tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post3097190076249378212..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Questions for CashIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14701855201941211602009-05-30T14:09:02.094+01:002009-05-30T14:09:02.094+01:00Wake up Iain and get into the real worldWake up Iain and get into the real worldJane Austinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-31336591399765255992009-05-30T14:08:20.864+01:002009-05-30T14:08:20.864+01:00Sorry Iain but sometimes I think you don't underst...Sorry Iain but sometimes I think you don't understand politics at all.Jane Austinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44155262587499448452009-05-29T22:58:03.557+01:002009-05-29T22:58:03.557+01:00Bladerunner 86 - 8.01 pm :
Bladerunner 86, this is...Bladerunner 86 - 8.01 pm :<br />Bladerunner 86, this isn't a reporting service - it's a blog. It reflects the blogger's views and beliefs - not reporting fact or fiction.<br />You want a reporting service then use the mainstream media output. You want discussion and debate - well, here you are ! Agree with Iain, or disagree but please, don't expect an unbiased reporting service - he's on a political candidate list. And he's nowhere near as rabid as some of them.David Hughesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76597370902004899822009-05-29T22:50:32.714+01:002009-05-29T22:50:32.714+01:00Iain - you are trying a "shotgun approach here and...Iain - you are trying a "shotgun approach here and it doesn't work.<br />You are correct about Bill Cash ( isn't there a bit of previous about him somewhere for some reason ?) and I truly believe that you are incorrect ( I did post on another thread) about Julie Kilbride.<br />But - and it is pertinent to your question about Blears - the Cabinet members are in place regardless because Incapability Brown cannot/will not see that he needs to rid the government of these people. It's hardly going to make his position more difficult if he does, rightly, get rid of them, is it ?<br />I happen to think that Cameron "is not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy" but he needs to grasp the very pointed nettle, big style - and quickly. Then Clegg will be sidelined, Brown isolated and it's a free shot at goal !avid Hughesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-50773819756868438112009-05-29T21:44:13.621+01:002009-05-29T21:44:13.621+01:00sounds like he should be hounded as well? accordin...sounds like he should be hounded as well? according to your theory, though, why haven't we seen the conspiracy in action, ie; Galloways Respect minions sending their gestapo in for another political hit, like they did with poor ikkle julie? If he was behing Kirkbrides campaign, where are the other actions?julie freeride must go!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73048857630555299642009-05-29T21:22:00.470+01:002009-05-29T21:22:00.470+01:00Iain you do not understand that MP's serve their c...Iain you do not understand that MP's serve their constituents and not for their own self-interest and self-indulgence.Barrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41525762233604628472009-05-29T21:08:19.660+01:002009-05-29T21:08:19.660+01:00Why has Kirkbride and Dorries and to a point Camer...Why has Kirkbride and Dorries and to a point Cameron's inaction over the events escaped criticism.<br />Iain your approach to Kirkbride, Dorries and Cash smells of double standards.Captain Kirknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57441683279355667122009-05-29T20:01:53.125+01:002009-05-29T20:01:53.125+01:00"when did this blog profess to be providing a repo..."when did this blog profess to be providing a reporting service, let alone objective reporting. Look at the top: Politics, humour, gossip, commentary. I make no secret of where I come from politically. But I am neither a journalist or a reporter. I comment. Simple as that."<br />So what can discern from this? The only thing that we get from this is that you are incapable of being objective about an issue and understanding its complexity because you are unable to move beyond subjectivity. <br />There is a difference in coming from a particular point on the political spectrum interpreting events in an reasonable way, criticizing where appropriate... and your approach to Julie Kirkbride - which is biased.bladerunner86noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15629679002371527912009-05-29T19:53:49.209+01:002009-05-29T19:53:49.209+01:00However one point I do agree with you on is that t...However one point I do agree with you on is that the reporting on the issue is highly subjective. <br />But I think this also applies to how you treat this story as well as the media at large.bladerunner86noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86586584208625998832009-05-29T19:51:52.506+01:002009-05-29T19:51:52.506+01:00"I could retort that Bill's explanation doesn't pa..."I could retort that Bill's explanation doesn't pass David Cameron's "smell test", but I thought Julie's explanation did".<br />Iain once again you fall into the same trap as before and in your attempt to defend Julie you open yourself up to criticism that you are inconsistent and do not understand politics in an objective sense. Your interpretation is based purely on your subjective sentiments and have lost all objective basis. Therefore one can assume that you are incapable of understanding the broader questions in politics because you are incapable of seeing the bigger picture which is about ethics in politics. <br />Your comments about the 'smell test' is subjective in nature and open to interpretation. Is that what you intended? <br /><br />Furthermore Iain Julie Kirkbride never admitted in her explanation her complicity and ethical digression in her claims. In other words she and yourself both assumed that she did not do anything wrong.<br /><br />How is this any different? Quite frankly it isn't!bladerunner86noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53026096125344117952009-05-29T16:28:41.915+01:002009-05-29T16:28:41.915+01:00@Paul Halsall
Why do the Telegraph have to apolog...@Paul Halsall<br /><br />Why do the Telegraph have to apologise to Woolas? He made a lot of bluster about inaccuracies and threatened to sue, but I was under the impression that the Telegraph had him bang to rights.<br /><br /><A HREF="http://tinyurl.com/womens-stuff" REL="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/womens-stuff</A>The purchases in question are from a set of receipts from Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and Somerfield. They total £210.31. They include heels, bibs, baby wipes, nail polish, comics and a ladies jumper. Woolas was reimbursed for £210.31. He is only allowed to claim for items essential for his job as an MP. This is what Woolas has to say in response:<br /><br />'The claim is one document and the receipts are another. The fact that they both add up to the same amount doesn't prove anything. It doesn't mean that the fees office paid for the non-food items on the receipt.'<br /><br />The "You can't prove nuffink!" defence. Have I missed something?<br /><br />As for Julie and the smell test, perhaps Mr Dale finds her as fragrant as the delightful Lady Archer.JamesWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15049952794232518805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-887814858487939242009-05-29T16:03:59.683+01:002009-05-29T16:03:59.683+01:00The anonymous Labour stooge who keeps going on abo...The anonymous Labour stooge who keeps going on about Dave's Wisteria... do you know something we don't? My understanding was that the Wisteria claim was reasonable in context, it just <I>looked</I> a bit 'off'. Much like Brown's cleaning which was also reasonable in practice but done in a way that looked 'a bit off'. Dave has in any case repaid the Wisteria clearing bill (which would have been fine if it had been called a 'stopping chimney collapse bill'. <br /><br />The only real avenue of attack on Dave is the fact that he is claiming his mortgage interest on a big Oxfordshire pile rather than on his London home, but given what renting a home in London costs, and given the dreadful issues that Cameron had with his personal family circumstances that would have had some pretty severe implications for the size and hence cost of his london home, nobody has yet attempted to show that he wouldn't have ended up claiming the same or more for his London place than he claimed for his designated second home. So, what has he done wrong? If Dave has to go for his wisteria then there will only be about a dozen MPs who don't, and Brown will be joining the exodus with his entire cabinet!Ken Haylockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298100658896511024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38900586004221395312009-05-29T15:36:47.998+01:002009-05-29T15:36:47.998+01:00Isn't it time we got "Questions for Dave" and this...Isn't it time we got "Questions for Dave" and this time when everyone isn't at work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42809842058139206942009-05-29T15:33:55.638+01:002009-05-29T15:33:55.638+01:00Enough of the minnows Dave-time to see some blue b...Enough of the minnows Dave-time to see some blue blood on the floor.Wisteria or no wisteria!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63883919093338890912009-05-29T14:52:53.565+01:002009-05-29T14:52:53.565+01:00@not an economist
Today I went through all the Te...@not an economist<br /><br />Today I went through all the Telegraph's separate Labour and Tory lists, Plus The Guardian's Spreadsheet at http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=phNtm3LmDZEObQ2itmSqHIA<br /><br />I agree with commentators here about Hoon, Purnell, Blears, and (with some regret) Darling. Then there are the Labour members who were just milking the system (Moran) or doing thinks so stupid (Chaytor etc.) It's also true that the Telegraph needs to apologise to some people - eg Woolas (and I am not a fan).<br /><br />But when you look at the Tory problems they seem somehow worse. <br /><br />Many more claims for luxuries etc, that do not make good news.Paul Halsallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01602075031268155220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51778007243902521552009-05-29T14:01:39.976+01:002009-05-29T14:01:39.976+01:00I am beginning to think this whole issue will end ...I am beginning to think this whole issue will end up damaging the Conservative party more than Labour.<br /><br />Y'know that massive overall majority we were all expecting for David cameron? Its slowly ebbing away and may end up as a small but manageable labour victory ...not an economisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08679610738502901666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23094702571271573862009-05-29T12:36:55.836+01:002009-05-29T12:36:55.836+01:00The fact that more Tories have gone is good news f...The fact that more Tories have gone is good news for the Conservatives.<br /><br />It shows that they have a decisive leader with the authority to enforce his will.<br /><br />Labour have a leader who seems emotionally a broken man, stumbling about in confusion (still not explained why Blears is unacceptable but Purnell and Hoon are fine) and with no authority at all. Brown knows that if he tried any substantial initiative it would lead to a revolt and his own downfall.<br /><br />Kirkbride went because the media knew that not only was there a good case against her but that there existed the means to get rid of her.<br /><br />The same does not apply to Blears, Hoon etc. There is also little incentive to pursue them when it is clear that their political careers will very soon be over.Weygandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11359751090279735138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61488070262069866072009-05-29T12:31:31.456+01:002009-05-29T12:31:31.456+01:00Indeed, my interpretation of what Bill Cash said o...Indeed, my interpretation of what Bill Cash said on Newsnight is effectively "There's this expense allowance that I wasn't claiming and didn't need but my daughter was a bit skint and needed a sub so I thought a good way to do it was to claim* that I was living there and get the commons fees office to subsidise her life while she was running her political campaign. It would have worked as well if it wasn't for you meddling kids..."<br /><br />Actually the last sentence may be added for humorous purposes rather than interpretation. However, the '*' refers to the possibility that he might actually have <I>moved</I> in to her spare room in the belief that it gave his claim more legitimacy, in which case of course the neighbours etc would have seen him leaving in the mornings and returning in the evenings, won't they. And Taxi drivers will have dropped him off outside regularly, as opposed to somewhere else. So we should know soon enough.<br /><br />However, I'm afraid that 'Getting the taxpayer to fund my daughter's political ambitions' is not 'wholly, necessarily and exclusively' part of Bill Cash's job as an MP, is it. <br /><br />So at best what he did here is ethically grossly unsound, if he lived with his daughter rather than live in a flat he owned nearer parliament he fails the 'necessarily' test in the rules and should repay the money (and throw himself on the mercy of his local party), but at worse (if it were to turn out, however implausibly, that he for instance didn't live in his daughter's spare room after all, merely channelled taxpayer's money to her) he is also guilty of fraud. And presumably so would she be, if she knew that he was fraudulently claiming expenses on that basis. Would it even be a conspiracy to defraud? <br /><br />A political career potentially undone and a dynasty bought low by graft before it even starts. How terribly unfortunate...Ken Haylockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02298100658896511024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3974292116664947332009-05-29T12:16:11.332+01:002009-05-29T12:16:11.332+01:00I'm with Shamik and a couple of the other commente...I'm with Shamik and a couple of the other commenters. If Cash is bad in your eyes, why isn't Dorries or Kirkbride?<br /><br />I believe quite a bit of the Expensesgate coverage has been hysterical and unjust; and while I accept that you are not an impartial journalist, surely you have to maintain some consistency in your position?OllyReadernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-75594059763947074672009-05-29T11:56:47.994+01:002009-05-29T11:56:47.994+01:00interest rates low,inflation low,for once trains r...interest rates low,inflation low,for once trains running on time.lol.as a new voter in the next election who wants to vote for cameron,something is stopping me, he wants to scrap the targets in the NHS, this alone surely wouldnt help the general public,and it seems the worst offenders in all the scams are tory MPs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67242078355344866702009-05-29T11:54:03.094+01:002009-05-29T11:54:03.094+01:00Labour will come out of this worse than the Tories...Labour will come out of this worse than the Tories, simply because Tories are ideologically inclined to advance the worth of the individual. <br /><br />That Labour politicians who purport to advance the lot of the collective nover the individual is much harder to take for most people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89297128874530541732009-05-29T11:43:34.604+01:002009-05-29T11:43:34.604+01:00For god's sake Mr Dale, are you still barking on a...For god's sake Mr Dale, are you still barking on abour Ms Kirkbride?<br /><br />You are on a losing wicket, just accept it and move on, she had to go and she has done.<br /><br />Just because others esp those in the Cabinet have made worse transgressions does not mean Julie should not have resigned, it just means someone is giving the Cabinet an easy ride.<br /><br />There is a clear threshold of guilt to uncover at which accused MP should step down (IMO should quit now and forgo the cushy parachute payments but that's a different argument)<br /><br />Bill Cash has clearly created a short term scenario to maximise financial gain for his daughter. It may not have been against the rules, but it is NOT beyond reproach and smacks of exploiting the ACA for his daughters financial gain.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01863619464421607421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86739194523000135902009-05-29T11:40:50.678+01:002009-05-29T11:40:50.678+01:00Ian Dale
Take your point about commenting, but su...Ian Dale<br /><br />Take your point about commenting, but surely you ought to be commenting on the real scams - Darling, Hoon, Purnell and all the rest of the Labour fat cats.<br />That is where the real scandal is - at the very head of government.<br />When is the witch hunt against them going, rightly, to begin?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79205615910024194032009-05-29T11:38:36.823+01:002009-05-29T11:38:36.823+01:00Iain, the objectivity or otherwise of your evaluat...Iain, the objectivity or otherwise of your evaluation of the relative merits of the Cash claims versus the Kirkbride claims may be uppermost in your mind, but they are hardly the main story.<br /><br />The big story here is the extraordinary humbug, hypocricy and conceit of this man Cash. For many, many years he has ranted in Parliament about the need to leave the EU, to critique it, to dump it, all on the grounds that it is rotten with corruption to the core, etc, etc.<br /><br />Is there anyone in British political life who is currently revealed to be a bigger user of the humbug drug?DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34908757856009995352009-05-29T11:37:10.970+01:002009-05-29T11:37:10.970+01:00that is true, Chip, you do comment. Trouble is, it...that is true, Chip, you do comment. Trouble is, it's your comments that often don't make any sense. <br /><br />You're a classic flip-flopper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com