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.

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.

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.

John Leech MP: Bloggers Are Gathering Like Vultures

Double figures this week now I'd guess for bloggers slamming the useless Liberal Democrat member for Manchester Withington.

Victory1945 has joined in expressing dis-satisfaction at Mr Honest John Leech's complete lack of commitment and indecision of late.

There is sadly nothing we can do to protect Mark Hunter and Andrew Stunnell from being turned over by the Conservatives. But despite the opportunities they are serving up we're not doing any day-to-day coverage of their foibles.

But getting rid of Lib Dems John "Hospital Hoax" Leech and Paul "Son of Cyril" Rowen and installing Labour's Lucy Powell and Simon Danczuk instead needs to be a regional priority UPDATE, to please troll, alongside holding our existing seats. As victory1945 suggests turfing these chancers out is a major part of keeping Cameron out of Number 10.

Whatever those pesky pollsters may be saying at the time these two seats really ought to be strong Labour gains.

But this is jolly good news from ipsos MORI.

Rochdale Obbie: What Have Cyril and Libs Got On Them?

Extraordinary bias of the Rochdale Observer in favour of Sir Cyril Smith and his latter day cronies Dave Hennigan and Paul Rowen MP and against his opponents' reasonable observations continues apace. It is extraordinarily difficult to satisfactorily explain this deference indeed reverence through any normal, reasonable editorial choices.

What's going on? He may be an old man but hey, he took buckets of money from us for his public service, he remains active in local politics, and he must surely be held accountable for his errors and omissions? With his apologists equally guilty.

Dozens of documents related to the asbestos industry in the town and to Sir Cyril Smith's relationship with the masters of that industry have been virtually ignored by the town's major local paper. They have been printed or described in the New Statesman, on Rochdale Online, on this very blog, and in the Daily Mirror. But not in the Rochdale Observer. Why is this?

It would appear that for many, many years Sir Cyril Smith and Bro Norman have refused to attend Remembrance Sunday and Remembrance Day events in the town. Apparently following some ancient spat with the local Royal British Legion.

The Legion declined a business opportunity that would have somehow benefitted the Bros Smith and/or the Rochdale Liberals/Lib Dems. And for this reason - tortuously and incriminatingly explained in writing - the Brothers Grim have turned their backs on the fallen of Rochdale. Have the R'Obbie covered this? No they have not. Why is that?

Sir Cyril Smith worked with Lord Waddington, a Tory, during their years in parliament. By chance when Sir Cyril was pushing and bullying and grand-standing to secure the conviction and preferably hanging of Stefan Kiszko for the murder of Lesley Molseed which he clearly had not commited, poor Stefan's defence barrister was a singularly incompetent Waddington.

There was physical evidence proving Kiszko's innocence yet he was allowed to suffer in prison for many years with his poor mother suffering torment outside. Waddington and his team received some 8,000 pages of late evidence. Did they call for an adjournment. Did they buggery! They pressed on. Desperate Sir Cyril had been creating for every hour of court time lost.

Topping this malarkey, in what surely must be one of the greatest coincidences in the history of the criminal law, the true culprit was Ronald Castree.

He was not only convicted of an essentially similar sex attack on a child without any pennies dropping but was also connected very strong to Sir Cyril and his party through family membership and activism. This got a passing mention in the Manchester Evening News.

Obviously the well-supported and published allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying against Cyril relating to Cambridge House were not covered. Clear discrepancies in the funding of the local party - including monies passing through Cyril's clammy spankers - have gone uninvestigated. And there are plenty more examples where these come from.

To their credit the R'Obbie did cover national newspaper calls for Sir Cyril to be stripped of his ill-earned title. Which is more than can be said for others. But now they appear to be colluding in papering over these cracks with an ancient story about what I'd say is a rather terrible portrait of the big man.

Sold to the Ogden Trust nine months ago. Installed in the National Liberal Club many months ago. Now revisited as if a current story as a way of deflecting attention from Cyril's many and varied misdemeanours.

Cyril Smith's career should be weighed up and found wanted. He should indeed be served up on toast. And his all his apologists and camp followers should be weighed up also.

Images to be added shortly are extracted from this week's Rochdale Express, the freesheet sibling paper, and from the paid for Saturday edition of the R'Obbie.

FOOTNOTE: The Manchester Evening News also carry the recycled wrong 'un story about that crappy portrait - more on which anon - but although we know for certain that at least one story has been filed the MEN HAVE NOT covered the call for Sir Cyril Smith MBE to be stripped of his ill-gotten knighthood. We did of course.

Asbestos in schools comment

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Asbestos in Schools:
Foolish Rowen Backs Up Cyril":

1. Rochdale DLP open website hacked into and a put of Milliband posted?
At as time when Rochdale Lib Dems were in trouble wit claims about
Cyril Smith? Fist posted on as Lib Dem blog but soonafter Dave Hennigan
boasting about his victory of getting the story in the Daily Express?

2. Adam Power claiming that he had spoken to Tony Lloyd MP's and had
information to kill an embarressing article about Cyril Smith? Adam
Getting caught out telling lies about it and now a denial that he even
works for paul Rowen MP's Lib Dem Rochdale office?

3. Dave Hennigan getting very shirty publicly after getting found out
recyling very old stories about a Cyril Smith portrait being donated to
the National Liberal Club by the Ogden Trust? This happened in March
08, reported again by the Ogden Trust in Aug 08 for Cyril's 80th pie
and DeLorean bash, and now hitting the headlines again in the week that
a Parliamentary EDM has been tabled calling for Cyril to be stripped of
his knighthood.

These pathetic attempts at spinning follow a clear pattern.

All paid for by taxpayer's money too?

Time for an audit and investigation of Rochdale Liberal Democrat
Accounting Unit?

The Thursday Cyril: Now Serving Himself Up on Toast

Difficult to see how Sir Cyril Smith could top his last hubristical appearance on BBC North West, claiming that asbestos workers had only themselves to blame if 20% got sick and died terrible deaths.

But I'll be interested to see tonight's effort in which Sir Cyril Smith MBE - probably still smarting from not being made Lord Smith of Turners-Done-Good - claimed that talk of an EDM to have him stripped of his knighthood was "ridiculous".

Cyril told Kevin Maguire of the Daily Mirror that Labour wanted him "on toast". Having denied this was possible he now seems to be busily hoisting himself by his own petard onto the plate.

Lord Archer should call an AGM of the ennobled minty miscreants association - EMMA for short - black balling the old scrote. Archie's major claims to fame, having an EDM to strip his title, is at stake. Don't let Cyril dilute the brand!

UPDATE Thu 08:25: Slight sub-edit last para. Plus: Rochdale RAW report on that EDM which is now available for signing:

Early Day Motion
EDM 2470
TURNER AND NEWALL AND SIR CYRIL SMITH
11.11.2008
Hepburn, Stephen
That this House notes that for decades the asbestos industry covered up the fatal health threat posed by the carcinogenic mineral; further notes that some 4,000 people a year die from incurable asbestos-related diseases; expresses disquiet over letters revealing that on 5th August 1981 the then hon. Member for Rochdale, Sir Cyril Smith, asked Turner and Newall, a major asbestos corporation, to supply a speech to make in the Chamber of the House in a debate on asbestos controls; is disturbed that the letter of 5th August 1981 stated `could you please, within the next eight weeks, let me have the speech you would like to make (were you able to!) in the debate?'; believes such action was dishonourable and not in the interests of the public nor in the finest tradition of this House; and expresses its support for those now demanding that the former hon. Member for Rochdale be stripped of his knighthood.

We urge Paul Rowen MP to get his name on this one as soon as possible, given as he is a fearless asbestos slaying warrior himself, or that he resigns and calls for a by-election vote of confidence in the Lib Dem record in representing poor Rochdale.

The Mirror "Points of Disorder" follow up is now available online and Kevin Maguire's blog on the matter is attracting a balanced and carefully nuanced debate, not.

If I didn't know better I'd think that Dave Drunkagain is again breaking his claim that he never posts other than under his own name. I wonder if the Daily Mirror would like to compare IP Addresses on that? Are Paul Rowen's arsey lads still providing cover for the spanking old scrote Smith C?

Rochdale Lib Dems Are Wrong: Heywood Parish Priest

What's the issue? Rochdale's dirty Lib Dem regime has it seems "reformed" an existing policy or practice - whether introduced under the Paul Rowen-led Lib Dem council up to May 2005 or the surprise surprise Lab-Con pact for the rest of the year. But it did start in 2005. I'll find out.

That practice being that the Council collects water rates on behalf of United Utilities and gets a slice, or a splash of the proceeds.

As I understand it from the Middleton Guardian the current Centrefold-led crew, still directed by Smith C, Smith N and Rowen P, not to mention Hennigan D, have taken things a step further through Rochdale Boroughwide Housing which they control. With the pound signs lighting up in their wild staring eyes these Lib Dems have it seems BOUGHT UP any and all the Water Rates debt.

By definition the current debt book, plus the rump of the hard-to-collect super-poor. With an appropriately named ex-soldier (right) showing just how they are plumbing the depths with this anti-social and money-grubbing escalation.

They are expecting to MAKE A MILLION for the coffers by collecting this debt. And, although there was never an eviction under the old service level agreement - collecting on commission - the brave new world of Centre-fold led Lib Dems is it seems determined to escalate to the eviction option this time.

A small to middling commercial debt-collection matter with United Utilities not having a snowball's chance in Animal Farm of achieving an eviction, has been transformed into a means of turning poverty in Rochdale into homelessness in Rochdale.

And interestingly enough if and when they do this they'll be creating an extraordinarily expensive problem for a different cost centre/profit centre. This time direct within the Town Hall instead of arms lengt at RBH. Yes, that's right, they'll have to stick any evicted tenants into Bed and Breakfasts or other emergency accommodation at huge expense to other Council Tax payers. Brilliant! Top stuff from the Centrefold Party.


To help this along they've chosen someone with a criminal record as their first victim. But sadly not the career criminal Sir Cyril Smith MBE. One way or another he seems to be comfortably able to pay his bills. Even donate to his party.

Here's Councillor Wera Hobhouse explaining the policy in her Rochdale Online councillor diaries.

And here are some questions put to her as a result:

1. If this is not a ‘new’ policy as Councillor Wera Hobhouse claims, then why has Paul Rowen, who was leader of the Council when Wera says it was passed in 2005, said he remembers that a guarantee was given that no one would be evicted for water debt?
2. Similarly, why was the 2008 meeting held in private if, as Wera wrongly claims, the Lib Dems were only reaffirming an existing policy?
3. Why have they previously failed in court to obtain an eviction? Is it because the 2005 policy never mentioned ‘eviction’?
4. If the council are collecting on behalf of United Utilities, why are United Utilities informing tenants that they are no longer customers of United Utilities?
5. If the Council are collecting on behalf of United Utilities, why are unpaid water bills not sent back to United Utilities for Enforcement?
6. And why are they paying United Utilities up front (with tax payers’ money) for a debt they have yet to collect?
7. Why can a council tenant not pay United Utilities by direct debit?
8. And why are you continuing to criticise Councillor Lambert for “causing tenants to be concerned”? It’s the Lib Dems who have allowed the council to threaten tenants with eviction.
9. Why did the Lib Dems want to keep this policy secret, even from members of their own group?
10. Could she also please explain what the “extensive support” is that the Cabinet Member for Housing claims is offered to people struggling to pay their water rates? Does it compare to the support offered by the United Utilities Trust Fund, which has been taken away now that the council has bought the debt?
11. Finally, why are you confusing tenants by claiming they owe rent arrears when it is a water rates debt they owe?

Heywood Parish Priest, who married Dave Drunkagain at his church, back in the day, that's married to someone else of course, is musing on the bullock-brained Sheikh-down worker Cllr Elwyn Watkins' suggestion that HPP asks a question at the next Council meeting. here's his manifesto ...

I am not bothered, in a sense, who started the policy. What matters is that, whether they invented it or merely restated it, it is now clearly and unambiguously the policy of this administration that the council will, through RBH, evict any of its own tenants who fall behind in their payments for charges owed to United Utilities.
And their attempt to justify the policy on the grounds that the first person they are trying to evict has a criminal conviction is shameless.

Amen.

UPDATE Wed 11:45: Headline altered and first deck of text removed on request from Father Paul Daly who comments robustly and continuously as "Heywood Parish Priest". He doesn't he says think Rochdale Lib Dems are "bastards" or any such disrespectful term. They are all god's children after all. Apart perhaps from those on the dark side.

Rochdale Two Minutes Silence: Ding Dong, Round Three

There is now more. Rochdale Online's page has been updated in the last few minutes with the following Lib Dem propaganda diarrhoea:

Mr Power has responded by claiming that he acted in good faith.

"I contacted Tony Lloyd's office and spoke to his press officer Mr George Butterworth who claimed that he knew nothing about Mr Lloyd's comments on this matter", he said. "I contacted Rochdale Online and informed them that Mr Lloyd's office knew nothing about the comments he had supposedly made and they took the decision to withdraw his statement."

Mr Power wished to point out that he did not work for Mr Rowen's office, as suggested by Mr Danczuk.

So there we have it. Adam Power had phoned Rochdale Online claiming to be an "old friend" of Tony's and then wrongly asserted that Tony was, in fact, about to sue Rochdale Labour Party for attributing quotes to him that he hadn't authorised.

He now claims that this was "acting in good faith" and that he doesn't work in Paul Rowen's office when he is regularly seen skipping to the nearby Rochdale train station hand in hand with Mr Hennnigan. And when Rochdale Lib Dems' accounts don't show any other means of support for Mr Power's activities. In fact they say that Mr Rowen has taken over payments for one-and-a-half political Workers that were previouslty paid by the party. the party would appear to have no notifiable donations in for three-and-a-half years. So who is paying the Power?

A source close to Rochdale Labour Party who asked not to be named has summed up Adam Power thusly to Labour of Love: "The cheeky, bullshitting little twat."

Rochdale Two Minutes Silence: Lib Dems Fight Dirty

Clearly the dirty dirty media manipulating bastardos paid by the tax payer to carry out Paul Rowen MP's every casework requirement are not paid to interfere on party political matters or indeed to protect the memory of scumbag asbestos-pants Sir Cyril or pants-on-fire Lord Norman Smith.

But Swish Tony condemnation of Cyril's asbestos cover up story does not end there. Scroll to the bottom half of Rochdale Online's exclusive where you'll see Dave Hennigan's lunking great helper Adam Power's dirty tricks campaign being discovered, overturned and publicized by Rochdale's finest.

Mr Lloyd’s intervention has also sparked fresh controversy after a member of the Rochdale Liberal Democrats' communication team tried to stop the Manchester MP from being heard.

Senior figures in Rochdale Labour Party have angrily condemned Adam Power after he contacted Rochdale Online to advise that Mr Lloyd’s remarks be removed from a news story last week because they had not been authorised by Mr Lloyd's office and could therefore be libelous against the MP himself.

Mr Power also said that the MP was threatening legal action against the Rochdale Labour Party for issuing the comments and that this could implicate Rochdale Online for publishing them.

It has since been revealed that Mr Power's claims were totally incorrect. Mr Lloyd's comments were fully authorised and the MP has spoken angrily about the actions of the Lib Dems in trying to silence his views.

When contacted by Rochdale Online, Mr Lloyd's Parliamentary Office clarified that the comments were a verbatim account of those released by the MP.

“This is the worst case of media bullying I have ever seen,” said Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk.

“The wheels are falling off Paul Rowen’s spin team and they need to be brought under control. To be telling blatant lies with the aim of suppressing a story that is this important to the people of Rochdale is a disgrace. I hope the Liberal Democrats will recognise this and discipline [Mr] Power accordingly.”

So, that'll be the end of the matter? Apart from the complaint to the Commissioners that is? Read all about it.

Photoshop 101: Farewell Then Everybody Hates Chris

For the past couple of months Labour of Love have had a moronic anonymous sock puppet calling themselves "Everybody Hates Chris" - though some say it is former Tory council candidate Rob Adlard a picture of whom or a look-a-like with Audenshaw Tories formed part of EHC's evidence - and commenting off topic, mildly off colour, and grossly off the scale for stupidity.

Their finest hour perhaps was their repeated assertions, citing evidence including once having stood next to a reprographics expert at a public urinal*, that a local sub postmaster in Rochdale, protesting outside the MP's office on Drake Street at their shoddy non-selection treatment by the Paul Rowen/Dave Hennigan/Adam Power corruption trioka, presumably overseen by asbestos-pants Cyril and pants-on-fire Norman, have been up to no good with Photoshop.

Banners have all been faked it seems. Added in later. Not just enhanced after the fact for clarity mind, even that much is untrue. But hands are in the wrong places. There has even been a woman flown into the background of the picture.

No evidence for the defamatory comments, no particular logic, just gut instinct.

Labour of Love would like to celebrate the once and for all departure under a cloud of this odious, gutless, witless, humourless creep by publishing - for the first time worldwide - the full sequence of photographs passed to me from the protest. With their original sequence of DSC numbers to identify them (click to enlarge):











Deliberately displayed - to throw EHC off the scent - in the reverse order to which they were taken. Study the shadows carefully and you can probably prove this.

We can also reveal exclusively that the assembled mass protestors sadly but CATEGORICALLY DID NOT move on for an all day drinking session to Dave's favourite public houses.

* This bit made up for effect.

Exclusive: Remembrance Sunday Cyril Special

Presumably Dave Hennigan of all people knows a liability when he sees one? And as a political operator sans pareil - according to his self-penned CV, strangely rejected for oh so many top Lib Dem jobs - he would know when to apply the proverbial barge pole to protect his paymaster? Meaning Paul Rowen MP. Rather than we the taxpayers who finance his Olympian drinking, roistering, bullying, fibbing, impersonating. anonymous blog commenting, Smith hagiography, and assorted shenanigans. Being a right Charlie - on the taxpayer.

But no, 'fraid not. Someone has been going through the archives of the Rochdale Observer and finding and commenting on leads to follow. And we'll get back to these in due course.

But as we approach the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month we can at least say that Sir Cyril Smith MBE did the town proud on Remembrance Sunday. Can't we? Hardly going to Westminster - because he was a lazy old sod, and literally couldn't fit in the lift to his office shared with fellow pie-man John Prescott - but surely the old bugger Cyril and his brother in arms Cllr Norman proudly took his place at the Rochdale War Memorial without fail each and every year to remember Rochdale's fallen?

No, they did not. But why was this? The old hanger-and-flogger, asbestos apologist, hands-on exponent of sexualised corporal punishment must have some respectable basis for such a move?

Some kind of political correctness over the needless carnage of war from the Brothers Graspalot? Er, no. It did offer employment for cannon fodder after all. Protest at the stripping of, bullying of and general meddling with boy soldiers in bizarre ritual punishments at Deepcut of some other barracks? Er, twice no, that would be hypocritical and beyond the pale. Embarrassment at being unable to bend over to lay a wreath? There's a thought. But make that thrice no.

Aa a result of our recent appeal for anecdotes an old soldier from Cyril Town tells LOL exclusively that having joined the Royal British Legion they attended a members meeting. Many years ago now. The Chairman announced that since they had declined the Lib Dems kind offer to let them premises at Drake Street - that they had received a letter - from Norman on behalf of the Brothers Graspalot -
saying they (members of Rochdale British Legion) were not gentlemen.

Therefore, the old scrawler and relatively speaking scrawner continued, the disgusting old bastards Cyril and Norman would not in future be attending the Remembrance parade. And true to their word they've not been spotted at this most solemn of civic occasions ever since. Not a matter of principle. Just business.

The dignitaries are due to arrive from 10.50am and Councillor Alan Taylor, leader of the council, is urging residents to support the event.
He said: “I am always impressed by the number of people who attend each year. A lot of people don’t realise how many people turn out and I’m proud to be part of that. This year the ceremony falls on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, so it’s going to be even more poignant.
“I truly believe that it’s one of the best things about the borough and we’re hoping that this year it will be even better than ever.”
Mr Rowen added: “I will be delighted to attend the events in our town and remember not just our brave soldiers from the First and Second World Wars, but also our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“This is a time when the whole town comes together and remembers those who have made such enormous sacrifices for us.”
Veterans are being reminded that free advice on a variety of issues ranging from war pensions to welfare, campaign medals to benefits is available throughout the year. For more information, call 0800 169 2277 or visit Veterans UK.

That'll be the whole town apart from Mr Rochdale, or rather for now Sir Rochdale, and his fraternal sidekick Normski. By a bizarre twist the Parade of young and old will have assembled on Mere Street and is even now making its way past the Lib Dem Headquarters - subject of some bizarre renting arrangements down the years, but not to the RBL - with an eyes left and a silent raspberry for Sir Cyril from all veterans in the know.



FOOTNOTE: As well as today's traditional wreath laying at the Cenotaph in Rochdale there will be a cannon shot fired at 11 am this Tuesday 11th November to signal a two-minute silence report Rochdale Online.

Cyril-occhio: Needn't Work There, Could've Left

Sir Cyril Smith OBE, former MP came out fighting on BBC Northwest. Claiming there was and is no danger to the general public and that those who worked at TBA in Rochdale's Spodden Valley knew the dangers and could've left.

This interview was recorded just days after a young woman from the region died from the effects of cancer either from her school, or from her walk to school which went close by a builders' yard. Cyril's protege Paul Rowen MP, who started working for the old chump as an enthusiastic if confused 17 year old boy, in short trousers as it were, continues to protest that the stuff is safe and that with particular reference to schools.

Though he has sponsored a soft-headed Asbestos EDM that rather exports the problem from his own backyard where there remains a plan to build family houses on what amounts to an unregulated and undocumented asbestos dump. More anon. And not only from LOL I'll be bound. Will the Rochdale Observer ever break cover?

Is their own building on Drake Street, now being marketed for development, perchance riddled with the stuff?

UPDATE Tuesday: Apologies to Squirrel Smith. He got an MBE not the old Other Buggers' Efforts OBE. Member Behaving Egregiously anyone? Someone tell Dave what that means.

Milkstone and Deeplish: Verdict on ex-Councillor/MP

An unsolicited view on Paul Rowen MP's prowess while working in his former council ward in Rochdale:

"He's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. No no, that's not fair, he's not even as much use as a chocolate fireguard."

Lib Dems: Councillor in Racial and Homophobic Slur

Drunken councillor who has been to a "works leaving do" spends three hours in pubs and three hours in an all-you-can-drink-for-a-tenner club and surprise surprise ends up rat arsed. He then proceeds in a northerly direction to the 24 hour Tescos at Portwood, Stockport in an attempt to get a carry out. Security guards tell him he's had enough. He gets abusive, including racially to a police constable. And on being arrested he calls the police officer "a homosexual".

Manchester Evening News reports on what seems a thoroughly inadequate sentence.

This reminds me of another drunken Lib Dem councillor or rather ex-councillor of my acquaintance who has also had trouble telling the difference between a cheeky banter and wind up and out and out racism.

Pictorial clue (left). Councillor Christian Walker (above) apparently works for Chris Davies MEP as a 'phone canvasser.

UPDATE Wed 8:49: The Daily Telegraph report that (a) the drunken leaving party was for a colleague at Chris Davies' office where he worked as a researcher; (b) Chris Davies MEP has made some "boys will be boys" comments; (c) Christian Walker now works for the Lib Dem region, arguably much the same difference; (d) the Councillor is on some kind of suspension. Who was Christian Walker's accomplice? Was it the leaver themselves?

UPDATE Thu 11:21: A rumour is gathering momentum that Cllr Walker's late night accompaniment was none other than ex-Councillor Dave Hennigan, Paul Rowen MP's full time Political Organiser, though paid by the taxpayer as a constituency worker. He was or is a member in Stockport through his home in the Heatons. Now in Heywood we believe. Can anyone confirm the identity of the second Tesco drunk?

Slap Happy: Rochdale's Dark Satanic Schoolmaster

Given the mighty allegations against slap-happy Cyril, chastising the bare asses of miscreant youths of a tender age at Cambridge House in Rochdale, it was interesting to see former headteacher Paul Rowen squirming on a Party People special on smacking presented by Rob McLoughlin.

Rowen was against parents smacking. But regretted his own smack happy behaviour of the past when he had held the whip hand in schools.


Would Sir Cyril Smith MBE be against parents smacking? Remembering he wanted to hang the innocent and atrociously badly represented - by former Tory Asbestos Minister Baron Waddington - Stephan Kisko for a crime actually committed, as it turned out, by a scion of a prominent Cyril-supporting Lib Dem household in the town.

Would Sir Cyril Smith MBE like to apologise for his own abuse of power in smacking, bollock-grabbing and wet sponge mangling in smack-victims' bedrooms activities?

And while we're at it:

Would Sir Cyril Smith MBE like to admit his terrible misjudgements over the safety of Asbestos, past present and future?

Rochdale Rowen: Complex Asbestos Denial Routine

MP for Rochdale meltdown Paul Rowen has been tying himself in knots when it comes to asbestos. Piss poor Paul, as he is known, is particularly getting it in the neck for pretending the stuff is safe in our public buildings, like schools, when it clearly is not.

Leigh Carlisle (27) became the youngest asbestos cancer death the very week the New Statesman explained about the Turner asbestos cover up, writing dodgy speeches for MPs who buttered them up and all. Have these dark forces got a hold over Rowen too? Leigh's lawyer - in Saturday's only letter on the subject - certainly thinks PPP is EDM'ing through his arse.

Comedy Councillors: Rochdale Lib Dems Slap Schtick

Readers may remember one Councillor Dale Mulgrew - supervisor of one of the worst Social Care services in the country - getting touchy recently over his dad Jimmy Cricket's ridiculous welly boot award.

Many thanks to the alert reader who draws my attention to this Rochdale Online report in which our hero was elected, rather unexpectedly.

Dale is naturally incredibly proud of all his father's hilarious achievements. Mentioning - in his acceptance speech this is - that "Cricket's new CD, of Irish Songs, is out and a snip at only a tenner!"

Paul Rowen MP said, "This was a result that sent shockwaves through the Labour ranks. It just goes to show that positive campaigns win elections. It was quite clear that Dale's fight was not with the other parties but to improve Balderstone and Kirkholt."

But this was in fact a vote for comedy Paul. Tragi-comedy as it turned out. Mulgrew's Balderstone & Kirkholt improved so much that it has made a National Top 100 Chart! Slipping from absolutely nowhere into the top 100 most deprived areas in Britain! And Social Care from one star poor to no star laughable.

Rowen continued: "I have known Dale for many years and I am not surprised that he is now a member of our growing team. His Godfather is none other than my predecessor, Sir Cyril Smith MBE. I know that Cyril is absolutely delighted.

To adapt from Jimmy's marvellous patter: "Really it was killer asbestos*. But business is business." Hollow belly laughter echoes down the guilty ginnels and haunted back passages of Emma Street. * Moses in 'Jewish Stereotype' "joke".

The Friday Cyril: Wednesday's Rochdale Obbie Postbag

Something is afoot down Rochdale Observer way. We have received iron clad 100% insider information that the RO postbag is running massively against Cyril Smith, against Norman Smith, against Asbestos lies, against current Lib Dem praise for the whole sick crew. And the Wednesday postbag was running 10-2 against Cyril these last three weeks i.e. somethingly reflecting the volume, unlike Saturday's effort which was at a completely false 50:50. this being the major edition of the week.

This week Wednesday turned to 50:50 too. Though it must be said that the pro-Cyril missives still look like ghost-written nonsense. What is going on? Come on Rochdale Observer: as your grown up cousin The Guardian says, Facts are Sacred but Comment is Free. Please come on here and comment on your part in the Cyril Smith / TBA cover up.



Above we hear from my friend Tom Stott who is a former Rochdale councillor, former TBA employee and current community activist and Trade Unionist.

Here on the right we have a most extraordinary lauding of Sir Cyril Smith MBE as a "honourable man". Don't make us laugh "Frances Deakin". Below (left) we see Cyril's rabid brother Norman put very much in his place. The devious, dishonest, disreputable old cadger that he is. Though we're not sure where the idea of Rowen being anything but in favour of the MMC homes on asbestos dust proposals came from.

And finally below (right) we have another apologia for TBA apparently doing "everything possible", though at least with the good sense to stand against new housing on the asbestos tip.



POSTSCRIPT: Perhaps today's "Saturday" Postbag will include the proper 5-1 or 7-1 ration of letters condemning Cyril and his cronies? Don't hold your breath.

Saturday Cyril: 50:50 Rochdale Obbie Run Goes ON

Two plus two. Last three weeks: Wednesdays - 10 - 2 AGAINST Sir Squirrel; Saturdays - 6 -6 LEVEL PEGGING. Click to enlarge. Pro-Asbestos ones seem desperately similar in drafting style. Rochdale Observer still farming letters to make Cyril, and Hennigan and Rowen by the way, look less bad.