The Daley (Half) Dozen: Monday

1. LibDem Voice asks: to tithe or not to tithe?
2. Sunny Hundal on why we should stay in Afghanistan.
3. Paul Waugh on the PM's spokesman's Commie bug.
4. Guido looks forward to a BBC/Daily Mail poll.
5. Jeremy Hunt on his Question Time appearance.
6. Cranmer on NHS sponsored onanism.

God Doesn't Do Party Politics, But If He Did...

I don't do God. But even if I did, I would make sure I kept my religion out of my politics. The debate sparked off by Archbishop Cranmer in a post titled ONE REASON CHRISTIANS SHOULD VOTE CONSERVATIVE illustrates the dangers of mixing religion and politics - particularly party politics. Labour MP Tom Harris has now weighed in with a powerful piece asserting that God doesn't belong to one political party - which is, of course, true. Cranmer's thesis is that if Christians want to restrict abortions, then the Conservative Party is the only party to vote for. Tom argues that this is akin to bringing American style abortion politics to this country.

Tory-voting Christians all too often try to make this specious argument, that a single party (theirs, of course) most accurately represents “Christian values”. Labour-voting Christians, in my experience, tend not to, or at least, they do it less often. Perhaps that’s because they look across at the American political system and are repulsed by the stranglehold that the Christian Right have over Republican policy and don’t want to see the same thing happen here.

This is the only part of his article I must take issue with. I've certainly come across Labour supporters who are religious who cannot fathom how a God fearing Christian could ever vote Conservative. And secondly, I know of no mainstream Conservative who would ever want the so-called Christian Right to have a stranglehold over the Conservative Party.

Although I am not religious I share many Christian values (at least, I hope I do), and so does the Conservative Party. So indeed do other political parties. There are plenty of Labour MPs, and a few LibDems who would share Cranmer's concern about abortion law reform. But these are matters of conscience - not matters of party politics. And long may they remain so. To that extent I am with Tom Harris on this, rather than His Grace.

God doesn't do party politics*, but if he did, I suspect that he would have voted for all three political parties over the last 100 years.

* Yes, I can see the deep irony of an Agnostic writing about God as if he exists...

Dizzy: Answer the Bloody Question!

Newsnight's David Grossman quizzes Dizzy (aka Phil Hendren) about his FOI request about the Number Ten Downing Street gift shop. He displays an unnatural interest in oven gloves. Can't think why.

Watch the clip HERE.

Conservatives Outline New Approach to Aid

David Cameron and Andrew Mitchell launched a new policy paper on international aid this morning. You can read the detail HERE. The video released at the same time emphasises a rewards based policy, which most people will support.

There is much to commend the policy paper, but there are two points I would make. Firstly, in times of economic crisis all departmental budgets must come under scrutiny and international aid should be no different. We all know there is massive wastage on some of the projects supported by Dfid and this must be rooted out.

Secondly, I refuse to believe that Britain should be sending aid to a country like China - not because it is Communist controlled (although that's good enough reason in itself), but because China is quite rich enough to look after its own people. Aid should go where it is needed, not to China. I hope a Conservative government will grasp this nettle and concentrate its aid efforts on African countries who need it most.

UPDATE: Tim Montgomerie has left a comment saying that Andrew Mitchell has said that aid to China will indeed stop. Hurrah!

Donald MacCormick Dies

Some of you of my age group and older may remember a BBC journalist called Donald MacCormick. He was a regular presenter of Newsnight in the 1980s and deputised for Sir Robin Day on Question Time.

He died of a heart attack at the weekend at the age of 70. MacCormick hadn't been on our screens for some time but earlier this year presented BBC Parliament's programme about the March 1979 vote of confidence.

Sir Ming Campbell has spoken of him as a "Prince among broadcasters". I remember him being a calm and polite interviewer with a tremendous knowledge of the political scene.

The Daley (Half) Dozen: Sunday

1. Quaequam blog thinks the LibDems have lost the plot in Norwich North.
2. John Redwood on the future of Trident.
3. Guido analyses the possibility of the Tories dropping their Inheritance Tax cut pledge.
4. London Muslim says the Tories are adopting an Islamic approach to divorce.
5. Ben Brogan on the Tory tax and spending plans.
6. Fraser Nelson on why women don't like Gordon.

Disagreeing with Peter Oborne

Peter Oborne is one of my favourite journalists. But his Spectator Diary this week starts off with a little story which makes me wonder if he hasn't lost the plot. Read on...

The shadow chancellor George Osborne has been lunching privately with the textiles magnate Richard Caring, the Labour-supporting businessman who got caught up in the cash for peerages investigation. It is less than a year since Osborne demonstrated a catastrophic failure of judgment by being lured onto a yacht owned by the disreputable Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. After the Deripaska episode Osborne promised to have nothing more to do with political funding. Yet here he is consorting with another party donor. What on earth does the shadow chancellor think he is doing?

Oborne is falling into a trap. Using his logic, a politician should never meet or have lunch with any businessman who could potentially be considered a political donor. Did Peter Oborne consider that George Osborne might possibly be meeting Mr Caring to learn about textiles and the sector's contribution to the British economy? He insinuates that Osborne would have been touting for a party donation, but admits that Caring is a Labour supporter. How do those two statements marry?

I am all in favour of journalists having a go at a politician when that politician has done something wrong. But to do so on this evidence presented is just gratuitous.

Stories likes this illustrate something which, if we are not careful, is going to lead to few people ever wanting to go into politics. If the media automatically assume that a politician is up to no good because they are seen lunching with someone who is in business, we are on a very slippery slope indeed. Peter Oborne wants our politics cleansed, and he is absolutely right to want that. So do most of us. The challenge for politicians is to gradually restore trust to our politics. But the challenge for journalists is to avoid writing stories which impute wrongdoing when there is absolutely no evidence. All that does is feed the present public appetite for any story which appears to suggest that all politicians are crooks.

Later in his diary column Peter has a go at Parliament for "sabotaging" what he describes as the "flawed but sadly necessary" Parliamentary Standards Bill. The PSB was a hastily drafted Bill with more holes in it than Rab C Nesbitt's underpants. Far from sabotaging it, MPs removed one of the dafter parts of it and sought to amend others. It's called parliamentary scrutiny. Sadly some of the other dafter elements of it remained intact because the government used its majority to force it through. When you make law in haste, you may be sure that you will be able to repent at leisure. Let's hope the House of Lords amends it in a positive way so the Bill can achieve what it means to - a cleaner, more transparent system, under which MPs can perform their parliamentary duties in a way we can all approve of.

Please don't interpret this as me having a go at Peter Oborne. As I say, he is man and a journalist I have the utmost respect for. I just think in this column, he is wrong. But that doesn't stop me recommending his Dispatches documentary tomorrow night on Channel 4 at 8pm, called THE CHILDREN BRITAIN BETRAYED. It's a film abour child homicide. Did you know that one child a week in Britain is killed by one of its parents? No, me neither.

Marr Nails Griffin on Sinking Immigrant Boats

So, who saw Andrew Marr interviewing Nick Griffin this morning? I thought Marr asked him some good questions, without the normal hectoring and aggression which is normally the mark of interviews with Griffin. And in my view, although Griffin was quite eloquent, he dug himself deeper and deeper as the interview went on. Marr asked him if he had recently said that boats carrying illegal immigrants from North Africa across the Med should be sunk. He admitted that he had and although he tried to explain his way out of it, any credibility he had built up during the rest of the interview was shot to pieces.

Top 20 Blogger Twitterers

Six months ago I compiled a list of the Top 25 Blogger Twitterers, ranked by number of followers. This is the up to date list. It includes all bloggers I have managed to find who have more than 1,200 followers. If you click on each person's name, you will be led to their Twitter feed. If you want to follow them, just click on the FOLLOW button.

There are 7 right of centre bloggers (down from 11) in the Top 25, 8 left of centre (same as last time), and 1 LibDem (down one). The highest climber is Labour MP Sadiq Khan.

1. +4 Alastair Campbell 7849 (1180)
2. - Iain Dale 5023 (2061)
3. -2 Tom Watson MP 4633 (2065)
4. - Guido Fawkes 4362 (1183)
5.+3 John Prescott 4038 (822)
6. N Matt Wardman 3865 (-)
7. - Andrew Ian Dodge 3618 (1031)
8. +2 James Cleverly 3255 (778)
9. +12 Sadiq Khan 2392 (361)
10. -2 Next Left 2052 (869)
11. +3 Paul Dennett 1945 (580)
12. N Jonathan Sheppard 1917 (-)
13. N Toby Harnden 1780 (-)
14. N Stuart Bruce 1720 (-)
15. +4 Tom Harris 1702 (417)
16. N Paul Waugh 1650 (-)
17. +7 Tim Montgomerie 1638 (346)
18. N Obnoxio The Clown 1592 (-)
19. -6 Lynne Featherstone 1497 (681)
20. - Kerry McCarthy MP 1465 (-)
21. -4 Mick Fealty 1461 (362)
22. -7 Dave Hill 1437 (435)
23. -2 Craig Elder 1256 (390)


Note: I am updating this list throughout the day as I am notified of twitterers I had missed, who have got more than 1256 followers.

The Daley Dozen: Saturday

1. Rupert Read on the mote in April Pond's eye.
2. Donal Blaney gives us a maths lesson.
3. Coffee House on Alistair Darling's emergence from the shadows.
4. Mark Reckons he is not very good at betting.
5. Cranmer explains why Christians should vote Tory.
6. Paul Waugh explains why Obama is Bill Clinton reincarnated.
7. Stephen Glenn teaches his fellow LibDem Irfan Ahmed - the Godfrey Bloom of the LibDems - a sexual lesson.
8. Charlie Elphicke on the Blue Blog on the merits of effective e-campaigning.
9. Guido thinks Damian McBride has got a job.
10. Benedict White on the teacher who snapped.
11. TrueBlueBlood on the British swine flu record.
12. Norfolk Blogger takes Craig Murray to task over his flyposting.

The Missing LibDem MPs

Much has been made this week by Nick Clegg of the lack of a strategy in Afghanistan and equipment shortages. He has taken the high moral ground and has started questioning why we are in Afghanistan, full stop. He's right to do so.

What a shame therefore that the two LibDem members of the Defence Select Committee couldn't be bothered to turn up for a meeting this week of the Committee on Wednesday, when ministers from the FCO, MoD, Dfid and senior military civil servants were giving evidence on operations in Afghanistan. Step forward Mike Hancock and Richard Younger-Ross.

Perhaps the LibDem chief whip might like to ask them what they were doing which was more important than quizzing government representatives on our strategy and military operations in Afghanistan.

The Things You Hear on the Doorstep

This afternoon I spent a few hours canvassing in the Thorpe St Andrew area of Norwich, along with nine or ten others, including for a time, the Conservative candidate Chloe Smith. It is one of the better areas for the Conservatives in the constituency, it has to be said, but I was pleasantly encouraged by the reception we were getting. There were a reasonable number of switchers. One of my favourite moments was meeting a real Norfolk good old boy who told me he was voting BNP. Why on earth would you do that, I asked? They're for Britain, aren't they? he replied. I then rabbited on about how they are nothing of the sort until I realised he was pulling my leg. He then said: "No, I am voting for the other BNP Party, you know, what are they called, British Independence Party or something?" "You mean UKIP," I said helpfully. He said he had been a Labour voter previously, but not votes UKIP. Except for local elections, when he votes Tory "because they look after us around here."

My other moment of the afternoon came when I knocked on a door and a 35 year old woman answered. Here's how the conversation went...

Me: Hello, I'm calling on behalf of Chloe Smith, your Conservative candidate in the by election.
Woman: Oh yes...
Me: I just wondered who you might be supporting in the election.
Woman: Oh my husband makes those decisions for me.
Me: Er, right. So you are not exactly a modern woman then!
Woman: No, I like to be a bit old fashioned. He tells me who to vote for.

And that's in the year 2009. It always shocks me to hear this, especially from a woman in her mid thirties. My mother tells me that on polling day in 1950 her father locked my grandmother in the toilet all day because she said she was not going to vote for the candidate he had instructed her to vote for. Understandable in a way, since she had announced she was voting Liberal... I jest.

I guess we'll know we have true equality when I canvass a man and he tells me it's his wife who decides who they vote for...

In the battle of the posters, I'd say that the Tories are a little ahead of the LibDems but not far. We saw a single Labour poster (terrible design). Chloe and Angela Browning said it was the first one they had seen during the whole campaign. Labour really do seem to be doing absolutely sweet FA in this campaign - apart from picking a candidate with a secret Tory past. Have they given up?

Tomorrow I'll be out in Taverham and Drayton stirring up apathy with Gillian Shephard and Keith Simpson.

Back to School

I can't tell you what a weird feeling this is. I have just been speaking to the sixth form at Saffron Walden County High School. It's the first time I have been back here since I left after my 'A' Levels 29 years ago. My old history teacher Bob Crossan had invited me and after the session he showed me round. The changes are astonishing. When I was there the school had about 1200 pupils on the roll. There are now more than 2000. The facilities are excellent and there was a really good atmosphere. I was however slightly disconcerted by the fact that half the sixth form were dressed in shorts and flip flops. That wouldn't have happened in 1980!

Bob was one of those teachers who really make a difference. He retires next year after 33 years at the school. It was great to see him again and rekindle some old memories.

Right, back to politics and the 90 minute drive to Norwich North!

April Pond Has a Moat!

Look at this leaflet from Broadland Norwich North candidate April Pond. She uses it to display her local credentials. Nothing wrong with that. From Norwich, For Norwich, is a damn good slogan. Except, that is, if you're trying to pretend you live in Norwich when you don't. Alas, on her nomination papers, April lists her address as Shelton Hall, which is not only not in Norwich, it is 15 miles away on the Suffolk border. It's a very nice house though. Google Earth shows that it even has a moat!


Not that I am being 'remoatly' 'moatist'. Every house should have one. But seeing as though a Tory MP got the mickey taken out of him for having one, I'm not sure LibDem candidates should escape the ridicule. It wouldn't be fair.

Ms Pond refused to sign a Clean Campaign pledge which had been drawn up by the Greens and the Tories. Could this be because she knew she would have to give a rather false impression of where she was living?

Or could it be because she knew her campaign managers would be spending the whole campaign smearing Green candidate Rupert Read as an extremist? Shameful.


Anyway, later this morning I am driving up to Norwich to do some by election campaigning today and tomorrow. I gather that all Tory candidates are supposed to clock in and out like schoolchildren and get forms signed. That won't be happening. What a shame my printer doesn't work.

Hattip for LibDem leaflet graphics to Norfolk Blogger

Sorry, Newsnight

I now feel like an absolute heel. I just had to turn down going on Newsnight against John Prescott tonight. Why? Because I was already committed to doing the Sky News paper review at 11.30. To me, sticking to what I had promised was the honourable thing to do. The last thing I ever want to get is a reputation for ditching one programme for another, just because that programme is better known and has a higher rating. Suffice to say, the Newsnight producer was less than impressed. Just goes to show, you can't please all of the people all of the time. So instead of doing battle with John Prescott, I shall be on Sky with Labour peer Baroness Billingham. I may keep telling myself I have done the right and proper thing, but I reckon an invitation from Newsnight won't be winging its my way for some time.

Quote of the Day

"What's the first thing you do when you get into government?
Don't appoint someone like Gordon Brown as chancellor."
Derek Scott, 9/7/09
Chief Economic Adviser to Tony Blair 1997-2003

Thursday Open Thread

You may think this rather convenient bearing in mind the story below, but there won't be any updates to this blog until Thursday evening as I am chairing a conference all day and am unlikely to be free until 7pm. I may well use Twitter to impart a few pearls, but I'm afraid that's all I can promise today. If you want to follow me on Twitter click HERE.

In the meantime, use this thread to discuss the news topics of the day. Please don't abuse the hospitality. Someone is monitoring the comments and will take action if need be.

Guardian Targets Coulson in Bugging Story

I have just got in and read the Guardian story about the News of the World's bugging activities. They are doing their utmost to drag Andy Coulson into it. Clearly, we don't know the facts of the situation at the moment. Andy Coulson has already pointed out that he wasn't even editor of the paper when some of this happened. The second weakness in the Guardian's case against Coulson - and indeed for those Labour MPs who are apparently likening him to Damian McBride - is that none of this has happened during his employment by the Conservative Party.

However, let's get real and not pretend that this story isn't potentially damaging. Alastair Campbell has thrown in his twopennyworth of advice to Coulson and David Cameron. Like Tim Montgomerie, I think it is sound advice...

It is not my place to advise Cameron, or Coulson. But if it were, I would be saying to Cameron to find out very quickly whether Coulson did act in any way improperly, and to act accordingly if he thinks he did. And if I were Coulson, I would be totally honest with Cameron to help him make that decision. When the Damian McBride emails first surfaced, it was obvious where it was going to end. If Cameron thinks that this situation might also end in him having to lose his right-hand man, better to do it quickly.

Contrary to popular rumour, I don't know Andy Coulson well. I'm sure many of you think he gives me my marching orders on a daily basis, but I think I have met him three times and spoken to him a couple of times on the phone. But I know a good adviser when I see one. He's done a terrific job since he was appointed to the job two years ago and everyone I know will be hoping he comes through this. Everyone I know who knows him better than I do likes him. He's not a showy adviser. For someone who came into the job with a high media profile, he has done well to stay out of the limelight. He will be cringing at 'becoming the story' because he knows that there are sometimes dangerous consequences when that happens. Ask Alastair Campbell.

The key thing is for this story to be addressed head on. And fast. David Cameron is reported to be 'relaxed' about it. That may be because, like any responsible employer, he did his due diligence on Andy Coulson before he was appointed.