Has Wendy Alexander Revealed the Date of the Next Election?

The hapless Wendy Alexander, labour's Scottish leader, may have let the cat out of the bag about the date of the next election, according to today's Glasgow Herald...

Labour is planning to delay the Westminster election to the last possible months, according to its leader at Holyrood. Wendy Alexander has let slip that the party machine is gearing up to fight the election in 2010, when the five-year maximum term is up. As Prime Minister and with the choice of timing, Gordon Brown has not been clear when he wants to call the next General Election, having been badly burned by his close aides talking up a snap election last autumn.He has refused to say if the ballot would take place in 2009, four years since the last national ballot, and following a pattern of four-year elections established by Tony Blair. But as one of those close to the Prime Minister, whose brother Douglas is Labour's campaign manager, Ms Alexander said in an interview with Holyrood magazine this week that Labour is planning on 2010. Talking about the reforms of the Scottish Labour campaigning machine, she said: "We're now in a continuous campaigning environment where we look forward to European elections next year, the General Election the year after that, the Scottish Parliament election the year after that and the council elections the year after, and really transforming our organisation for that environment." While Gordon Brown can call the election any time before June 2010, his Holyrood colleague's comments do not come as a surprise. Uncertainty in the economy and poor poll ratings make it unlikely he would risk going a year earlier than he has to by law. Election timing has proven to be a major problem for Mr Brown. His team's planning for a snap election last autumn was suddenly thrown into reverse when the Tories received a polling boost from their conference.

Is it possible that Wendy's brother, wee Dougie Alexander, has let a state secret slip?

Lunch With Ed "Me Myself I" Balls

I've just comeback from a lobby lunch with Piers Fletcher-Dervish Ed Balls. The lovely, nay vivacious, Julia Hartley-Brewer invited me to listen to the great man and I must admit I came away rather more impressed with him than I have been in the past - mind you, he was starting from quite a low base. He was quite funny and self deprecating and even told a couple of jokes at the expense of Gordon Brown, which in a room full of wizened old hacks (plus Julia :) was quite foolhardy brave.

His biggest laugh came at the end of this anecdote. Gordon Brown rang him one morning and said: "Ed, you may like to know that you are Number 2 in the Economist Top 100 Policymakers". "Great", said Ed, obviously preening himself. "It's a bit odd, though that I've been placed at Number 19," continued the then Chancellor. "I can see why Tony Blair is above me, but it's even odder that Margaret Beckett is above him." Balls then proceeded to get a copy of The Economist, found the article and rang Gordon Brown back. "Gordon, the reason Margaret Beckett is above you and Tony is that the list is in alphabetical order!" Maybe you had to be there but I can assure you it was funny when he told it!

Mr Balls really must stop making speeches most of which revolve around "I", "me" and "myself". He even said at one stage: "And this week I gave xxxxxx £750,000..." What he meant was that his department, or the government, or the taxpayer "gave" the money, but it was all about him. I suppose this should come as no surprise. It's what politicians do. I dare say I have been guilty of it myself (surely not, I hear you all cry in unison).... Did you see what I did there? Two mentions of "I" and one "myself" all in the same sentence. Ed Balls must be a fellow fan of Joan Armatrading. It was she who sang "Me, Myself, I".

Do Journalists Generally Swing to the Left?

Kiwiblog reports on the political leanings of American journalists.

The Pew State of the Media annual report has an interesting section on how journalists descibe their political leanings compared to the population.

• Conservatives - 8% of journalists vs 36% of US population
• Liberals - 32% of journalists vs 19% of US population

This explains the New York Times et al.

I wonder what a similar survey would show in Britain. A couple of years ago the Political Studies Association did a survey of the political leanings of their members. I think only 15% admitted to being Conservatives. I'll put my head on the block now and guess that if you did a survey of all political journalists in the UK you'd find about a quarter to a third would say they were on the right.

David Cameron Has a Nice Bum

...so says a Daily Mirror hackette. Firm thighs too, apparently. Anyway, must get back to my Telegraph column...

More on the Parliament (Abolition of) Act

Further to the post below, the Ministry of Truth has recalled a letter to The Times, the last time the government tried this one on....

Sir, Clause one of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill (Comment, Feb 15) provides that: "A Minister of the Crown may by order make provision for either or both of the following purposes — a) reforming legislation; b) implementing recommendations of any one or more of the United Kingdom Law Commissions, with or without changes."

This has been presented as a simple measure "streamlining" the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, by which, to help industry, the Government can reduce red tape by amending the Acts of Parliament that wove it. But it goes much further: if passed, the Government could rewrite almost any Act and, in some cases, enact new laws that at present only Parliament can make.

The Bill subjects this drastic power to limits, but these are few and weak. If enacted as it stands, we believe the Bill would make it possible for the Government, by delegated legislation, to do (inter alia) the following:

# create a new offence of incitement to religious hatred, punishable with two years' imprisonment;

# curtail or abolish jury trial;

# permit the Home Secretary to place citizens under house arrest;

# allow the Prime Minister to sack judges;

# rewrite the law on nationality and immigration;

# "reform" Magna Carta (or what remains of it).

It would, in short, create a major shift of power within the state, which in other countries would require an amendment to the constitution; and one in which the winner would be the executive, and the loser Parliament.

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, made this point at the Second Reading of the Bill last week. We hope that other MPs, on all sides of the House, will recognise the dangers of what is being proposed before it is too late.

PROFESSOR J. R. SPENCER, QC
PROFESSOR SIR JOHN BAKER, QC
PROFESSOR DAVID FELDMAN
PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER FORSYTH
PROFESSOR DAVID IBBETSON
PROFESSOR SIR DAVID WILLIAMS, QC
Law Faculty,
University of Cambridge

UPDATE 4pm: David Howarth just got in touch to tell me he has written to Jack Straw on this issue. He has read the comments on this thread and is seeking clarification about the intention of this clause.

Dear Jack,

Constitutional Renewal Bill Clause 43

You may have seen the reports, largely on the internet, that express concern about clause 43 of the Constitutional Renewal Bill. The concern centres on the point that the clause allows ministers to alter primary legislation by statutory instrument. Comparisons are being made to the original version of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act, which granted ministers sweeping legislative powers.

My own reading of the clause is that it could only be used for matters that are consequential on the other provisions of the Bill, and that the issue of what counts as consequential will be for the courts, not ministers, to decide, and so the potential of the clause to be used in a constitutionally abusive way will be limited. If that is your interpretation too, it might be useful for you to put that point on the public record.

I dislike Henry VIII clauses on principle, and would much prefer ministerial powers to be confined to altering secondary legislation, especially in bills about constitutional matters, but I am sure that in this particular case, much anxiety would be allayed if you could confirm the limited scope of the clause.

Yours sincerely,

David Howarth MP

Just When You Thought it Was Safe...

Remember the Legislative & Regulatory Reform Act 2006? That was the one where the Government unsuccessfully tried to slip through a measure effectively designed for Ministers to bypass Parliament whenever they felt like it.

Well, it's back in the Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. Spyblog has the story HERE. What it means is that we could soon be ruled by Ministerial Decree. Time for all good men (and bloggers) and true to come to aid of democracy, methinks. Here's what the draft Bill says...

Part 6
FINAL PROVISION 43 Power to make consequential provision

(1) A Minister o the Crown, or two or more Ministers of the Crown acting jointly, may by order make such provision as the Minister or Ministers consider appropriate in consequence of this Act.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may --

(a) amend, repeal or revoke any provision made by or an Act;

(b) include transitional or saving provision.

(3) An order under subsection (1) is to be made by statutory instrument.

(4) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1) which amends or repeals a provision of an Act may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(5) A statutory instrument containing an order under subsection (1) which does not amend or repeal a provision of an Act is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Who Would You Give Your Second Preference To?

This week the government floated the possibility of introducing the alternative vote system of PR into UK general elections. In addition to their normal vote, electors would also be given a second preference. Imagine you had to do that at the next election. Which party would you give your second preference to? Take part in my completely unscientific poll...

Vote HERE

Why Mr Speaker Was Wrong to Silence David Winnick

Further to my post earlier about the Speaker and his ruling on MPs' expenses and it being sub judice do have a look at this. It is Appendix 1, page 163 of Standing Orders of the House of Commons (or page 182 on THIS link). It demonstrates beyond all doubt that the Speaker has complete discretion to allow discussion of this matter in the House. See the bold text in the first line.

Sub judice Resolution, 2001

Resolved, That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, and to the right of the House to legislate on any matter or to discuss any delegated legislation, the House in all its proceedings (including proceedings of committees of the House) shall apply the following rules on matters sub judice:

(1) Cases in which proceedings are active in United Kingdom courts shall not be referred to in any motion, debate or question.

(a)(i) Criminal proceedings are active when a charge has been made or a summons to appear has been issued, or, in Scotland, a warrant to cite has been granted.

(ii) Criminal proceedings cease to be active when they are concluded by verdict and sentence or discontinuance, or, in cases dealt with by courts martial, after the conclusion of the mandatory post-trial review.

(b)(i) Civil proceedings are active when arrangements for the hearing, such as setting down a case for trial, have been made, until the proceedings are ended by judgment or discontinuance.

(ii) Any application made in or for the purposes of any civil proceedings shall be treated as a distinct proceeding.

(c) Appellate proceedings, whether criminal or civil, are active from the time when they are commenced by application for leave to appeal or by notice of appeal until ended by judgment or discontinuance.

But where a ministerial decision is in question, or in the opinion of the Chair a case concerns issues of national importance such as the economy, public order or the essential services, reference to the issues or the case may be made in motions, debates or questions.

(2) Specific matters which the House has expressly referred to any judicial body for decision and report shall not be referred to in any motion, debate or question, from the time when the Resolution of the House is passed until the report is laid before the House.

(3) For the purposes of this Resolution— (a) Matters before Coroners Courts or Fatal Accident Inquiries shall be treated as matters within paragraph (1)(a);

(b) 'Motion' includes a motion for leave to bring in a bill; and

(c) 'Question' includes a supplementary question.

15 November 2001

Over to you Mr Speaker.

The Daley Dozen: Wednesday

1. Paul Waugh on why Ken Livingstone's campaign may implode on 20 April.
2. Fraser Nelson on why Gordon Brown's pants were on fire at PMQs.
3. Norfolk Blogger explains the difference between Labour in opposition and in government.
4. Le troisieme linie Whip a explique qui comprenais le President de la republique. Je crois.
5. LibDem Voice on a poll showing the gayers coming out for Paddick. Not this one.
6. Red Box on an imminent Tory breakthrough Up North and in Welsh Wales.
7. Cranmer on Brown giving into Catholics.
8. Nick Robinson predicts the end of the Barnett Formula. Good.
9. Burning our Money on the real cost of GPs' pay.
10. EU Referendum on the failure of the tri-partite system.
11. John Redwood on why we are all worse off.
12. Liberal England says the FSA is not to blame for Northern Rock.

Paddick Appoints US Internet Consulting Company

Mark Hanson's new PR/Media blog breaks the news that the Brian Paddick Mayoral campaign has appointed an American political consulting company to run its web operations. I think I am right in saying this is the first time a US consulting firm has been used in this manner in the UK, but I stand to be corrected. The company concerned is run by Democrat blogger Jerome Armstrong who is behind the MyDD blog (there's a joke there somewhere). He rose to fame, according to Mark Hanson, by playing a big part in the Howard Dean campaign in 2004. I spoke to Mark Pack, the LibDems Head of Innovations and he was duly fizzing with excitement about the appointment. If I were him, I would be too. However ... and you knew this was coming, didn't you?

I hadn't visited Brian Paddick's website until today and was rather underwhelmed with what I found. Go see for yourself. Paddick is a strong, potentially charismatic candidate. But his website is grey, weak and impersonal. It does nothing to promote Paddick as a unique personality. Ok, so you might argue, they have realised this and done something about it. True. But isn't it too late? There are only five weeks to go before polling day. Remember what Lynton Crosby once memorably said - you can't fatten a pig on market day.

But what does this development say about the future of internet campaigning? Well firstly it exposes the lack of any British political consulting firms specialising in internet politics. Yes, there are a few web design companies, but no one who will grab a campaign by the scruff of a keyboard. This is not surprising. We don't have either the number of campaigns or the budgets of American politics to finance expensive consultants. If you look at the website of US internet campaign consultants you can see literally dozens of campaigns they have worked on. That just couldn't happen here.

I think the appointment of Jerome Armstrong may be a little bit too late to have a huge impact on the Paddick campaign, but I suspect it will lead to many more such arrangements between UK political parties and US political internet consulting firms.

Where Should the Armed Forces Register to Vote?

I just received this email from a member of the armed forces. I'm not sure how to advise him. Can anyone help? I don't think he's right about registering in any constituency he wishes. Surely he has to register where he last lived in the UK?

Dear Iain,

Firstly can I say how much I enjoy your blog. I must admit to haven pretty much given up on following politics until I discovered the political blogosphere - I often find MSM quite nauseating.

Although I was a 'conscientious objector' to voting in the last two elections I now believe that the Conservatives have a real chance. I'm a member of the forces serving overseas and I believe that I can register to vote by post in any constituency I wish. So my question to you is where should I register? I've spent the greater part of my 14 years service abroad and can't remember one occasion where 'we' were specifically targeted by a political party - a bit strange when there are several thousand of votes at stake which could potentially be directed to key constituencies.

The Incompetence of Mr Speaker Knows No Bounds

Labour MP David Winnick was pulled up by Mr Speaker ealier today when he tried, on a point of order to raise the question of the appeal to the High Court to prevent details of MPs' expenses being published. Michael Martin informed him that for the House of Commons the matter was sub judice. Here's the exchange...

Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North) (Lab): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Would it be possible to know whether the appeal by the House of Commons Commission to the Appeal Court is limited to the question of addresses, or extends to the wider question of second homes? If it is the former, that would be perfectly understandable on grounds of security. If, however, the appeal against the information tribunal is on the wider question of expenditure on what are described as second homes, it should be noted that some Members, certainly myself, are very much opposed to the appeal being lodged. In my view, it is unfortunate that no way of voting—

Mr. Speaker: Order. This matter is before the court, and while I know that the media can talk about it, the rules are clear that it is sub judice for the House of Commons, and I cannot discuss it. In relation to many of the questions that the hon. Gentleman raises, there is nothing to stop him going to the court and finding out the grounds for the appeal.

What an arse. The House of Commons can discuss anything it likes. And if it can't talk about the propriety of MPs' expenses, what on earth can it discuss?! Rosa Prince on Three Line Whip says...

Now, I’m no expert but even I know there are no laws which permit newspapers to report matters that MPs are banned from discussing.

In fact, the opposite is true – Parliamentary debates enjoy privilege, allowing MPs and peers to raise topics without risk of libel or other legal action.

The Head of Legal explains the law of sub judice, as it relates to the House of Commons...

Sub judice isn't a rule of law; legally, Parliament can discuss whatever it likes. Unlike the media, it need not fear that the Attorney General will try to injunct it to prevent contempt of court; nor can anyone else take action against it for what member say, whether under libel laws or any other cause of action.

This whole sorry episode gives further fuel to those of us who believe Michael Martin is not up to the job.And before the lefties start bleating in the comments about snobbery, it's got nothing to do with it. Accusations of snobbery with regard to Michael Martin are the last refuge of the desperate.

UPDATE: Loved this from Macchiavelli in the comment thread...

Nobody thinks higher of Mr Speaker than I do... and I think the man's a bloody idiot.

Pathetic Brown at PMQs

What a truly pathetic performance from Brown at PMQs today. Pathetic. So he thinks the tripartite regulatory system has worked. He thinks there is nothing wrong with the FSA. The man is delusional.

The Pros & Cons of the Alternative Vote

Gordon has had a cracking idea of how to win an election, and the detail on LibDem Voice makes horrifying reading for any Conservative - or perhaps I should say horrifying reading for anyone who hates the idea of electoral gerrymandering. If LibDem Voice is right - and I have some doubts which I will explain in a moment - the result of the last election under the Alternative Vote system would have been...

Labour 365 (+16 on FPTP); Conservatives 172 (-38 on FPTP); Liberal Democrats 89 (+27 on FPTP); Plaid Cymru 5 (+2 on FPTP); Scottish National Party 7 (+1 on FPTP).

This is predicated on most Labour voters transferring their second preferences to the LibDems and vice versa. Of course, in reality it wouldn't be like that. Many Labour voters hate the LibDems more than they hate the Conservatives. Many LibDems would rather support a Conservative than a Labour candidate.

I don't pretend that our current electoral system is totally fair, but it's the best one anyone has come up with. On the face of it the AV system maintains the constituency link, which very few other forms of PR do, but do we really want to be governed by a whole raft of politicians who are the second choice of most but the first choice of few?

I am not philosophically opposed to electoral reform. I can certainly support it in local government, and probably for a reformed House of Lords. But I have yet to be convinced that any of the proposed systems for the House of Commons would either be fair or work. Convince me.

Will Sarko and Gordo Make the French Connection?

I'm just watching Nicolas Sarkozy arrive in Britain to be greeted by the Prince of Wales. I smiled as he walked down the stairs of his aircraft, carefully making sure he walked one step behind Carla Bruni. By doing that he appeared taller than her as he descended the stairway.

Simon Heffer's column is all about Sarkozy today, and it's the subject of this week's HEFFER CONFRONTED which will be posted here tomorrow. Heffer reckons Sarkozy has more riding on the visit than our own dear Prime Minister and they have more in common than people think.

...The two leaders do have something in common. A few months ago, Mr Brown was viewed as a competent Prime Minister who had, if not the affection of the nation, certainly its respect. But then things went wrong.

Losing his nerve - bottling out of calling an election he would have won - Mr Brown invited instead the contempt of his people. He now lurches between attempts at authoritarianism (note his now-abandoned proposal to whip his own MPs on a matter of conscience such as the embryo experimentation Bill) and playing the same old records over and over again.

Similarly, a few months ago Mr Sarkozy was viewed as a competent President who had, if not the affection of his nation, certainly its respect. But then things went wrong. Losing his nerve - bottling out of a big reform programme that had been the main reason for his being elected only 11 months ago - Mr Sarkozy invited instead the contempt of his people.

He compounded it in ways Mr Brown would never dream of doing, such as in a positively teenage approach to his quagmire-like private life and engaging in slanging matches with members of the public at set-piece events. He also, incidentally, made a serious enemy of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

And so it is that these two rather damaged men have a chance to prop each other up, during today's and tomorrow's state visit. A mutual appreciation society, however insincere certain aspects of it might be, would be in the best diplomatic traditions.

The Sun's Whip column today has a great quote from Angela Merkel. She emerged from a dinner with Sarkozy - the two are said not to get on - and commented: "He has everything I don't have. But he has too much of it."

Unlike Simon Heffer, I am not a fan of M. Sarkozy. In his eye he has the glint of a demagogue. As Angela Merkel hints, he loves himself just that little bit too much. While he appeared to have clear plans for France, he has allowed himself to be distracted from the main task of reforming France's stagnant and centralised economy. Although he made an impact on the world stage at the outset of his presidency, he has not kept up the momentum. And along the way his dilettantish behaviour has brought the presidency into disrepute. The French are not forgiving people if they feel their leaders are making fools of them. M. Sarkozy now needs to knuckle down to the task in hand and ditch the gimmicks.

Mr Speaker Can Run But He Can't Hide

What an outrage it is for the Speaker to use public money to go to the High Court to block an order to unveil details of the expenses of several senior politicians. It's all being done on the pretext that it would not be right to release the address details of MPs' second homes, presumably on anti terror grounds. How laughable. Does Michael Martin really think that if a terrorist wanted to find out where an MP lives, he couldn't? Many MPs' home addresses are listed in Who's Who or Dod's anyway!

It's about time the Speaker cottoned on to the fact that the winds of transparency are blowing in his direction, and there's no more undergrowth for him to take cover in.

If David Cameron has no concerns about the details of his expenses being published, why should any of the others? Or indeed why should Michael Martin?

Jack Straw to Save the Great British Sausage?

As usual today the government ate into an Opposition Day debate (on Iraq) by scheduling an hour long statement. Again, as usual it was Jack Straw's Ministry of Justice which was just bursting to make some annoucement or other - no one can quite remember what about. Straw is fast becoming the Jim Hacker of this government, with his Ministry increasingly resembling Hacker's 'catch-all' Department of Administrative Affairs. How long before Straw saves the Great British Sausage?!

When a Free Vote is not a Free Vote

So Gordon Brown has bowed to the inevitable and given Labour MPs a free vote on the embryo research Bill. Well, that's what he'd have you believe anyway, but as ever with him, you have to take note of the small print.

What he's actually done is to give them a free vote on only three clauses of the Bill - hybrid embryos, saviour siblings and IVF research. But on third reading there will be a three line whip. So if any or all of those clauses remain in the Bill at that stage then surely those conscience stricken MPs will vote against it? And three Cabinet Ministers may still yet have to fall on their swords.

The Shame of the NUT

Whenever I look at the massed ranks of the National Union of Teachers at their Easter conference I feel a sense of deja vu (as well as nausea). It's as if they have had a collective Life on Mars experience and been locked in a timewarp from which they cannot escape. It's as if the Thatcher and Blair years hadn't happened as they debate their motions about ten per cent pay rises and leftist dogmas.

Today they will provide evidence, as if it were needed, that these delegates are not fit to teach our children, when they discuss a motion aimed at banning members of the armed forces from our schools. And there was me wondering where the massed ranks of CND had disappeared to.

The vast majority of NUT members are normal people doing an important and difficult job. What a shame they allow this sort of insulting, leftist, unpatriotic nonsense to be discussed in their name. Isn't it about time NUT members said 'enough is enough' and took their union back from the extremists who appear to control it nowadays?

A Lovely Bank Holiday Afternoon in a Car Park

I never learn. I decided to drive down to the Tunbridge Wells Retail Park this afternoon (pic above) as I needed to get something from Curry's. Two hours later, I'm back. Whoever designed this development ought to be hung from the nearest DFS sign. It took 80 minutes to get out of the car park, which entailed driving all eighty yards. I reckon every single car had the same experience - eighty minutes of inching forward, getting progressively more frustrated by the minute.

But that wasn't the worst of it. In those eighty minutes I witnessed seven examples of unadulterated aggression on the part of drivers who were so wound up they refused to let anyone in ahead of them. These were by no means your typical nineteen year olds in souped up Ford Fiesta XR2s. Two fingers were raised, a single finger gesture was made. A 25 year old oik shrieked at a sixty year old man who hadn't moved for 20 minutes, yet the 25 year old had just got in his car and figured he ought to be let out immediately. I tell you, if these people were a true reflection of Britain today then I despair.

It's the planners their anger should be vented at. How they can have allowed this development to be built in this manner only they can explain. The trouble is with many transport planners is that they very often seem to know bugger all about transport and even less about planning.

Book Review: Ming Campbell's Memoirs

With all the things I have said about Ming Campbell's leadership of the LibDems in the past you might well expect me to pan his memoirs. Not a bit of it. I much enjoyed the book, which was, as one might expect, and elegant and well written read. One of my tests for a political memoir is whether I learned anything about the author I didn't know before. I have to be slightly equivocal in my answer in that I learned very little about his leadership of the LibDems I hadn't known previously. However, the chapters on his athletics career, his early years growing up in Glasgow and his legal career all told me a lot I never knew - and made me think it was a mistake by his advisers not to play this up and tell us more about Ming the Man.

The undoubted heroine of the book is Lady Elspeth. If I was organising a dinner party for twelve people I'd certainly want her as one of the guests. She combines a delightful penchant for indiscretion with a lioness-like protective instinct towards her husband.

Perhaps the most memorable chapter in the book is the one on Ming's recover from cancer. It's intensely moving and at times make for very difficult reading. I found myself with tears running down my face (not an unusual occurrence, as regular readers will know!) when he described the intense pain following chemo sessions. Although there was very much of the 'not wanting to make a fuss' approach and the adoption of a stiff upper lip, it is clear that the six months following the diagnosis were incredibly difficult both physically and emotionally.

This is very much a personal book, rather than a conventional political memoir. It outlines the authors feelings, perceptions and views of others. There is barely a mention of policy or political strategy. Everything is written through the prism of personality. It is the antithesis of Nigel Lawson's memoirs. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, but at times I did feel the need for a little more political analysis about why he or the LibDems found themselves in a particular quandary.

Ming is undoubtedly a man of personal courage, as evidenced by his approach to his illness. Politically, however, he castigates himself for not speaking up at one or two important political points - especially related to Charles Kennedy. As well he might, some would say. He was, after all, deputy leader. However, he and his colleagues were in uncharted waters. There was no guide book which mapped out a strategy for dealing with an alcoholic leader, a leader who they all liked and respected.

Perhaps the chapter on Ming's ill-fated leadership is the weakest in the book. It is full of the delusion that everything was really going quite well, and what was all the fuss about? There's no doubt that Ming's main achievement was to professionalise various aspects of the LibDems'party operations, but he never came to terms (still hasn't) that his public perception was nowhere near his perception of himself. He blames the issue of age for his downfall, and to an extent he is right. Could it have been different? I think so, but by the time he and his colleagues decided to confront the issue head on it was too late. The public, led by a visceral media, had already made up its mind. I look back at some of my own blog postings on this issue and have to admit to feeling a sense of shame. Age can be an asset. It can be a hindrance but I think we all went OTT in our comments on Ming's age. It's something I now regret.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone. I very much enjoyed it and hope you will too. Buy it HERE.

The Dutch Bulb Fields: Advice Please

For Christmas I told my mother I'd take her to see the Dutch bulbfields this Spring. I wonder of anyone out there can advise me on the following...

A) when should we go?
B) where is the best place to head for?
C) where should we stay?

On the way back, I want to take my Dad to some of the First World War battlefield sites. Again, any advice gratefully received.

Many thanks.

The Daley Dozen: Saturday

1. Gavin's Gaily Gigest on the NUT's 10% pay demand. He's not impressed.
2. Lynne Featherstone MP has become a Twitterer. Some might say she always was. just joking Lynne!
3. Devil's Kitchen discovers a video of a Labour MSP on Newsnight who really shouldn't be allowed out again.
4. Donal Blaney asks why the LibDems don't stand against the BNP in Council by-elections.
5. Neil Stockley thinks the LibDems have glimpsed their narrative.
6. Waendel Journal thinks the Tories don't want to win the next election. Say what?!
7. Cranmer highlights the growing opposition to the Frankenstein Bill. Spin Blog is none to impressed with Little Ben Bradshaw's attitude, either.
8. Bob Piper says never mind the quality, feel the width.
9. Archbishop Cranmer died today. In 1556.
10. LibDem Voice looks at how many British MPs have no email or no website.
11. ConHome on the Tory Straw Men.
12. PoliticalBetting on the week the punters turned to Boris.

My Top 75 Political Books

GQ Magazine has published it's Top 100 political books (not online), so I thought as it's Easter I'd follow suit. These are all books I have read and enjoyed, many of which will be familiar to you, but some may not be. The list includes some political fiction too. If you click on the title of each book, you'll get through to the Amazon page about the book. Do feel free to discuss your own favourite books in the comments.

1. In the Arena by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon is one of the most underrated writers in politics. He features several times on this list. This book is a mixture of memoir and analysis of what it takes to be a politician. The book combines a mixture of candour, honesty and deceit, but it is highly readable, revealing and at times gripping.

2. Breaking the Code by Gyles Brandreth
If you want to understand the inner workings of the Major government, this is the book for you. I still maintain it's the best political book of the last decade. As you would expect, it's very gossipy, with lots of little cutting asides, but it also lays bare the ambitious soul of a man who knows his ambition isn't going to be fulfilled. If it had been, we wouldn't have been able to read these diaries!

3. What I Saw at the Revolution by Peggy Noonan
Peggy Noonan was Ronald Reagan's speechwriter. Her ability to express what Reagan was thinking and her analysis of what was going on around her at the White House make this a must read for any student of the 1980s.

4. Memoirs by Richard Nixon
Nixon is one of the finest political writers in recent history. His books 'Leaders', 'Six Crises', and 'In the Arena' should be required reading for any aspiring politician. His memoirs are a remarkable work of literature.

5. Tony Benn's Diaries
This is the British equivalent of the Robert Caro books on Johnson in length. The diaries now run to 7 volumes, but it's worth starting at the beginning and reading the whole lot. A lot more personal that you might imagine. Lots of tears, rants and emotion. I'm proud to say I have signed copies of the whole lot, each with a little message from the great man.

6. One of us by Hugo Young
Of the twenty or so biographies of Margaret Thatcher this is by far the best. As a man of the left, Young produced a brilliant work about a brilliant woman.

7. Path to Power by Margaret Thatcher
More readable and more human than the accompanying 'Downing Street Years' volume. This book covers her life up to 1979.

8. Alan Clark's Diaries
Probably the most gossipy political diaries ever written. The first volume contains one of the best accounts of Margaret Thatcher's downfall. Clark was the proverbial loveable rogue. he invited me to lunch once and to be honest I wasn't looking forward to it at all. But he turned out to be one of the most charming men I have ever met. I'm looking forward to Ion Trewin's forthcoming biography of him.

9. Six Crises by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon looks at six crises in modern politial history and analyses the options available to the politicians concerned in the minutest details. It almost reads like a drama.

10. Here Today Gone Tomorrow by John Nott
The best autobiography I had the pleasure of publishing at Politico's. Searingly honest, laced with wicked humour, and great political insight.

11. Just in Time by Sir John Hoskyns
If I had to recommend one book to David Cameron to read, this would be it. It tells of Hoskyns time advising the Thatcher Opposition and the problems he and they encountered.

12. View from Number Eleven by Nigel Lawson
Huge book with perhaps a liitle too much economics for my liking, but a fantastic record of the Thatcher government.

13. Time of my Life by Denis Healey
My favourite Labour memoir - characteristically truculent, funny and honest.

14. A Prison Diary by Jeffrey Archer
When the first volume was published I felt it shouldn't have come out while he was in prison. When I got round to reading it I was spellbound. If you want to find out what prison life is like, warts and all, you need look no further. I can't recommend this three volume set highly enough.

15. The Insider by Piers Morgan
One of the best books I have read in the few years, although some of it I take with a pinch of salt. Piers admits he write the diaries retrospectively so you have to read them with a degree of scepticism but they're no less enjoyable for that. If you're at all interested in the world of newspapers, media and celebrity then you'll love it.

16. Barbara Castle Diaries
The first volume is very difficult to get hold of now. I paid £75 for mine! Written in a slightly dry manner these diaries don't have the gossip of others, but Castle certainly has an acidic tongue, which she deploys to great effect. Perhaps a little bit too wordy.

17. Paddy Ashdown Diaries
The love affair that failed to be consumated! The central theme is the mating dance between Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown who manages to convince himself he's going to be in the Cabinet. The trouble is, Tony gets cold feet. Some passages make Ashdown look weak, but overall you get the impression of a fundamentally a good man.

18. Like the Roman: The Life of Enoch Powell by Simon Heffer
A fantastically researched and brilliantly written book about one of the true enigmas of British politics. Heffer clearly 'gets' Powell.

19. Nixon: Ruin & Recovery 1973-1990 by Stephen Ambrose
A fascinating examination of Nixon's post presidential years, in which he finally came to terms with what he had cost the country. A deeply personal book, it outlines the influence he continued to wield throughout his latter years.

20. Salisbury by Andrew Roberts
Huge tome about a Conservative Prime Minister who seems to have been rather forgotten.

21. Chance Witness by Matthew Parris
A brilliant autobiography from one of the finest writers of his generation. Typically indiscreet, he's characteritstically honest about some turbulent episodes in his life.

22. Tom Driberg: Soul of Indiscretion by Francis Wheen
Hugely entertaining account of the serial cottager. One wonders how Driberg got away with it for so long.

23. Control Freaks by Nicholas Jones
Nick Jones's books on Labour spin were a constant thorn in the side to the Downing Street spin operation. This was the best. And not just because I published it!

24. Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward
An expose of the lack of planning for post war Iraq which left the Bush adminsitration reeling.

25. Memoirs - John Major
A surprising bestseller. Very readable, and sometimes extremely bitchy.

26. Downing Street Years by Margaret Thatcher
An account of Lady T's years in power, which is authoratative rather than gripping.

27. Servants of the People by Andrew Rawnsley
The best book about the early years of the Blair government.

28. Time to Declare - David Owen
I have always been rather a fan of David Owen, who I have always regarded as a pseudo-Tory. He had many failings but this book is not one of them.

29. Second Term by Simon Walters
A ripping yarn about a Labour Prime Minister trying to get a second term in office. I published this book at Politico's even though we didn't normally do fiction. Several of the fictional pieces then turned into reality. Strange but true.

30. Unfinished Revolution by Philip Gould
Outlines how New Labour came into being and how its work was far from finished. Regarded as a bible by Tory modernisers.

31. Edwina Currie's Diaries
Edwina's diaries remain very underrated. Forget the Major stuff, the rest of the book is perhaps the best account yet fo the frustrations of a junior minister. You'd expect the diaries to be gossipy and you wouldn't be disappointed. A bit like the Archer books, you need to cast your preconceptions aside before you start reading.

32. Leaders by Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon profiles a series of world leaders he met, and analyses important decisions they made.

33. Richard Crossman Diaries
I admit I haven't waded through all the volumes, but this gives a perfect insight into the Wilson governments. Quite how Crossman ever found the time to write the diaries beggars belief because they are hugely detailed.

34. Aachen Memorandum by Andrew Roberts
A little noticed novel by historian Andrew Roberts. Centres around the implosion of the EU in 2045. Absolutely gripping. Now sadly out of print.

35. The Woodrow Wyatt Diaries
Woodrow Wyatt was a Labour MP but over the years drifted to the right. He had the ear of Margaret Thatcher, and became rather besotted by her. But I know from personal experience that he was someone she listened to. His diaries are wickedly gossipy.

36. Prime Minster: The Office & its Holders Since 1945 by Peter Hennessy
Perhaps Hennessy's finest work, which looks at the office of Prime Minister and each holder's attitude to it.

37. A Conservative Coup by Alan Watkins
Possibly the best book about the events surrounding the fall of Margaret Thatcher's fall and John Major's election as leader of the Conservative Party.

38. A Life at the Centre - Roy Jenkins
Elegant, as you would expect. perhaps not quite so honest about his personal life as he might have been, but we await the official biography for that sort of detail!

39. A Memoir - Barbara Bush
Hugely enjoyable by one of my favourite political spouses. Behind the grandmotherly exterior lay a spine of iron. She leaves no hostages to fortune in this charming book.

40. A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin
Left wing firebrand Harry Perkins becomes PM but doesn't reckon on the opposition of the security services. Subsequently a brilliant Channel 4 drama. Now on DVD.

41. The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell
An entertaining and well written book, but marred by all the stuff he clearly left out.

42. What it Takes: The Way to the White House by Richard Ben Cramer
The story of the 1988 US presidential campaign.

43. SDP: The Birth, Life & Death of the SDP by Ivor Crewe & Anthony King
A wonderfully elaborate history about a political party that once promised so much but suffered an almost comically tragic end.

44. House of Cards by Michael Dobbs
The first of the trilogy, featuring the cunning chief whip Francis Urquhart and his memorable phrase, "you might say that, I couldn't possibly comment".

45. Kill the Messenger by Bernard Ingham
Bernard Ingham is a talented writer and as you would expect, very forthright.

46. When Character was King by Peggy Noonan
A story of Ronald Reagan and his years in power.

47. Gordon Brown by Tom Bower
The most vicious biography of Gordon Brown so far written. You read it and wonder how on earth this deeply flawed man was ever allowed to reach any position of power.

48. Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
Set in the latter Thatcher era it centres around the life of a coke snorting, gay sex addict who actually gets to meet Mrs T. Won the Booker Prize and is about to become a BBC2 drama.

49. Jo Grimond by Michael McManus
A majesterial account of the life of the man who kept the Liberals from oblivion in the 1960s.

50. Bad Boy: The Life & Times of Lee Atwater by John Brady
A fascinating biography of the King of negative political campaigning who worked for George Bush Snr.

51. Keith Joseph by Andrew Denham & Mark Garnett
Hugely detailed biography of the man who was the Godfather of Thatcherism.

52. Reagan & Thatcher by Geoffrey Smith
An examination of the special relationship between Margaret Thatcher & Ronald Reagan, laced with superb anecdotes.

53. Herbst '89 by Egon Krenz
Diary of the events of 1989 by the former East German leader, who succeeded Erich Honecker.

54. Mad as Hell: Revolt & the Ballot Box 1992 by Jules Witcover & Jack Germond
An entertaining account of the 1992 US presidential election campaign which saw Bill Clinton triumph over George Bush.

55. All's Fair by James Carville & Mary Matalin
Carville and Matalin are married but were on opposite sides during the 1992 presidential campaign, advising Clinton and Bush. Somehow their relationship survived.

56. Glimmers of Twilight - Joe Haines
Harold Wilson's former press secretary makes some astonishing revelations and allegations about the relationship between Wilson and Marcia Falkender.

57. Lloyd George: War Leader by John Grigg
The final tome in this wonderful four book biography about the life of Lloyd George.

58. As it Seemed to Me by John Cole
Hondootedly a riveting account of his years as BBC Political editor by the former Guardian journalist.

59. Whose Broad Stripes & Bright Stars: The Trivial Pursuit of the Presidency 1988
An account of the 1988 US presidential campaign which saw George Bush beat Michael Dukakis.

60. Mandarin by Sir Nicholas Henderson
The diaries of one of the most eminent British diplomats of the late twentieth century. In some ways quite an undiplomatic book.

61. My Falkland Days by Sir Rex Hunt
A brilliant autobiography by the former Falkland Islands governor at the time of the Argentinian invasion.

62. Das Herz Schlaegt Links by Oskar Lafontaine
A typically forthright book by the lost leader of the German left and former Minister President of the Saarland.

63. Trial by Conspiracy by Jonathan Boyd-Hunt
Boyd-Hunt' s painstaking research alleges there was a media conspiracy against Neil Hamilton and that he was innocent of the charges Fayed made against him.

64. The Road to Number 10: From Bonar Law to Tony Blair by Alan Watkins
A mammoth book about the path taken by each PM since 1945 to get to the ultimate political office. A superb and well researched book.

65. Winston's War by Michael Dobbs
First of the tetrology of novels with Winston Churchill as the main character. Dobbs has started a new genre in historical fiction which works surprisingly well.

66. Right from the Start by Lord Roberts of Conwy
Charming autobiography by the former Welsh Office Minister and Granddaddy of the Welsh Conservative Party.

67. 51st State by Peter Preston
Former Guardian editor imagine how Britain might become a 51st State of the United States. Far fetched but somehow he makes it seem just that little bit feasible.

68. The Giles Radice Diaries
The former Labour MP gives a saringly honest account of Labour's years out of power.

69. Black Book by Sara Keays
Cecil Parkinson's former amour writes a salacious novel about the Black Book in which whips record the transgressions of their fellow MPs.

70. Toward Prosperity by Roger Douglas
Roger Douglas pioneered privatisation in New Zealand and his thinking is still influential the world over.

71. A Parliamentary Affair - Edwina Currie
Edwina's novels are highly readble and enjoyable, with a fair degree of bonking thrown in, it has to be said. This and its sequel, A Woman's Place are undoubtedly the best.

72. Changing Trains by Steve Norris
A funny and entertaining account of his life in politics prior to 1997.

73. Guilty Men: Conservative Decline & Fall 1992-1997 by Hywel Williams
An uncomfortable read for many Conservatives, this book details just how awful the period of 1992-97 really was.

74. Palace of Enchantments by Douglas Hurd
Hurd's best novels were written in the 1960s and 1970s and have all been recently re-released. This one features a junior Foreign office minister who is desperate to become Foreign Secretary.

75. Too Nice to be a Tory by Jo-Anne Nadler
Sort of a Tory version of John O'Farrell's THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER, Nadler provides a very personal account of her journey from Tory Teenager to Tory 'rock chick'.

Paxman on Scottish Independence: Not Bovvered

I must admit I take the old fashioned view that it's not really a good idea for current affairs presenters to involve themselves in political issues, but Jeremy Paxman usually gets a special dispensation. In today's Telegraph he is quoted with his views on the future of the Union, or lack of it.

"I think the view down here would be 'if our friends in Scotland decide they don't want the Union to continue any longer, well that is a judgment for them'. And if they really don't want to be sharing the same house with us, and want to move out, well that's a bit of a shame. It is like watching a marriage decay among friends. But if that's what they want, well let them do it. You really ought to snap out of this sense that everyone down here is worried about it. They are not."

Is he right? Do the English really not give a monkey's arse what the Scots decide to do? I'm not sure I would quite put it like that, personally, but in the end self determination is what must win through. If Scotland wishes to be independent, it is indeed up to the Scottish people. Funny how we English don't get a vote on whether we'd like to be independent of Scotland, though!

And before anyone starts, that is no more an anti-Scottish comment than a Scottish blogger suggesting it the other way around!

It's Not Tax Cuts, It's Labour's Client State the Tories Should be Worried About

Francis Maude has given an interview to the Telegraph this morning in which he makes some very important points, especially on the Tories' preparedness for government. However, the top line of the interview is again on tax cuts. This is unfortunate, and it was also needless. In the interview Francis says...

"There are those who think that if you commit to massive tax cuts then people will automatically vote for us, but people are not impressed these days with politicians promising tax cuts that look like us serving our electoral self interest by appealing to their self interest."

I can't think of anyone who wants the Tories to commit to "massive" tax cuts. I certainly don't. It would indeed be madness in the current economic climate. What people do want to know is that David Cameron and his team are philosophical tax cutters, a point which Francis does indeed make. It's not in the interview but this appears in the front page news story...

He stresses that the desire to cut taxes is "deep in our blood"...

Good. Some of us had been wondering. Let me say it again. No one expects up front tax cuts. What we do expect to know is that the Party is still committed to the principle of the lowest rate of taxation possible.

The debate now needs to be shifted onto the unsustainable levels of public spending. This is not a subject on which the Conservatives need to be defensive. The 1979 election was won in part because people realised the government was spending more than it could afford, and Margaret Thatcher promised to do something about it. People are beginning to realise the extent to which government spending has grown and they feel uncomfortable with it. A 'client state' has grown which must be eliminated. Simon Heffer takes the view that the members of this 'client state' are never going to vote Tory in a month of Sundays so it doesn't matter if the Tories upset them. The trouble is, that this 'client state' has grown so large that in marginal Labour seats they do indeed matter. But even those who have benefited from it realise that it is not sustainable in the long term. I think this is the Tories' main challenge - to develop a radical, coherent and marketable policy to deal with Labour's 'client state'.

Donal Blaney has an altogether more, ahem, robust view on Mr Maude's interview. Sits on the fence, does Donal. :)

The Daley Dozen: Friday

1. Three Line Whip calls for Patrick Mercer to be made a Defence Spokesman.
2. John Redwood wants your advice on some moral dilemmas.
3. Westminster Wisdom thinks I am right. See how easy it is to get onto this list?
4. Peter Black AM explains the 'spinning friction' between Labour and Plaid.
5. Dizzy fears for his 'knackers'.
6. Unto Ed Vaizey and his wife a daughter is born.
7. Jon Worth has a map of the US blogosphere and wants one for Europe.
8. Conor Ryan looks forward to the NUT Annual Conference. Sort of.
9. NHS Blog Doctor asks if it possible for a politician to make a sincere speech.
10. LibDem blogger Quaequam on the stupidity of LibDem MP Nick Harvey.
11. Dan Hannan MEP explains why he'd vote for Barack Obama.
12. LibDem Voice asks how bad the credit crunch will get.

Who Wants to be Editor of the New Statesman?

I was talking to a friend yesterday lunchtime about what's going on at the New Statesman. It's a good few weeks since John Kampfner walked the plank, yet news of his successor comes there none. Could it be that editing the 'Staggers', as it is affectionately known, is not quite such an attractive proposition as it once was? If Private Eye is to be believed, New Statesman proprietor Geoffrey Robinson wants to appoint Neal Lawson as the new editor. If this is true, I predict the end the NS as a serious magazine.

Lawson is the nearest you can get, with the possible exception of Kevin Maguire) to the original Gordon Brown 'arselikhan'. He was a former Brown bag carrier prior to the 1997 election, then went on to form the lobbying company LLM, before starting the Brownite think tank cum pressure group Compass. So far as I know he has never edited anything in his life, let alone been a journalist. Surely the New Statesman deserves better. Peter Wilby, John Lloyd, Ian Hargreaves and John Kampfner must be turning in their editorial graves.

There are plenty of people out there for Robinson to choose from, all of whom would do the New Statesman proud - Mark Seddon, Steve Richards, Jackie Ashley to name but three. The trouble is, I suspect that John Kampfner's departure will have made them all think twice.

Cameron in Bike Shame

In an astonishing admission today, Conservative leader David Cameron apologised to his fellow cyclists for obeying the Highway Code.

"I would like to make clear that it will never happen again," he said, carefully extracting an onion from his pocket. "I know I will have brought shame on all my fellow cyclists who don't believe the laws of the road apply to them and I am deeply sorry."

Mr Cameron vowed to mend his ways in future, and continued: "I am very glad that 'Cyclists' Monthly' is watching over me to ensure that I do not transgress again.

Tim Montgomerie is 94.

UPDATE: A few days ago I was about to cross the road from Parliament Square to Birdcage Walk, when a cyclist came flying round the corner totally ignoring the red light. I shouted out to her (see, it wasn't Dave!) that the law applied to her too. She turned round and gave me the finger!

Does Size Always Matter ... In Blogging, I Mean

The Press Gazette has published a league table of the number of unique visitors for the biggest mainstream media news sites for January 2008.

BBC News 9.77 million
The Sun 4.54m
Guardian.co.uk 4.49m
Telegraph.co.uk 2.66m
The Times 2.65m
Mail 2.59m
New York Times 1.74m
Sky News 1.61m
CNN 1.44m
Independent 1.08m
Mirror 1.08m
Financial Times 0.86m
Manchester Evening News 0.54m*

When you consider that the top three most popular political blogs (Guido, ConHome and yours truly) get between 0.25 and 0.35m unique visitors a month, you have to say that's not bad considering we're all more or less one man bands, compared with the journalistic and marketing resources all the above organisations have at their disposal.

Frankly, the only way individual blogs will ever really compete for traffic with the MSM is to ally themselves with one of the MSM sites. But if they did that they would lose their unique identity, I suspect. The difference between here and the US is that the big US blogs tend to be group based blogs rather than individual ones. Some are even attracting venture capital. I can't see that happening here as the only really successful group blogs have been started by MSM organisations.

Strnagely, I do not see blogs as competing with anyone. Some may compete with each other, I suppose, but it is facile to suggest that an individual like me or Guido can truly compete with a blog run by a major corporation. But what does 'compete' actually mean? Does it purely mean blog traffic, or does it mean quantity and quality of writing? I may get higher traffic than the Spectator Coffee House but I cannot compete with them for frequency of posting or indeed quality of writing. And in the end, that means their traffic levels will, one day, overtake mine, I suspect.

In the end, what makes a blog succeed is its uniqueness. Is it doing something that no one else is? Is it filling a niche? Does it have a 'personality'? Look at all the most successful blogs and those are the criteria they meet - Guido, ConHome, Dizzy, PoliticalBetting, John Redwood, - the list goes on. Perhaps this is the reason why so few blogs on the left have 'made it' outside their own milieu - because they have failed in the uniqueness and personality test. Those that do meet it still fail to attract a mass audience. I'd put Hopi Sen, Dave's Part, Quaequam, Cicero's Songs, Bob Piper and NorfolkBlogger in this category, but I doubt whether any of them get a four figure unique visitor count each day. Does it matter? Not really in the short term, because a good blog is a good blog, no matter what level of readership it has. But in the long term people start asking themselves why they are bothering if few people are bothering to read what they have to say. They shouldn't. Most politicians would give their eye teeth to give a speech to an audience of two hundred. So if you are a candidate with a blog whose readership amounts to only a few hundred, that's the fact you should comfort yourself with! It really is a truism in blogging to say that it isn't always size that matters.

In Defence of Tom Watson

Yesterday, the government slipped out this written answer...

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the budget for works associated with Crown proposal 08/00696/1884 made under the Circular 1884 Procedure is; and on what date such works are expected to be completed. [193177]

Mr. Watson [holding answer 10 March 2008]: Costs incurred on refurbishments and improvements to No. 10 Downing street will be available only when the Department’s resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament.

The Government are legally required to maintain the Downing Street complex to standards appropriate to its Grade 1/2 listed status in consultation with English Heritage. In addition to providing office accommodation the building also fulfils an important representational role. No significant refurbishment works have been undertaken at the Downing street complex since the large scale rebuilding works that took place between 1960 and 1963. As a result much of the infrastructure now needs to be renewed or upgraded. It has therefore been recommended that essential improvements are undertaken through ongoing annual maintenance works.

Essentially, this means that Number Ten is about to get a full refurb. The Conservatives have rightly complained that this is a typical example of the government slipping something out on the last day before Easter, hoping it won't be noticed. However, the faux outrage which followed did them no favours. Number 10 Downing Street is a national treasure. It doesn't only play home to the Prime Minister, it plays host to countless foreign visitors. If building experts come to the government sand say "it's falling down" (which is what I assume happened), what is the government supposed to do? Ignore the advice and leave to the next lot to deal with? It is right for the Opposition to hold the government to account and to ask questions about cost etc, but to pretend that eighteenth century buildings no not need attention from time to time is a little silly. Does anyone think that if David Cameron is Prime Minister for eleven years there won't need to be any building works?

The Consequences of Being Denied the Freedom of Expression

Read THIS post from FOREST's Simon Clark on his experience of attending a meeting on the forthcoming EU 'smoke free initiative' week. Talk about the EuSSR in action!

"I sensed, as soon as I entered the room and introduced myself that there could be trouble ... No surprise then, when, as soon as the meeting began, and we had all formally identified ourselves, two or three hands shot up. As I suspected, some of my fellow delegates were none too happy that a representative of Forest was in the room. If I didn't leave, said one, she would. Others nodded their heads in agreement."

Whether you agree with FOREST's pro smoker standpoint, what an absolute outrage it is for people to behave like this in a so-called democratic institution. I hate smoking, but I abhor the smoking ban even more. It's this kind of libertarian view which pseudo-fascists like the woman mentioned above would just love to outlaw. They don't just want to ban things, they want to police what we are allowed to say too. They are on the slippery slope to a thought controlling authoritarian state.

The Curse of Niall Paterson

Be careful if Sky reporter Niall Paterson mentions you or stands near you. On Budget Day he was nearly decapitated by a falling piece of scaffolding from the Number 11 Downing Street roof. Today he wrote a piece on the Boulton & Co blog comparing John McCain and his two elderly senatorial colleagues who are accompanying him on his visit to London, to the three characters from Last of the Summer Wine. And what happened next? Twenty minutes after Niall posted the piece on the blog the Press Association announced the death of actor Brian Wilde who played Foggy in the long running BBC comedy. The curse of Niall strikes again.

For those who are unfamiliar with Niall Paterson, he's the one on the left... :)