Sunday, March 29, 2009

BBC News Channel @ 7pm, 5Live at 10pm on MPs' Expenses

I'll be on Sky News at 5.30pm in a discussion with ... Polly Toynbee on MPs' expenses.

I'm now also doing the BBC News Channel at 7pm too.

And then later on the Stephen Nolan Show on 5 Live at 10pm with Dr Ian Gibson and Martin Bell discussing the same subject.

And the Radio Kent Breakfast Show tomorrow morning.

Is that enough of me?


UPDATE: I'm afraid those expecting a barney between Polly and me on Sky News were disappointed. However, I did see red when she called Stuart Wheeler "sleazy". I made the point that if journalists like her throw around baseless allegations, is it any wonder that politics gets a bad name. I then said that she should be glad that people like him show philanthropy (even if he's donating his money to causes I disapprove of!), as long as they don't expect anything in return. Sadly, the interviewer did not allow Polly a comeback. Don't think she was pleased.

36 comments:

  1. >> Is that enough of me?

    Most certainly not Mr Dale - keep pushing and fighting - we appreciate your views!

    And while you're with Ms Torynbee, do ask her how her Tuscan villas are coming on, her views on the tax avoidance stance of the Guardian Media Group and whether we as taxpayers should support another conventional failing media business like local newsprint.

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  2. I hope you will be credited as the editor/ author of The Big Red Book of New Labour Sleaze.

    Time for an update perhaps.

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  3. Try to keep a straight face when she opens her gob, Mr Dale.

    Good luck.

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  4. I'm sure Jade is happy that 2 labour MPs have spent her inheritence tax on subsidized we@nks. After all New Labour have been having fun spending tax unproductively for the past twelve years.

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  5. Ask her why she hasn't written much about that new, young, thrusting politician David Miliband recently.

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  6. More than.

    Will they ask you why you are so confused and inconsistent on your blog, wildly unable to tell the truth or compose an honest argument and completely and angrily defensive when proven to be in the wrong?

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  7. @ Despairing Liberal

    Yet again you call Iain a liar.

    Pots and kettles, I think.

    Sue me!

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  8. Question that deserves an answer: Is an MP's primary residence the address where he/she subscribed to porn movies?

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  9. Will they ask you why you are so confused and inconsistent on your blog, wildly unable to tell the truth or compose an honest argument and completely and angrily defensive when proven to be in the wrong?

    Is Iain Dale in short a Leftist?

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  10. Alex said:

    'Is an MP's primary residence the address where he/she subscribed to porn movies?'

    Absolutely, home is where the porn is.

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  11. Fees, it's all a matter of fees, Iain. Gettem while you can. After you become an MP, we';; all want to know how much spend on toilet paper.

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  12. Yep, about time La Toynbee got a slap for her 'journalism' - propaganda posing as reporting.

    But time and again we hear of these 'rules'. Why? Are none of these people capable of distinguishing right from wrong? We keep hearing about 'the right thing to do' from Brown and his cohorts, but the reality is that neither he nor the others know what that word actually means.

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  13. Ask the Chianti Socialist why we should pay the second home allowance for Jacqui Smith when there is a 'free' grace and favour home available for her as Home Secretary.

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  14. In case you missed it - here's what Ms Smith has been spending our money on:

    And here’s the bath plug and other purchases - brass neck doesn’t come near this:

    “Documents submitted to the Commons authorities show Ms Smith has claimed £150,304 for the cost of running a second home since 2001, including fully fitting it out.

    The Sunday Express has seen the documents that show Ms Smith has claimed for virtually every major household item over the past five years, right down to the kitchen sink.

    It was a £550 stone model from Habitat. The minister, who earns £141,866-a-year, even claimed for an 88p bath plug.

    She had already spent £460 on a dining room table, £704 on a sofabed, and £1,000 on an antique fireplace. She claimed for the cost of coal to burn in it.

    Other items included a Hotpoint cooker, at £399 plus £15 connection, a Hotpoint tumble dryer worth £189 and two washing machines in under two years, a £249 Ariston and a Zanussi worth nearly £300.

    Her entertainment centre was to include DVD players, two Samsung widescreen televisions and two digital set-top boxes worth more than £1,100.

    The claims have come to light as work nears completion on a £2million project to publish all MPs’ expenses claims in the past five years, after they lost a three-year legal battle to keep the details secret following Freedom of Information Act requests. “

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  15. Killemall - it's all part of the enduring mystery of Iain Dale, media superstar and Tory of Today. He's boring. He's bland. He's often wrong. He's confused. He is deluded. These things, as with Boris Johnson, appear to constitute the perfect Tory for the new media age.

    What the sam hell is it going to be like when there's a whole party of them in office after the election??

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  16. Look out for the real Boris Johnson on Channel 4 Despatches, this evening at 8pm. I can promise you some hair-raising revelations about the most prominent Tory currently in high office!

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  17. Yes, it's wholly a job for bloggers like Iain Dale to throw around baseless allegations. How dare a mere journalist engage in them?

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  18. NNNNOOOOOOOOoooooo - Polly upset? How beastley, how thoroughly ghastly. My tears cry me a river.

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  19. BBC News @ 7

    It's all Thatcher's fault! Well there's a suprise I didn't see that one coming :)

    Tossers.

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  20. Killemall - yeah, I heard a verbal stumble and his face went wobbly - easy mistake though.

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  21. Ian Dale, why have the broadcast media chosen you to discuss this topic, rather than other individuals?

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  23. DesparateIlliberal@6:49 said:

    'What the sam hell is it going to be like when there's a whole party of them in office after the election??'

    It's going to be absolutely wonderful. I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a fresh start for those of us who love democracy and liberty.
    The preachers of hate and statist oppressors will either be transferred to the opposition benches or remain on them.
    My joy will be unlimited.

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  24. The last time the opposition put down a motion of no confidence was 27 March 1991 - the motion was specifically "That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government in the light of its inability to rectify the damage done to the British people by the poll tax". There have been government motions which expressed confidence since then, and motions on other subjects which were declared to be issues of confidence. See HC Library Standard note.

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  25. Dave Boothroyd - didn't John Major do it to sniff out the 'bastards' or maybe that was just an internal thang.

    Sadly, I listened to the 1979 thang last night and, frankly, nowt's changed. GGGggrreeeaaattt.

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  26. Conand - yes, and doubtless there will be fresh tax breaks for hedge funds, as that is the primary interest group for Messrs Cameron & Osborne.

    I wouldn't expect too much for everyone else who votes Tory though - big tax increases on the cards for all of you who are not billionaires.

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  27. Dunfermin building society couldntbe saved by 100 million ladt week, to save 500 jobs, according to a Scottish newspaper I read in a supermaket. So That's more than 200k per job. If Gordon thinks each job is worth (lets say) 250k he is showing as much contempt for taxpayers as jack boots husband.

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  28. The BBC is running with a story of six people being killed in a shooting at a nursing home. By their own admission this is very common and therefore not newsworthy. Last week ten people were shot in alabama and it didn't make the news.

    Stuart wheeler just got expelled. More padding to keep labour sleaze off the front page

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  29. @DespairingLiberal

    Tax rises are on the cards regardless, something to do with the current shower going eyeballs deep in debt.

    Or would you expect a 4th Labour term to guide us all into the promised land?

    I mean, after destroying peoples pensions, being complicit in torture, indebting the UK to the eyeballs, invading other nations, dismantling banking regulators, undermining the NAO, constant tales of sleaze, rampant hypocrisy, attacking personal freedoms, avoiding responsibility for their cock-ups and sucking up to the US and EU, they've done such a bang-up job so far.

    Who knows what new heights they could reach in a 4th term?

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  30. Bert Rustle, 7.27 - I can only imagine Matthew parris, Amanda Platell and Michael Brown were all busy!

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  31. Iain 21.21 - are you new here?

    Yeah, I thought that rude also. To be fair tho - Matt Parris calling it as curtains was a little rash methinks. I remember scrapping with Maroof about Blunkett to the deapair of non nerds - nah, she ain't ain't gone yet - the comedy takes over too much.

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  32. Ian Dale wrote ... I can only imagine Matthew parris, Amanda Platell and Michael Brown were all busy! ...

    With all respect to yourself and those you mention, it would be invigorating to hear from those not in the Ruling Class on occasion.

    Where is Arthur Scargill when you need him?

    In fact, why is Arthur Scargill not in the Drive-By Media more often - is he ill or has he had enough swill?

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  33. Saw your twitter comment "Nadine was excellent"?

    Come on, she just came across like another smug MP defending their collective position.

    Do they really pay taxes on their expenses as she claimed?

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  34. Don't think she was pleased.
    Really? Good! It's about time that little Polly Twaddle was put in her place more often.

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  35. Can't you become a Disappearing Liberal, please?

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