Tim Rice backs UKIP

Leading Richmond Park Tory (oh and Oscar winning musician) Sir Tim Rice has left the Conservatives and is backing UKIP - according to this report from the Daily Mail.

Given Zac Goldsmith's apparently genetically driven anti Europeanism, the fact even he can't keep his local Tory Europhobes on board doesn't bode well for the Tory party's ability to win the Euro elections later this year - even in a Conservative association as financially well endowed as Richmond Park...

Ed and Emily Davey have baby girl

News reaches LOWA towers that Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey and wife Emily (who did the hard work) have a new daughter - Ellie - born at Kingston Hospital.  Congrats go to them all.

US Republicans face uphill battle in 2016 presidential election

An interesting article from the Washington Post that outlines the demographic and political shifts that appear to tilt the US electoral college in the Democrats favour...

Danny Alexander's currency union u-turn

Lib Dem Voice (among others) reports Danny Alexander has ruled out a post Scottish independence currency union in the strongest possible terms.  He states: "a currency union would create unacceptable risks both for Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom."

This surely can't be the same Danny Alexander as press spokesman for the pro european currency union campaign Britain in Europe who told the Guardian in 2002, "When the euro fell below dollar parity, anti-Europeans were rubbing their hands with glee. There's egg on faces now,"

Now I don't know whether Danny actually now believes currency unions 'create unacceptable risks' or has simply gone native and is just parroting the Osborne Treasury line.  But what I do know is that it is stupid politics both for the 'No' campaign and the Lib Dems.

It's stupid for the No campaign as there is nothing more certain to get the opposite reaction in Scotland than for Westminster politicians to tell the Scots what they can do.  And it is stupid for the Lib Dems as they have denied themselves the opportunity to point this out.

Friday favourite 136

I stumbled across this the other day.  It shouldn't be funny but somehow it is...

London waterways sound map

Thanks to Laura Willoughby for introducing me to the London Sound Survey and their Harry Beck inspired map of London's waterways.

Robin Meltzer meets New Malden's North Koreans

There are approximately 400 North Koreans living in and around New Malden and I was delighted to be able to meet some of them on Saturday night with Robin Meltzer - the Lib Dems excellent candidate in Richmond Park constituency.

And if anyone doubts the need for the UK's borders to remain open to refugees and those fleeing persecution then a few minutes in their company should disabuse them of the idea.

Friday favourite 135

This is for Tim Snowball, the Liberal Democrats' Director of Political Operations:

Former Liberal MP appears on Antiques Roadshow

Former Richmond Park MP, Jenny Tonge, appeared with a couple of antique Spanish chairs on yesterday's edition.

You can catch the exchange on BBC iplayer here at 41 mins.

Friday favourite 134

The beeb have run a series of documentaries about ABBA over the festive season.  And it reminded me of just how complex their songs are.  And it is also an opportunity to feature this 1984 Blancmange cover of 'The day before you came'.