tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post818816867880965980..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: From a LibDem Insider...Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33942795368696602452007-10-17T09:42:00.000+01:002007-10-17T09:42:00.000+01:00Which of these things are the Cameroons not, Newma...<I>Which of these things are the Cameroons not, Newmania? They are, in fact, Eurofederalists, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-drugs.</I><BR/><BR/>That's a rather hackneyed rhetorical trick, David. As soneone who is broadly a supporter of DC; I'm not anti-family, but I'm not anti-gay or anti-single people, or anti-co-habiting couples either. Not thinking that heterosexual marriage* should grant you any special privileges does <I>not</I> mean one is 'anti-family.' <BR/><BR/>Likewise, believing that we lock up too many of our citizens (more than any other western European nation) does not make one 'pro'-crime. And, Cameron supporter though I be, I'm really quite euro-sceptic, and I think you'll find a few of his shadow ministerial team (Boris Johnson springs to mind, as does William Hague) are outspokenly of that view.<BR/><BR/>I am, however, pro-drugs. You're right on that one. <BR/><BR/>* heaven knows why, but your rhetoric leads me to believe that you wouldn't count a gay civil partnership that had adopted a child as a 'proper' family. I do apologise if I'm incorrectly prejudging you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56434807648838574312007-10-16T16:54:00.000+01:002007-10-16T16:54:00.000+01:00Which of these things are the Cameroons not, Newma...Which of these things are the Cameroons not, Newmania? They are, in fact, Eurofederalists, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-drugs. They are by no means the only people like that. But they are like that all the same.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66329981217800401932007-10-16T16:37:00.000+01:002007-10-16T16:37:00.000+01:00Clegg n' Laws will then join the Tory party. You h...Clegg n' Laws will then join the Tory party. You heard it here first!<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Is that really a possibility . I see absolutely no reason why Cameron should not work with Clegg. Why should we always assume the Liberals are just socialists pklus sandals .Perhaps some of them still belive in Liberty ?Newmaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922161971821380803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66435779105065987512007-10-16T16:35:00.000+01:002007-10-16T16:35:00.000+01:00Eurofederalist, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-dru...<I>Eurofederalist, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-drugs Cameroons</I> <BR/><BR/>This is absolutely ridiculous David ...sounds to me as if you should be a Conservtave thoughNewmaniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11922161971821380803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51527342676998826132007-10-16T12:40:00.000+01:002007-10-16T12:40:00.000+01:00Anon 11:58 15/10I knew Sarah at university - my gi...Anon 11:58 15/10<BR/><BR/>I knew Sarah at university - my girlfriend was one of her closest friends. I presume as you generalise then you don't know Sarah herself.<BR/><BR/>I agree that there is a viscious edge to "Liberal Demorat" politics (I generally put the quotes in, as they are neither liberal nor democratic). However that is hardly a reason for one of them to despise another, or for anyone to despise one individual unless you can show she was involved in the dirty campaigning the "LibDems" like so much. More likely to show that the one despised is in a minority as a decent person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24928491018342827182007-10-16T11:54:00.000+01:002007-10-16T11:54:00.000+01:00The world waits for bated breath to find out which...The world waits for bated breath to find out which pipsqueak gets to be leader of the LibDhimms until shortly after the next election. <BR/><BR/>Bunnies can and will go to France!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-55130543738007566422007-10-16T11:53:00.000+01:002007-10-16T11:53:00.000+01:00if they are looking for a woman to be pushed forwa...if they are looking for a woman to be pushed forward then I'd be putting my money on Goldsworthy before Teather. <BR/><BR/>But isn't it fun watching them implode? If they go for Clegg then they might take some tory votes off Dave, but run the risk of the "why not just vote tory?" conundrum. If they go for a leftist SD they are running diametrically opposite to the zeitgeist and heading for [even greater plains of] electoral wilderness.<BR/><BR/>Cable will be seen by many as having Ming's chief failing (age) without his chief bonus (sophistication) and - in any case - by appearing alongside Hughes the Knife on tv now looks a little too much like a <I>consiglieri</I> to be a <I>capo</I>.<BR/><BR/>Hah!Can't wait!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51291805100521433532007-10-16T11:47:00.000+01:002007-10-16T11:47:00.000+01:00Not for the first time, Dan is spot on.I've yet to...Not for the first time, Dan is spot on.<BR/><BR/>I've yet to meet anyone who has worked with Chris Huhne who has anything like as high an opinion of him as he has of himself.Mike Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016813232626327117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56959697730130365522007-10-16T11:35:00.000+01:002007-10-16T11:35:00.000+01:00What i'd like to know iain is the individual who s...What i'd like to know iain is the individual who slipped you that briefing as vacuous as the briefing itself? Virtually no mention of WHAT is required to make the Libbies (cough splutter) credible/principled/believable. I know political manouvering is inevitable but no mention in the brief of WHO would be the best candidate for the job. Tut Tut.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45467354230318317692007-10-16T10:32:00.000+01:002007-10-16T10:32:00.000+01:00Huhne's majority at the last election was 568, and...Huhne's majority at the last election was 568, and UKIP polled 1,669.<BR/><BR/>Selecting him as leader would seem to be a bit of a risk, to put it mildly!Windsor Tripehoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16923036087016324862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58939769164846113272007-10-16T10:30:00.000+01:002007-10-16T10:30:00.000+01:00There is now (indeed, there has long been) a gap i...There is now (indeed, there has long been) a gap in the market for a party which genuinely represents the views of people in places like the North of Scotland, the South of Scotland, Mid-Wales, the West Country, and such pockets elsewhere as Berwick, and North Norfolk.<BR/><BR/>The Eurofederalist, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-drugs Lib Dems were never that party, any more than the Eurofederalist, anti-family, pro-crime and pro-drugs Cameroons (including the Blairobite insurrectionists within New Labour) could ever be that party.<BR/><BR/>And isn't it grand how the two frontrunners to succeed Ming both went to the same public school?David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79893941759557609162007-10-16T10:18:00.000+01:002007-10-16T10:18:00.000+01:00Not the best of news for the Conservatives on the ...Not the best of news for the Conservatives on the face of it. They would have preferred the LibDems to limp on with Ming at their head to the inevitable electoral oblivion.<BR/><BR/>But faced with those circumstances the LibDems had no choice and had I been in their shoes I would have done exactly the same and given Sir "Ming" the option of going with good grace and plaudits in public or face being pushed out. Nobody knows which of the two it was although perhaps the signs are there that it may not have been the former despite the party elders being wheeled on the TV to state otherwise.<BR/><BR/>However, perhaps the one to really worry in all of this is Brown who faced with the younger Cameron and possibly Nick Clegg will start to look jaded and "yesterday's man" particularly when the election is called in 2009. However Gordon will NEVER be forced out of the leadership unless he loses the election. The party knows that if it came to it he would split the party before allowing that to happen. If it had been otherwise they would have stood in his way of succeeding Blair without murmur or dissent.<BR/><BR/>Whoever the LibDems elect as leader Labour can no longer be sure of winning a future election so easily as the last three contests and the spectre of a "hung parliament" is a distinct possibilityAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56169110228786174872007-10-16T10:12:00.000+01:002007-10-16T10:12:00.000+01:00What a set of poor choices for their leader:- Huhn...What a set of poor choices for their leader:<BR/>- Huhne who is a world-class hypocrite with a colourful business career and personal life (see : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-lewis/britains-liberals-elect-_b_16661.html)<BR/>and read the amusing paragraphs about him.<BR/>- Clegg who as far as I'm aware hasn't really done anything politically other than by accident of birth be relatively young, look good and speak articulately. He's also a fully paid-up member of the political elite (Westminster, Euro MP, SpAD) and will crowd the LibDems onto the policy pin-head alongside Cameron and Brown. For some reason all columnists think Clegg is the savior.<BR/>- Kennedy who actually may help the LibDems recover in the polls as Iain suggests has two deadly disadvantages. 1. His credibility is shot after he lied about his alcoholism 2. He still (as far as I'm aware) likes a drink. Leadership of the LibDems is hardly going to help him overcome his addiction!<BR/>What about electing someone like Norman Baker. OK he looks a bit mad, but he is absolutely genuine, honest and has huge personal integrity. He is not a paid-up member of the political elite, and his views are surely far more in touch with the LibDem rank n' file than Clegg or Huhne. He would make a refreshing change.<BR/>But knowing the LibDems, they'll elect Huhne as the media clamors for Clegg. Clegg n' Laws will then join the Tory party. You heard it here first!AnyoneButBrownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12449885769320793720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77765539039398273532007-10-16T09:13:00.000+01:002007-10-16T09:13:00.000+01:00Ming is obviously a decent individual trapped in a...Ming is obviously a decent individual trapped in a party of nasties.<BR/><BR/>For the Lib-Dems sake, the only person they should elect is Clegg who has the skill and charisma to take on Cameron.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-85295017843192906082007-10-16T08:32:00.000+01:002007-10-16T08:32:00.000+01:00I can't get excited.As a voter, the LibDems manage...I can't get excited.<BR/>As a voter, the LibDems manage to combine original and interesting ideas with complete impracticality and lunacy.<BR/><BR/>An engaging combination but not a vote winner.Madasafishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06109237198481955714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59552758810774251972007-10-16T08:26:00.000+01:002007-10-16T08:26:00.000+01:00What's the difference between an 'ite' and an 'ist...What's the difference between an 'ite' and an 'ista'?Sabretachehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11652655872639394084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43686126394767609922007-10-16T00:27:00.000+01:002007-10-16T00:27:00.000+01:00Ming's going (in a huff in his Edinburgh townhouse...Ming's going (in a huff in his Edinburgh townhouse) as UK leader.<BR/><BR/>Lembit's standing down as Welsh party leader.<BR/><BR/>German says he'll be going next year as leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Welsh Seannad.<BR/><BR/>Anyine see a pattern emerging here?<BR/><BR/>Must mean that Nicol Stephen is going to go next.<BR/><BR/>Nicol who you say?<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://fibdems.blogspot.com/2006/06/just-what-is-point-of-nicol-stephen.html" REL="nofollow">This </A> might help.<BR/><BR/>Or <A HREF="http://fibdems.blogspot.com/2006/07/nobody-left-in-charge-of-scotland.html" REL="nofollow">this </A>.<BR/><BR/>Or <A HREF="http://fibdems.blogspot.com/2006/06/and-he-thinks-he-can-be-first-minister.html" REL="nofollow">this </A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3172729843033070212007-10-16T00:26:00.000+01:002007-10-16T00:26:00.000+01:00"Both Lembit Opik and Mark Oaten have already come..."Both Lembit Opik and Mark Oaten have already come out for Clegg tonight."<BR/><BR/>Considering Lembit's endorsement track record in the last leadership campaign that's Clegg ferked then.<BR/><BR/>Is he a secret agent for Huhne?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44907759600148967522007-10-16T00:22:00.000+01:002007-10-16T00:22:00.000+01:00Lembits baxked Clegg. Thats it, its Huhne to win.Lembits baxked Clegg. Thats it, its Huhne to win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-69582826535048518292007-10-15T23:58:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:58:00.000+01:00" I cannot see how anyone decent can despise Sarah..." I cannot see how anyone decent can despise Sarah Teather. She was a decent, intelligent, likeable woman."<BR/><BR/>Anyone who has had the experience and misfortune of campaiging locally against the LDs will be pissing their pants that anyone could use the terms 'likeable and decent' to describe ANY lib dem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-56195116033726833062007-10-15T23:54:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:54:00.000+01:00Both Campbell and Ashdown are victims of Cameron's...Both Campbell and Ashdown are victims of Cameron's success.Virtually all the seats the LDs won since 1997 have been gained from the Tories.I doubt anyone the LDs come up with will change much.The LDs have been a two trick pony:Iraq and 'if you don't like the Tories vote for us'.Neither of those tricks carry the same electoral advantage they once did.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57023406775125258492007-10-15T23:48:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:48:00.000+01:00This does not enamour me to the Lib Dems. Even tho...This does not enamour me to the Lib Dems. Even though I disagree with her politics I cannot see how anyone decent can despise Sarah Teather. She was a decent, intelligent, likeable woman. She had not a jot of nastiness in her - a failing in politics I am sure, but not to be despised.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20719277178564493612007-10-15T23:39:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:39:00.000+01:00Vince Cable was in a group of people who hung arou...Vince Cable was in a group of people who hung around a coffee bar called the "spick and span" in York, in the early 1960's. He had a skiffle group called "Vince Cable and the Hotwires" and regularly appeared at the Zarf and the Mandrake Clubs, also in York doing Johhny Kidd and Vince Taylor covers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47038999430480657082007-10-15T23:30:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:30:00.000+01:00So according to this insider, the LDs are simply g...So according to this insider, the LDs are simply going to elect whoever is "flavour of the month" (that month being December) with no consideration as to what might be in the long-term interests of the party.<BR/><BR/>The trouble is, I believe him.<BR/><BR/>No matter who you vote for, this kind of back-stabbing and short-term leader positioning is not good for politics in this country. politics needs maturity, common sense and stability.AloneManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17435048420998106381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-88881997364110860272007-10-15T23:28:00.000+01:002007-10-15T23:28:00.000+01:00Interesting that your insider doesn't mention Kenn...Interesting that your insider doesn't mention Kennedy. <BR/><BR/>I would expect the candidates to be Clegg, Goldsworthy, Huhne and Webb.Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.com