Andrew Young

Man love!

2008-01-02T14:36:00.001-08:00

My Trip to New York

2006-12-22T21:03:00.000-08:00

Pictures from my trip to New York. Ignore the red eye, slightly dodgy poses and blurry images where they occur.

| View Show | Create Your Own

Thanks to the Mountbatten guys for making me feel so welcome and to Sophie, my gracious host for making the whole thing possible and enjoyable.

Merry Christmas,

Andrew

Renewing Trident - Will no-one say no?

2006-12-09T16:33:00.000-08:00

Trident has hit the headlines again this week. Both Blair and Cameron are outdoing each other to welcome the decision to begin investing the £25 billion needed to renew Britain's independent nuclear capability.

In fact, just about everybody except the CND leftovers on Labour's backbenches are getting in on the act, exploiting the fear of the unknown caused by international terrorism and the rumblings of rogue states.

Once up on a time I would have joined in on the Trident love-fest. After all, few causes attract more uniform support from Conservatives everywhere than Britain owning her own stock of nuclear weapons, and the 'independent nuclear deterrent' is a sacred cow of some 60 years of history.

However, we are in danger of falling on the wrong side of the argument by this blinkered and jingoistic approach to the future development of our security policy.

Nuclear weapons are the only weapon of mass destruction. So much so, that the mere contemplation of their use is only considered only in a doomsday scenario. Britain's 'independent' nuclear deterrent was almost certainly not that, and held more power as a warning to the Soviet Union if they had considered trying to split the North Atlantic alliance.

In the modern age, state actors are unlikely to directly threaten Britain. Launching a missile against the UK is beyond the capability of any nation except Russia, and though they remain the one true (and massively misjudged) threat in respect to nuclear weapons, it is clear that they are hamstrung by their own weaknesses. The future should see a gradual decline in Russia's power.

Who then are we preparing to fight? Al-Qaeda? Investment in helicopters and bombers, cruise missiles and drone aircraft would much more valuable. We also seem to be forgetting that in the small arms combat of warzones like Iraq and Afghanistan it is the infantry who are fighting and winning the battles, not the threat of a nuclear winter for Kabul or Baghdad.

However, my argument has a more fundamental and immediate foundation. This is the second age of nuclear proliferation. Just as previously small states (Brazil, Argentina, South Africa) were persuaded to abandon the crippling task of creating their own nuclear threat, so must Britain and its allies persuade a new generation of states more hostile than before, that developing their own independent nuclear can be abandoned in favour of a nuclear-free existence alongside the democracies of the West.

However, we will continue to demand unquestioningly that we need to retain our nuclear weapons and stare in horror as the nasty regimes of this world race towards doing just that for themselves.

Hopefully, before the decision is taken to renew it, we can engage in some proper date about why we are actually doing it. Here's hoping...

Tosser-ism

2006-11-26T04:23:00.000-08:00

P0litical philosophy must have skipped a few beats since I studied it at university.

The latest initiative from the Conservatives is the latest in a line of increasingly bizarre headline grabbing stunts. Personal debt is a serious issue - why is bluffing a piece of pop culture going to be a sensible solution to it?

This is hardly Thatcherism, and as the embracing of Polly Toynbee showed it's not even Blairism. Whilst I appreciate an image makeover is overdue for the Tories, surely the goal should be to paint the Tories as a government in waiting, rather than accusing the great British public of being wankers-in-disguise?

Talking of personal debt - the latest proposals for governing party finances have hit some turbulence. Labour's ridiculous ideas for giving yet more taxpayers money to themselves have rightly been ridiculed. But imagine my horror when this piece of rubbish turned up on ConHome.

Michael Ashcroft proposed that perhaps private individuals might be allowed to spend their money how they see fit, (a preferred option to Cameron's artificial £50k limits in return for more govt. spending). Tim Montgomery was soon on the ball, declaring that

'both the Ashcroft and Cameron prescriptions risk separating political parties
from the concerns of individual voters. If parties can get their money
from big business or big government they won't be forced to return to retail
politics and grassroots funding.'

Retail politics? The concerns of individual voters? How exactly will that pay for multi-million pound election campaigns?

The current rules for engaging voters do not allow for a true engagement with individual voters - hence the explosion in the blogosphere which helps fill the gap left by the regulation of party communication (no TV ads etc.). Whilst Cameron's latest stunts may have disorientated commentators, surely a grassroots organisation should appreciate that restricting individual freedom is a fundamentally un-Conservative idea.

Let people, organisations and businesses donate as much as they want of their own money. If the voters don't like it, or suspect that foul play is involved they can vote with their feet.

Thanks Ranil!!!!

2006-11-16T18:20:00.000-08:00

Trying to get away from all things CF flavoured has been an uphill struggle, people still write to me asking to get things done, or for advice - and there has been a surprising amount of argy bargy on the forums. However, with the new job starting on Monday I'm trying extra hard to break free of the day-to-day stuff,

Two things have dragged me back.

1) This post by Caroline Hunt - a more balanced account on the good the bad and the ugly with CF so far this year.

2) A gift from an old friend

CF's latest project is the Blue Sky Foundation. A terrific effort by Ranil Jayawardena to get young people involved in policy. This is spot on stuff and a good move towards providing a legacy for CF. Whilst it pre-dates his election, the work (basically a subtle version of YBF with a policy research element added on) is ideal for someone looking to entrench some professionalism into the organisation. Well done Ranil!

Why's it a gift? Well as soon as I saw the website I thought of this, a post that I wrote whilst serving on the blog last year which I emailed to Ranil to say thanks. Blue Skies thinking was an idea used by Matthew Parris to illustrate the idea of thinking beyond the here and now. For the Conservatives this was ending the introspection and 'black sky thinking' that clouded their judgement (a precursor to the rise of Cameron), for CF this was trying to break the unhelpful cycle of mediocrity caused by short term thinking- now Ranil is putting his own spin on the idea, a fantastic effort. Best of luck!

1989 all over again

2006-11-13T17:06:00.000-08:00

The Bank of England’s decision to raise the rate of interest to 5% came as no surprise to the City after the well trailed itchiness of the monetary-policy committee last October.

Inflation, at 2.4% is still running a little too hot for the Bank’s taste and in a bid to bring it below the magic 2% mark, raising the price of money was probably a well calculated risk. After all, consumers show little sign of curbing their enthusiasm after the recent wobble in consumer spending gave way to a resurgence which will be good news to retailers ahead of the Christmas rush.

Underpinning this confidence to flash the cash is the extraordinary rise and rise of the property market. The capital especially is seeing the worst excesses as record city bonuses set well-funded buyers against one another in a bid to secure the house of their dreams.

Well-to-do areas are especially valued as bankers square off against wealthy foreigners (exempted from paying tax on income earned outside the UK). Kensington and Chelsea, for example, proves that its effect over inflation extends beyond the A-list, averaging out at a hefty 11% a year and the ‘extraordinary’ market (properties over £8.5m) reaching highs unseen in over two decades. (These same buyers are increasingly purchasing buy-to-let properties as an investment, paradoxically flattening the rental market and making life easier for those too poor to buy in the first place.)

The trend is accelerating with the capital’s overall rate now standing at 9%. A potential boon for the Tory prospects of holding key marginals, as even a modest pad in Hammersmith and Fulham, or Battersea, regularly tops £650,000 attracting aspirational young professionals, a group beginning to rail against Labour’s high-taxing/free-spending tendencies.

However, the sting is in the tail. The house price pornography that delights the property owning middle-classes and feeds their economy-supporting spending habits, has made the UK dangerously reliant on consumers continuing to feel sufficiently flush to keep on spending. (The ‘wobble’ mentioned at the start of this piece halved consumer spending to 1.4% from 3.5% two years ago and that in a property market that was flattening gradually.)

As government spending slows and the US economy begins to weaken, the reliance on a continued property boom may become intolerable. Already the property market is seeing the excesses that made it notorious in the late-eighties (gazumping and other dirty tricks are showing a remarkably strong resurgence). If house price inflation continues to rocket an incoming Conservative government may be just in time to feel the full effects of a house price crash and economy in recession, with little room to manoeuvre thanks to a current account deficit courtesy of Mr Brown.

1989 saw a house price crash that flattened the market for a decade, will 2009 be 1989 for the Conservatives all over again?

Something for the weekend

2006-11-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

Am leaving the GLA today after two years trying to shift Ken Livingstone one press release at a time.

Goodbye.

Gays and Geeks: free speech rules again!

2006-11-01T03:06:00.000-08:00

Whilst looking at the diary for next week I see another event with King's College is coming up, which reminded me that I had been at one last week where a young reporter from the Sunday Times was being guided about the room by Darth Clarke.

I had hoped to see another story about 'aren't young tories cool' , "their membership is over 15000 you know!" and "there is a real resurgence of Conservatism on campus". After all, since 2003, all the major papers have run through this standard story.

In my year it started "Nick Vaughan is a terribly nice chap...", and for whatever weird editorial reason The Guardian, The Independent and others cued up to lavish praise on CF for being hip and trendy which was quite a compliment at the time.

So, imagine my surprise when web searching for the story to see that an entire evenings schmoozing had resulted in this,

"Conservative Future, which wants a smaller state, lower taxes and a cure for spots, reports a membership boom in the north of England, where new recruits have apparently been attracted by bluff, plain-speaking man-of-the-people Boris t’Pfeffel Johnson. Being a young Tory had previously been a heroic struggle. Mark Clarke, the CF chairman, says his mother was slightly taken aback. “Oh God!” she gasped. “It would have been easier if you’d said you were gay.”

I must admit, on the night, I wondered at the wisdom of some of Mark's comments in front of a journalist. Sometimes there is a time and a place for the slightly more risque comments, and going further by dredging up the geeky, Tory-boy stereotype from way back when was probably offensive even to the quite forgiving uni crowd.

Still, there's no such thing as bad press. Right?

Beyond the call of duty?

2006-10-31T04:04:00.000-08:00

This story from The Times regarding the Glaswegian firmen who refused to attend a Gay Pride festival to hand out fire safety leaflets.

"The officers at the Cowcaddens station, led by watch manager Brian Herbert, claimed that they acted on moral grounds when they disobeyed an order to hand out fire safety literature at an event billed as a “gay, bisexual and transgender festival”. "

"Their stand was supported by the Fire Brigades Union, but the officers were sent written warnings and ordered to attend “diversity training” courses. Mr Herbert, who is just two years from retirement, was demoted to crew manager, resulting in a salary loss of £5,000 per year."

"At an internal hearing in Glasgow yesterday the firemen appealed against the punishments, arguing that they were entitled to object on grounds of conscience and that the public relations exercise was not a core part of their duties. "

An interesting principle here. The firefighters were punished for disobeying a direct order. "Quite right" some would say, and no doubt the usual suspects are lining up to accuse the firemen of homophobia and call them a million nasty names.

Consider for a second though what they were expected to do.

Handing out fire safety leaflets is a fairly common practice for fire crews at big events, and the benefits are obviously apparent in raising public awareness. However, did anyone stop to consider that this particular public gathering may be a bit different?

It is amazing that with all the fuss and discussion with the powers that be, that no one has dared to mention that perhaps asking any employee to attend a festival that is dedicated to sex and sexuality might be a bit strong for even the burliest fireman.

Imagine the equivalent scenario. Glasgow City Council decide to hold a massive straight sex festival. Into this mix, the local hospital decides to send a posse of that other cliched fantasy - nurses in full uniform - to hand out leaflets on health. (Notice here that there is probably a more direct connection between job and benefit than in the case of the firemen).

The outcry would be appalling. A group of young female nurses forced to endure the sly comments of men gathered with only one thing on their minds? What were they thinking? Women's groups would be outraged, newspapers would have a field day, heads would roll at the NHS trust.

However, sadly, for the poor firemen, the Fire Brigade has no such sensibilities towards its employees. Discrimination cuts one way in this case and others like it, and whilst the commentators foam at the mouth the poor sids who bear the brunt of the fallout are the poor undefended firefighters from Cowcaddens.

Coming Soon

2006-10-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

State Sponsored Tourism (Sponsored by Durex!!!)

2006-10-26T04:56:00.000-07:00

This story regarding the massive use of condoms and 'love hotels' in South Korea following the North's Nuclear test.

South Korean condom sales, motel bookings surged after North's nuclear test SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Condom sales and pay-by-the-hour "love motel" bookings surged across South Korea in the aftermath of North Korea's nuclear test, the country's top newspaper reported Thursday.

South Koreans are used to living in the shadow of war, and life has continued as normal in the capital, Seoul, in the wake of the Oct. 9 test. But figures published by the mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper Thursday suggest that despite their apparently blase reaction to the North's nuclear bluster, many South Koreans may be seeking solace in sex.

Condom sales at a leading chain of convenience stores rose to an average of 1,930 a day in the week after the North's Oct. 9 nuclear test, compared to the 2006 daily average of 1,508 condoms sold, the paper said.

Daily sales of the prophylactics dropped slightly to 1,772 in the week from Oct. 16-21, but remained well above the daily average.

A popular online reservation site for South Korea's "love motels" - the popular term for lodgings
built for clandestine rendezvous - also reported a surge in bookings immediately after the heightened security threat.

The affordable motels are a fixture across South Korea. In one of the world's most densely
populated countries, where extended families often live together, such accommodations provide
a refuge for those seeking discreet locations for intimate encounters.

But those who haven't already made their reservations will have to wait. The online system says it has no available slots until the end of the month.

Boris on Tax

2006-10-26T03:24:00.000-07:00

This article from Boris in The Telegraph today. Well worth a read.

" It is no consolation to her (RAF employee) to say that interest rates are low. She has no mortgage. It's the tax that's making her life so much harder — the huge amount the state claws back from the derisory sum it gives her. "

"So when those Labour people come on and say it's only the greedy Tories who care about tax cuts, think of the lady who keeps the helicopters flying, and her unbearable cheerfulness."

"...much of Middle Britain doesn't feel the impact of tax in the way that low-paid personnel in the Armed Services feel it, and it is people like the helicopter lady who should have the first call on our protection and support."

Pervez Musharraf on the Daily Show

2006-10-26T01:55:00.000-07:00

The Few...

2006-10-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

The Big Idea? Stoppit with the ideas

2006-10-25T03:23:00.000-07:00

Read this article by Simon Heffer in the Daily Telegraph in tribute to (Lord) Ralph Harris

The premise is simple, modern politicians have no ideology, no real leadership. They exist in a cocooned world moulded by focus groups and opinion polls. Ideology, he argues, should be the driving force of modern politics, and politicians should trade in their 'followership' for 'leadership', converting people to their way of thinking. He says;

"The absence of ideas is acceptable only in a one-party state. Despite the
very good imitation that each of the main political parties does of the others,
we are not at that pass yet.But unless a new generation of thinkers has the
courage to pick up Ralph Harris's baton, and show that ideas are nothing to
fear, we soon will be."

A typical 'sound' argument that will resonate with many Thatcherite-era Tories. However, could I humbly suggest that in fact the single most useful ideology for modern politicians is to abandon any one ideology.

Consider Sweden.

I lived there for nine months and was astounded as a student of political theory at how 'lagom' the place was. 'Lagom' roughly translates like the Three Bears story, where mummy bear's porridge was 'neither too hot, nor too cold' - so it is with lagom, a state of neither extreme - a happy medium.

Just as with their porridge, the Swedes like their politics similarly lagom - hence the incoming right-wing prime minister of that country doesn't plan more than a tinkering round the edges with the famed Swedish social model. The parliament of Sweden reflects this, a unicameral chamber built upon the principles of consensus and avoiding confrontation. (Interestingly, Sweden's parliament has a very healthy proportion of women as a result of the absence of macho posturing)

Whilst this lack of excitement bored me silly, it struck me how the Swedes have a lovely country, where no one really worries about anything, and especially not big issues, like unemployment, healthcare, education. More likely a heated debate on plastic recycling.

Contrast with France.

I was struck on Channel 4's 'Are all Muslims evil bastards' debate by the comment from the female editor who published the offensive cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed. She said;
"Well I am a person of the left, a radical feminist" and proceeded to constantly bang on about her revoluntionary credentials.

It struck me that no politician in this country outside of the Socialist Workers would ever trot out such outdated language. Yet in France a major editor on a national paper is happily an unapologetic lefty. A sign of the ideology driven political culture of that country.

Look at the state of France. A country with high unemployment, fierce debate over how to tackle the current crises that beset it, and no action to do anything. If Chirac were ever to resolve himself to tackle the problems in a meaningful way he would face chaos as the unions fought to bring down the government.

Britain has already travelled that road. Men like Ralph Harris fought not to impose a radical new idea, but to bring back an old one. 200 years old in fact. What Simon Heffer is perhaps not giving credit to, is that the trauma of the Second World War meant, as Churchill put it,

"that every individual was to subvert their will to that of the state"

The post-war consensus was thus always slanted in that direction, with the government feeling obliged to get things done for people rather than granting them freedom in their own affairs. Thatcher put that right by her willingness to listen to the new-old ideas, however, when Thatcher departed her successors could not grasp that her strength was not solely her ideology, but also her pragmatism. Hence the failure of privatisations based on dogma rather than an uncritical appreciation of the facts. The Tories had passed beyond lagom and gladly headed into right-wing oblivion where they stayed until very recently.

Modern politics takes place on the centre ground, Labour understood this and shifted their camp accordingly, David Cameron is attempting the same. Future debates will not take place over ludicrous notions of the state setting the price of eggs, or owning airlines, or of not exisitng at all, but in that complex no-man's land of compromise and moderation.

As the Conservatives lay to rest a man who did so much to bring Britain back on keel, perhaps we should also lay to rest the idea that politics must involve gargantuan battles between bitterly opposed forces. New policy is likely to evolve gradually from the old. Personal freedom will mix with a responsible state as the battle scars of the past heal.

The challenge of the future is how to convince voters in this not-very-interesting lagom debate that they must change their vote. This is the real Big Idea.

Muslims - Trial by TV (courtesy Channel 4)

2006-10-24T03:36:00.000-07:00

Channel 4's dedication to insensitive, cack-handed reporting took an obscene turn last night as Jon Snow hosted a programme discussing just how bad Muslims really were.

The specific topic for discussion was something 'reasonable' along the lines of 'Are Muslims a threat to free speech?' interspersed with less reasonable arguments that painted every follower of one faith into a corner.

You can see where this is going.

And yes, there were some genuinely good arguments put forward by good speakers, but the sad truth is, that Channel 4 showed more considered judgement over some Danish cartoons than over their decision to host an entire programme.

Using the term 'Muslims' manages to pack together 2.4 million people in this country, from all walks of life, of all races and from over a hundred different countries. To suppose, as Channel 4 did, that even modest-sized groups of people could hold a single overarching philosophy on the role of free speech, self-expression and censorship in the modern world is ludicrous.

There are less than two million Northern Irishmen in the world no one has had any luck getting two of them to agree on anything in the past three hundred years. Singling out an entire faith and it's adherents of all kinds is an act of crass simplification.

Channel 4 has a duty of public service, and that duty requires provoking debate on the important issues of our time. Doubtless, when the various luvvies and dahlings at C4's production office dreamt this one up they felt they were on to a winner - sadly they need to listen to the advice of the radical cleric featured on last night's show.

"Yes I can insult your mum, but as a responsible member of society I choose not to."

If the mouthpiece of an organisation so extreme they were nearly banned can come up with gems like this one, surely it can't be beyond the grasp of Jon Snow.

Not a nerd

2006-10-24T02:49:00.000-07:00

Despite the computers stuff, politics and a boyhood flirtation with Star Trek I am officially not a nerd.

Though taking the test is perhaps not the best way to prove that. Try it yourself.

Just found this...

2006-10-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Bit outdated, but brilliant stuff...

Define Irony

2006-10-23T02:15:00.000-07:00

Kenyan Marathon runner Robert Cheruiyot beats a competitive field in Chicago to cross the line in first place after 26.2 gruelling miles.

However, right at the moment of crossing the finishing line he slipped on the sponsors own logo and whacked his head off the pavement causing him to be admitted to hospital with a brain haemorrhage.

Video here...

Madonna Stocks up on Childcare products

2006-10-23T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hat Tip: Beau Bo D'or

He's not a dictator - he's a very naughty boy!!!

2006-10-20T04:31:00.000-07:00

Kim Jong Il has 'expressed regret for the nuclear test' - according to a Chinese diplomat involved in a bilateral summit between the Chinese and North Korean governments.

Read more...

Bye bye Caroline

2006-10-20T02:33:00.000-07:00

Drinks last night with Caroline Hunt and her workmates. Was a fun evening written about in more depth by Caroline here.

Interestingly Mark Clarke decided to make a spontaneous appearance, much to my amusement and (perhaps) Caroline's chagrin.

Regardless, Caroline took the opportunity to post this picture of an electric car.

Which was apparently driven by Boris Johnson. The above picture shows why this sort of technology never takes off. The car is small ugly and not at all desirable. However, I think electric cars will prove to be an important future technology, being as they are quieter, more efficient, cheaper and eco-friendly (though honestly I couldn't give a toss about carbon emissions, as a city dweller I'm worried about air pollution)

So I would plump for this - The Tesla Roadster

Political Music: Imagine (Take a Walk on the Wild Side)

2006-10-20T02:25:00.000-07:00

Didn't William Shatner do a version of this?

Russian Dolls

2006-10-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Religion Debate

2006-10-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

From an article in The Daily Telegraph today, thought it would make a good addition to the debate over religious freedoms;

Dr Sentamu made his comments as he opened the David Young academy in Leeds,
during which he put a hand-made wooden cross and an anti-slavery medallion into
a time capsule which is to be buried by the school.

Referring to the "controversy in the news", he said: "The cross is a
symbol used by Christians to remind them of hope. It is the hope of light
overcoming darkness, life victorious over death and good triumphing over
evil."

He added: "For those of us who wear a cross, there is not only hope
but also a responsibility. The responsibility that goes with claiming the name
of a Christian. The responsibility to act and to live as Christians.
"Those wearing a cross proclaim themselves followers of Christ and have the duty of
acting accordingly; of showing love to our neighbours of all faiths and none, of
forgiving those who offend or persecute us, or choosing a life of service to
those we meet in this community be they students or teachers, the cool or the
uncool, the weak or the strong. Our duty is to show love to them
all.
"And this is why I will put this cross into the time
capsule. Not only as an enduring symbol of hope, but also as a reminder to those
generations to come of their continuing duty to care for the world in which they
find themselves years from now and to love all of those with whom they share
that world and this very special place."

Nadia Eweida, 55, a committed Christian, was told by BA managers to remove or cover up her small cross. When she refused was sent home on unpaid leave. A decision on whether the company should change its policy, which does not allow any visible jewellery, is expected in a week's time.

From GuyNews.TV

2006-10-19T02:22:00.000-07:00

Holy Crap!!

2006-10-18T08:07:00.000-07:00

Wow - this really takes the biscuit. Near the end she says "Do I have to answer all the questions?"

Absolute dynamite! And probably evidence of a political scheme on behalf of some shadowy muslim radical group.

The Daily Show: Even Steph(V)en

2006-10-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

The Change Agenda in action

2006-10-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Got a great surprise today.

Whilst idly flicking through w4mp.org I came across this series of ads. Lo and behold Mr. Clarke seems to be listening to my advice after all!!!

Advertising on w4mp is a great way to expand the gene pool for volunteers to CF and really makes a change. I first did this two years ago for the copywriters and the improvement was immense. Mark asked me a few weeks ago how I had managed it and when I told him he seemed surprised it could be so easy.

However, change hasn't always been so easy to implement. I said that two weeks was about the minimum time you want to post an ad to get a healthy mix of applicants, four days seems a little shabby, but nonetheless, if YOU think you can help out get in touch with the right people asap!!!

CF needs skilled volunteers working together to make it a better organisation. By pulling together we can make this a much better organisation.

School Sports

2006-10-16T03:46:00.000-07:00

Why don't we have moments as entertaining as this dust up between two American football teams?

Best we can hope for is that Rooney uses the F-word....

Exec Blog: Pt 2

2006-10-16T02:51:00.000-07:00

The hoary old chesnut of CF Exec accountability has raised it's head with this article on ConHome.

The point is a simple one - how can we make the exec more accountable to its membership?

It is now easier to communciate with the membership due to the existence of CF Diary - an excellent innovation - but unless ConHome is to become the mouthpiece of the main party its use will necessarily be limited. Also, ordinary members of the exec have so far taken a back seat to the Chairman in delivering any message to the membership.

The simple answer, that I have proposed for some time now, is to set up an exec blog.

Each member can have their own section where their responsibilities and successes can be recorded and members can engage in a public dialogue. The power of blogs has already been proven with ConHome, Iain Dale and Guido - it's simplicity is a strength and will bypass a lot of the backstage machinations that have previously bedevilled CF politics.

Already the poll on this site registers 74% in favour of the exec running a blog, and a central blog would avoid the problems of private forums, individual blogs and relying on external sources for communication. It's time the exec realised it's good to talk.

Have your say in the comments...

A little something for the weekend...

2006-10-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

'Are you on crack?' Ads

2006-10-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I should perhaps calm down on the video thingys - but Mel Bean just pointed this one out to me.

I'm not sure exactly what it is for - but it is bloody funny. Like Donald Trump on steroids this guy is full of himself and, let's be honest - he was probably bullied as a kid.

Enjoy!

Attack ads

2006-10-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

The Americans (as always) come up with another cracker in the annals of political broadcasting.

Birthday News

2006-10-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

24 Today - which makes this 26 years old

1980: Thatcher 'not for turning'
The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has made a defiant speech to Conservatives at the party conference in Brighton.
In it she stressed her determination to stick to tough economic policies despite doubts expressed within Tory ranks.

Responding to recent expectations of an about-turn on counter-inflationary policies, Mrs Thatcher declared to widespread cheers:

"To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning!"

Outside in the rain, 'Right to Work' protesters demonstrated, two of whom managed to breach security and make their voices heard in the hall.

But her speech did acknowledge the plight of the country's two million unemployed.

"Let me make it clear beyond doubt. I am profoundly concerned about unemployment," she said.

She added: "Human dignity and self-respect are undermined when men and women are condemned to idleness."

The Prime Minister expressed her commitment to reducing inflation which she said was beginning to fall, reminding delegates it was the "parent of unemployment".

She also claimed a number of measures imposed by her government in its first 17 months in office as successes.

This included the "first crucial changes" in trade union law, the breaking down of monopoly powers and allowing council tenants the chance to buy their homes.

Mrs Thatcher condemned Soviet foreign policy and in particular its present occupation of Afghanistan.

In response to the recent demonstrations by Polish ship-workers, she praised their resolve to "participate in the shaping of their destiny", and their actions as testament to a crisis in Communism.

Her closing words were reserved for criticism of Labour and votes cast at its party conference in favour of withdrawal from NATO and the EEC.

"Let Labour's Orwellian nightmare of the Left be a spur for us to dedicate with a new urgency our every ounce of energy and moral strength to rebuild the fortunes of this free nation," she said.

Read this...

2006-10-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

Why Muslim women should thank Straw by Saira Khan (The gobby one off the first series of the Apprentice UK)

At last a voice of reason and moderation in the debate.

Lookalikes

2006-10-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

I kinda like it... good concept and I was starting to hate the Tory torch which had severly dated.

Hat Tip: Private Eye

Are we there yet? - Tory Party conference bigger than The Beatles

2006-10-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief, the ensuing chaos at the Tory party conference was not due to the departure last week of CF National Organiser-in-Waiting Richard 'Action' Jackson.

Richard gallantly stepped into the breach to help out the hapless CCHQ minions who were obviously struggling with competence along with members of Her Majesty's Secret Service/ Bournemouth Police/the breakfast chef at the Suncliff hotel.

Thanks to the (unnamed) person who managed to half-inch my security pass from the secure zone and allow me to bypass the ensuing chaos (pictured)

Any suggestions as to who was the most important person stuck in a three hour queue? Use the comments section...

NSFW

2006-09-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

Why do UK party political broadcasts never hit home like this?

Lack of nudity probably...

CF Radio test

2006-09-28T02:39:00.000-07:00

[[libsyn_player]]

Lord Cashpoint?

2006-09-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hat Tip: Beau Bo D'Or

Smug?

2006-09-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Uh oh - just saw this worrying piece of smugness on Conservative Home

"Our deadliest political opponent leaves the stage

Tories should not be under any illusions as to the significance of what is happening. The Blair era is coming to an end and with it we are seeing the end of our party's most formidable ever opponent. For more than a decade he has confounded the Conservative Party at almost every turn. He has led deep raids into our natural territory - geographically and ideologically.

The Blair years have been the years of greatest trial for the Conservative Party. That is no coincidence. Politics is going to be different in the Post-Blair era. Our most deadly political opponent is about to leave the stage. That can only be good news."

The point that was missed of course was that Blair set up his departure brilliantly. If John Major could rescue the shambles of a parliamentary party and drag it into another election in a fighting mood, then how much more could Brown (or worse, John Reid) do so with Tony teeing up the succession so neatly.

Yes, Labour could dissolve into infighting, but more likely they will use this conference to bury the hatchet and prepare for a leadership contest. Whoever wins that bruising ordeal (Reid?) will have rightly earned their honeymoon period.

A lot hangs on D.Cs speech. Will it match last year's - hardly. So will it deliver?

Conference should be fun...

Lil Bush: Episode 3

2006-09-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Tony Blair's Speech

2006-09-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

Pretty good.

Now p&*$ off...

Guido fisks the speech here

Poll Update

2006-09-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

"Should next year's Exec blog?"

Yes - 9
Never - 3
What? - 2

Gordon Brown - Presbyterian?

2006-09-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

Watching the Brown speech I was transported back years to the Presbyterian kirk in Antrim. Where a worthy and terribly nice minister would propound on the message of the gospel in a worthy but dour way.

Brown mentioned that his dad was a minister - no kidding - the steady rhythm of much of his early speech, the flowing yet dull words punctuated by much heavy breathing was reminiscent of a Sunday morning sermon - but less exciting.

GB tried, as the main leadership candidate should do, to defuse the arguments against him (green issues, ID cards, leadership rows etc.) but what he neglected to mention was that in a fight against Cameron only one man will come out standing and it won't be Grumpy Gordon.

DC will do to GB what Blair did to Major - paint him into a corner and hammer away at his support till it falls to pieces. Sadly, Tony has left no time for a snap election, so if GB does get the top job (why oh why did I not take time to place a bet on Reid at 20/1?) Brown will have to suffer a long drawn out losing campaign.

Watch this space...

P.S - Guido fisks Brown

Clinton on Bin Laden

2006-09-25T04:21:00.000-07:00

An interesting interview given to Fox News. Throws some light on the hunt for Bin Laden.

Clarke Hearts

2006-09-25T02:10:00.000-07:00

Just to show they're still friends...
Hat tip: Beau Bo D'Or

Lil Bush: Episode 2

2006-09-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

Why CF is a failing organisation

2006-09-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

Hat tip: Recess Monkey

This is why CF fails. This ad appeared courtesy of College Republicans at Stanford. It is funny, eye-catching and self-confident as any student political group should be if it is going to survive.

CF by contrast usually make a splash at Freshers then doesn't follow it up. The centre provides no new ideas, resources and little (if any) training. The CRs however take a proactive approach. For little effort, university campuses provide a fertile recruiting ground.

Knowing, as I do, that blogging tends to communicate ideas to the higher ups in this organisation, I hope that this year CF will start to take the business of student politics seriously.

Face of evil

2006-09-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

This is the man who disrupted John Reid's speech yesterday. The media, like the often gormless morons they are, swarmed all over him for an interview - after all, who wants to hear the Home Secretary babble on about stopping Islamic Fascists from recruiting British youngsters when there is one in the room prepared to give his own 'I have a dream' speech.

Look at the video, you'll see the depths to which this guy can sink.

The sad truth is that in this country people like Abu Izzadeen have already won. As in Belfast 35 years ago, young men, leading lives with no future and no prospects and with no leadership from their own community are being seduced by the powerful message of terrorists.

Then it was the IRA and their Irish nationalism, now it is Al Qaeda and a host of splinter factions proclaiming holy war.

The difference of course is that for the IRA, victory was a definable political aim. At some point the 'freedom fighters' could be persuaded to lay down their arms as peace was negotiated.

Islamic terrorists are the holy warriors of God, who will stop short of nothing less than complete victory - converting all non-believers to their faith and killing those who refuse.

The real dissapointment is that in Labour's heartlands, the old men who are the 'community leaders' are desperately out of touch with the expanding population under-30. As a result, many reject both their parents and the country they live in, existing in a peculiar limbo of belonging nowhere.

The crude generalisations of radical teachings and the perceived strength of the Islamo-fascist message are an attractive prospect, and with the advent of suicide bombing even a tiny fringe of the large muslim population of this country represents a massive security risk.

The world united after September the 11th, and the possibility existed to engage Islamo-fascism both on the plains of Afghanistan and in a battle of ideologies. The second battle was the most important to win, just as it was in the Cold War or against 19th Century anarchists.

However, in a headlong rush to war with Iraq, the great western democracies have sacrificed their moral advantage, and are now bogged down in an uncertain and unwinnable war with Islamic terrorism.

I have heard two people try to engage the muslim communities in that important second battle, both Labour muslim MPs. John Reid tried, but came short. I wonder if anyone else will emerge to engage in the great struggle of our time.

Get Well Soon

2006-09-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

For the survival of the Top Gear programme, and consequently the survival of British manliness, let's all hope that Richard 'The Hamster' Hammond gets better soon.

Richard managed to break the British landspeed record (for crashing) and is now seriously ill in hospital, though recovering.

Nob Watch: BBC Conferences Youth Panel

2006-09-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

In another stunning example of why the BBC just can't help but be a bit crap the 'Party Conferences Youth Panel' has hoovered up three elegantly terrible candidates to cover one conference each.

Thankfully the Lib Dems get the worst of the lot, Sam Wheeler. Click on the link to have a look at his awful audition video.

Lil' Bush: Episode 1

2006-09-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

Andrew Young - bit of a tosser

2006-09-20T02:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to losing Chairman candidate Caroline Hunt for bringing to my attention this blog -

www.andrewyoung.blogspot.com

Andrew Young, from Denton Texas has ended his blog in October 2004 with a post titled 'Politically Correct Racism'. I began to read it but the lack of paragraphs and good jokes put me off. In fact so boring was the blog that even the paragraphs about an ad for guitar strings featuring thong-clad girls was a real turn off.

More worrying was this effort

http://www.andrewyoung.com/

Which features several young children and a guys phone numbers in New York. Not too much to say about it apart from the second kid looks a bit odd.

My favourite is

http://www.andrewyoung.net/

This guy used to be AndrewYoung.com, but now, after a music career that seems not to be going anywhere, he is relegated to .net status.

This Andrew Young is a cross between Kenny G and 'Siegfried and Roy'. Check out his pic:

But my favourite of all time - and the guy who gets the most google hits. Is this guy

http://aysps.gsu.edu/people/YoungA.htm

Andrew Young - Statesman, Businessman, Humanitarian, Irishman

You can almost see the likeness...

Lib Dem Totty

2006-09-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

The leading lights of the Lib Dem Totty list have been receiving the unwelcome attentions of bothe The Sun and Guido Fawkes.

Jo Swinson, Julia Goldsworthy, Kirsty Williams and Lynne Featherstone were in the firing line for perving blogmongs everywhere. However, one glaring omission seems to have escaped the copy editors - Sarah Teather.
The pint sized MP for some ex-labour slum has received a lot of coverage, some of it unwelcome, but surely any run-down of Lib Dem totty cannot be complete without her.

At only 4'10" she is lightweight and portable - like hand luggage - and according to Recess Monkey, also happens to be gagging for it.

Complaints to the Sun can be made to - editor@sun.co.uk

Lib Dem Tax Debate

2006-09-19T01:52:00.000-07:00

News Flash: Riots in Hungary - Politician Tells Truth

2006-09-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

The Hungarian capital Budapest was experiences an uneasy calm after a day of rioting and looting following the admission by Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.

Witness the most eloquent astatement ever made by an elected politician:

""There is not much choice. There is not, because we screwed up. Not a little, a lot. No European country has done something as boneheaded as we have.

"Evidently, we lied throughout the last year-and-a-half, two years... You cannot quote any significant government measure we can be proud of, other than at the end we managed to bring the government back from the brink. Nothing."

In a speech sprinkled with obscenities, Mr Gyurcsany says: "We lied in the morning, we lied in the evening."

Pictures Wanted!!! - URGENT

2006-09-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Lib Dem Condoms - the least likely to be used Freshers Fair gimmick - lol!!!

Please send pictures.

Watch this space...

Tiger Golf

2006-09-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Tiger Golf

Take on the tricks and traps of this fiendish golf course.

Play this free game now!!

Guido on the rack

2006-09-18T06:57:00.001-07:00

Nobody likes being phoned by Guido, it usually means you're in the shit. However, when faced with the choice between being obliterated and merely losing a limb many people have no choice but to cooperate.

Thankfully the moustachioed one was in the mood for indulging a request and I managed to nab both him and Recess Monkey for an interview on CF TV.

To listen to the full interview - Click Here

An afternoon in the company of the two most scandalous bloggers in Christendom is also a chance to pick up the rumours and twisted tales of the next three months. Was a thoroughly enjoyable experience - though Recess did decide to back me for the chairmanship of CF. Which is a bit like Gerry Adams deciding to bless your kneecaps.

Stay tuned for some outlandish stories, the incoming chairman seems to be a favoured target...

Too taxing?

2006-09-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hat Tip: The Times

Lib Dem money for Female Candidates

2006-09-18T02:36:00.000-07:00

An secretly recorded conversation at Lib Dem party conference:

"Speaker 1: All right everyone, settle down. I've called you all here to set out our proposed gimmick for the conference.

Speaker 2: Ah, but gimmicks are a disingenuous idea, deceitful to the taxpayer, a waste of....

Speaker 1: Shut it Huhney! There's a reason I'm in charge and it's not to listen to plebs like you!

Alright - gimmick is, we offer money for female candidates. This party desperately needs to up its female quota after the latest round of 'distasteful' press stories regarding certain people, this might be our way back...

Speaker 3: To be fair in my defence, I AM going bald...

Speaker 1: I've told you before, Ming's in charge. when I'm speaking I don't expect to be interrupted.

Speaker 3: Sorry.

Speaker 1: As I was saying, the Lib Dems are seen as a bunch of poofters and weirdos at the moment. We need to change that dramatically. Money up-front for female candidates will be a great way of showing our commitment to the progress of women in politics.

Speaker 4: I think I can be of help here. As one of only nine elected wom...

Speaker 1: Help? Course you can be of help, milk and three sugars.

Speaker 2: Coffee - black

Speaker 3: Any camomile tea?

Speaker 1: I've warned you...

Speaker 3: Sorry.

Speaker 4: Umm... that's not quite what I meant. You see as a party we need to reach out to women and minorities.

Speaker 1: Oh right, yes, of course - minorities, how remiss of me. Anybody know any black people?

[Silence]

Sweden is free

2006-09-18T02:23:00.000-07:00

Goran Persson, Swedish prime minister is out of a job.

A centre-right coalition, led by the Moderaterna, has swiftly kicked him out of office at the latest elections. This is no doubt revenge for his shameful support for the 'Ja till Euron' campaign.

As a campaigner for the 'Nej till Euron' campaign I am delighted that this europe-loving lefty is taking the walk of shame.

Trouble is, the people now in power were also supporters of the Euro.

Roll on 2010...

National self-Help Service

2006-09-15T04:11:00.000-07:00

Labour tries it on, hospitals for votes in The Times today

Hat Tip - Beau Bo D'Or

A new candidate for chairman...

2006-09-13T02:52:00.000-07:00

Osama sends a chilling message to the West

2006-09-12T05:35:00.000-07:00

Steve Irwin dies

2006-09-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

The Crocodile Hunter has died after being poisoned by one of Australia's native creatures.

Couldn't have seen it coming...

Standing for election

2006-08-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

Lot's of people have been coming out of the woodwork to offer support for the campaign - a big thank you to everyone.

Campaign website is - www.andrewyoungcampaign.com

Yikes!!!!

2006-07-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

I wasn't aware that so many people knew about this site - it was after all the ultimate insiders guide to a life on the NME amongst other things.

But as I see that a lot of people are curious as to what I'm doing Re campaigning I'll attach the link to my campaign website

http://andrewyoungcampaign.blogspot.com/

Hope you are persuaded by it - in the meantime feel free to browse this site to see what I've been up to and to judge what sort of person I really am.

That's all folks...

2006-06-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

Dear all,

Though it's been fun, blogging seriously takes too much time and effort. As you can see I haven't been able to blog in the last three weeks and doing it properly is not a realistic option with so much CF stuff happening at the mo.

I hope to start up as soon as the CF Elections are called - just for fun - but apart from that it's time to call it a day.

Thanks to the regular and less regular visitors of what is, in all honesty, a very small and insular blog. Your comments in the pub about the things you liked about what I have said gave my ego a tremendous boost (just what we need, another Tory boy with an inflated ego).

Regards,

Andrew

P.S - Some news to keep you all occupied

CF TV - launched to a modest fanfare, expect CF Net, an aide to our problems in the regions to follow shortly
Future Leader's Competition - A contest to seperate the sheep from the goats with a series of skills based competitions for CF Activists culminating at Conference. Expect to see it soon.
Campaigning has started for CF Elections with Claire Palmer abandoning her Chairmanship run in favour of Mark Clarke. In fear of the Portillistas taking over the asylum Caroline Hunt, mascot of hardline CWF has also declared. Other candidates including perhaps sitting Chairman Nick Vaughan, Annesley and the ubiquitous Chris D Kelly are likely to appear. (That campaigning 4 months in advance is a long time when there remains a lot to be done in this year doesn't seem to be a restraining factor)

It's here...

2006-06-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

Just for fun...

2006-05-23T02:51:00.000-07:00

Eric Forth MP has passed away

2006-05-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

One of a kind and unlikely to be replaced... more soon

ODE TO ERIC

Oh Eric, now you have passed
How my thoughts turn
To the Private Members Bills
That didn’t

R Monkey Esq.

UPDATE:

The sad truth about Eric Forth's death is, that despite his tendency to be awkward (and his hardline views) Eric Forth was quite simply irreplacable.

Who will fill the gap left behind? Can anyone think of a politician who still stands up for what he believes in?

I argued with Eric a few times at the events, usually for young people, that he spoke at. In each case it was clear that those hardline views were not some idle posturing by a tub-thumping fanatic, but the sincerely held convictions of a man who prided himself on the strength of his arguments and who revelled in straight-talking sensibleness.
---------------------------------
As a footnote appropriate to Eric's passing - BBC's 'This Week' the day his death was announced carried contributions from two people on the state of British political culture.

Stephen Fry and the editor of Cosmopolitan Magazine both spoke with a certain amount of sadness and despair at the hopelessness of the ruling political elite. To Mr Fry the reason for this disaster was the dumbed down electorate. The poor iPod-addled half-wits were too disinterested in intellectual discourse and so politicians have to dumb down their message.

However, as always, the woman from the press hit the nail on the head. Politicians may be under pressure from the relentless 24-hour news cycle, but their behaviour is hardly inspiring to begin with. The schoolboyish taunts, the insincere opinions and not too mention the smugness. Just WHY would anyone get out and vote

...and to anyone trying to persaude a new generation of voters this is the challenge. How to change the image of politics (or at least one party) and start to reach out to tomorrow's voters?

I have a feeling that if the next generation of politicians were to borrow a bit of the straight talking, principled style of Eric Forth (whatever their views) then the job would be a lot easier.

You don't have time to read this...

2006-05-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

...you should be campaigning.

However, on the basis that you need something to keep you amused while grabbing a well-earned breather.

While I was away...

2006-04-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Back from skiing and not much has happened - or has it?

Dave the Chameleon

Vote Blue, Go Green

2006-04-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Americans Vow to Stay the Course - "We will keep buying SUVs even if oil hits $4 a gallon"

2006-04-13T01:58:00.000-07:00

In a show of defiance that has become their trademark, the American people have bravely decided that they will keep buying massive SUVs - even if the price of petrol hits the heady heights of $4 a gallon. Read more

The increase in oil prices, caused by instability in the Middle East, has led to sharp increases in price, means that Americans could soon be faced with the massive bill for petrol equivalent to almost £2.30!!!

By comparison British consumers have been paying nearly £5 per gallon for years.

"Hey terrorists. - Terrorise this!!!"

Shamelessly nicked stories

2006-04-12T02:42:00.000-07:00

Continuing the theme - have a look at this little photoshop beauty from Guido Fawkes

Red Ken on Tour

2006-04-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

He's done it again. Just when you think it's impossible for Red Ken to be any more mental he goes and compares the Tiannamen Square massacres to the Poll Tax riots.

Quote of the Day - "We've had some interesting riots in Trafalgar Square - I mean, only 20 years ago, the poll tax riots, and flames licking up."

Read more...

"I promise to behave myself - honest!"

Just for fun

2006-04-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Courtesy - http://www.bbdo.co.uk/blog/

Meet Adele

2006-04-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

I don't know why she came looking for me, but it seems ADELE REYNOLDS, Labour's answer to Anne Widdicombe has been stalking me for quite some time.

After a light-hearted comment about my return to Manchester (where I studied for three years) Adele wrote the following,

" 'Back to Manchester, home of the Arndale Centre, lots of student totty and numerous chavs from Salford at the weekend?' And thats why you'll never get an MP in Manchester."

Adele is a regular online politics nutter and takes the whole thing far too seriously - lighten up love, it's only a bit of fun.

A bit more about Adele....

"I am a Labour activist in Manchester Gorton and the current Vice Chair of Manchester Labour students. Favourite labour people would have to be Neil Kinnock and John Smith. Likes would be anyone with labour values. Dislikes raving trots, conservatives especially those that are compassionate and fib dems. Other interests would be watching Man City lose on a regular occasion. "

Please feel free to email Adele, the Labour party's equivalent of the Stasi. Her email address is,

shestheone31@hotmail.com

Also, if anyone has a picture of the Manc Minger I'll happily post it on the blog. Email me with her photo as soon as humanly possible in an email labelled "The Yeti exists - I have proof!"

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Conservative Spring Forum

2006-04-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

Back to Manchester, home of the Arndale Centre, lots of student totty and numerous chavs from Salford at the weekend.

Joy!

Date: 6 April 2006
Organisation: Conservative Future
Details: CF WINNING ON CAMPUS (come along even if you haven't booked)

The CF National Student Life Training Conference will take place at the Conservative Party annual Spring Forum in Manchester. The conference will include training on:• CF on Campus & Local Involvement – ensuring your CF branch grows on campus
• Media – Dealing with your campus paper and radio station and dealing with local and national press
• Local issue Campaigning – How to identify the issues that win you elections – remember local election on 4 May!
• The Future of CF – we want to know what you want from CF in the future.
Venue The Manchester International Convention Centre which is the venue of the Spring Forum.

Package• Full day training• Lunch and refreshments• Free entry to CF Party on Thursday eveningTimingsThe event will begin with registration at 11am on Thursday morning and will finish at 5pm.

Democracy Deliberated
Date - Thursday 6 April
Time - 5.30pm for 5.45pm
Location - Life Café, 23 Peter Street , Manchester

Come join Ken Clarke, chairman of the Democracy Taskforce, to discuss thechallenges facing Parliament and its scrutiny of Government and how we shouldfund parties in the future. Ken will be joined by other members of theDemocracy Taskfoce panel.

This event will be the first of the series of roadshows examining the key components of the Democracy Taskforce's remit. This event is not within the secure area so passes are not required.

CF Party
Date - Thursday 6 April
Time - 7pm onwards
Location - Life Café, 23 Peter Street , Manchester

Come join the National Conservative Future Executive for drinks at the LifeCafé to find out what CF are up to and to warm up for Spring Forum.

This event is not within the secure area so passes are not required

Social Action Date - Friday 7th April
Time - Either 10am - 1pm or 2pm - 5pm

Want to get out and do something different at Spring Forum? Want to meet new people, with passion for changing lives? Want to help the Party put social action in the spotlight?

At Spring Forum this year the Party is getting out and about on social actionprojects across Manchester. While David Cameron puts his green thumbs to work,Shadow Cabinet Ministers will be visiting schools, refugee shelters and youthprojects. But it doesn't end there: we need you to help us out on furtherprojects in Old Trafford - painting, clearing, graffiti cleaning .... There are two shifts on Friday 7 April either 10-1pm or 2pm-5pm

You'll be part of something big. The work will be filmed and the footage used during David Cameron's address on Saturday morning. We'll provide you withrefreshments, all the gear you'll need to help out. You'll be playing a vital part in helping the Conservative Party show that itmeans to "Change our Cities"!

Contact Elizabeth.Berridge@conservatives.com to volunteer

Last one - for a while

2006-04-04T02:37:00.000-07:00

Ooh...new site

2006-04-04T02:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm really impressed I WILL link this site.

and whilst I'm at it

2006-04-04T02:31:00.000-07:00

If I'm going to start shamelessly stealing photos you may as well see this one. Nicked from the 'other' side and hence no link to the original site.

Guido Fawkes

2006-04-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

I have a dream...to be as good as this guy. Visit Guido Fawkes@ order-order.com. Brilliant

Only a Yorkshireman...

2006-04-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

Only a Yorkshireman would have the bravado, the wit and the brass balls to come up with this piece of advertising history

Georgeous George is brilliant

2006-03-30T05:32:00.000-08:00

You've got to hand it to him. Georgeous George Galloway beat the 'Fake Sheikh' rap and dodged the News of the World's dastardly secret weapon for finding out pretentious wanna-be high flyers (usually minor royals, england football coaches etc.).

Georgeie pays tribute, as he often does, to himself in his Guardian column (here). As he says,

"I knew from the minute I met them that they were impostors. I suspected I was in the midst of a shakedown, which later investigation proved to be the case.

There's more to this than glee at having become the first to outfox the "fake sheikh", or even schadenfreude at the discomfort of the News of the Screws. Those who doubted that there are powerful forces out there determined to discredit me must now surely agree that just because I'm paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get me."

Wow- George I'm impressed. Three chancers from the NOTW try to con you ad you managed to find them out (btw why DID you stay till midnight if you knew it was a con?)

Perhaps Georgie's instincts were heightened by the previous sting pulled by the SUN, wherein a pretty young thing from the Sun's photocopy room successfully lured him into all sorts of ridiculous behaviour.

Witness.

"Sad to report, it didn’t get a whole lot better. As he “romanced” me with gifts of a teddy bear and chocolates, he continually referred to me as “darling” and “sweetheart”.
And he reeled off a string of oily one-liners, boasting about his sexiness and how he fancied younger women. Oh dear."

Nice try George, but we guessed you were a sucker anyway.

Israeli Election results

2006-03-30T02:44:00.000-08:00

Kadima: 28
Labor: 20
Shas: 13
Yisrael Beiteinu: 12
Likud: 11
NRP-National Union: 9
Gil-Pensioners Party: 7
United Torah Judaism: 6
Meretz: 4
United Arab List: 4
Balad: 3
Hadash: 3

The Result means that Ariel Sharon's centrist Kadima party has been hugely successful, albeit with a low turnout. This paves the way for the removal of settlers from the least sustainable situations, but will surely mean a permanent land grab of the best agricultural land and a Palestinian state crippled from its inception.

An interesting piece in the Telegraph today. An ex-Mossad agent talks about the need for a 'do-nothing' approach to suffocate the Palestinian Authority and destroy Hamas.

BBC 3 - Mindfield, the worst ever?

2006-03-29T06:03:00.000-08:00

I was on TV last night. Not that I bothered to watch it. BBC 3's Mindfield programme (presented by June Sarpong), designed to connect the yoof of today with some serious intellectual debate was painful enough the first time round.

You have to understand that in Kilroy-style discussion programmes the format is a little unappealing. There's lot's of shouting and you don't have to be an expert as a result. Just play up to the crowd and you'll be fine.

Strangely, for a show that spent a lot of time and effort recruiting interested young people and feeding them at BBC License payers' expense, there was little input from young people. Instead, the various interested parties were confined to the back benches as old duffers with various degrees of mania ranted about their various prejudices (George Galloway even made a brief appearance but scarpered before the cameras started to roll).

The show asked the question 'Should we have a multi-cultural society in Britain or a single British culture?'

Easy answer, we should have one British culture - right? Well actually. According to the 'top barrister' recruited to defend Britishness, it was impossible to be British if you wore any overt signs of religion. By his definition it would soon become illegal to be anything but a white middle class atheist.

So the dilemma was, choose multi-culturalism or agree with a foaming at the mouth nutter. Unsurprisingly, no-one did and we all happily assented to reduce our opinions to holding up coloured bits of card.

However, the problem is multi-culturalism is a bad thing. I come from a multi-cultural society (two cultures to be exact) and if the riots, killings, hatred and colour-coded kerbstones are anything to go by it doesn't work.

What then? Have a regulated standard society like the BBC nutter suggested?

NO.

Britain is defined by its history, and that history has, through bitter experience, forged a common identity. To be British you no longer need to be CoE, nor do you need to be an anglo-saxon. The history of this country is marked with the assimilation of all sorts of cultures. but it is just that - assimilation. Adapting to other cultures in a common sense tolerant way whilst asking anyone who lives here to abide by that same rule of common sense and to discard bigotries.

Multi-culturalism discards that attitude and places the emphasis on existing seperately with no emphasis on getting along as one nation. In the end it will lead to simmering tensions along the cultural lines of division - race and religion.

BBC Three's well-meaning but daft researchers would do well to remember that.

Shamelessly nicked stories

2006-03-28T01:00:00.000-08:00

Whilst I may not have time to blog, others (usually parliamentary research type people with nothing better to do) do. Here is my list of top links to elsewhere.

Jodie Marsh vs. Phil Willis - Jodie strikes back...here

Labour Sleaze, why can't newspapers write it this well ... here

Student lives in Wal Mart for his Easter holidays ... here

Blair's retirement...here

P.S- The lefties here at work are on strike because the pensions of people who don't yet work here are under threat. This won't stop Unison funding Labour though will it?

If I survive the tortured agonising of lesser minds I'll be able to blog again

Apologies

2006-03-27T07:56:00.000-08:00

This blog has been idle for a week, or so, as;

a) The news out there that amuses me has plummeted dramatically (P.S - I don't care that much about Labour's latest series of scandals)

b) I have been very busy with the work of CF Support - a new project that will be announced shortly

Thank you for your patience,

Andrew

List of shame

2006-03-21T04:07:00.000-08:00

The names of the Labour donors:

Rod Aldridge - £1m
Richard Caring - £2m
Gordon Crawford - £500,000
Professor Sir Christopher Evans - £1m
Sir David Garrard - £2.3m
Nigel Morris - £1m
Sir Gulan Noon - £250,000
Dr Chai Patel - £1.5m
Andrew Rosenfeld - £1m
Lord David Sainsbury - £2m
Barry Townsley - £1m
Derek Tullett - £400,000

Nick Robinson

2006-03-20T02:42:00.000-08:00

Nick Robinson, the Tories friend in the BBC, has come up with this list of reasons why we shouldn't introduce funding reform.

The following ideas have been graded in priority order:

1. You'll pay for it - He has a point, political parties will become flat broke and the taxpayer, under this government, will be forced to pay the rest (estimated at £46 million)

2. The dawn of 'soft' money - They do it in the US. Hide wads of soft money donations behind shady financial structures. We CANNOT allow this to happen in this country, if someone is going to buy a peerage let them do it openly for all the world to see.

3. It will ruin the Labour Party - well ok Nick, let's not get carried away, perhaps there is something in this after all. If the unions can't finance Labour they're surely gonna be F$%&ed.

This is funny

2006-03-20T02:40:00.000-08:00

As ever our friends on the CF.com team have come with another cracker.

Sweaty Baboon

2006-03-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

This just in...

Type in 'Sweaty Baboon' to Google and press the ever amusing 'I'm feeling lucky' button and see who you get...

True, it is very amusing, but also, I'm sure, time consuming in extremis. Why bother?

When will Ming die?

2006-03-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

A distasteful question and far below the lofty standards of this blog, but it has been rasied a number of times by different folks (notably, Iain Dale) that Merciless Ming might not be long for this world.

William Hill is even running a book on it. Shame!

If you would like to predict the imminent demise of the Literal Dumbocrat leader please use the poll on the left-hand side.

This is addictive...

2006-03-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

Electoral Reform

Key: FPPTP = First Past the Post; AMS = Additional Member System; SYV = Single Transferable Vote; JAV+ = Jenkins Alternate Vote Plus; PLS = Party List System; CC = Cellular Constituencies. For explanations of these systems, please read the electoral reform FAQ. For more information about electoral reform in general, visit the Electoral Reform Society or Make My Vote Count.

	FPPTP 48
AMS -5
	STV 12
JAV+ -12
PLS -4
CC -4

You should support: First'>http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/index.php?s=content&p=erfaq#fptp">First Past the Post (FPTP). This is the system currently in place in the UK by which a single MP is elected from each constituency by simply getting the most votes. This system is simple to understand, familiar to the electorate and maintains a direct link between MPs and their constituencies. It also tends to deliver an overall majority to a single party. It is very poorly representative in terms of how the number of MPs a party receives relates to their share of the vote.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

Uh oh!!!

2006-03-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

Tory Leadership

For explanations of the quiz, the candidates' views and their biographies, please read the Tory leadership FAQ.

Your expected outcome:

Cameron

Your actual outcome:

	Davis 24
Cameron -24

You should support: David Davis

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For