Voting TaKtiX

A Big Stick and a Small Carrot: Going for Gold: (more…)

Question to Labour members/supporters. I openly describe myself as a socialist (with a distinct, small ’s’), and technically the Labour party still believes in Socialism (witha big ‘S’). So, why are you a member of a party that is so in touch with its principles that Cabinet Ministers own 9 houses and gifts of $600,000 aren’t even mentioned between them?

Seriously. Why? Ah, whatever, I know a lot of Labour members are genuine believers in what the party is supposed to stand for. Shame about the leadership. Still, odds of her keeping a job post-Blair?

Oh yeah. Read. Just because, well, it’s another gem from Owen.

My predecessor, Robin Butler, cleared both Jonathan Aitken and Neil Hamilton. They both turned out to be lying. Robin was an upper class toff who could not believe that a member of the establishment would lie to him. I have no intention of repeating that mistake.

Update:Missed this one from Craig:

I simply do not believe her. Let me be perfectly plain. I am calling her a liar. Go on, sue me.

A safe choice in the election of Sir Menzies Campbell as leader of the Lib Dems today. I think it’s an interesting choice by the party members, and I wonder how much of the selection is based on a desire to have a leader unlike the other two. That being said, Campbell has proved himself plenty of times with his consistence views on Iraq and ID cards, surely things which have appealed to the electorate. He may not set the sky alight, but I’m sure it will be a good move for the party, at least in the short term in order to capitalise as soon as possible on the good election results and the need to pick up the pieces after the election.

He has already gone on record as saying that he will take risks in his party leadership though. I’m guessing he has to say this considering his age (which shouldn’t be an issue, but it is), but if it is more than just expediency, Campbell could really move the party in the right direction. He does have the experience, he does have party trust, and he will give Cameron and Blair a hard time over the big issues.

The spring conference this weekend will surely tell us more. I’ll see what Campbell has in store then, and see how well he manages to stick to this over the coming months. Again, action not words will be the true test, although considering Campbell said this himself on Spotlight (South West BBC news) tonight, I think he realises this and will hopefully distance himself from Labour and the Conservatives in doing his best to deliver it.

The article listed is here, written by co-blogger PaulJ. I myself wrote a summary of opinions on Sunday’s Observer column from Mr Blair here.

Generally, we’re pretty interested int he ways the internet can be used to cover the news better and for communicating between politicians and the electorate, examples here and here, and were very much involved in the creation of the new Liberty Central project, which I recommend you look into if you’re at all interested in the way the country is governed.

To the Guardian editorial staff? A little warning would be nice y’know, our contact details are listed openly. Thanks to John for the heads up; swamped in the office today.