Nadine Dorries MP, Ex-Blogger?

Nadine Dorries the Tory MP has had her blog taken down overnight. Apparently her less than well thought out remarks on the Barclay Brothers having some kind of agenda against British politics has caught up with her. As I said yesterday her new media profile could back fire on her, and it has. I read her blog last evening before I went to bed and I have to say it made pretty dire reading. Having read it occasionally I didn't think it was that well written and having watched her on Question Time a couple of weeks ago my immediate reaction was, thinks she's smarter than she is. She is/was clearly in a bit of a spin over all the Telegraph's coverage and she announced on her blog that she is going on holiday. I think she needs one. I bet David Cameron thinks likewise.

Update
There's a short article by Ms Dorries in the Indy, it does not reflect well on her. She calls what is happening to MPs, "torture" – a very poor choice of words. She also complains that MPs should be paid what they are worth; I think a lot of us feel that too. I get offered some small amounts to write some books, I accept it and get on with it, or I don't and I don't. I'm not complaining, it's the way things are. She's been in the House for 4 years and already she's a fully paid up member of the club.

Careless Talk Costs Careers

All this, he said this, about him, and he said this, about him, relating to Mandelson, Osborne, the very rich Russian blokey with the funny name and the very rich English blokey with a name that's all to familiar is becoming increasingly absurd. We've now got a piece in the Standard claiming that Osborne poor mouthed David Davis. These journalists, who are relishing all this tittle tattle, seem to be missing the point. Whenever people gather and wine is drunk then tongues start to wag. I'm sure there was a good deal of egging on all round and then before you know it there's an element of competition among the guests as to who can come out with something more outrageous than the next guy. It came as no surprise that Mandy gave Brown a bashing. All this false bonhomie about he and the PM being friends again is just nuts. Mandy sold his soul; well he agreed to kiss and make up (ghastly thought) in order to get a title – would he have come back without one? Mandy's made for the rest of his life. It's worth millions being a Baron, so what does he care? 

Now young Georgie Porgy is a different matter; he's far too naive in all this. Then what do you expect? He's been a data entry clerk, worked in a shop, worked in Conservative Central Office, been a special adviser and finally an MP since 2001. He's wet; probably thinks it's all a bit of a game. Frankly it would be better if he went, and went soon. David Cameron has put his trust in him, but he's also not as experienced as we'd probably all like him to be. The old lions led by donkeys comes to mind. However, let's move to WW2 for the analogy. . .Careless talk costs careers.

It's Not Good News For Scotland

So Wee Wendy’s gone. Surprising in some ways because the whole row about her accepting donations was more about technicalities than it was about serious wrong doing. The rules are confusing and there’s no doubt that her political opponents, mostly the SNP, have made capital out of her mistakes, and who can blame them? More to the point her leadership of Scottish Labour and therefore the opposition in Holyrood has been far from glorious, in part because of the wounding effects of the donations scandal, but it lies deeper than that and involves both the Lib Dems and the Tories. The fact is when compared to the SNP the other three parties have all lacked effective leadership, none of them have a voice that resonates, or a leader who can challenge Alex Salmond.

With the litany of broken SNP promises the opposition parties should be far more effective in challenging Shrek, but don’t seem to be able to find the voice to do it. In fact the resignation of WW is going to damage the whole opposition unless someone can emerge in the Labour party with a voice and a style that says, ‘I’m your leader’. The fact is it’s not about policies it’s about prizes and at every level and in every contest the SNP walk away with the prizes because AS has the leadership skills.

Of course a new Labour leader in Scotland may emerge that does not have all the negative trappings of the Gordon Brown era, but I’m not holding my breath. From amongst the die hard old West of Scotland Labourites I’m sure there’s a danger that they’ll regress and that is bad for the Scottish parliament; because you can’t see Nicol Stephens or Ms Goldie stepping up to the plate. We continue to be dogged in Scotland by a political elite (I use the term loosely) that seems in the main to be second rate. Most people I talk to mention the fact that we have the also rans, the reserves and a team of substitutes. Whichever way you dress it up that’s not good for Scotland, but it’s awfully good for Alex Salmond.

David Cameron Patronizing Towards Scotland

There's an interview in today's Daily Telegraph with David Cameron. In it he says, "As the first Tory leader to have done a walkabout in Sauchiehall Street without being headbutted, I think it's a great badge of honour." I think this is the second time he's cracked this gag and it's bloody stupid. Has he any idea how out of touch it makes him sound? How patronizing, despite his carping on about how in touch with Scotland he is. Hearing things like this makes me believe that old Etonians really do live in some kind of rarefied, aspic-clad, atmosphere. Despite his protestations of 'ordinaryness' he should perhaps get a few people around him who understand a little bit more about real life, ask their advice and then take heed.

Oh and by the by, no Tory leader has ever been headbutted in Sauchiehall Street - making him an even bigger twirp (an under used word for my money!)

Wendy Alexander, Clinging To The Wreckage

Wendy Alexander would probably deny that she's clinging to the wreckage but that's certainly what it feels like. Her ability to hang on in is in reality no ability at all. Laying low and not facing either her colleagues in Holyrood or a full on press conference means that it's no great feat. The fact is she can do little else as she must be 'under orders' from Westminster because, as almost every commentator has pointed out, if she goes so does Harriet Harmen. Sir Alistair Graham, the former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life has said it is surprising that somebody of WA's experience had run foul of the regulations and "clearly wasn't aware of the detailed rules". Meanwhile the press in Scotland have, I think, given her a relatively soft ride. Is it because they fear the alternatives? The fact is it seems that WA is the best the Labour have to offer, the one most likely to give the SNP a run for their money. However, if this goes on very much longer even with the public's short memories it could send Scottish Labour into the dark ages. With no effective Tory or Lib Dem opposition Scotland seems doomed to an SNP hell bent on independence.

Another Trip Up To The Moral High Ground

Now the Tories have come up with a cunning plan to reduce short haul flights. VAT would be levied on fuel for domestic flights for the first time and airlines would be forced to give over airport slots to long-haul trips. All flights would be subject to a separate per-flight tax based on the amount of CO2 generated, replacing the air passenger duty and shifting the burden from passengers to airlines. The proposals also include plans for a moratorium on airport expansion pending attempts to free capacity at existing airports by restricting short-haul flights and forcing travellers to switch to high speed trains.

They say that because a fifth of journeys are to destinations in Europe and the UK that are served by high speed trains it would reduce the need for a third runway. All this comes from the quality of Life group headed by John Gummer and the environmental campaigner Zac Goldsmith.

They've clearly lost the plot and are jumping on the bandwagon. First of all this will force up ticket prices when you shift the 'burden' to the airlines because funnily enough they'll pass it on to the passengers. I know there's the expansion of the Eurostar upcoming but what high speed trains in the UK? Unless I'm very much mistaken, and I'm a regular traveller to London on the Edinburgh line, it is pretty full a lot of the time and there doesn't seem to be that much spare capacity. Many of the passengers using domestic flights are connecting to long haul flights at Heathrow and it is naive to think that it will 'force' airlines to increase in any significant way long haul flights from non-London airports.

At some point or another politicians are going to realise that this 'push of the green vote' is going to start to backfire. Yet again we in Britain seem to be climbing to the top of the moral high ground while others are just laughing at us. Added to which it is people who are travelling on plans at their own free will. If they are to stop flying so much it either has to be through price or legislation that limits capacity. Capacity legislation will likely be challenged in the European courts and similarly any moves to increase taxes or landing fees will not just affect British airlines but also European airlines - again fodder for the courts.

We either have to be convinced that by not flying so much we will save the planet or we will have to be forced not to fly domestically so much by the government restricting flights. For me all other bets are off. Oh yes, and if Scotland gains independence it will not be a domestic flight.

UPDATE

If anyone doubts the value of air travel to the UK then they would so well to check THIS on the Department of Transport's web site. The Quality of Life's simplistic view of how air transport and airlines function does not auger well.

It's A Rich Man's World....

According to reports a businessman that left his £8 million fortune to the Conservative Party was "deluded and insane". Branislav Kostic removed his only son from his will after stating that Margaret Thatcher was "the greatest leader of the free world in history" and that she would save the world from the "satanic monsters and freaks" conspiring against him.

You do feel his son may have had a point....

At the same time Labour's general-secretary,yesterday claimed the party had "turned a corner" financially, as published annual accounts showed it had cut its debts by more than £2 million to around £25 million last year.

That's OK then....

Very Little Smoke and Very Few Mirrors

Having been fobbed off by John Gummer after I wrote to David Cameron about the environmental challenge and the Tory's Quality of Life group I've been keeping a close eye on their web site. Talk about being under whelmed.

It clearly shows that that whole thing was nothing more than publicity stunt designed to get some column inches. The latest update on the site was 8 April 2007 "DON'T GIVE UP ON TWO DEGREES - The Policy Group has published an important update to the Quality of Life Group's recent report on acceptable climate change and CO2 emission targets." John Gummer's blog has had two entries so far this year, the last in February. Zac Goldsmith's has just one - EVER - and that was in January.

They say on the web site "We are calling on experts from pressure groups, NGOs, academia and Government. We already have in excess of 200 people helping: everyone a noted specialist in their subject. We will be holding open days, meetings, hearings and debates all over the country over the next year, and we'd be delighted to see you. Please keep checking this site to find out what's going on."

Really?

It's a load of hot air and typical of why people criticize the Cameron Tory vision, it's light on substance and high on spin. David Cameron should take care not to be seen as a blow hard.

Top Spin

The problem with committing things to print or even a blog is that, as often as not events occur to prove you wrong. In this week's Spectator, which hit the shops yesterday Fraser Nelson in his column wrote about David Cameron's search for a spin doctor, or more correctly the director of communications for the Conservative Party. Nelson says that Dave wants to run his office without kowtowing to Fleet Street. Nevertheless he says the Tory's are still looking for a "high fling media figure." He goes onto say, "those approached have so far refused which tells you something about Mr Cameron's current share price and the reluctance of senior journalists to stake their careers on electoral success."

Iain Dale broke the story yesterday on line that David Cameron has hired Andy Coulson the former editor of the News of the World, who resigned over the royal phone-tapping scandal. Of course where Fraser was quite correct is the fact that Mr Coulson had not currently got a career and of course there's the small matter of the reported £400,000 salary that he is to get. It will be interesting to see if he's to be the new Alistair Campbel in the way he performsl.

Do We Really Want Independence

Scotland on Sunday this morning says. "The SNP leader accused Labour of "attacking Scotland and Scottish self-confidence", claiming Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jack McConnell were guilty of falling "out of touch" with a new mood of can-do optimism in the country." This whole election is degenerating into a debate about independence despite the fact that a poll in SOS by YouGov which says only 26% of people want independence.

Of course it's easy to see why. The SNP are the only credible opposition and the voters want to bash Blair, Joke, Broon and Labour - not necessarily in that order. The Conservatives and Lib Dems have between them about the same support as Labour according to the poll - that leaves 11% wanting the SSP, Tommy or the Greens, with a few undecided.

Given the level of animosity towards the Nu-Lab experiment it's unsurprising that they can't get their message across about the real costs of independence. The most worrying thing for Labour is the level of personal capital Gordo is investing in this campaign - he was in Edinburgh campaigning with the Joker on Saturday. This will severely damage his credibility across the whole of the UK if it goes as wrong for Labour as it looks like it will. On Iain Dale's blog yesterday he reports about campaigning in Norfolk and being told that no way do people want a Scottish MP as Prime Minister. Inevitably there were posters on his site complaining about anti-Scottish feeling amongst the English. This is clearly tripe. With the flag of independence being steadily run up the flagpole by the SNP, it's no wonder that there’s this type of feeling amongst a significant swathe of the electorate down south. I do believe I've heard, on occasions, people in Scotland complaining about being governed from London.

If Joke and Co. had done a better job of being in power, then despite the war, Trident and other negative aspects of the Bliar boys, they would still be electable, along, of course, with their Lib Dem cronies.....now what's the name of their leader - Steven Nicholson?

Be Careful What You Wish For

In today's Scotsman there's an exclusive interview with Tony Blair. It all hinges around if we vote SNP it's a small step to breaking up the Union argument. Labour are on the ropes in Scotland. Joke's lack of ability as a farce minister and as the local party leader, coupled with all the anti Labour government in London sentiment in Scotland makes the Union argument about the only thing left to try and stem the rising tide of anti-Labour public opinion. The problem is that the Lib Dems have been cornered by the vote for them is a vote for Labour strategy (that was a brilliant move); not helped either by the one man party syndrome of making Nicol Stephens the star (I bet that came from a focus group). No one can see the Tories winning, although there’s a definite mood swing, which says that they are not the big bad Thatcherites of old. Their vote will definitely increase. But none of this does anything to help Labour.

However, one statement by TB does resonate. "A lot of these people criticise the Labour Executive from the right, they say you have too large a public sector. I've seen the SNP policy programme. It's not to cut the public sector at all. On the contrary, it's to make a series of unfunded spending commitments."

I repeat my earlier assertions that the nitty gritty of independence will inevitably add to the costs for an independent Scotland by increasing the size of the administrative burden. If we are independent will we just not have all the departments and offices that the government currently have – much of the departmental running of the country is done from England. How much will Scottish Embassies around the world cost, or will we have an annexe, a small office out the back of all the British Embassies? What will the status of soldiers be who are in the British Army - mercenaries? Will what's left of Great Britain have bases in Scotland rather like we did in Germany. How much will a Scottish Passport office cost?

The list is endless but for me the devil is in the detail and I worry that the machinery of state that is necessary to run a country is one that takes an awful lot of organization and experience. It's not a jibe at Scots ability or anything close to it. We have people of tremendous ability here, but unravelling from one system and building another is the nightmare scenario. And while we do have a population that's roughly the same as Finland, Denmark and Norway (individually) but they've developed their apparatus of government over many years.

One argument that just does not ring true for me is the one put forward by some commentators that there are huge numbers of Scots in exile overseas waiting to do a Sean Connery and come on home once the Union Jack has been struck from every building.

Opposition is easy, although winning an election can admittedly be a tough, but this could be a poison chalice for the SNP. The euphoria, the excitement of the post election revelry will soon make way for the cold light of dawn. The Salmon might not appear so chirpy nor little Nicola quite so light on her feet when they have to deliver.

The Battle of the Pamphlets

Over at A Big Stick and A Small Carrot there's a wonderful piece about a local Labour election pamphlet in which 'members of the public' pictured and quoted turn out to be Scottish Labour Party candidates in the local council elections.

You can view it HERE

We've had a few election pamphlets with the post, only so far seen the Tory local council candidate. The Green party mailer for South of Scotland MSPs has pictures of a tram, a house being built, an office block (I think it is anyway) and a shopping street. Nothing at all about the South of Scotland. It features Chris Ballance MSP, who I must admit I have a bit of a downer on. His father was my headmaster (Chris Ballance and I went to the same school in Surrey) and when I was 17 I had to sit in his study with my mother while he said to her. "Of course, your son will never amount to much." It was a real 'does he take sugar' moment.

We've had the SNP MSP candidate Aileen Orr's brochure, which is much more relevant. If only they didn't believe in independence she'd get my first vote. Aileen talks more sense than any of the other candidates. The only thing that disappoints is no mention of bloody wind farms blighting Berwickshire. As Dexy's Midnight Runners once sang - Come on Aileen. (Eileen you idiot - Ed)

The worst of the brochures have consistently been from the Lib Dems. In places they don't even make sense. They feature our aptly named 'sitting member' Euan Robson in a variety of locations with pensioners, babies and bus stops. So dull, so lacking in imagination and in fact just like the Lib Dems. Their election broadcast last night on BBC Scottish TV was just laughable. Apparently they only have one candidate - Nicol Stephens. It was all about Nicker, the words me and I were plastered all over it.

John Lamont the Conservative Holyrood candidate has done a good job of communicating. I think he will get another swing from the Lib Dems as he did in the UK parliament elections, but not enough to win. Against what I thought would happen Annabel Goldie has done a good job. My vote for him won't count for much!

UPDATE
Just in the latest from Euan Robson MSP Lib Dems. He talks in his brochure about power supplies and fails to even mention, just once, the fact that his constituency is being overrun with wind farms and applications for a turbine curtain along the border with England. So it's not happening is it Euan? Failing to even address it is a disgrace.

SHADES OF GREEN REVISITED

Back in December 2005 (the 9th to be precise) I sent this email to David Cameron

Dear Mr Cameron

I am writing to you following today's news reports on your plan to tackle 'quality of life' issues under a group chaired by Mr Gummer. I think it sounds like a good idea, but I have one reservation. Many of us in Britain increasingly feel disenfranchised from politics, and the policies that are expounded. Of course involving everyone in such a process is impossible, but it will only improve things if we all feel that we are in someway being listened too, and things actually
happen.

The information coming out on Mr Gummer's group talks about Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace being involved in the study, which I suppose is natural, but groups like these, and others, have vested interests and often seem detached from the real world. All too often they seem to be trumpeting ideas and issues that have some altruistic agenda that perhaps comes from those who help fund such groups and are themselves part of the political establishment

In short why not get individuals involved in these studies. Real people, who know about real things, in the real world. People who may not know all the answers, but equally don't have a compromise axe to grind. I'm not suggesting 'people's panels', or whatever that loony idea that Labour had a few years ago was called, just arguing that it would help in getting a more balanced view across.

Quality of life is not about the big picture, it's about the small things - the things that make our lives worthwhile, and meaningful. Unless people can see the benefits for them, and see that this is about matters that make their lives better, then this idea will stumble. The main reason why so little has worked on environmental issues is that those who are pushing them at governmental level fail to engage people in the process (and I hate this trend towards using the word engage, but cannot think of a better one). Many people do not buy into the ideas and philosophies of groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. For millions of people in this country they just seem like part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Anyway, just my small contribution to the debate. The Conservatives will continue to have my vote, even if here in Scotland it has become increasingly difficult to vote for such a disorganised bunch who seem bereft of policies.

Twenty days later I had this reply

Dear Mr Havers,

Thank you for your email to David Cameron - he's asked me to thank you
and to say that he appreciated what you had to say enormously.
He's really most grateful to you - he fully takes on board the points
put across to him in correspondence and it's very helpful of you to have
taken the trouble to write.

I've ensured that your email has been brought to the attention of the
Quality of Life Policy Group.


Thanks again for your email.

Yours sincerely,
David Beal
Office of the Leader of the Opposition


Three days after that I got this from John Gummer MP

Dear Mr Havers

David Cameron's office forwarded your email to me. Thank you for your ideas, they are helpful. I will feed them into the programme that we are building for the Commission for the Quality of Life and I hope to be back in touch after New Year.



Despite several reminders to Mr Gummer, what's happened since....nothing.

In the meantime we get all these displays of daft gesture politics, culminating in the latest twaddle from the Conservatives about taxing air travel. They are like a bunch of sixth formers scurrying around trying to come up with ideas and proving they've not the slightest idea of how the real world works. David Cameron even talks about 'green air miles' in their statement...if I were Air Miles I'd sue.

Now of course I'm saying that I know better. Well, I actually think I've probably got a better idea of how the real world works than most of the people that were talked about as being on the Conservative Quality of Life group (Zac Goldsmith, deputy chairman of the Quality of Life Policy Group for one)

Now go to the Conservative web site and click on the link to their quality of life policy group website.....

http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=126829

It doesn't exist!

A bit of searching around produced a site called

http://www.qualityoflifechallenge.com

It even has a blog from Deputy Chairman Zac and Chairman John Gummer

John's blog has five entries

Zac's has just one.

Worth keeping an eye on.....

Although I'm tempted to bet that nothing much will happen.