Nostalgic reminder

The Times has a good list of people who should have visits from the BIB and the events related.

https://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2008/11/to-assist-the-m.html

Lets hope we actually see fairness since this is not what we currently see with this sorry business.

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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Dear Nick,

The only Issue that needs to be clarified in the Quens speech is the Day that Gordon Brown and his Party are leaving Government.

Gordon Brown is a joke. The way he responded to the Baby P case and now the arrest of a fellow MP, I find disgraceful.

The greater the problems faced by the UK population, the happier he seems to become. Disgraceful

I'm looking forward to The Speaker being dragged from he seat back to the backbenches, as per tradition.

How many billions will Brown's "Cherry on the Cake" cost us I wonder?


Also I wonder how effectual the Cherry will be? It couldn't be either more useless and costly as the VAT "fiscal stimulus" debacle could it?


Finally - if there really is a Cherry on the Cake - once you dig around - will it, once again, look more like a bribe that shouts out "please elect me as your Prime Minister (I don't want to remain just a PM who stole the job)"

Nick, I hope you ask Gordon Brown at his next monthly press briefing whether he expects to be arrested soon

The Times January 4th 1988:

Mrs Margaret Thatcher was at the cente of the political storm last night after the leak of a confidential Whitehall memorandum disclosing that tough new rules are to be applied to state support for scientific research and development.

Officials at the department refused to comment on 'information that fails into someone's hands as a result of an unauthorized disclosure'.

Sources did confirm, however, that the memorandum from Mr Anthony Kesten, a senior official in the department's official Research and Technology Policy Unit, was genuine. They also indicated that a high-level internal inquiry is likely to begin today into how the document came to be passed to Mr Gordon Brown, opposition Treasury spokesman.

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"Will someone speak out challenging the Speaker despite the rules and conventions of the Commons?"

Well, since the Speaker has himself ridden roughshod over 400 years of Parliamentary practice (not to mention the precedent of a member of the governing party being installed as Speaker in the first place), this would be poetic justice, would it not?

"He will, I'm sure, have a rabbit in the hat to unveil, an immediate policy to tackle the recession and designed to be a cherry on top of the Queen's Speech cake. "

______________________________________________________________________

Well that's all right then, I'm sure he'll solve the recession in one gesture. Phew! SuperBrown to the rescue; yay.

I hope it's a regressive stalinist policy, they're my favourite.

That'll distract us from the ebbing away of civil liberties and introduction of our shiny new police state.

The Tories have been caught with their pants down. The political air-brush is working over time to hide their embarrassment.

It was Michael Martin's business to know exactly what was expected of him when he was appointed Speaker, and accepted the position. He has no-one else to blame but himself and should be dealt with accordingly, ie. asked to resign.

Nick - what exactly has this man done for parliament since his appointment?

Where are the moderators?

How long does it take to approve 10 posts?

Typical Blair Brown Corporation

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The Tory position on all this is surely grandstanding and no more. What if a debate took place? There is no gainsaying that a Tory-leaning civil servant gave information away to an opposition MP. In a case where the boot was on the other foot, there would be the same indignant justifications, and this simple fact can only close down any real debate of serious issues. High drama, high politics indeed, but no high principle from any quarter. If a good thing could come from the affair before Tory bluster does sputtter out, it would be an effective indictment of the dreadful Jacqui Smith, but with all wrath descending on her whipping boy Mr Speaker, that seems rather unlikely. But not totally. His statement, as Nick rightly suggests, will certainly be interesting, and the more interesting the better.

We need to go back to the good old days.

If someone in high places didn't carry out their job as they should have done then they resigned.

This was the expected consequence.

We seem to have drifted into an attitude recently where no one takes responsibility and the result is one mess after another.

We have seen that in all walks of life.

Not only that but they come away with a nice financial package for messing up.

This means we do not always get the right people for the job.

The speaker should do the honourable thing and resign.

Nick,

I think the Tories need to be carfeul of overplaying their hand. The arrrest of Damien Green was clearly a disgrace - there was never any realistic prospect of a trial let alone a conviction. It was a fishing exercise and a complete waste of police resources - but outside of the Westminster bubble - the arrest is a secondary issue at best. The public will not forgive the Conservatives for talking about Parliamentary privieges as opposed to the economy at a set piece event like the State opening of Parliament.

DC should bank the offer a debate (which the speaker will shorly make) and leave it at that. Perhaps he could ask for it to be scheduled after the Transport Police report into the investigation.

The bizare rituals of the Queen's Speech include my MP, Watford's Claire Ward, being locked up and held hostage at Buckingham Palace to ensure the Queen is returned after the speech. I hope she (Claire Ward, not the Queen) doesn't pinch the cutlery!

On a more serious note I cannot remember a time when the Queen's speech has been so overshadowed by other events. Legislation will take a much lower priority in politics over the next year which has interesting implications for the next General Election which seems destined to be exclusively about the economy.

Dear Nick

The Met Police decided to arrest Damien Green? not Ministers, Sorry i lost it since when have Ministers ordered the arrest of people?
I say this Smith was fully aware of her actions when she ordered the Police to investigate, it is very doubtful that a senior permanent secretary would order Police action without the Knowlegde of the Minister the Protocol would not allow it, this stinks and it goes all the way to the top

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To be honest, the whole ceremony around the Queen's speech bores me, and I find the speaker an anachronism before we get into grandstanding and other egotism from MP's. The architecture looks nice in its own way but parliament was built for another time and place, and I'd rather see the whole thing replaced with something better that more properly reflects the needs of politicians, the media, and public. Burn it down. Build something new.

Does anyone really think McCavity and our lights on but no-one at home secretary care? Parliament to them is a nasty little place that now and again they have to go to to account for themselves. It is for this reason that they were not outraged that the police cast aside the sanctity of Parliament and raided Damien's offices. Since coming to power 11 years this government has treated Parliament with nothing but contempt is it any wonder that these two dimwits along with Gorbals and Gill it d'nee Pay to Cross me, give a tom about a small thing like the arrest of an MP and his offices being ransacked by plod? Childish though it may be I would like to see a slow hand clap through Martins speech and McCavities speech with all opposition stood with their backs to them show some cahones for once.

The Queen's speech should be cancelled due to the Damian GHreen affair and instead Gordon Brown should be asked to read this paragraph from his final budget in March 2007:

"my report to the country is of rising employment and rising investment; continuing low inflation and low interest and mortgage rates.. this is a budget to expand prosperity.. our fiscal discipline is the foundation of the strength of Britain's finances"

Dear, oh dear. What a difference a new prime minister makes.

March 07 pound 1.49 to the Euro now 1.16
March 07 pound 2.00 to the dollar now 1.47

It's Crash Gordon and the disappearing economy...

Call an election.

Thanks for the update Nick

Can you do us a favour and find out when comrade Brun is planning on taking us into the Euro.

Speaker Martin is rubbish. What a humiliating combination of self interest and ignorance he really is.

Lets get a proper speaker. Och i the nu.

Don't you love the irony of "Lord" Mandy pronouncing on the naughtiness of people who dig around to pull out michevious information?

I mean, you can only behave like that if you either have utter distain for the public or you're so detatched that you don't see the irony.

Oh, and you don't have a problem criticising elected officials when you're nothing but an appointee yourself.

Good grief, is this still going on?

George Foulkes now claims there was a "threat to national security". That's not exactly damping down the fires, is it?

No-one seems to have covered themselves in glory here, not MPs, not police and not the civil service.

The simple truth is that embarassing leaks only occur if the government has something to be embarassed about.

The Tories have been caught with their pants down. The political air-brush is working over time to hide their embarrassment.

18. At 10:48am on 03 Dec 2008, ngodinhdiem


Yes, quite. Thank you for an astute post. Let us even hear what the original investigation (into how Green got his leak and what he did with it and at whose instigation) has to say in its entirety. Far from an over-reaction though, the Tory response is probably about right, in view of the old maxim that the best form of defence is attack. As to the propriety of Mr Green's treatment, the clash of claim and counter-claim is perhaps too distracting at present for one to reflect that in due course we may learn more than we think we know.

Quite frankly i am surprised Brown is even

bothering with the State Opening of

Parliament.

In view of the ABUSE of Parliament by Brown

and Blair the house is a puppet show.

If MPs do not protest over the Speaker's

actions,they might aswell go home.

What a bunch of spineless MUPPETS.

I think its sheer hypocrisy for the Labour party to have a bleat about leaks, when they found them so useful when in opposition themselves. DO they not remember, or is it not convinient for them to do so at this moment in time? And for Lord Mandy to wind it up when no doubt he had his grubby fingerprints all over some of those historical leaks is even more laughable!

All this fingerpointing by the Labour party is ridiculous, and the current Home Secretary should investigate why she was informed AFTER the Mayor of London and the Conservative leader, but she won't as "its not in her best interest" to do so.

"Lord Mandelson has denied telling the head of the European Commission the UK was ready to join the euro"

The Laddie doth protest too much, methinks

We could do with a 21st Century GUY

FAWKES who doesnt get caught.

I see Voldemort is in OVERDRIVE MODE

snaking & slithering around various media

studios,breathing poison into the AIR.

You just know that something is afoot when Dandy Mandy does the media rounds suggesting an Opposition conspiracy.

#18

has a good point, echoed by Ian Dale, that the Tories should be careful not to overplay this. Calm, logical and persistent pressure will get the best result on this.

I'm inclined to think that all of this stems from a briefing and communications cock-up rather than a deliberate attempt to besmirch Damien Green. I suggest the reality goes something along these lines;

"The Home Secretary is embarrassed by the leaks and wants them stopped. Normington calls in the police to 'get a result', no doubt making clear how Jacqui Smith feels about the leaks. The police sense an opportunity for a 'great result' after their ignominy in the 'cash for questions' investigation. Jacqui Smith is kept 'informed' but makes clear she doesn't want to know 'how' they get a result, 'just do it'. "

The injudicious action by someone of significance in the Commons of allowing the police to enter Green's office and copy/remove items, and to lock his main methods of communication, has succeeded in raising the temperature very considerably.

Unfortunately both Speaker's statement, and debate if it takes place, will do nothing to restore normality. Only an unreserved apology to Green will suffice. Not very likely is it?

"The business secretary said he still favoured eventual UK entry but could not remember speaking to Mr Barroso about it recently.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I haven't had a discussion in my memory, with Mr Barrosso about this.

"I think I might have exchanged words when I first went to the Commission in 2004 but not since, no.
"

Alzhiemers?

18 ngodinhdiem

"DC should bank the offer a debate (which the speaker will shorly make) and leave it at that."

Is that surely or shortly?

I see the BBC took away one of my posts because I mentioned that Nick thinks rthat Gordon Brown will pull a rabbit out of the hat. In other words is this a leak or am I out of order.

Shame on you and on John Humphreys.
The interview with Lord Mandleson on the Today Programme was spinless. Not a single answer questioned, everything he said taken at face value and you, Mr Robinson then gave a nice brief summery of his key points. Since when was this neutral journalism?
Whenever Cameron or Osbourne go on the programme they are interrupted, barraked and quizzed. Lord Mandleson comes on and it's like you're asking him if he has anything to tell the dear listeners...

Shameful. Sod your licence fee, I'm not paying it.

24.

Robin,

On purchasing power, the pound should be about 1.50 to the USD and 1.30 to the Euro.

Pointing to periods when the pound was overvalued is like saying gold is cheap now because it was expensive a couple of months ago.

The USD and Euro beneift in times of financial crisis from the size of their economies, not because their underlying economies are any healthier than ours. Forex rates are also about speculators' positions.

Just ask George Osbourne, plenty of his chums have no doubt made a killing out of punting on the pound's fall, plus the falls in UK banks' share prices.

Now that would make a good police enquiry.

Then call an election!

Allegedly we have a government that has a political agenda for the next year, and they have asked a deserving pensioner to make the announcement this afternoon.

However, allegedly, there are rumours circulatiing about incompetence, and these are being directed at the speaker, the police and the home secretary.

Allegedely, according to the business secretary who, allegedly, is completely inncoent of any improprieties in his own conduct, and therefore, allegedly, completely above reproach, has been making scurrilous suggestions that the tory party has instigated the current state of affairs.

Allegedly, when there were leaks when the current government was in opposition, these did not occur and the Labour MPs, including the prime minister, allegedly, did not act illegally in any way, shape or form, in making use of them.

Moreover, they would have reported any civil servant who allegedly passed over embarrassing information to them since, allegedly, this was illegal.

Allegedly the prime minister believes that no MP is above the law. I wonder if the law is retrospective? I wonder if anybody believes him? I wonder if he'll attend the commons this afternoon?

#22 CEH

The architecture looks nice in its own way but parliament was built for another time and place, and I'd rather see the whole thing replaced with something better that more properly reflects the needs of politicians, the media, and public. Burn it down. Build something new.

Charles - that statement alone proves that you cannot be an Englishman.

The Parliament building, in my opinion, is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture we have in London. It's such a pity that its inhabitants fall a long way short of the mark.

#28 CEH

The Tories have been caught with their pants down. The political air-brush is working over time to hide their embarrassment.


Lord Mandelson highlights many of the legitimate concerns people have expressed about the Tories claims of concern, and the Home Secretary has rightly highlighted Grieve's poor judgement.

................................................


...er what about Lord Mandleson's alleged collusion with Oleg Deripaska? He's moving the spotlight again...!!

The convservatives will make very little political gain from the DG fiasco.

Reason?

The general public do not care about the sanctity of parliament. In fact you would be hard pushed to find anything they care less about.

#22 re the Palace of Westminster
'I'd rather see the whole thing replaced with something better that more properly reflects the needs of politicians...'
How about a prison hulk somewhere just off Rockall?

The Independent outlines how the government plans to give the banks voluntary code of practice legal teeth. Given the banks profiteering during good times and total lack of acumen during difficlt times, this looks like a sensible move.

At the bottom end of the scale we have welfare reform. I agree with the conerns of academics that the outline looks like a "best case scenario" while business enterprise and community development remains poor.

While more stick is unfortunately needed at the top, I believe, more carrot is needed at the bottom. People need real jobs to go to and pleasant environments to aspire and develop. I hope the government accepts this and modifies their plans accordingly.

A lot of folks will be jittery about the short-term economic issues but a calmer political climate can help. By being less distracted by this, hopefully, businesses will invest in creating opportunity and neglected communities will be given equal status as stakeholders in UK PLC.

Stay on mission and we'll get through this, folks.

Lets hope they do manage to topple martin. He's only another Glasgow born Scottish political mafioso!

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I'm not sure what is worse, having a bunch of incompetents in charge of "security", who can't retain sensitive data in their own charge, and who make unproportionate responses to leaks, or having a bunch of incompetents in charge of the economy, who have no idea of what's happening or what to do about it?

Actually, I am sure. Since both sets of incompetents are the same, I suggest we have an early election and vote them out.

Now can't be soon enough.

Ref: #22 I decided to start my be nice to Charles NY Resolution early so hear hear Charles.

Then I read his #28 with a reference to Lord 'I am not a quitter' Mandy.

Oh dear, back to square 1 then!!!

#19, I like the parallel between 'er Upstairs and 'er Downstairs. However, how come it's the MP for Watford who was volunteered? I suspect there's a few who'd have done anything for an excuse for absenteeism this PM.
#27 George Foulkes wouldn't be a relative of Guy, by any chance?

To recall Samuel Johnson, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel", we bid fair for a wonderful example of that this afternoon, I rather expect. David Davis has clearly resurfaced and is in no mood to respect such games. Not so much a little-boy-lost as an ex SAS officer not taking captives.

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!Let me deal finally with the suggestion that any political or ministerial influence on this or any other police operation under my command. "

"I would strongly refute that I or any senior officer under my command have, or would allow, any improper influence of our operational judgement and actions for political purposes. That is not what we do".

"Can I have the job full time now Jacqui?"

Sir Paul Stephenson

The real question is now not that Jacqui knew but why didnt she know?
Boris knew as overall head of the Met so Jacqui should have known as head of the whole police service and the department that were being looked into

Allegedly the 'onourable business secretary never spoke to the president of the EU about the euro, nor about britain joing the euro, nor did he, ellegdly, speak to any russian oligarchs about aluminium or timber, or anything else that might have come under his alleged responsibility, and he didn't do this when, allegedly, he was holidaying on the blokes rowing boat.

Allegedly, the business secretary has never been less than scrupulous in any activities that he has, allegedly, been involved in during the last twenty years, allegedly.

His best friend, allegedly, has tried to follow the example set by the noble lord, but, allegedly, he's never around when anything that allegedly might be damaging or embarrassing occurs, allegedly.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said that although he thought MPs should be granted a debate on the issue, there should also be scrutiny of the official at the centre of the row, who he accused of passing sensitive documents to the Conservatives "in an attempt to pursue his ambitions in the Conservative party, allegedly".

Blimey Mandy is after Paul Mertons job on "Have I got news for you", Allegedly

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@43
Ah yes but the public are concerned about the government trampling all over their liberties and this smacks of that and so people do relate to it nicely

34

Remarkable how much there is to agree with today. May it continue. 34 hints at a further dimension and an interesting one. When the smokescreen (Guardian, posts, passim) clears, there will of course be be the contents of the confidential papers embarrassing to government to play with. Fire drives out fire. The Home office may be thankful that the embarrassment over the police action (an embarrassment shovelled pro tem onto Mr Speaker....his statement eagerly awaited) has forestalled the embarrassment of the policy matters the papers contained.

British politics. Dontcha just love it!

22 Charles_E_Hardwidge

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” - Churchill


I disagree with you that the parliament building should be torn down and re-built.


I have been lucky to be taken on a few tours around parliament through work.

On one of the tours, someone correct me if I am wrong here, but some of the chambers were destroyed at one time and there was the option to rebuild them to suit the needs over the ever expanding number of MP's.


Who ever it was that suggested parliament be restored to the same dimensions was very wise.


They purposefully wanted to retain "the bear pit" atmosphere. On major events, they purposefully wanted to ensure parliament was packed to the rafters - so there are not always enough seats for MP's. That creates an atmosphere of urgency.


Compare those major debates in our parliament to the sterile political scenes we see in other countries.


There is nothing more dull than seeing row, after organised row of sterile politicians listening to the ear piece barely registering any emotion.


So I'm for retaining our "red blooded" politics and the existing architecture.


Can you imagine Gordon Brown in PMQ's - not answering the question in a modern sterile building? With our current system, even if he doesn't answer the system, the pressure of the atmosphere means you can tell when he is obfuscating or being more than economical with the truth.

I'm curious as to whether this will get posted and, if it does, whether it'll stay.

Certain overbearing characters never cease to attack their hosts. Is this consistent with the teachings of zen?

Message 40

Oh, what an alleged delight!

Peter Mandelson is allegedly delightful.

I look forward to hearing him being interviewed as I allegedly consider him to be the best brain the Cabinet. Sadly, this allegedly might not mean much.

He was making an allegedly good argument this morning on Today in which he alleged that the economic crisis needed to be dealt with in a structured way. It seemed to me that he already had an alleged structure in mind.

Thern he goes and ruins my alleged optimism with his alleged allegations.

Why can't the government admit they blundered badly over the alleged Damien Green affair. It is alleged that if they back off now it is possible that there need be no resignations. If, as it is alleged, they keep on digging Cabinets heads will roll: allegedly a lot more than in January 1649.

Politics is allegedly the art of the possible. It is also alleged to be a recognition of the impossible.

Another quote to put to the Dear Leader on his big day as the Queen reads out his mountain of future obligations to our children...

‘one cannot build the New Jerusalem on a mountain of debt’.

So why did he? Personal indebtedness higher than anywhere in the world and higher than at any time ever before.

Government debt at all time highs and the budget deficit to reach an astonishing 8% of GDP.

The banking system bailed out with never before seen levels of leverage.

Off balance sheet government debts higher than ever before.

Why did you build your Jerusalem on a mountain of debt, Gordon? Why? What were you doing?

Call an election.

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"Lord Mandelson has denied telling the head of the European Commission the UK was ready to join the euro"

"Lord Mandelson has denied telling the head of the European Commission the UK was ready to join the euro"
This is very likely to be true what you need though is to switch on your Mandelson filter and understand that zaNuLabour are in many cases lawyers.
Lawyers believe the true comes in versions.
So he didn’t say “the UK was ready to join the euro"
But he did say “the UK will be ready to join the euro when the pound goes sub zero"
So stop accusing him of lying.

Gordon Brown's much-vaunted Constitutional Renewal Bill - which would give MPs the final say over war and remove a ban on protests outside Parliament - has also been put on hold, to return when Parliamentary time allows.

What a shocker.

Brown clearly knows that protests are on the way

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The architecture looks nice in its own way but parliament was built for another time and place, and I'd rather see the whole thing replaced with something better that more properly reflects the needs of politicians, the media, and public. Burn it down. Build something new.

Charles - that statement alone proves that you cannot be an Englishman.

The Parliament building, in my opinion, is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture we have in London. It's such a pity that its inhabitants fall a long way short of the mark.

Among the more eye-catching measures thought to be included in proposed welfare reforms are lie detector tests for people claiming benefits - already used by 25 councils - to try to reduce fraud

Its not a true test though is it.
The test in use by the 25 councils is a phone voice stressometer that would unfairly prejudice about people that are nervous on the phone.

#47 - I am rather surprised that my post has "referred to the moderators". I thought it rather well balanced. Perhaps the moderators could actually look at it now.

Among the bills not included is the Communications Data Bill, thought to include proposals for a giant database of all phone and internet traffic, which has been put out for further consultation.

Look out in the Grauniad for the job ad for posts in this consultaion. money for old rope for anyone that can manage an SQL database and a gilt edged pension to boot

Are we really to believe that when Ms Smith et al return to the Opposition benches at some time in the future they will scorn any data not received through approved governmental channels?

When the speaker makes his statement, I think it should be taken on the same basis that the government have decided that they take statements from us.

Should the speaker have failed to mention at the time, something that he now relies on, this will be taken into consideration

You see the judicial system has changed - to block suspects from using some of the self same tricks that blair/brown/labour have become addicted to over the past decade.

Source for the Goose Mr Martin; Source for the Goose.

and

Follow the yacht Nick; follow the yacht.

Do you not think that much of the furore over the police action against Damian Green is maybe misdirected? I think this is one time where politicians, and dare I say some polititical bloggers, are too concerned with the confines of westminister over the wider concerns of the country.
While parliamentary priviledge, tradition and confidentiallity is important what I, and I suspect many people out here in the real world, see has much more to do with the grossly disproportionate action of the police. Using anti terrorist squads, 9 hours detention and house/office searches for a trivial information leak is not the England we know and used to love!
Recent governments have been handing out laws, rules and authority like sweets. increased police powers, tax/ customs, powers of search and entry all the way down to council jobsworths searching recycling bins and handing out fixed penalties. The citizens of this country have never been so harried and harrassed by rules and authority and 'process'.
So what do I see in parliament? The lovely sight of lots of chickens coming home to roost. I'm absolutely delighted to see an MP treated with the same level of disrespect and lack of consideration that parliament has decreed for the rest of us.
just maybe it will make them pause before passing thye next restriction to our traditional freedoms.
Chris

After watching and listening to various comments about the Green issue, I ask if Speaker Martin will say he didn't know anything about the police raid.

Will Jill Pay have to fall on her sword?

What did the Queen think of her speech?
Prince Philip reacted for us all when he met Jack Straw afterwards, he asked to look in purse containing the speech and mimed taking it out and throwing it away.
Three cheers for Prince Philip!

Nick,

just listened to the Queen's speech. Anybody who does not think that there will now be a spring election then they need to enter the real world.

Brown is hoping for an Obama bounce in America, end of story. The spring will give Gordon the only chance he has. If he doesn't cut in run then he will become more of a lame duck PM than he already is.

So Gordon take my advice, go for it in the spring, do not be gutless, take a risk. Then when you are defeated you can scuttle off to the House of Lords with the rest of your pathetic government.

Ha! Did you see Philip go through a mime of chucking the speech away at the end of it all! Priceless. Another one who is not impressed by the bloke what wrote it.

#62

Allegedly, but only by his enemies, and others.

##66 CEH

Charles, you misread my post. I said that you weren't an Englishman. I didn't say you weren't British.

#59

Hope it stays, let's see.

66. Charles you are surely NOT and Englishman. You say in an earlier blog that Charles E Hardwidge is your real name. Then who, pray is Scott Miller, and who is Bob Roberts of Worcester - or is it Worcester Mass.?

You seem to hate us English people so much and have such an opinion on our politics it is curious you even bother to write.

The test in use by the 25 councils is a phone voice stressometer that would unfairly prejudice about people that are nervous on the phone.

Voice stressometer? That Robert Peston bloke would blow it to pieces.

Has the dodgy lord any comment about Moses Brown using leaked documents when in opposition. That was ok then and the civil servant in question was doing his duty in exposing the Tories failures..
Of course Gordon not to be seen anywhere , The twice sacked lord is behaving more and more like the PM , be very careful Gordon, the man has been a bit too kind to you of late.
PS : Nick can you tell us why we see so much of Mendelson on the BBC ( radio or TV )?

@ 22 to Quote you CEH, "Burn it down, build something new"
---------------------------------------

You are advocating burning down Parliament, CEH?

You have fallen foul of a law that your beloved Labour party created. You have just incited terrorism, prepare to be detained without charge....

@66
"or OS X versus Vista. Can't help it. It's just the way people like us are built"

OS X correct me if I am wrong but OS X was introduced in 2001 so is now 7 years out of date.

THats you that is

Suck it up

#66

I've got some cans at home where the labels have come off. I no longer know what's in them.

Should I shake them up and down to see if they are liquid? Of course they might just be a little soft and squashy, like a fruit.

They might of course be poisonous, or harmful in some way. How could I know? There are no labels.

Best to just throw them away, methinks.

I don't think Mandelson is in a position to lecture anyone on ethics. How does a man get back into high office having had to resign not once but twice for impropreity, and was a pass- master of using leaks when in opposition.

Another case of Labour do as I say. not as I do

To the many debaters considering the layout of the house: it was Churchill who decided to keep the face-to-face layout when urged to go for a hemicycle, on grounds of accountability.

To those concerned with this afternoon's activity, the Commons Order Paper reads:

11.30am House of Commons - Commons Chamber
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development.
12pm Oral Questions to the Prime Minister.
12.30pm Urgent Questions, Ministerial Statements (if any).
(1) Lord Carter's review of prisons
(2) benefit uprating and pensions.

Presentation of Bills
(without debate).
Estimates Day:
(1) Standards of conduct in public life
(2) Benefits simplification
(may continue until 7.00 p.m., at which time the Questions will be put on all outstanding Estimates).

Statutory Instruments (Motions for approval)
(without debate).

Adjournment Debate:
Scallop dredging in Lyme Bay - Mr Oliver Letwin
(until 7.30 p.m. or for half an hour, whichever is later).

I observe that the presentation of a paper on standards of conduct in public life is being passed on the nod. Oh to be a scallop, now that winter's here...

LEAK ALERT! LEAK ALERT! :

"He will, I'm sure, have a rabbit in the hat to unveil, an immediate policy to tackle the recession and designed to be a cherry on top of the Queen's Speech cake."

Can't wait to watch Labour take the battering they deserve.

Come on Queen Liz, bonk the whole sorry lot of them on the head with your sceptre.

I suggest that CEH be completely ignored in this debate from now on. Not because, as usual, he posts utter drivel, but because he has identified himself as a terrorist sympathiser and advocates the burning down of Parliament. Therefore he has no rational answer to this debate about the highest court in the land.

Oh, and It was not the tories that outlawed such thoughts, but his beloved Labour Party.

As heard on Wogan this morning.

Poor old dear mislaying her peach again and needing all these fine men and women help her look for it

In view of the current furore together with the economic crisis into which Mr Brown has led the country and Mr Martin's cavalier approach to spending taxpayers ' money, perhaps it would be of benefit to both the country and the exchequer if Mr Martin resigned.

As for the hoo-ha going on at the moment, surely the crux of the matter is the apparently never-ending cock-ups emanating from the Home Office. If the government had had iIs way they would all have been swept under the carpet. Is Ms Smith going to assume responsibility and take the honourable action or has honour among politicians been outsourced to India?

@74

OOH missed that where can i find a clip showing it.

The ald Duffer is great value for money as he always calls a spade exactly what it is and never a shovel

Nick:

a new regime for tackling failing schools

How about a new regime for tackling failing governments?

How about a new regime?

Fed up of bias?

Come on down to power-to-the-ppl at blogspot dot com, your one stop shop for incisive political commentary and Labour-bashing.

#76 flamepatricia

Ha! Did you see Philip go through a mime of chucking the speech away at the end of it all! Priceless. Another one who is not impressed by the bloke what wrote it.

Yes - I saw that too. I think perhaps he should have thrown it away before the State Opening of Parliament.

No61 Robin. Be patient an election will be called when Mr Brown decides. I would be interested in your view on having a fixed parliamentary time. The Chartists called for annual parliaments.

Damian Green is probably the most important issue ever if you care about your freedom and democracy in this country.

The fact that police can overturn all the procedures of Parliament and arrest and search the office of a serving MP on no concrete evidence but just on a hunch is outrageous. Opposition MPs must be allowed to bring this Government to account even if it embarrasses them. We have the most secretive Government ever and it seems it wishes to close down any voice who opposes them, this can not be allowed to happen.The security issue after all is not Damian Green it is the Government employing what could be potential terrorists in the security service and Damian Green was right to inform the public.

The police have become too political and powerful under Labour using terrorist legislation in any way they think fit, they most certainly need to be reformed and start dealing with the crime the public want them to solve.

Now it seems the police and the Government are trying to smear Boris Johnson in an effort to cover their total failure of following proper procedure.

Mandelson and Brown would have spent half their lives under arrest for leaks if this had happened when they were in opposition.

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"We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us." - Churchill