Labour Conference Diary 2011 - I Find Liverpool a Ghastly City
- 27 Sep 2011
There is always one politician who goes totally over the top and loses credibility at a party conference. We all remember Michael Portillo’s ‘Who Dares Wins’ speech in 1996. Last week it was Tim Farron’s turn. This week Ivan Lewis has covered himself in glory by sugges...
The Top 100 People on the Left 2011
- 27 Sep 2011
Many he might turn to for advice are leaving the stage. The old guard gradually gives up. One by one they slip, after the temporary spotlight of memoir publishing, into respected backbench obscurity. Jack Straw and Alan Johnson both move out of the top 100. Alistair Darling cl...
Tuesday LibDem Conference Diary
- 20 Sep 2011
Sarah Teather has been wandering round the conference with a face like thunder. As well she might. Her off colour jokes about the Chancellor, George Osborne, went down like a lead balloon among the delegates here, but what should worry her is the reaction of Nick Clegg, who, I...
LibDem Conference Diary: Day 1
- 18 Sep 2011
Listening to many of the speeches both on the platform and on the fringe at this conference, you could be forgiven for forgetting that the LibDems are in government. Their whole attitude indicates an oppositionalist attitude which may make them feel better, but won’t g...
The Top 50 Liberal Democrats 2011
- 18 Sep 2011
If the opinion polls prove accurate - the last three showed the Liberal Democrats on 10% - this might be the last time we can find enough elected Liberal Democrats to form a viable top 50. The stark reality they face, and the internal debate that is now raging, is reflected in...
Top Ten Things To Be Overheard At The LibDem Conference
- 17 Sep 2011
Don’t you think Danny Alexander’s a bit of a Tory? Isn’t it terrible all this new security? I’d rather risk being bombed. Well I don’t care what anyone says, I’d happily take Chris Huhne’s speeding points. Don’t mention the AV referendum. ...
Top Ten Things Overheard at the LibDem Conference
- 17 Sep 2011
Don’t you think Danny Alexander’s a bit of a Tory? Isn’t it terrible all this new security? I’d rather risk being bombed. Well I don’t care what anyone says, I’d happily take Chris Huhne’s speeding points. Don’t mention the AV referendum. ...
Cameron Intervenes on Gay Marriage
- 16 Sep 2011
I well remember David Cameron’s first speech as party leader back in 2006. I remember the frisson that went round the conference hall when he said these words… “There’s something special about marriage. It’s not about religion. It’s not about morality. It’s about commitmen...
Liberal Democrat Conference Diary 2011
- 11 Sep 2011
Listening to many of the speeches both on the platform and on the fringe at this conference, you could be forgiven for forgetting that the LibDems are in government. Their whole attitude indicates an oppositionalist attitude which may make them feel better, but won’t g...
'Oh My God, It's Going To Hit The Other Tower'
- 11 Sep 2011
I was sitting at my desk on the balcony at Politico’s talking to my bookkeeper when I suddenly noticed that Sky News had switched to Fox and were showing smoke coming from a tall tower. As the situation became clearer I remember seeing a spec on the skyline coming closer to th...
http://www.iaindale.com/posts/why-i-would-vote-for-murdo-fraser
- 6 Sep 2011
Regular readers of my old blog will know critical I have been of Scottish Conservatives and their poor leadership over the last few decades. Back in April 2007 I wrote… If reports are true the Scottish Conservative Party is to be given its freedom to go its own way. It is lik...
Abortion Counselling: Case Unproven
- 6 Sep 2011
It is indeed risible that Nadine Dorries comes under attack from the pro-Choice lobby (whose attack on her is largely based on ther contention that she is mad) and also the pro-Life lobby, who reckon she’s selling out by not wanting to ban abortion altogether. The Society for ...
My Any Questions Experience (3)
- 3 Sep 2011
Yesterday I made my third appearance on Any Questions. The old saying that once you have done something once it’s easer the second or third time doesn’t really apply to Any Questions, as there is so much scope to make a complete tit of yourself. One stupid answer to a question...
How I Made a Twat of Myself on Twitter
- 22 Aug 2011
It’s never nice to have to acknowledge you’ve made a bit of a dick of yourself. But I did just that last night. And all over a stupid tweet. Yes, my rather idiotic words became the centre of a rather unattractive twitter storm. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I eve...
Wednesday Diary: Bullshit From Paddick & Queer Blue Water
- 17 Aug 2011
I wish Sally Bercow well in her quest to win Celebrity Big Brother, but I fear it will all end in tears. As is well know, I like Sally and get on well with her, but she has that self destruct button which makes her very vulnerable. Her decision to hire Max Clifford as ...
Diary: Bullshit from Brian Paddick & Clear Blue Water
- 17 Aug 2011
I wish Sally Bercow well in her quest to win Celebrity Big Brother, but I fear it will all end in tears. As is well know, I like Sally and get on well with her, but she has that self destruct button which makes her very vulnerable. Her decision to hire Max Clifford as ...
Mr Dale's Diary: Houses in Norfolk, Touched by Nick Clegg & My Granny's 117th Birthday
- 14 Aug 2011
I’m back in Norfolk this weekend searching for a cottage to buy. It’s not easy, is it, even in this economic climate? We’d like to buy a cottage on the coast, but it’s not up for auction until mid September and we can’t afford to put all our eggs in that particular bas...
Let's Understand Less & Condemn More
- 13 Aug 2011
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the whole country is in a state of shock following the riots of the last seven days. The scenes we saw on our TV screens were ones I never thought I would see in this country. They threatened the very fabric of our society and sho...
Riot Response: Is This David Cameron's Katrina Moment?
- 10 Aug 2011
My honest view is that David Cameron’s initial response to the riots was rather pathetic. So far as I know no one, not even Denis MacShane, had called for the recall of Parliament. And yet that was the headline that came out of his Downing Street speech yesterday morning. I ca...
Tottenham Riots: The Shameful Comments of a Labour MP
- 7 Aug 2011
I’ve never heard of Derby North MP Chris Williamson. But tonight he’s made a dick of himself. Apparently the disturbances in Tottenham are the government’s fault. Yep, all David Cameron’s fault. Those wicked Tories are back, he says on Twitter. Yep, the Tories are back alrigh...