tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5321410002813494722..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Jury Team Launches Attack Ad Against Jacqui SmithIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9026243506722978192009-04-04T15:57:00.000+01:002009-04-04T15:57:00.000+01:00Westminster functioned very well for several hundr...Westminster functioned very well for several hundred years without the present rigid political party system. What we have now has emasculated parliament. Most actual scrutiny appears to take place in the Lords these days. Why? It has a good number of cross benchers, who are swayed by reasoned argument. <BR/>Having a parliament with more independent members can only be good, as it would introduce more scrutiny. Independent members would align and vote together on certain issues, but these alliances would constantly be shifting, and there would be more room for reason and proper argument.The Bent Branchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16281010373396592381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-88206329814677083332009-04-03T09:24:00.000+01:002009-04-03T09:24:00.000+01:00You are wrong. You have an axe to grind.You are wrong. You have an axe to grind.force12https://www.blogger.com/profile/09972996057694609151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86992585646375929252009-04-03T02:14:00.000+01:002009-04-03T02:14:00.000+01:00IanYou are wrong.Jury team as a 'party' are a-poli...Ian<BR/><BR/>You are wrong.<BR/><BR/>Jury team as a 'party' are a-political - they just provide support to independent candidates.<BR/><BR/>Jury team as an organisation aren't promoting a set of political beliefs, they are supporting a new system of representative democracy.<BR/><BR/>In conclusion, I would just say vote for me<BR/><BR/>text pauper01 to 86837<BR/><BR/>Full SP at<BR/>http://www.juryteam.org/candidate-profile.php?id=10146Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10605617930455114746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1175783372502614212009-04-02T23:05:00.000+01:002009-04-02T23:05:00.000+01:00Simon, I saw an hour when I had a day off work. It...Simon, I saw an hour when I had a day off work. It was more than enough, believe me!Martin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148241391183658112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57167648044296302012009-04-02T22:46:00.000+01:002009-04-02T22:46:00.000+01:00Having a load of MPs with no party programme or ma...Having a load of MPs with no party programme or manifesto is a recipe for anarchy. There's nothing wrong with having parties, it's just the 3 lame parties stand for nothing and spend their time discussing trivia and only appeal to a narrow electorate - floating voters in marginal seats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-42627060648474190322009-04-02T22:44:00.000+01:002009-04-02T22:44:00.000+01:00Private Eye has an article about the founder of Ju...Private Eye has an article about the founder of Jury Team and his wife and expenses.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23878952366196623222009-04-02T22:41:00.000+01:002009-04-02T22:41:00.000+01:00Most commentators are missing the point of what th...Most commentators are missing the point of what the Jury Team is: it imposes a moral code on its candidates, but apart from that, candidates are independent. They are not even selected by the Jury Team, they are selected by the public. In other words, Jury Team is offering us a way to get people elected who are not career politicians. People who will put the Nation first, not their party, or their pockets.<BR/>If the BNP got a seat in the EU, the far-right antics of the Tory Party in Europe in the last few days, would possibly make them ideal bedmates. Certainly, some of the groups the Tories are holding preliminary talks with are as far right as the BNP, in their own way. <BR/><BR/>Westminster, in particular, needs far more independent MP's; then perhaps it would function a bit more like the House of Lords, and do its job of scrutinising the government. Each Jury Team candidate has to be viewed on their own merits. We will know who those people are after 24 April. I suspect they will represent a wide range of political views. <BR/>I am one of those independents putting myself forward for nomination. You can see my website here:<BR/>http://portsoken.ning.comThe Bent Branchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16281010373396592381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27992423296736413572009-04-02T21:37:00.000+01:002009-04-02T21:37:00.000+01:00Michael White in the New Statesman:"... we can saf...<A HREF="http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/04/westminster-brown-mps/" REL="nofollow">Michael White in the <I>New Statesman</I></A>:<BR/>"... we can safely debate parliament’s role. Nothing will have happened this week to change the fundamentals. With the politicians away, nothing much will happen next week, either, unless it is true that a mole is waiting to detonate an MPs’ expenses dossier. The video bill for the woman the tabs call 'the Porn Minister', Jacqui Smith? You ain’t seen nothing yet."<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/the-week/3505891/diary-of-a-notting-hill-nobody.thtml/" REL="nofollow">The ever-delightful "Tamzin Lightwater" in the <I>Spectator</I></A>:<BR/>"... Our new Expenses Helpline is completely jammed. We’re not even scratching the surface of the demand. Had an MP on this morning hysterical about his Sky subscription. Something about ‘buxom babes’ and ‘essential research into Broken Britain’. Another backbencher demanding to know what to do about his hunting fees — ‘Are they saying I can’t claim them back now? Ridiculous! It’s only £115 a month for a full subscription including field money.’ I said I thought it probably best if he didn’t, just until the fuss dies down."<BR/><BR/>Be careful what you wish for. You might get it.Malcolm Redfellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11907427518823910875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79787930272073053662009-04-02T21:18:00.000+01:002009-04-02T21:18:00.000+01:00We've got a promise to do a lot of things differe...We've got a promise to do a lot of things differently, Iain - open primaries, no whipping, decentralised politics - but I've got no problem with attack ads when an attack is justified.<BR/><BR/>The fact is that for all the negative campaigning, there is a somewhat cosy consensus amongst the parties on sleaze - "we'll won't hit Jacqui Smith too hard in return for you guys not gunning for Caroline Spelman"<BR/><BR/>I would love to see the opposition parties laying into Tony McNulty, Dawn Butler, Nigel Griffiths, Jacqui Smith, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Don Touhig, ann and Alan Keen etc ad nauseaum, but that would leave Caroline Spelman, Nicholas and Ann Winterton, Andrew Rosindell and similar scoundrels exposed.<BR/><BR/>All the parties are at it, and it doesn't behove them to make a big deal out of these ever-more-common cases.<BR/><BR/>I can't promise that Independent MPs will be better, but I've been pleased with the ones who are there (check out Dr Richard Taylor's expenses for comparison), and I think there's a logic to the fact that if you don't have a party to protect you whether you're right-or-wrong, you might think a little more carefully about thieving from the taxpayer.<BR/><BR/>There is a massive anti-politics feeling in this country, because the political parties have disengaged and betrayed the vast majority of the people that they claim to represent.<BR/><BR/>Many of those will end up in the pockets of smaller parties or not voting at all - we think there should be somewhere for people to lend their votes which doesn't include slavish loyalty to a party agenda and might just provide an avenue for candidates from outside of the political class.<BR/><BR/>I don't know how effective this will be, but I'd like to at least have the conversation.Morushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10437423257286805393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76141658875468963852009-04-02T21:08:00.000+01:002009-04-02T21:08:00.000+01:00I think the jury are still out on this one.I think the jury are still out on this one.jailhouselawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795278184797990706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77697746665174942992009-04-02T20:50:00.001+01:002009-04-02T20:50:00.001+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13586208650402254716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66541824946831334872009-04-02T20:50:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:50:00.000+01:00All parties are full of easy soundbites...surely?M...All parties are full of easy soundbites...surely?<BR/><BR/>Maybe there is some irony in their ad? Or maybe not..<BR/><BR/>Either way, someone has to tell it like it is. Officially - so to speak.<BR/>Like Mr Hannan did recently. More of it, more often please. :)markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13586208650402254716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26403303439395697072009-04-02T20:42:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:42:00.000+01:00Thatsnews said... “..."Now on the Jury Team we let...Thatsnews said... <I>“..."Now on the Jury Team we let the specially selected panel of viewers decide if an idiot chav is guilty of not showing enough respect, init, to his girlfriend's 10 children by 10 other chav blokes."”</I><BR/><BR/>You watch <B><I>way</I></B> too much daytime TV (like any).Simon Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17189501697856123305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36736068561597181542009-04-02T20:20:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:20:00.000+01:00Being anti-politics would make more sense if they ...Being anti-politics would make more sense if they knew what politics consists of but, mostly, they say they don't really know. Even Edmund Burke gets misunderstood. What on earth makes anyone think that people who are arrogant enough to think they should be in the European Parliament without ever bothering to find out what that institution does or does not do are the ones we want to be claiming expenses?Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799545178433498944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-31926375800308885402009-04-02T20:19:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:19:00.000+01:00The Jury Team? Sounds like the name of one of thos...The Jury Team? Sounds like the name of one of those cheaply made daytime TV shows. "Now on the Jury Team we let the specially selected panel of viewers decide if an idiot chav is guilty of not showing enough respect, init, to his girlfriend's 10 children by 10 other chav blokes."Martin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148241391183658112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60884396285997542009-04-02T20:18:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:18:00.000+01:00Isn't 'The Jury Team' some state sponsored BNP spo...Isn't 'The Jury Team' some state sponsored BNP spoiler outfit?slipXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00300737905223784304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25703847603518064252009-04-02T20:12:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:12:00.000+01:00Nothing wrong with promoting public awareness...Ar...Nothing wrong with promoting public awareness...<BR/><BR/>Are the facts correct?<BR/><BR/>They appear to be...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18691136369021793652009-04-02T20:03:00.000+01:002009-04-02T20:03:00.000+01:00“Home Secs are fair game - irrelevant of administr...<I>“Home Secs are fair game - irrelevant of administration, majority, record, ability, charisma, length of service etc etc... ...Don't wait for another opportunity, don't judge the landscape or how the wind blows or consequences - you take them out.”</I><BR/><BR/>That seems very fair.Simon Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17189501697856123305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-31209394900596085552009-04-02T19:44:00.000+01:002009-04-02T19:44:00.000+01:00Home Secs are fair game - irrelevant of administra...Home Secs are fair game - irrelevant of administration, majority, record, ability, charisma, length of service etc etc.<BR/><BR/> If you get the chance to take them out, you take them out - cardinal rule of politics.<BR/><BR/> Don't wait for another opportunity, don't judge the landscape or how the wind blows or consequences - you take them out.Dick the Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683095612320513712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-62200098664015646272009-04-02T19:43:00.000+01:002009-04-02T19:43:00.000+01:00What the Tories, Liebour and the Lib Dems are NOT ...What the Tories, Liebour and the Lib Dems are NOT full of empty soundbites as well?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10574081059364644191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91048590195825559132009-04-02T19:38:00.000+01:002009-04-02T19:38:00.000+01:00The only way to defeat Labour is vote Tory!Whilst ...The only way to defeat Labour is vote Tory!<BR/><BR/>Whilst the Jury Team are well intentioned they are on a hiding to nothing!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23196728173214311842009-04-02T19:28:00.000+01:002009-04-02T19:28:00.000+01:00It's a good message but parodying Mastercard adver...It's a good message but parodying Mastercard adverts got old years ago.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419501242272668721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64003479477195109662009-04-02T18:48:00.001+01:002009-04-02T18:48:00.001+01:00Seems like a good advert to me. I still would not ...Seems like a good advert to me. I still would not give Jury my vote but anything that saps Labour is fine by me.Victor, NW Kenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14778890471547456396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15128365390414917312009-04-02T18:48:00.000+01:002009-04-02T18:48:00.000+01:00Anti PoliticsI like the sound of thatAnti Politics<BR/><BR/>I like the sound of thatOld Holbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10164491045068093627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4366118093437708302009-04-02T18:33:00.000+01:002009-04-02T18:33:00.000+01:00Surely they are attacking the 'status quo' and tha...Surely they are attacking the 'status quo' and that can't be bad.Catosayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02885445175868379750noreply@blogger.com