I recently discovered that my (soon to be former) MP has a blog, on MySpace. It’s actually not awful, for a MySpace blog, but today, he’s speculating Blair Resigns? :
something is definitely in the air. I don’t know what it is, but if Blair announces his resignation by the end of this week, you read it here first.
So the Westminster bubble says something is up. It would, of course, be a good thing for him to go. Here’s just hoping the constitutionally illiterate morons don’t make much running with getting Brown to got for an early election, we need to give the man time to mess things up utterly.
January 16th, 2007
Posted by
MatGB |
Blair, Leadership, NuLab, Political Weblog Project |
4 comments
From new blogger Sammy Morse:
Personally, I doubt Blair will last 12 months or anything like it. Until he goes, civil war will reign in the Labour Party. Unlike Blair, too many people in the Labour Party have an interest in not losing the next election for that to happen. Unless they’re really, really stupid. And I don’t think they are. … Brown will be a disaster as Labour leader. If Brown really had the capacity to be leader, he would have become so after the Granita restaurant, after Blair was clearly out of step with the country on the war, after Labour lost 50 seats at the General Election, etc., etc. He didn’t because he has no killer instinct and no real leadership skills. Brown likes to skulk in the corner and avoid difficult issues
He goes on to analyse the state of the parties, the poll rankings, the likely effect on the next election, etc. It’s one of those “I wish I’d written that” posts, well worth a read.
In addition, Caramel Betty asks “what’s Charles Clarke up to?” and has re read his resignation speech:
However, I do not think it would be appropriate to remain in government in these circumstances and return to the backbenches, where I will be a strong and active supporter of this government and the leadership of Tony Blair for his full parliamentary term.
Do we detect a note of “well Gordon’ll never give me a job” in the Safety Elephant’s behaviour? In the meantime?
Keep an eye on Jack Straw over the weekend. Have fun in the Middle East Tony…
September 8th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Brown, Blair, Leadership, Infighting, NuLab |
3 comments
I’d forgotten this, oops. Um, online conference involving some bigwigs, cross party, looks like a good idea, started today.
Taking Power - Have your say about how Britain is run
Worth giving a look and getting involved in methinks.
I, um, spent the day with my grandmother, not even mobile phone reception in South Pool, ’tis a lovely place. We didn’t turn the radio on in the car on the way back either. So, I’m currently catching up with the news. Initial reactions?
Go Tom! Agree with Bob’s assesment. Tired Tony on his way out? Good. However, and this is important, look out for buried news. Blairwatch is already on the case.
I might be able to put together a more coherent reaction, but in the meantime? Yay!
September 6th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Blair, Leadership, NuLab, Reform, POWER, Constitution |
no comments
Hmm. Just finished listening to Charles Clarke on On the Ropes (again) - always worth a listen anyway, but this one had added comedy value. From the BBC coverage, David Davis said Mr Clarke’s comments were a Blairite version of Sir Geoffrey Howe’s attack on Margaret Thatcher in 1990, something that Simon predicted nine months ago. Also, I really like this comedy quote:
Education Minister Jim Knight said ex-ministers “bitching” about Mr Blair were doing Labour “no favours”.
Well no Mr Knight, they’re not, but then, neither is tired Tony.
Are we getting there d’you think? Is Simon right, is this the beginning of the end?
Addenda
:Is it possible this was timed to minimise the damage instead?
June 27th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Blair, Leadership, NuLab, Charles Clarke |
no comments
Ok, I’m swamped at work, and Dave goes and makes a speech promising some radical reform. Except that, well, he seems to have fluffed it. I’ve been trawling around; does anyone have anything good to say about it? Blogsearch gives me nothing. Best I’ve found is Liadnan at NM’s:
I am, nevertheless, hopeful, that this could turn into serious thinking on constitutional matters in general. I see it as a major problem with this Government’s reforms that they have been piecemeal and incoherent.
It appears to me it’s miss informed posturing and playing to the gallery. Obsolete has an excellent summary of the principle objections. Of course, a decent, enforcable Bill of Rights would require a new constitutional settlement. Something I’m wholeheartedly in favour of. With both Brown and Dave posturing on the issue, and the LibDems completely committed to such an endeavour, is it possible that the parties may start competing on who can do the best job of fixing the constitution?
I’d love to think so. Odds? Hmm. “This is your captain speaking, we do apologise for the turbulence, this was caused by a flock of pigs getting caught in the engines…”
If anyone does find someone that both knows what they’re talking about and thinks Dave is on the right lines, throw me a link?
June 26th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Reform, Constitution, Cameron, Bill of Rights, Human Rights Act, HRA |
no comments
The times, they are a changin’. Awhileback, I reviewed the campaign sites for the LibDem leadership contenders. Like in the election itself, Ming Campbell won. Well, he’s taking that impetus further. Two specific areas. Firstly, he’s been interviewed by some prominent Lib Dem bloggers, each of whom has written up their meeting with him in a different style. Secondly?
June 15th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Xblogging, LibDems, Ming Campbell, Political Weblog Project |
one comment
Gordon Brown:
“Tony Blair said last night that he was going to organise it in a stable and orderly way.”
Does anyone else read that as if they’re planning a coronation, no election, no party democracy?
May 9th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Brown, Blair, Leadership, NuLab, party democracy |
no comments
This from Ken at Militant Moderate is a nice analysis of the way blogging could be used by politicians and their supporters in the future. I think, overall, I agree with him; blogging is at its best when talking through policy and ideas rather than personality and gossip (although, let’s face it, the latter can be fun(ny) at times). Huhne was very popular amongst the LibDem bloggers precisely because he engaged the policy debate strongly, and has done his future prospects a world of good by running I think.
Also, this on the Snow in Summer. The GOD corporation has a record of its discussions with Tony, but they’re protected by client priviledge. Definately worth a read through.
March 5th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Blair, Leadership, LibDems, Political Weblog Project, God |
no comments
At the beginning of the Lib Dem leadership contest, I wrote a review (well, more of a rant) about the websites of the respective campaigns. I still get a few people reading it, (mostly coming from the Campbell Campaign blog) so I thought I’d do a follow up, as there has been a remarkable improvement in many ways.
February 25th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Xblogging, Parties, LibDems, Political Weblog Project, Campbell, Hughes, Huhne |
no comments
Anyone would think Chris Huhne had been reading this blog:
The new divide in British politics is between “civil liberties” and “authoritarianism”, Chris Huhne, a Liberal Democrat leadership contender, said last night. Mr Huhne attacked Tony Blair for being “illiberal”, and the Tories for being unreliable defenders of liberty.
I know, it’s not just me saying these things, but it’s definately the sort of thing I want to hear from a candidate and potential Prime Minister.
For the record, I issued the challenge and never updated; I didn’t join the LibDems within the deadline, but I strongly suspect I will before too long. The reason I didn’t was purely personal and financial. It may only be 6 quid, but when you’re at the edge of the overdraft and the credit card is maxed out, 6 quid is a lot.
However, I do know who I want to see as Lib Dem leader, and more specifically, who I don’t. Huhne, despite his public school/journalism background, wins. Hands down. He’s a great writer, and more importantly, he takes the importance of policy and ideas seriously. I hope he does well, and I’d love to see him win. More. I’d love to see him in Number 10. He’s genuine, he believes in freedoms and liberties.
Failing that, I suspect Ming Campbell will take the spot. At first, I was opposed, too old, too Scottish, too patrician. He’s turned me around on that one, he can speak well, he can put the case, and I think he genuinely believes in what he says. He may be another two Jags, but they’re a hobby, he’s not likely to use one to drive a few hundred metres down the promenade bacause his wife’s new hairdo may get blown about a bit.
Simon? The furore over his ‘outing’ didn’t change my views. The way he handled it (badly) didn’t change my views. I like the guy. He’s honest (he Did Not Lie, if you believe he did, look up the meaning of bisexual and compare it to homosexual/gay), but, essentially, he’s an activists candidate, a doorstepper. All parties need them, and he’s one of the best. But as leader? No. Nice bloke, but not Prime Minister material. If the Lid Dems are serious, they need someone you can see on the steps of Number 10.
That’s not Simon Hughes.
So, I hope Huhne wins. If not, Campbell is pretty much a shoe in from what I can see. If Hughes wins, the party will continue, and continue to pick up Labour defectors, etc. But he’s not the leader to make the breakthrough the LibDems need. And, as the only solidly liberal/libertarian party, the country needs the Lib Dems to be strong, Huhne’s right:
He also attacked the Conservatives as “fair-weather friends” of British liberty and said as party leader he would step up the campaign to defend liberty. “If we, as Liberal Democrats, did not speak up for civil liberties,” he asked, “who would?”
February 16th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, freedom, Parties, LibDems, Huhne |
4 comments
Oh look, Simon’s outed himself. Anyone care? OK, maybe the misleading interview he gave saying he “wasn’t gay” (true) was a little badly thought through, but as pointed out in the comments on Jonny’s Blog, he didn’t actually lie. He’s bisexual. So what?
January 26th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Parties, LibDems, Hughes |
4 comments
OK, open challenge. I like being non-partizan and outside but, let’s face it, on 80% of the issues that matter to me, I’m pretty close to the Lib Dems. Don’t always agree with the exact policy, but the general principle is fine. And I suspect that if I were to look, I could find a member with almost identical opinions to me on most issues; not all at once, obviously, odds of there being two people with all over the place views like mine quite small*.
January 17th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Parties, LibDems, membership |
11 comments
OK, I’m following the LibDem race closely (I always follow leadership elections closely, but this one has added comedy value). So, I’m looking at the respective websites.
January 15th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Parties, LibDems, Political Weblog Project, Campbell, Hughes, Huhne, Oaten |
6 comments
Nosemonkey asked Chris Who-hne? to which I now have a proper answer as, unlike the estimable Mr Matthews,
January 14th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Constitution, Parties, LibDems, europe, Huhne |
no comments
So, Charles Kennedy announces he will not now run for leader:
it had become clear he did not have strong enough support among MPs and had decided to quit with immediate effect.
Good. Having been reading blogs and comments in many locations, it had become clear to me, as with many others, that, no matter how much we like the bloke, his position was untenable. I wish him well, hope he can recover from his problems and, specifically, hope that he can both remain in politics and return to a frontbench position at some point; talent such as his should not be thrown away. So…
Where now?
January 7th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, LibDems, Conservatives, Cameron, alignment, Kennedy, resignation, Tories |
3 comments
Apparently a lot of them are going to stand down, Charles is defiant, I’m waiting for this supposed announcement in the office before I shut down for the weekend and go home.
Norman Baker was just on PM, he’s admitted signing a letter inistinging on withdrawel, and
Matthew Taylor - a close friend of Mr Kennedy who ran his 1999 leadership campaign - urged him to stand down for the sake of his family and his party. “Charles, you can not go on,”
25 MPs, including 19 frontbenchers?
Wow, 19 of the frontbench. That’s bad. The BBC is spinning he’s got no chance. Maybe so. A fun weekend for us news junkies it looks like; why am I on call?
January 6th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, LibDems, Kennedy |
no comments
Been talking a lot about the LibDems recently, and now they’ve gone and made themselves the big news story for at least the next, well, hour or so? Anyway, was going to write up a long post, but was reading around first, and got to Curious Hamster who I seem to be linking to a lot recently. I suspect because he keeps saying what I was planning to say:
January 5th, 2006
Posted by
MatGB |
LibDems, Kennedy, leadership election, alcohol |
one comment
Well, the Tory leadership contest is once again making the news, and we might get an idea about who is in charge at some point before Christmas. Musings from Middle England has aan amusing round up here. The scary thing for me is that I grew up under Thatcher, and I had no doubt whatsoever by the time I was old enough to vote that the Tories were the enemy and must be defeated. It wasn’t, really, the economic policies that bothered me about them, it was the illiberal lock them up, hand ‘em and flog ‘em approach they took to all crime, criminals, people with long hair, young people who like to party, etc.
October 5th, 2005
Posted by
MatGB |
Leadership, Conservatives, alignment |
one comment
