tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post874785275126084829..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: The Questions David Wright MP Should AnswerIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-32155994550704754732010-02-17T12:32:05.119+00:002010-02-17T12:32:05.119+00:00Off piste but what about Keir Starmer and the £8,0...Off piste but what about Keir Starmer and the £8,000 a month taxpayer bill for his chauffered Toyota Prius? To take him 4 miles to work and back again. £96,000 a year for a 3,000 mile annual commute? I hope the brakes really do fail.Jules Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316327361072587324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61509492307922009442010-02-17T12:01:40.726+00:002010-02-17T12:01:40.726+00:00Or we could stop whining about it and talk about s...Or we could stop whining about it and talk about something useful. <br /><br />"Scum-sucking" is hardly the worst insult on the face of the Earth. And you know what they say about sticks and stones. <br /><br />So the man's rude and unpleasant. What's new?Steve Tierneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16189511711594171958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30596886874741098212010-02-17T11:14:45.973+00:002010-02-17T11:14:45.973+00:00Iain, to correct your statement that "... the...Iain, to correct your statement that "... they do have use of cars, like any other ministers. They are paid exactly the same as other ministers..."<br /><br />(1) Only the Chief Whip has use of a ministerial car. See Hansard minutes <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/wmstext/80722m0008.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a> for confirmation. Surely you knew this? If so, why did you state that an Assistant Whip has one?<br /><br />(2) An Assistant Whip is paid a salary but it's a lot less than a "Minister".<br /><br />Maybe an Assistant Whip is technically a Minister, but a little teensy weensy one.<br /><br />It's not me, but you and Mr Pickles who are "digging". Do Tories really have nothing better to call on then getting down into the dirt with this idiot Wright?DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36984767320137245162010-02-17T10:58:34.384+00:002010-02-17T10:58:34.384+00:00Labour and the Internet? That'll be Anti-Socia...Labour and the Internet? That'll be Anti-Social Media then.Jules Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316327361072587324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24165536540796572602010-02-17T10:31:37.437+00:002010-02-17T10:31:37.437+00:00DL, please stop digging. So you have admitted that...DL, please stop digging. So you have admitted that whips are Ministers. That's progress.<br /><br />I am not a Tory mouthpiece. You know as well as I do that there are numerous occasions when I have criticised Tory polices and approaches both on the blog and on the media.<br /><br />You really must be losing it if you think that by having me on Sky or the BBC are breaching any code. What about when they have Alex Smith, Alex Hilton or Will Straw on. Are Sky breaching guidelines when they appear? If not why not?Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39746348704175821042010-02-17T09:46:31.237+00:002010-02-17T09:46:31.237+00:00He's only technically a minister as he draws a...He's only technically a minister as he draws a government salary. An Assistant Whip is hardly the same as a proper minister.<br /><br />I don't personally care if you are a Tory spokesperson or not, but I think it's a bit much to see you on Sky as a Tory mouthpiece day in, day out and then have you keep denying it, especially as they are clearly breaching broadcasting guidelines in this way.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-77273256240312279262010-02-17T08:57:50.703+00:002010-02-17T08:57:50.703+00:00I think there is a fair point that if the Conserva...I think there is a fair point that if the Conservatives choose to make an issue of this, then they need to keep squeaky clean themselves.<br /><br />All of which would be a move in the right direction.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234085314662011091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16425187806564083722010-02-17T08:57:13.629+00:002010-02-17T08:57:13.629+00:00So the Today programme has just effectively called...So the Today programme has just effectively called David Wright a liar, though they were obviously trying to make light of it all. I wonder if he will sue the BBC?Sic Semper Tyrannishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04097405157868540910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1492658287767675652010-02-17T08:52:34.261+00:002010-02-17T08:52:34.261+00:00DL, Oh dear, you show your ignorance again with yo...DL, Oh dear, you show your ignorance again with your comments on Assistant whips. Of course opposition whips (with the exception of the Opposition Chief Whip) are not paid, and nor are Opposition frontbenchers. <br /><br />However, Assistant whips receive the same salary as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and they are full members of the government.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38861287735118173072010-02-17T08:46:15.615+00:002010-02-17T08:46:15.615+00:00Oh dear DL, you dig yourself deeper. Yes they do h...Oh dear DL, you dig yourself deeper. Yes they do have use of cars, like any other ministers. They are paid exactly the same as other ministers.<br /><br />I am not, and never have been a Conservative Party Spokesman. I can't ever reclal an occasion when I have rung CCHQ and asked for a line to take and there has never been an occasion when they have given me one or asked me to do anything at all. They send me press releases in the same wayas they are sent to political journalists.<br /><br />You then write: "you frequently act as part of co-ordinated Conservative campaigns and sometimes even appear to initiate and lead them, soon to be followed by CCHQ."<br /><br />So they are coordinated by CCHQ after I initiate or lead them. Do you realise how ridiculous thayt sounds and how it defeats your own argument. What you are saying is that if the Daily Telegraph takes up a story I write, I then become a spokesman for the Daily Telegraph.<br /><br />What a joke you have become.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-5311111496317465622010-02-17T08:45:42.465+00:002010-02-17T08:45:42.465+00:00Thanks for posting that Iain.
The article goes on...Thanks for posting that Iain.<br /><br />The article goes on to say:<br /><br />"Assistant Whips, and Whips of opposition parties, generally do not receive such appointments."<br /><br />Assistant Whips are not government ministers.<br /><br />Eric Pickles and you ought to know this simple H of C factoid.<br /><br />I do wonder sometimes about the level of "expertise" around these parts.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28563871520429505712010-02-17T08:27:43.696+00:002010-02-17T08:27:43.696+00:00Yet as we've seen before many times Iain, you ...Yet as we've seen before many times Iain, you frequently act as part of co-ordinated Conservative campaigns and sometimes even appear to initiate and lead them, soon to be followed by CCHQ.<br /><br />My basic thesis is that "independent Tory blogger" is just a pose you, your Party and the media find convenient, as balance rules can be waived, despite the fact that you are very clearly a de-facto Conservative Party spokesman, albeit of the street variety.<br /><br />An ordinary whip (not the Chief Whip, who is different) is hardly the same as a full minister. Do they get for example a ministerial car?<br /><br />I quote from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Whip#United_Kingdom" rel="nofollow">the relevant</a> Wikipedia entry:<br /><br />"The Government Chief Whip is assisted by the Deputy Chief Whip, Whips, and Assistant Whips. In order to give them a salary for what is in essence a party office, the government whips are appointed to positions in HM Treasury and in the Royal Household under the Lord Steward of The Household. The whips are not active in either of these departments"DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66180636384137778862010-02-17T02:10:00.824+00:002010-02-17T02:10:00.824+00:00Iain is right. The whole point of people like TB ...Iain is right. The whole point of people like TB is to smear opponents while allowing the party to disclaim any responsibility for it. TB is nothing to do with the party and if he and his ilk were in Pickles' office it must be because they were lost.Jimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01542633492362670045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43028952384374665982010-02-17T00:37:00.345+00:002010-02-17T00:37:00.345+00:00Stephen Glenn, name me one occasion Tory Bear has ...Stephen Glenn, name me one occasion Tory Bear has appeared as a spokesman for the Conservative Party. You can't because he hasn't. Nor has Stephen Tall appeared as a spokesman for the LiBDems. Nor have I appeared as a Tory spokesman. A Conservative blogger does not speak for the Conservative Party.<br /><br />DL A Whip is indeed a Government Minister.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20770374179882794082010-02-16T19:20:50.141+00:002010-02-16T19:20:50.141+00:00Wright is a Whip, which is not quite ministerial.
...Wright is a Whip, which is not quite ministerial.<br /><br />He is also very clearly both a berk and a liar.<br /><br />Iain Dale himself has very frequently used similar words. Eric Pickles' letter is the most absurd kind of petty politicking - is this really what the Tory Party is concerned about right now??<br /><br />It's all unfortunately fairly typical of the degraded state of British politics at present.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15693197111428402472010-02-16T19:14:18.441+00:002010-02-16T19:14:18.441+00:00You desperate Labour apologists make me sick. You ...You desperate Labour apologists make me sick. You live your lives spouting your sixth form socialist mantras about redistribution of wealth, social inequity and tolerance but when push comes to shove, like the tribal band of petty bigots some of you are, you defend the indefensible and attempt to find moral equivalence between Harry Cole's adolescent tittle tattle and a Government minister LYING to the country. <br /><br />You are either pathetically clueless or shamelessly and deliberately hypocritical. <br /><br />Who cares, in this context, what Iain or Tory Bear or Guido may or may not have said? It doesn't make the slightest difference to the fact that David Wright has proven himself - by virtue of his vicious attack and clumsy deceit - to be unsuitable to hold public office. If you defend that, you are as ignorant as he is.Intentionally Blankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03308816777751570233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49217389368695849372010-02-16T18:42:43.318+00:002010-02-16T18:42:43.318+00:00Iain Harry 'Tory Bear' Cole may only be &#...Iain Harry 'Tory Bear' Cole may only be 'a Tory blogger who holds no public position' yet he appears frequently on Sky News as a spokesman for the Conservative party.<br /><br />Wasn't Cardiff Blogger leaned upon from on high over comment about a contestant in the X-Factor, not the Prime Minster of the country and his disability.<br /><br />Maybe Tory Porcipine is a more appropriate name for that particular blogger.Stephen Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03027718551675624433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25057656802510348932010-02-16T17:45:53.947+00:002010-02-16T17:45:53.947+00:00Nice one Eric.
For the many trolls who infest this...Nice one Eric.<br />For the many trolls who infest this site, Eric Pickles or an assistant has spent just an hour or two on the letter to "Scumbag" Wright.<br />Otherwise the great man spends many hours every day plotting the downfall of Labour MPs, particularly in marginal seats.Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161658443183028628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-92192328889547783932010-02-16T17:15:54.109+00:002010-02-16T17:15:54.109+00:00someone said
It's not the content of the ori...someone said <br /><br />It's not the content of the original message that's causing David Who some discopmfort. It's the LYING about it<br /><br />As far as i'm aware he's not denying the twitter post its what was included in the post. ie his denial that he used those words.<br />I don't know if his twitter account was hacked i'm not defending him whatsoever. <br /><br />My point is that Eric and iain use similar words and associate themselves with people who do on a frequent basis. I call those kind of people hypocrites.<br /><br />My other point is cut/copy/paste is problematic as i found out earlier this afternoon. That could be perhaps one reason why david is aghast at what has been posted. <br /><br />the odds of that being true though are low lol but well worth a punt for a whip under pressuregolden_ballshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17002302454171212086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83824664208234669952010-02-16T17:10:44.267+00:002010-02-16T17:10:44.267+00:00Golden Balls,
Were Iain an MP (and yes, Jemimah, ...Golden Balls,<br /><br />Were Iain an MP (and yes, Jemimah, it's not for want of trying!) he would indeed be a hypocrite here.<br /><br />However, Iain is not paid by the taxpayer to manage his consituency, help run the country, tell the truth and behave with decency and decorum at all times. Mr Wright is, and has clearly abused his position and then lied about it.<br /><br />What Iain writes on his blog is his own business, funded by himself and his own efforts, and as such if he wishes to call someone a scumbag he has every right to do so (and the same applies to lefties such as Sunny Hundal etc. etc.). Should Iain win selection as an MP, of course this would change.<br /><br />The distinction is both clear and obvious.The Random Punterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16862478828540538403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27775125071331874692010-02-16T16:13:12.004+00:002010-02-16T16:13:12.004+00:00Eric Pickles was due on 5Live's Richard Bacon ...Eric Pickles was due on 5Live's Richard Bacon show before 4pm; did anyone hear it? What happened?Not a sheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14123293202225008273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19888521213744896052010-02-16T16:04:51.586+00:002010-02-16T16:04:51.586+00:00golden balls - I'm beginning to sispect that e...golden balls - I'm beginning to sispect that even given 100 hours and the assistance of Bernie the Bolt you'd still manage to miss the point.<br /><br />It's not the content of the original message that's causing David Who some discopmfort. It's the LYING about it. I know that it's just a bodily function for you Labour factota, but for the rest of us the LYING remains obnoxious.<br /><br />How are you enjoying half term?Moriartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02636946960473769348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36858355832648901892010-02-16T15:29:25.871+00:002010-02-16T15:29:25.871+00:00This isn't about Twitter. It's about hones...This isn't about Twitter. It's about honesty. I listened to the liar Mr Wright lying today on the radio. <br /><br />He must think people are idiots. You can't edit tweets and a quick view in the cache of his past tweets shows that he is more than happy to hurl verbal abuse. <br /><br />Now if a Labour MP cannot even be honest about his conduct on a triviality such as Twitter how can he possibly be trusted as a MP? <br /><br />Shame people on here seem to need the basic argument highlighted to them. Iain ever wonder about having a IQ test on here before people are allowed to post?Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06536596399135318623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63062822607508228482010-02-16T15:07:57.024+00:002010-02-16T15:07:57.024+00:00random punter said
Iain Dale is a commentator, h...random punter said <br /><br />Iain Dale is a commentator, he has no say in policy, and as such, he is entitled to make as much of this as he wants.<br /><br />true but as stated above iain has himself reduced himself to using similar words about people. I just find that hypocritical.<br /><br /> I don't know if Davids twitter account was hacked what i can say is that sometimes mistakes do happen. Copy and paste is great but sometimes this can lead to problems as i've just found out and thankfully corrected lolgolden_ballshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17002302454171212086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23124801405914729042010-02-16T14:59:01.379+00:002010-02-16T14:59:01.379+00:00"Iain Dale is a commentator, he has no say in..."Iain Dale is a commentator, he has no say in policy..."<br /><br />Not for the want of trying!!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02472577114696109712noreply@blogger.com