCE)
Ms Harriet Harman

That this House approves the arrangements for the audit and assurance of Members’ allowances set out in the report of the Members Estimate Audit Committee to the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee, published as Annex 3 to the First Report of the House of Commons Members Estimate Committee (House of Commons Paper No. 142).

UPDATE 11:33: I've relented and removed the repetition.

Sir Cyril Smith MBE: Rivals For "Most Skeletons in Closet"?

Iain asks who is the oldest surviving ex-MP from each party and others have extended this to ex-PMs wives. How about extending this to the ex-MP with the most skeletons in his cupboards? I nominate "Sir" Cyril Smith MBE who has surely had to have his already oversized walk-in cupboards extended to provide room for all his dirty secrets.

Above in his Ne'er-Do-Well tabard.

Here's Rochdale RAW - Rochdale Alternative Website - in homage to RAP - Rochdale Alternative Paper. And here's Mister Cyril's homage Facebook Group calling for Sir Cyril to be demoted in disgrace.

Early doors RAW had a link to a lovely story on Rochdale Online. This describes how local ne'er-do-wells will soon be identified by day-glo tabards ... and was the inspiration for the fat tab for the fat crock.

Obama's Nod to Non Believers: Going Down Like Ratty Leech

An innovative nod of the Obama speech was including non-believers - 16% of the USA's demographic I believe - along with Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians in the weave of the US tapestry. Here in the UK I've noticed that even strong Christians have picked that up and applauded this inclusiveness. Not so it seems in the USA. Where Black churchians already have a problem with BHO's liberal positions on gay rights and abortion. Interesting times. Go BO go!

Requiem Aeternam: Ratty Leech Sent To Meet His Maker

Speaking of rats with bushy tails losing their seats I have finally decided that our garden rat "Leechy" has not been hibernating on the stone path these last four weeks but is unfortunately deceased. Comes with having a pair of mousers from Wythenshawe. Usually they bring them in as presents, even if they're bigger than Tilly and Lacey themselves are. But they sensed there was something nasty about Leechy and so they let him lie.

The Tales of Squirrel Nutkin: Lianne is Unfit for Council

Being involved in campaigning activity and high level discussions elsewhere in Withington constituency LOL were unable to personally cover the West Didsbury Residents Association hustings on Thursday night. But we did have a special correspondent present to listen in on the incumbent party's bizarre pick for candidate Lianne Williams. And naturally the other candidates also.

First things first. The evening's proceedings were ably stewarded by WDRA's own Ian Findlay with nothing but a flickers of subtle eyebrow work to greet the unfolding Lianne Williams' train crash. This election - rather like the last Chorlton fight - is hers to lose. Indeed with a cushion of around 600 instead of a nominal lead of about 40 and "the mo" even she will be hard pushed to throw this one away.

[aside]Whether the South Manchester Reporter's retelling of the Tale of Lianne Nutkin is honest and scathing or the usual sucking-up-to-Leech cover up will not matter. Most people won't get their paper until tea time on polling day, or indeed the day after polling. Was the hustings put on this date to achieve this very thing? And where were Channel M - our "community TV station"?[/aside]

But of that at least Lianne of all people is capable. Let's start with her tour de force over the Lib Dems' major campaign to Save Marie Louise Gardens which I may come back to anon. Asked about this she reverted to a five year old and gushed about squirrels, gush gush, squirrels, gush gush, squirrels, that she had seen there as a child. The images of reddy grey examples in this post, from LOL's own collection and shot in MLG, are a tribute to Lianne's squirrelly gushy inner child.

Earlier in the debate Li-anne's not-so-gushy outer child was particularly found out when she (a) answered first and couldn't say "me too" and (b) hadn't been given a crib sheet by her handlers.

Who could have anticipated candidates for council being asked whether as councillors they could actually achieve anything on behalf of their constituents?

That one comes right out of the blue, from left field, who would have thunk it? Lianne's conclusion? Nope. If elected councillor, Lianne muttered and stumbled her way to the conclusion that ... she'd be able to achieve nothing whatsoever. "The Party" would. And she works in John Leech MP's office (presumably getting paid by our money) and he was like a councillor for the whole area. He could get things done.

Labour Dave followed, demolishing this nonsense with the correct response. He would get things done. Working with local people. Working with local organisations like WDRA. Working with council officers, executive members, and the Labour group. Not standing on the sidelines and jeering like some Squirrel Nutkin*. Tory David Bean likewise was coherent, likeable, amusing even comedic - he's Mr Bean, why wouldn't he be? - and one hundred times better than Lianne.

And here's another one right out of left field. Given the credit crunch and the existing and accelerating closures of shops on one of the ward's main shopping centres Burton Road what could Lianne do about it?

I expect you can guess? "Oooh, we do have some nice shops on Burton Road. Really good shops. But, Oooh, let me see. Oooh, I don't know what we should do about it. I don't know. I really don't. Oooh, er, no, sorry I haven't a clue. We couldn't do anything."

Once again the two Dave's on stage right had useful, thoughtful, positive answers. And Greenie Geoff Evans, perhaps infected by the childish Lianne on stage left, or perhaps just a natural lightweight in his own right, had little to say.

Clearly Lianne can read answers prepared by others. Bit singalong naturally. But she can read alright. But has she an idea of her own? Nope. Can she think on her feet? Double nope. Is she suitable councillor material? Nope and Treble Nope.

Let's hope that the people of Didsbury West see through the deep-lying fog of Focus trash and realise that Lianne represents the Lib Dem tendancy for Stepford Councillors. Simply ciphers, photo opportunists - she points a good pothole does Lianne - and leaflet deliverers for uber-councillor John "Hospital Hoax" Leech.

* BEATRIX POTTER FOOTNOTE: Don't know your Squirrel Nutkin from your Samuel Whiskers? Spoiler alert. Both escaping great jeopardy. The Wiki for Nutkin is here and you can read the whole thing in facsimile thanks to the Gutenburg project right here. The Tale/Tail (geddit?) is very appropriate.

A wise old Owl (which might be the electorate of Didsbury West) eventually getting fed up with the teasing and taunting and useless malarkey of scrumping Squirrel Nutkin (the useless Lib Dems) sets out to skin him alive. Nutkin did of course escape - Beatrix Potter is not a death cultist - but he had lost most of his unbelievably bushy tale/tail.

Lost his seat you might say.

UPDATE 12:15: Mister Bean has reviewed too with engaging combination of fellow feeling and triumphalism, and also provided some retail therapy with bold claims of unique solutions.

Rochdale Lib Dems: 2nd Home Tramp Squatting in Office

For the duration of the last push of Transport Innovation Fund campaign LOL did not publish anything about the hysterically-bad-Rochdale Lib Dems. We even took down a goodly portion of our Rochdale archive to save upsetting the children as we pushed for a Tram for Wythenshawe, and the rest. This wasn't noticed or reciprocated by Dave Hennigan, full time politico, fully paid we understand by the tax payer.

We may come back to that. It is rare to see a man provide a running commentary by email to an increasing circle of observers as he loses his marbles with beer consumption. Rare indeed. We'll see. We also have some catching up to do as Rochdale Lib Dem perfidy and stupidity has not in fact ceased over the last two months.

Here's a start.


If you live in glass houses the general consensus is that you shouldn't throw stones. So why is Mr Dave Hennigan (above, once the LOL graphics department have sorted out the night vision photograph) using his generally red-faced and always hopeless little Frankenstein monster Paul Rowen MP to throw stones at the government? About secrecy over MPs expenses of all things?

Rochdale Alternative Website, a cowardly bunch of anonymites, have the story, like a little birthday present for LOL:

Rochdale Lib Dems in second home expenses scandal?

On the day the Paul Rowen MP hailed a Lib Dem victory in ensuring MP's expenses are made public, his troubled Agent David Hennigan has stumbled into controversy.

The clearly tired and emotional Spin Doctor was seen in Rochdale Town centre in the early hours of this morning. The dishevelled public figure smelt of intoxicants and staggered up Drake Street clutching a pizza whilst inpecting the failed regeneration project sites of the Rochdale Development Agency.

He was spotted entering the Rochdale Lib Dem offices at 1.30am. It appears he spent the night there. Was this on party business? If so how is Paul Rowen ensuring his staff abide by the Working Time Directive? After all, Mr Rowen is shadow, shadow DWP No.2.

Rumours persist that Mr Hennigan has slept in the Rochdale Lib Dem Drake Street offices on a number of occasions in similar circumstances.

It is understood Mr Hennigan left his marriage and Stockport home last year to spend more time with his politics. In doing so he decamped to a flat in Heywood. His landlord is Lib Dem Councillor Peter Rush. Dave publicly remarked that his move to Heywood would be a positive thing for the town. Despite his arrival the local economy has declined and several pubs have closed.

Mr Hennigan's nocturnal habits and sleeping arrangements pose a problem for his boss Paul Rowen MP. The politics of yob culture and binge drinking issues aside, his public stand on ensuring MP's expenses are fully accountable may backfire.

In the spirit of openness that Mr Rowen has nailed his colours to, will Rochdale's MP answer these simple questions?

-Is Dave Hennigan's salary paid for out of MP's expenses? If so, what pay scale is he on? How does this equate to other members of his staff?

-Is any of Adam Power's wage paid for by Parliamentary expenses?

-How much has the rent for the Lib Dem offices increased by? Has this increase been paid for out of Parliamentary expenses?

-If Mr Hennigan sleeps at the Drake Street offices, does this comply with planning conditions (for office use only) and Council Tax. And what about the smell for co-workers the morning after?

-If this Drake Street address is classed as a second Parliamentary home, will he disclose his John Lewis list?

-Does the Drake Street office have recycling bins to deal with domestic waste (cans, bottles, pizza boxes etc?

Rochdale Lib Dem Mohammed Shafiq, Cheif Executive of UK's leading Muslim youth organisation, the Ramadhan Foundation, was unavailable for comment.

Panorama have been informed.

If I were Paul Rowen, Dave Hennigan and secret helper/intern/non-employee/liar Adam Power I'd be standing by my beds for some FOI enquiries over expenses and the like.

The Graveyard Shift: St Helens Lib Dems in Facebook Row

St Helens Lib Dem in networking website row (Liverpool Echo)

Jan 22 2009 Marc Waddington

A LIB DEM councillor is accused of using an internet networking site to make political capital out of the deaths of two rival Labour members.
St Helens Cllr David Crowther and former Lib Dem leader Neil Derbyshire chatted on Facebook about the deaths of St Helens Cllrs Mike Doyle and Ken Pinder, who died within days of each other in late December.
Cllr Crowther, a member of the council’s standards committee, was joined on the website by Mr Derbyshire.
They talked about how the Lib Dems’ advantage would be served by the need for two by-elections, saying that they would “seriously distract them (Labour) for a couple of months”.
And Cllr Crowther added: “It could be three soon - at least one other is rumoured to be seriously ill”.
Cllr Doyle’s widow has called for Cllr Crowther’s resignation, and St Helens council leader Cllr Brian Spencer has said an investigation will now take place.
She said: “These comments are a disgrace. It shows a total lack of empathy or judgement.
“Mike was a man who cared not just for the residents of St Helens but also for the office he held – these comments are despicable and Cllr Crowther should consider his position. These comments show he is not fit to hold public office.”
Cllr Crowther apologised today. He said: " I agree the remarks are insensitive and on reflection that is not the kind of thing that should have been put on Facebook. I apologise for any distress that may have been caused.”
Lib Dem council leader Cllr Brian Spencer said: “I understand the comments were made in a private communication between two individuals.
“Any inappropriate comments should not have been made and I will be investigating the issue.”

If it was a private communication there wouldn't be a problem so I'm guessing that belittling of the offence is further bad judgement from North West Lib Dems. And the St Helens Star report confirms that it was public and has more details.

Lib Dem Squeeze: Don't You Just Love Them, O O O!

Labour's PPC in Manchester Withington, Lucy Powell loves the Lib Dems so much that she could squeeze them. Until the pipsqueaks squeak.

Heathrow Expansion: Geoff's Plan A Rocks, Emma's Plan Z Sucks

The Heathrow decision caused quite a fuss of course. John Maccy D got rattled and Luke Akehurst wore his heart on his sleeve as mealy mouthed condemnation, whataboutism and ridiculous conspiracy skipped hand in hand.

THIS POST is worth a link for the extraordinary conceit of making Runway Three and Terminal Six "Brown's Iraq". What utter drivel that is. Disgraceful drivel. Any new improved airport and road infrastructure is always going to be a hard sell. Closing things, anything is always a hard sell too, whatever the merits of the alternatives. And closing a Gurdwara, a Cemetery, village shops en masse, and flattening 600 houses? Let's not be-little the challenge of selling that lot.

But Heathrow is knackered.

Almost on 100% capacity. Cramped. A moderate to poor passenger experience. Inflexible and leaden-footed in the event of delay. The alternatives of a new airport at Foulness, or letting London use its primary hub status and routes to Frankfurt or CDG or Brussels hardly save the planet now do they?

It seems to me that in broad terms we can tackle our contribution to climate change either by Plan A or Plan Z.

Plan A involves having a wealthy, successful economy, with full employment, with a helpful caring state, and a CSR conscious private and third sector. An economy and polity that choses to and can afford to innovate. With hydrogen fuel cells. With local generation and less grid think. With reducing, reusing and recycling. With sublime train options. Transforming the 94% of energy use that isn't in air travel and air transport. As well as the 6% (2% globally) that is in air travel and transport.

Plan Zzzzz involves overcoming our progress gene completely and going for regression to horses and carts, lighting fuelled with horseshit naturally, and an early exchange economy. With hunter-gathering as an option for horsehair Hollywooders, obviously unemployed following an inevitable crash in the magic lantern business in their model.

How very dare the rich jet-setter Dame Emma Thompson preach to the world on this?

Perhaps I'm sitting on the fence too much here? But I prefer Plan A. As do the vast majority of Tory politicians, Tory activists, Tory voters if they were only honest. Perhaps they will own up ahead of the general election rather than six months afterwards. Some chance of that!

The same green fingered "Brown's Iraq" LabourHome blogger lists the twelve Labour-held constituencies where the greatest employment and economic benefits might be felt. Along with even more magnificent iron birds criss crossing their skies, connecting the world by modern magic. The most startling thing for me is that all these constituency names start B, E, F and H.

Where's the BEEFH?! In Battersea, Brent North, Brent South, Brentford & Isleworth, Ealing Acton & Shepherd's Bush, Ealing North, Ealing Southall, Feltham & Heston, Hampstead & Highgate, Harrow East, Harrow West, Hayes & Harlington is where.

Today the Tories are busy trying to claim Obama's clothes as the party of hope and change. Ridiculous! They cannot even do basic honesty and brave leadership when it comes to a no-brainer airport improvement. Clearly some of the Labour Left and all of the Lib Dems have the same problem.

Dolly the Bleep: LabourList, Labourist, Bloggerheads and Iain Dale

The pre-rolling Labour supporting group hug that is LabourList has company from a parallel universe name of Labourist.

Tim Ireland is getting stuck in to tiro blogger Derek Draper and the LL ting. Iain Dale seems to be filing these developments under "when the left fall out" though the greatest attacks on the LL Beta have been from (a) himself in various misery memos (b) muppety Tory trolls and (c) so he claims, Donal Blaney's paramilitary Blaney Youth in a denial-of-service prank.

Derek Draper has a lot to learn about blogging and moderating comments and engaging (or not) with Tim Ireland. But I'm not sure Iain Dale is the guru he should seek out.

Leading Lib Dem paranoia merchant Alix Mortimer runs a theory up the flagpole to see if anyone salutes. They don't. But there is universal fascination with it. With the idea that the new site was also on board the Project.

And there is also an emerging counter theory involving the netizens of Message Space as saboteurs. One of these was of course - quite wrongly - blamed for giving Guido the SP on the boy Draper in the first place.

South Manchester Distorter: More Skewed By-Election Coverage

The South Manchester Reporter have a round up of the four candidates in the Didsbury West By-Election HERE. No idea how they determined the order in which they should be pictured and listed. Any ideas? Not alphabetical of surnames. Not alphabetical of first names. Not alphabetical of parties. Or reverse alphabetical of any of these.

Just Leech's cipher first and most prominent is all. Now why on earth is that? She would be my fourth and last choice for the job. South Manchester already has enough useless Lib Dem councillors and it is really about time that the Didsburys and Withington reconnected with the ruling Labour group and gave themselves a better chance of getting things done.

West Didsbury Residents’ Association is hosting a ‘Question Time’ type hustings on Thursday, January 22, from 7.30pm at the Albert Club on Old Lansdowne Road, West Didsbury. So put the date in your diaries and get along and weigh up the candidates for yourselves. Perhaps Channel M, the so-called Community TV Station, could get along and cover that instead of making one hour commercials for David Cameron?

Nudge Nudge Politics: Mr Bean Responds to Taunt with Post

DIDSBURY WEST BY_ELECTION: My, my, my. Go on record critting Tories for advertising an un-updated blog and lo-and-behold you get a speedy update, promising ... no attack politics. Just fitting in a bit of campaigning now and then between a full time job, and opening supermarkets as a Harry Potter impersonator.

Clearly, if the only adult standing in the Didsbury West by-election - David Ellison (Labour) - would win by a landslide as he surely should on the merits that'd be grand. But LOL reckon we could 'turn' co-operative society Bean if he happened to win. God forbid. But we're very happy that Tories are having a go in this constituency. And no-one could actually want Lianne as a councillor if they had met her. Oh My God!

MEANWHILE: Manchester Withington Lib Dems have sent a letter out demanding contributions to their campaign for the cipher known m s . w i l l i a m s (who doesn't do joined up, even in her signature). The Lib Dems say they are going to be spending "thousands". Which is a bit excessive when the limit is a bare thousand don't you think? But they do dough don't they?

Do Nothing Dave: Planning to Re-Boundary Commission Us

Do Nothing Dave is planning to disrupt constituency boundaries immediately should he seize power with his Do Nothing Dave charms.

On the face of it getting rid of 60 MPs might seem attractive. Though any computation of cost savings based on their average cost now would of course be well wrong. Having recently suffered local government and parliamentary boundary changes there would I think be plenty of resistance to more change round the country.

My household have been boundary changed out of Whalley Range ward into Chorlton, and then out of Man central into Man Wit, with Whalley Range then boundary changed into Man Gorton.

The Tories at the BCE hearing were trying to explode all the current constituencies and gerrymander themselves some more winnables. Their proposal wilfully constructed most of them across Local Government boundaries, even suggesting that the City Centre of Manchester be included in a Salford constituency.

Tory buddies in the Unionist Party of course managed to stitch up the City of Derry so that a two-thirds Catholic electorate were represented by a more then two-thirds Unionist majority on Council Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, who invented the practice to concentrate all the Federalists into one seat and take every single other seat for his Anti-Federalists, has a good deal to answer for. There's a good, illustrated discussion of the practice here.

Funniest proposal at the BCE hearing, also thrown out without discussion, was from a defective Lib Demmer. He suggested inter alia that their recently acquired Manchester seat in Withington be split three ways. Right from under John Leech. This included a combined Didsbury and Wythenshawe seat. Which would have gone down well I'm sure with all concerned.

Experts see right through the proposed move, supposedly based on the erroneous idea of 10% cost saving by having 10% less MPs, and even when undertaken by politically neutral authorities:

John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said a smaller Commons would tend to exaggerate swings, but in the short term the move “would improve the Tory chances of winning”.
Rob Hayward, an elections analyst and former Tory MP, said speedier boundary reviews would favour the Tories as they would reflect Britain’s shift from urban to rural areas.[Financial Times]

Hat tip: Farmer Dale.

UPDATE Wed 13:38: Cllr Iain Lindley has kindly posted a summary of the official CCHQ alternative proposals to the BCE Hearing. These were extensive and involved a good number of radically carved up former constituencies and trans-border mix ups. Looking to these eyes like gerrymandering attempts. There is not as far as I can see the Salford-City centre Manchester mutant I remembered. But one of these does appear in the Salford Labour Party proposals which Iain has also provided. Apologies.

However it must be said that while these Salford Labour and our own representations on Whalley Range, Moston, Ardwick etc came from small party units with local interests the equivalent official Labour Party representations where largely to support the BCE proposals. As these were drawn up without an eye on the party political repercussions the Labour party pitch was not attempting to gain electoral advantage. Whereas the Tory one ...?

LOL remain opposed to Boundary Commissions changing wards and constituencies every couple of years. Cllr Lindley may be in favour of this for his own reasons. But I'm not.

Propaganda: Anxious Conservative Babies Hit the Bottle

This £17,000 figure is ever so interesting. Direct mail from our Baby Tory David Bean for the Didsbury West By-Election states that: "Last month, Labour increased borrowing by £17,000 per family, doubling (sic) the national debt to over £1 Trillion." Whereas the above YouTube video claims every new citizen will have a £17,000 share in the National Debt. Is this a coincidence? Is this a magic number?

Are these two separate claims that by some fluke have the same figure at their heart? Probably not, eh? Is it £17,000 extra per family? Or £17,000 per person? Or both of these things? Does this actually represent a doubling of debt? In index terms how does this debt compare with the end of Tory days and comparator countries? It's much less now measured in dollars than it was!!

Over at YouTube comments Conservative Propaganda are getting it in the neck. For promoting bottle feeding ... but I'm not sure anyone has commented on vertical gravity feeding of recumbent infants. Shocking! Almost like water boarding. And we all know they're milk snatchers!

TORY TRAGEDIES: David Bean (right) is not keeping up his blog at the moment, unless he has another one elsewhere for the campaign? This is the address he's putting on his print. He's already up to two leaflets and a direct mail letter - with multiple copies in multiple envelopes with multiple reply envelopes to family members - very green don't you think? Rob Adlard (last post August, lives in Longendales, pretends to be in Manchester) is the poor boy's agent so what do we expect?

And like Adlard he seems confused, in this case with appropriation of the cooperative movement and the refutation of the shareholder profit motive. How vile that must be for Tories.

In another contradiction with the Tory Centre Mr Bean appears to be representing Dave Cameron's promise last week that we get ALL the TIF money with a climb down to around 60%.

A third distortion is his pretence or ignorance on what the TIF proposals comprise. Missing from his chart is a massive investment in our trams NOT dependent on the TIF process.

AGE DISCRIMINATION: Wouldn't normally comment on this. But people on the doorstep are picking up that wee Davey McBean looks about 13 years old ... And that the Lib Dems' Li anne Williams cannot do joined up writing ... so I think it is only fair to point out that young people can make a reasonable contribution to Council.

Just not these two please. Though strangely it is Mr Bean that seems to have the more useful experience and a bit of a clue about life, compared to John Leech's cipher Ms Williams.

More Propaganda: Donal Blaney is Potty Calling Kettle Black

Our dear friend Donal Blaney excelled himself yesterday. Not only does he drag in old Adolf Hitler as a substitute for having an argument for the second day on the trot. But he also throws some fierce stones from a very fragile grass house.

Essentially he is complaining about a fella from Rochdale - name of Mohammed Shafiq, Head of the Ramahdan Foundation and as I understand it an advisor to Nick Clegg on community relations and a Lib Dem candidate to boot.

On four main counts:

One: Shafiq is whoring himself around the media as a rent-a-quote on anything and everything connected with being a Muslim in Britain, even though he has not been elected as a spokesman for these communities.

Whereas Donal Blaney whores himself around the media as a rent-a-quote on anything and everything connected with being a Muslim in Britain, and other matters, even though he has not been elected as a spokesman for these communities.

Two: In a debate on BBC Radio with fellow unelected media whore Donal Blaney Mr Shafiq refused to condemn; or possibly even spoke up for Hizb_ut-Tahrir which is a rather right wing islamist organisation, a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, though committed to exclusively non-violent means.

Whereas the Tories and Donal Blaney are yet to provide any excuse, apology of disciplining/ejecting of those involved in a cynical collaboration of Hizb_ut-Tahrir with the official Tory machine in Whalley Range Manchester in last year's council elections.

Three: Mohammed Shafiq, is director of a sinister muslim youth organisation called The Ramadhan Foundation.

Whereas Donal Blaney is Chief Executive of a sinister conservative organisation called The Young Britons’ Foundation (YBF) which seeks to develop hatred and dirty tricks among Future Conservative front benchers. If they don't get chucked out first.

Four: Mohammed Shafiq allegedly attempts to smear those he disagrees with as racists

Whereas Donal Blaney demonstrably uses Hitler's name in vain along with charges of anti-semitism for the same job

Donal has a point of course about Shafiq being an unelected careerist loud mouth ... But then he's not elected himself now is he? In fact he probably has rather less in the way of official status than his foe?

Just a right wing dick head shouting his mouth off? Bit of a careerist? Willing to go on media at the drop of a hat? Passing on his ideas to future generations? Willing to get deep into smearage? Description fits both of these brothers in arms like a glove.

As we wrote yesterday: Propaganda: Donal Blaney is a Right Wing Islamophobic Loon where you will find disclaimers and background on the photoshopping.

POSTSCRIPT Tues 12:18: Yes, this is the very same Mohammed Shafiq who buddied up to Sir Cyril, was marginalised by Paul Rowen and David Hennigan, but has now it seems kissed and made up.

Labour Blogosphere: Does Derek Draper Have the Elusive X Factor?

Has Derek Draper got the X Factor needed to found and nurture a mass readership Labour enthusiast blog? Tap Dancing, check. Gift of gab, check. Self importance, check. Comrades in arms, check. Commitment to cause, check. Technology, via Jag Singh, check. We'll soon find out if the package adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

Ken Livingstone's former Chief of Staff - Simon Fletcher - has provided the first words over the parapet at the "dummy" for Derek Draper's proud organ LabourList.

Blogging expert Iain Dale gets all anal on Derek Draper's ass with unsolicited and pretty miserable words of discouragement.

All ready for the "told you so" follow up. And describing Gaby Hinsliff's Guardian.co.uk online exclusive as an Observer piece. That he was in effect spoiling. Which it may well be tomorrow of course. But it's already a Guardian Online scoop, so sorry Iain.

Here, with my useful annotations, is Iain's anthology of the five other early blog comments:

At Spectator Coffee House James Forsyth thinks it may be more like the official Tory Party Blue Blog than the lazy comparator of ConservativeHome.com. Truth is it could rise up somewhere in between. More like Lib Dem Voice in that respect. Semi-detached.

Guido Fawkes is pretty encouraging actually. Look forward to opening a new front in the blog wars. Continuing his Hate-Hate relationship with Dolly.

ConservativeHome too is encouraging. Pointing out that they formed and developed under a low budget scenario. Thereby correcting one of the three bleated strands of Dale's misery memo.

Cllr Bob Piper teases the Labour Party's Favourite Tory Blogger over his premature raining on Derek's parade, pointing out that Luke already has the Number 10 line sewn up.

And Jon Worth's EU Blog makes some good points about both the technology choices and the danger of aloofness and consequent disappointing market penetration.

What about LOL? Couple or three points for now:

Danger! Danger! Potential Progress Version of Compass Online.

Opportunity! Opportunity! Rather than spelling end of Labour Home experience I can see a huge synergy and possible coopertition; even formal links.

Danger! Danger! As Amadeus was told with no justification: "Too many notes" may be the cry. Vide Compass papers, and the three legged mutual masturbation machine of the Clarke/Milburn Project (now Toten Hosen - not even cached).

Why does everything have to be termed the New X anyway? This should not be seen as either the New ConservativeHome or the Improved LabourHome. This should surely be seen as the one and only LabourList?

Catching Up With Luke Akehurst: Game of Two Halves

HOME

During my seasonal blogging hiatus I have missed Luke's round up of local opposition nightmare stories. Bit surprised the rather Dodd-ery disgraced ex-Lib Dem leader Mike Storey is still it seems to be the disgraceful next Lord Mayor of Liverpool. Despite being found guilty of a pretty serious breach of standards. Amazed that he got off on the conspiracy charge to be honest. The Bloga-fidavit's on his machinations have him bang to rights.

I'd have to agree with Luke that there has been an odd choice in the New Year Honours list i.e. an OBE for a splitter. But really the whole carry on needs a re-think.

AND AWAY

Naturally Luke ain't going to agree with LOL over the Gaza thing. But I'm surprised that he has just "me too-ed" indiscriminately to someone else's blog coverage. Linking to the blog in general rather than to a post he finds particularly representative of his own views.

According to the Guardian today Israel have admitted that Hamas did not fire rockets out of the UN compound they fatally mortared. Just one example of some news Luke's surrogate has not recorded, having rushed into the opposite story. And the IDF's use of YouTube may be radical and ground breaking in principle. But in practice it is pretty disturbing. With the propaganda around the UN school way out there, occupying unacceptable territory. I may come back to that.

YOUR LOCAL STORIES for future editions of the new Opposition / good practice round up to local_labourblog@yahoo.co.uk.

Tory Totty Homewreckers: Pauvres Cons Misrepresented by NOTW

Where's poor Norma? Jamie Lyons of the News of the World blog team published some tosh which, natually enough, Mark Pack at Lib Dem Voice linked to and re-published rather smugly. This suggested that ipsos MORI had discovered that both Tory Women and Tory Men were busily stopping pretty Tory laydeez making progress up their slippery pole.

Tim Montgomerie wasn't so sure and blogged his doubts immediately and then did the research and confirmed those doubts. Not saying that the NOTW is completely wrong mind, but they have got some of it wrong.

They should have talked to Tim's one time favourite Tory MP on the distaff. That was the self-effacing and rather shy Mad Nad Dorries. She knows what goes on in the poisoned minds of the Tory men and women she meets. Particularly once she got her second, or was it third?, divorce through that is:

It never ceases to amaze me how many women suddenly fall madly in love with their husbands as I am taken over to be introduced.
They may not have held their husbands hand for weeks, but will be seized by a sudden urge to hang on to his arm, hold his hand and brush back the imaginary stray hairs from his almost bald head as they talk to me.
Her body language yells through an imaginary loud hailer ‘step away from the husband, he’s mine’!
I want to say stop, don’t worry, he has a pot belly, bad breath and a face only his mother and apparently you could love. You really aren’t in any danger of me or any other single woman running off with your clinically obese husband, he really is all yours.
But of course… I don’t.
It’s enough to see the sudden involuntary arch of his eyebrows as he laps up attention from the wife who forgot who he was until five minutes ago.
I never spend too long talking to couples, it's never that comfortable - but as I walk away I always want to turn around and say, "you should fall asleep holding his hand every single night. You should hold his hand often, every single day, because you're very very lucky".
But of course….. I don’t. I walk away and over to the next couple....

http://blog.dorries.org/Blogs/2007/Nov/07#07

She's back on the loose again. Lock up your sons and nephews!

Readers' Homework: End of Year 2008 Lists

LOL are even now producing lists of:

1. The Twelve Fibs of Dorries
2. The Twelve Gaffes of Dale
3. The Silent, Deadly GuFs of Staines
4. Cyril's Dirty Dozen
5. Hennigan's Howlers
6. Leechy and Lousy Libdem Low Life
7. Bullingdon Bull

So if you have a favourite fib, gaffe, guff, dirt, howler, low life or bull please drop an email to idea@mcr1.poptel.org.uk. Also polite requests for other lists and compilations will be considered.

Vote Blue Go Bean: Tories Select a Wordy Candidate

The Tories have selected the oh so wordy Mr Bean as their candidate for the Didsbury West By-Election (Thursday 29 January). He appears to have been chosen by a committee in a two-horse race. Very likely with a resident of the Longendales chairing it. Local democracy!

The incumbent Lib Dems are yet to announce their candidate, though tongues are of course wagging just a little bit. Li-anne Williams is fresh from getting caught out with a lying campaign and naturally a thumping at the ballot box in Chorlton and still can't do joined up writing, Cheetham Hiller Sufiyan Rana who gave £2500 and suddenly became an Old Moat candidate may have ruled himself out by turning officially Conservative like his brother Sham, and Robert Mackle (no relation): surely too new on the scene to inherit the earth quite so soon?

The Labour selection, between three utterly brilliant candidates naturally, will be made this evening. I'd expect the Greens and UKIP to re-run their candidates - both PPCs if I'm not mistaken. Will the BNP have a go? Not sure they'll get enough signatures for a nomination.

With all three Labour hopefuls relatively spring chickens and the Tory and Lib Dem selections about eleven years old, to judge by their writing, this could be the ward election with the lowest combined age in the history of history. Even with old Gutfiend-Walmsley.

Mr Bean's Story: Part One; Part Two; Part Three. Told you he was wordy.

The result last time was close enough to suggest a close three-way tussle is at least a reasonable possibility under by-election starter's orders, with even Tory Bean an outside chance. If that is he works hard and can nick a couple of hundred votes from the Lib Dem on the back of an albeit faltering Cameroonie revival:

Alden, James (Green) 281; Bean, David Michael (Conservative) 451; Gutfreund-Walmsley, Robert (UKIP) 81; Lennox, Jenny (Labour) 620; Shaw, Graham (Liberal Democrat) 1,283*

Another Mr Bean - actually called Slipper - won for the right in a dirty Oz campaign.