I'm off to Yorkshire in the morning to do some missionary work. We are spending a few days in Ilkley with my elder daughter and family who have rented a cottage.
I'm off to Yorkshire in the morning to do some missionary work. We are spending a few days in Ilkley with my elder daughter and family who have rented a cottage.
It'll be interesting to see how UKIP do in Lewisham. They didn't stand last time and it's not the sort of area they usually do well in, but they might have a chance of beating the Tories despite that.
I am so happy to have reached tonight. 10 golden days off.
I'll try not to think about how many emails I'll come back to a week on Monday.
Yes, those were the days when I was email independent. Now emails come straight to my mobile as well. I resolutely do not use my laptop or phone in-flight. The last bastion of civilisation !
I'm off to Yorkshire in the morning to do some missionary work. We are spending a few days in Ilkley with my elder daughter and family who have rented a cottage.
re Mitchell v News Group Newspapers The press' most detested media judge, Sir David Eady, has just retired, and has been replaced by Mr Justice Jeremy Baker. The case could of course go to Tugendhat J or another QB judge. But surely there are grounds for staying any action for libel until the active criminal proceedings against officers have been disposed of?
re Mitchell v News Group Newspapers The press' most detested media judge, Sir David Eady, has just retired, and has been replaced by Mr Justice Jeremy Baker. The case could of course go to Tugendhat J or another QB judge. But surely there are grounds for staying any action for libel until the active criminal proceedings against officers have been disposed of?
What happens if News International signs up to the Royal Charter on press regulation and then offers Andrew Mitchell the services of its arbitral tribunal? If Mitchell refuses, he will be lumbered with The Sun's legal costs regardless of the judgement.
If NGN sign up to the Royal Charter and the Crime and Courts Bill receives the Royal Assent (excluding the operation of any transitional provisions) then, if either Mitchell or NGN didn't accept the jurisdiction of the arbitral arm, that party would, under normal circumstances, pay the costs of the other side, regardless of event.
On the Sun Vs Mitchell, that's a lefty metropolitan wet dream, because one of the Evil Ones is guaranteed to lose and there's ample excuse to continually refer to the "question of whether or not Mitchell called an officer a pleb" [he didn't].
@AveryLP FE, Sir John Simon, Michael Foot. Some of the greatest politicians (and jurists) of the twentieth century. At the moment, both the Master of the Rolls and the President of the Family Division are ex-Wadhamites. I think the principal effect of Mitchell will be to provide an impetus to resolve the criminal proceedings more speedily. Edit: It appears, albeit based on the speculation of journalists, that the action may have been brought because there will be no criminal charges.
re @tim You might have thought that leaking confidential police and Crown Prosecution Service material relating to the "plebgate" investigation might not be the best idea, on so many levels.
"The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated that it is unhappy with the file it has received from the Metropolitan Police and is awaiting more evidence.
The Metropolitan police refused calls by Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, for them to leave the investigation to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Vaz said the plebgate affair raised "fundamental questions about police honesty and integrity" and should be investigated independently.
A spokesman for the CPS said: "We have received initial papers but we have not received a full file of evidence and we now await the conclusion of the police investigation before considering charges."
Given the reports we've seen about the Mitchell affair, which created some quite disgusting implications around the actions of the police, it will prove very very interesting to see why the leaking of info is the apparently the focus from hereon, when to my mind the leaking is far less troubling than what Crick's invesitigation appeared to uncover.
"Members of the Police Federation in the Midlands are also under investigation for allegedly publicly exploiting the affair as part of their protest against the government's cuts to the police service."
Again, I know investigation is a lengthy business, nor are things always as they appear, but given evidence we have already seen showing how the above was done, 'allegedly' seems a weak word.
"TORIES NOW 7/2 to lose deposit and LIBDEMS are 5/6 Thanks to PADDYPOWER for setting up the market. Doesn't say much for TORIES is they can't make 5% of the vote down from 20% at last election. Might explain why it is being tweeted that TORIES should stand aside for UKIP."
"TORIES NOW 7/2 to lose deposit and LIBDEMS are 5/6 Thanks to PADDYPOWER for setting up the market. Doesn't say much for TORIES is they can't make 5% of the vote down from 20% at last election. Might explain why it is being tweeted that TORIES should stand aside for UKIP."
It is difficult to envisage a situation whereby the Conservative leadership would countenance the idea of standing aside for UKIP, even with as poorly as they will surely do in such a Labour stronghold.
In fairness, the very fact they have no chance would give many wavering Tories the confidence to vote UKIP that they might not contemplate at a GE, and being at a low ebb in a Labour stronghold gives no encouragement to get out and vote Tory even if one is still mostly loyal. Combined with reasonable decline due to being in government, and bleedage to UKIP, and I would guess losing that deposit is a reasonable bet.
I do wonder as well whether if the Tories stood aside, the UKIp vote might not gain all that much, as disaffected Labourites return to the fold rather than the Tory proxies (which many already see UKIP as) and rapidly departing LDs steer clear of them given the blatant Tory approval of UKIP (for this contest at least).
But as many on here often proclaim, it doesn't matter where you finish or how many votes you get in a safe seat for your opponents (Personally that seems short sighted to me, but nevermind), so losing a deposit in such a place is of no concern, apparently.
President Hollande was preparing to retreat from his plan for a supertax on millionaires last night, in a French television appearance intended to reboot his ailing presidency.
After an unprecedented slump in his ratings, and mounting exasperation over what detractors say is his woolly style, the beleaguered Socialist is hoping to reconnect with a sceptical nation in a prime-time interview.
It would be insane for the Tories to stand down in favour of the party that's eating their vote - it'd be as if Labour deferred to Respect in the next by-election after Bradford West. Sadly, the Tories are not quite that insane.
It'll be interesting to see how UKIP do in Lewisham. They didn't stand last time and it's not the sort of area they usually do well in, but they might have a chance of beating the Tories despite that.
I don't think Lewisham PBP is the same as Ireland's People Before Profit Alliance. In Ireland, it's an SWP front (c.f. the electoral career of R. Boyd-Barrett T.D.), so it might be the same with your PBP/SWP, or it might be a catchy name.
In Lewisham they used to have something called Socialist Alternative (they won a couple of Cllrs in 2002 and 2006). Now the people involved with SA run joint campaigns with People Before Profit.
So, they are some variety of trots even in Lewisham
I'm not surprised by that (I've never met anyone who positively liked open-plan offices for themselves) but the article's an interesting read anyway. That Swiss place menitoned towards the end sounds pretty good if you trust your staff not to goof off. Bayer (the chemicals company) goes a bit in that direction - they have fairly standard offices but also open areas with benches etc. where people can go out and think, discuss, etc.
@AndyJS It is hardly surprising that the coalition have such a lead after the disaster that last week constituted for the ALP. What Gillard will will be hoping is that a united ALP can regain some support during the federal parliamentary recess, and that will be followed by a knockout budget from Swan (and Hockey's usual antics) when Parliament returns.
Do ANY of the London rugby teams play inside the M25?
I watched a game at Adams Park (?) in High Wycombe which looks derelict and worthy of immediate demolition, surrounded by snowy meadows and a half hearted parking lot.
Comments
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9959800/Good-policies-let-down-by-bad-politics.html
The one contest here that looks interesting is Wisbech where the Tory vote migh be hit by Ukip.
I am quite happy in the cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
the solemn temples and the great globe itself.
I'll try not to think about how many emails I'll come back to a week on Monday.
The press' most detested media judge, Sir David Eady, has just retired, and has been replaced by Mr Justice Jeremy Baker. The case could of course go to Tugendhat J or another QB judge. But surely there are grounds for staying any action for libel until the active criminal proceedings against officers have been disposed of?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-politics/9959850/Samantha-Cameron-A-life-after-No-10.html
http://i.imgur.com/qjjlkGm.gif
I am still appalled at you for your vicious slur on the finest Oxford college. If NGN sign up to the Royal Charter and the Crime and Courts Bill receives the Royal Assent (excluding the operation of any transitional provisions) then, if either Mitchell or NGN didn't accept the jurisdiction of the arbitral arm, that party would, under normal circumstances, pay the costs of the other side, regardless of event.
But then you do have Melvyn Barg, Michael Foot, Evan Harris and Rowan Williams to account for.
p.s. Mitchell is unwise pursuing a vendetta against The Sun. It will only end in his tears.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21969990
Thanks to Mr. Hayfield for his Thursday piece.
On the Sun Vs Mitchell, that's a lefty metropolitan wet dream, because one of the Evil Ones is guaranteed to lose and there's ample excuse to continually refer to the "question of whether or not Mitchell called an officer a pleb" [he didn't].
FE, Sir John Simon, Michael Foot. Some of the greatest politicians (and jurists) of the twentieth century. At the moment, both the Master of the Rolls and the President of the Family Division are ex-Wadhamites.
I think the principal effect of Mitchell will be to provide an impetus to resolve the criminal proceedings more speedily.
Edit: It appears, albeit based on the speculation of journalists, that the action may have been brought because there will be no criminal charges.
You might have thought that leaking confidential police and Crown Prosecution Service material relating to the "plebgate" investigation might not be the best idea, on so many levels.
Tendring: £4,962
Lewisham: £9,812
Fenland: £4,531
The wards are in the Harwich and North Essex, Lewisham Deptford and Cambridgeshire North East constituencies.
The Tendring and Fenland vacancies are caused by death while the Cllr in Lewisham left to run an orphanage in Togo
You missed a bit:
"The Crown Prosecution Service has indicated that it is unhappy with the file it has received from the Metropolitan Police and is awaiting more evidence.
The Metropolitan police refused calls by Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, for them to leave the investigation to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Vaz said the plebgate affair raised "fundamental questions about police honesty and integrity" and should be investigated independently.
A spokesman for the CPS said: "We have received initial papers but we have not received a full file of evidence and we now await the conclusion of the police investigation before considering charges."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/28/lebgate-file-contains-no-evidence-that-police-lied
We'll need to more than double the prison blocks for your weed policy !
http://socialistunity.com/labour-1983-the-most-inspiring-suicide-note-in-history/#.UVTDgxz_D0c
"Members of the Police Federation in the Midlands are also under investigation for allegedly publicly exploiting the affair as part of their protest against the government's cuts to the police service."
Again, I know investigation is a lengthy business, nor are things always as they appear, but given evidence we have already seen showing how the above was done, 'allegedly' seems a weak word.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/parliament/programmes/schedules/2013/04/01
https://www.alternativefuer.de/
http://www.businessinsider.com/bernd-lucke-alternative-fur-deutschland-interview-on-cyprus-2013-3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_for_Germany
It is difficult to envisage a situation whereby the Conservative leadership would countenance the idea of standing aside for UKIP, even with as poorly as they will surely do in such a Labour stronghold.
In fairness, the very fact they have no chance would give many wavering Tories the confidence to vote UKIP that they might not contemplate at a GE, and being at a low ebb in a Labour stronghold gives no encouragement to get out and vote Tory even if one is still mostly loyal. Combined with reasonable decline due to being in government, and bleedage to UKIP, and I would guess losing that deposit is a reasonable bet.
I do wonder as well whether if the Tories stood aside, the UKIp vote might not gain all that much, as disaffected Labourites return to the fold rather than the Tory proxies (which many already see UKIP as) and rapidly departing LDs steer clear of them given the blatant Tory approval of UKIP (for this contest at least).
But as many on here often proclaim, it doesn't matter where you finish or how many votes you get in a safe seat for your opponents (Personally that seems short sighted to me, but nevermind), so losing a deposit in such a place is of no concern, apparently.
From the Times
Lab Hold
Lab 918 People Before Profit 404 LD 131 UKIP 119 Con 119
Lab 54.3%
PBP 23.9%
LD 7.7%
Con 7.0%
UKIP 7.0%
In Lewisham they used to have something called Socialist Alternative (they won a couple of Cllrs in 2002 and 2006). Now the people involved with SA run joint campaigns with People Before Profit.
So, they are some variety of trots even in Lewisham
Con 384 LD 240 UKIP 214 EngDem 33
Good night
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-tv18-comments/india-eu-fta-may-bejeopardy-if-april-15-meeting-fails_844102.html
This and the US deal are key to showing whether the EU is capable of representing us or not.
Open plan offices are not popular in Scandinavia and Germany:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21878739
http://www.euroweeklynews.com/finance/item/113704-germans-asking-if-the-eu-can-ever-succeed
Coalition 50%
ALP 30%
Green 10%
Others 10%
Two-party preferred:
Coalition 58%
ALP 42%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_Australian_federal_election,_2013#Party_polling
It is hardly surprising that the coalition have such a lead after the disaster that last week constituted for the ALP. What Gillard will will be hoping is that a united ALP can regain some support during the federal parliamentary recess, and that will be followed by a knockout budget from Swan (and Hockey's usual antics) when Parliament returns.
Time for at least two failed heaves and one successful one against Gillard by then.
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl
Harwich, Tendring: [Lab hold]
Lab 282 (34.9%)
Con 220 (27.2%)
Community 163 (20.2%)
LD 143 (17.7%)
Lewisham, Evelyn: [Lab hold]
Lab 918 (54.3%)
PeopleBeforeProfit 404 (23.9%)
LD 131 (7.7%)
Con 119 (7.0%)
UKIP 119 (7.0%)
Fenland, Parson Drove & Wisbech St. Mary: [Con hold]
Con 384 (44.1%)
LD 240 (27.6%)
UKIP 214 (24.6%)
EngDem 33 (3.8%)
I watched a game at Adams Park (?) in High Wycombe which looks derelict and worthy of immediate demolition, surrounded by snowy meadows and a half hearted parking lot.
Only Harlequins among the top division and London Scottish at the next level down.