Lib Dem Voice reports the sad news that former Lib Dem head of comms David Walter had lost his battle with cancer.
David was not just a national figure, but a stalwart of local politics too - a long term member and deliverer in North Kingston, despite being the consumate professional journalist.
The wonderful ITN archive provides hundreds of clips of David in action but this one is particularly relevant.
In 1984 Ken Livingstone and two others resigned their seats in protest at the council's abolition. Three by-elections were held which were boycotted by the Tories- but not the other parties. In addition to David's reporting the other Kingston link is the interview with the Liberal candidate - a young Steve Harris - the then leader of the Council.
30 March 2012
Kingston Lib Dem councillor defects
One of my local councillors - Canbury ward Lib Dem - Tim Dennen - has resigned from the party for personal reasons and now sits as an independent.
This is the first change of affiliation in Kingston politics since the Tory civil war of the turn of the century and the first Liberal change of allegience since the 1980s. In another return to the 1980s the Conservatives won the Coombe Vale by-election in December - their first such win since 1987.
One of Cllr Dennen's last acts as a Lib Dem councillor was to vote with local Conservatives for tax payer funded trees and bunting to celebrate the jubilee.
Kingston has the highest council tax in London and one has to wonder whether trees and bunting are a sensible use of public money.
This is the first change of affiliation in Kingston politics since the Tory civil war of the turn of the century and the first Liberal change of allegience since the 1980s. In another return to the 1980s the Conservatives won the Coombe Vale by-election in December - their first such win since 1987.
One of Cllr Dennen's last acts as a Lib Dem councillor was to vote with local Conservatives for tax payer funded trees and bunting to celebrate the jubilee.
Kingston has the highest council tax in London and one has to wonder whether trees and bunting are a sensible use of public money.
27 March 2012
Centre Forum discuss coalition
Last night Centre Forum hosted a session on what makes for successful coalition politics for a junior coalition partner.
Things were kicked off by a presentation by Ben Page (pictured) from MORI whose research shows the Lib Dems having lost 2/3rds of its 2010 support and made reference to various research papers that show junior partners, such as the Irish PDs, always lose out.
What I found most worrying by the session was the general acceptance that this collapse of support is the end point of analysis (not the starting point) and there was little sense that the party needs to find out more about why people have stopped voting for it.
Simon Hughes then spoke about five themes that the party could promote at the 2015 general election. This mainly consisted of being 'competent and fair' - more competent than Labour and more fair than the Tories. Which is neither a strategy or a campaigning position.
It is clear there is a huge vacuum at the top of the party - with no strategy for either coalition or the next election. Merely becoming a party of government and governing cooperatively and reasonably is not an election winning strategy - even if some of those advising the leadership appear to think it is.
Things were kicked off by a presentation by Ben Page (pictured) from MORI whose research shows the Lib Dems having lost 2/3rds of its 2010 support and made reference to various research papers that show junior partners, such as the Irish PDs, always lose out.
What I found most worrying by the session was the general acceptance that this collapse of support is the end point of analysis (not the starting point) and there was little sense that the party needs to find out more about why people have stopped voting for it.
Simon Hughes then spoke about five themes that the party could promote at the 2015 general election. This mainly consisted of being 'competent and fair' - more competent than Labour and more fair than the Tories. Which is neither a strategy or a campaigning position.
It is clear there is a huge vacuum at the top of the party - with no strategy for either coalition or the next election. Merely becoming a party of government and governing cooperatively and reasonably is not an election winning strategy - even if some of those advising the leadership appear to think it is.
26 March 2012
Remembering Jocky Wilson
The sad news that Jocky Wilson has died aged just 62 has meant that darts (and Kirkcaldy) has lost one of its most infectious personalities.
Wilson was one of the big personalities of the 1980s era of darts - when rooms were smoke-filled and players were drink fuelled. Wilson not only partaked in both - his predeliction for sweet things meant he lost most of his teeth before he was 30. But his gummy grin graced the darts stage and the terrestrial TV channels of the 1980s. He won two world titles and probably could/should have won more.
But his greatest (and most bizarre) claim to fame is surely being mistaken for fifties black American soul singer Jackie Wilson.
Enjoy...
Wilson was one of the big personalities of the 1980s era of darts - when rooms were smoke-filled and players were drink fuelled. Wilson not only partaked in both - his predeliction for sweet things meant he lost most of his teeth before he was 30. But his gummy grin graced the darts stage and the terrestrial TV channels of the 1980s. He won two world titles and probably could/should have won more.
But his greatest (and most bizarre) claim to fame is surely being mistaken for fifties black American soul singer Jackie Wilson.
Enjoy...
24 March 2012
Monty Python does Rangers administration
This was posted on Hibs.net forum earlier today and it is so good it deserves repeating...
Scene:
Duff and Phelps Insolvency Practice
Cast:
Paul Clark of Duff and Phelps played by Michael Palin
Irate Customer played by John Cleese
The sketch:
An irate customer enters the insolvency practise
Irate customer: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(Clark does not respond.)
Irate customer: 'Ello, Miss?
Clark: What do you mean "miss"?
Irate customer: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Clark: We're closin' for lunch.
Irate customer: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this football club what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very insolvency practice.
Clark: Oh yes, the, uh, the Bigotted Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Irate customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'it's bust, that's what's wrong with it!
Clark: No, no, 'e's uh,...it's debt free.
Irate customer: Look, matey, I know a bankrupt club when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
(Irate customer brandishes portfolio of bank statements and documents)
Irate customer: As soon as a took the club home some guy in a bowler hat from HMRC demanded £70 million. Then some ticket tout said he was looking for most of our ticket money for the next four years. Finally some spiv came around saying he was the real owner of the club.
Clark: No no it's not bust, it's recovering'! Remarkable club, the Bigotted Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful away strip!
Irate customer: The away strip don't enter into it. It's totally insolvent.
Clark: Nononono, no, no! it's emerging from administration!
Irate customer: All right then, if it's recovering', I'll check it's bank balance! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Broxi Bear! I've got a lovely cash injection for you if you show any sign of life...
(Clark hits the nudges the portfolio)
Owner: There, it moved!
Irate customer: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the portfolio!
Clark: I never!!
Irate customer: Yes, you did!
Clark: I never, never did anything...
Irate customer: (yelling and hitting the portfolio repeatedly) 'ELLO BROXI!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your financial health checkl!
(Takes bank statement out of the portfolio and thumps it on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it fall to the floor and bounce up and down.)
Irate customer: Now that's what I call an insolvent club.
Clark: No, no.....No, it's got a short-term cash flow problem!
Irate customer: A short-term cash flow problem?!?
Clark: Yeah! You spent all the bank balance by payin' the wage bill, just as it was moving into profitability! Bigotted Blues run of of cash easily, major.
Irate customer: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That club is definitely bust, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of cash was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged title celebration party.
Clark: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the Boyne.
Irate customer: PININ' for the BOYNE?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why was the bank account empty the moment I got 'im home?
Clark: The Bigotted Blue prefers running with limited financial reserves! Remarkable club, id'nit, squire? Lovely home strip!
Irate customent: Look, I took the liberty of examining the clubs' books when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it was still in the League was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Clark: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have been out of the SPL, and legged in to the English Premier League and the Champions' League Group stages. VOOM! Feeweeweewee!
Irate customer: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this club wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'it's bleedin' demised!
Clark: No no! 'it's recovering!
Irate customer: 'it's not recovering'! 'it's passed on! This club is no more! It has ceased to be! 'It's expired and gone to meet its maker! 'it's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the SPL 'it'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'it's off the twig! 'it's kicked the bucket, 'it's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-CLUB!! If you hadn't cooked the books it would be in oblivion with Third Lanark, Aidrieonians and Gretna.
(pause)
Clark: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of Blues.
Irate customent: I see. I see, I get the picture. Have you not got any Paranoid Greens?
Clark: No we've got no Greens at the moment.
(pause)
We're expecting a Manky Maroon in any day now
Irate customer: Pray, does it win things?
Clark: Nnnnot really.
Irate customer: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?
Scene:
Duff and Phelps Insolvency Practice
Cast:
Paul Clark of Duff and Phelps played by Michael Palin
Irate Customer played by John Cleese
The sketch:
An irate customer enters the insolvency practise
Irate customer: 'Ello, I wish to register a complaint.
(Clark does not respond.)
Irate customer: 'Ello, Miss?
Clark: What do you mean "miss"?
Irate customer: I'm sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!
Clark: We're closin' for lunch.
Irate customer: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this football club what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very insolvency practice.
Clark: Oh yes, the, uh, the Bigotted Blue...What's,uh...What's wrong with it?
Irate customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'it's bust, that's what's wrong with it!
Clark: No, no, 'e's uh,...it's debt free.
Irate customer: Look, matey, I know a bankrupt club when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
(Irate customer brandishes portfolio of bank statements and documents)
Irate customer: As soon as a took the club home some guy in a bowler hat from HMRC demanded £70 million. Then some ticket tout said he was looking for most of our ticket money for the next four years. Finally some spiv came around saying he was the real owner of the club.
Clark: No no it's not bust, it's recovering'! Remarkable club, the Bigotted Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful away strip!
Irate customer: The away strip don't enter into it. It's totally insolvent.
Clark: Nononono, no, no! it's emerging from administration!
Irate customer: All right then, if it's recovering', I'll check it's bank balance! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Broxi Bear! I've got a lovely cash injection for you if you show any sign of life...
(Clark hits the nudges the portfolio)
Owner: There, it moved!
Irate customer: No, he didn't, that was you hitting the portfolio!
Clark: I never!!
Irate customer: Yes, you did!
Clark: I never, never did anything...
Irate customer: (yelling and hitting the portfolio repeatedly) 'ELLO BROXI!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your financial health checkl!
(Takes bank statement out of the portfolio and thumps it on the counter. Throws it up in the air and watches it fall to the floor and bounce up and down.)
Irate customer: Now that's what I call an insolvent club.
Clark: No, no.....No, it's got a short-term cash flow problem!
Irate customer: A short-term cash flow problem?!?
Clark: Yeah! You spent all the bank balance by payin' the wage bill, just as it was moving into profitability! Bigotted Blues run of of cash easily, major.
Irate customer: Um...now look...now look, mate, I've definitely 'ad enough of this. That club is definitely bust, and when I purchased it not 'alf an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of cash was due to it bein' tired and shagged out following a prolonged title celebration party.
Clark: Well, he's...he's, ah...probably pining for the Boyne.
Irate customer: PININ' for the BOYNE?!?!?!? What kind of talk is that?, look, why was the bank account empty the moment I got 'im home?
Clark: The Bigotted Blue prefers running with limited financial reserves! Remarkable club, id'nit, squire? Lovely home strip!
Irate customent: Look, I took the liberty of examining the clubs' books when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it was still in the League was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Clark: Well, o'course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have been out of the SPL, and legged in to the English Premier League and the Champions' League Group stages. VOOM! Feeweeweewee!
Irate customer: "VOOM"?!? Mate, this club wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'it's bleedin' demised!
Clark: No no! 'it's recovering!
Irate customer: 'it's not recovering'! 'it's passed on! This club is no more! It has ceased to be! 'It's expired and gone to meet its maker! 'it's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the SPL 'it'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'it's off the twig! 'it's kicked the bucket, 'it's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-CLUB!! If you hadn't cooked the books it would be in oblivion with Third Lanark, Aidrieonians and Gretna.
(pause)
Clark: Well, I'd better replace it, then. (he takes a quick peek behind the counter) Sorry squire, I've had a look 'round the back of the shop, and uh, we're right out of Blues.
Irate customent: I see. I see, I get the picture. Have you not got any Paranoid Greens?
Clark: No we've got no Greens at the moment.
(pause)
We're expecting a Manky Maroon in any day now
Irate customer: Pray, does it win things?
Clark: Nnnnot really.
Irate customer: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT, IS IT?!!???!!?
23 March 2012
Friday favourite 51
The Strange Death of Liberal England - one assumes the noble Lord Bonkers will have something to say...
22 March 2012
Exclusive: those London Underground bonus strings revealed
Britain's most loony union - the RMT - has walked out of negotiations over an £850 Olympic bonus payment claiming that it came with 'strings attached'. By spooky coincidence I stumbled across a paper marked 'private and confidential' at St James's Park tube station (Underground HQ) on my way home this evening.
In it, it revealed management's demands of tube drivers in order for them to receive this £850 bonus:
1. Turn up in time for work
2. Get in cab
3. Start motors
4. Drive train
5. Errr that's it
6. Oh no it isn't - remember to stop at red signals.
Tube drivers earn a minimum of £43,000 a year and all tube trains are capable of driverless operation.
In it, it revealed management's demands of tube drivers in order for them to receive this £850 bonus:
1. Turn up in time for work
2. Get in cab
3. Start motors
4. Drive train
5. Errr that's it
6. Oh no it isn't - remember to stop at red signals.
Tube drivers earn a minimum of £43,000 a year and all tube trains are capable of driverless operation.
21 March 2012
Geordie comedienne leads Labour's budget response...
Thursday March 15th, Sarah Millican: "For the Queen Downton Abbey is like watching Big Brother."
Wednesday March 21st, Ed Miliband: "the cabinet sees Downton Abbey not as a costume drama but a 'fly-on-the-wall documentary'."
Wednesday March 21st, Ed Miliband: "the cabinet sees Downton Abbey not as a costume drama but a 'fly-on-the-wall documentary'."
20 March 2012
NHS slumps to fifth...
... biggest employer in the world according to the Beeb.
Ahead of the Indian State Railways, but still behind the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Ahead of the Indian State Railways, but still behind the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
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