Tories in Blackpool discovered that silence is golden on the opening day of their make or break Conference as the sound was cut off to the main hall for at least 20 minutes.
The silence descended just as the opening speakers attempted to rally despondent delegates with talk of a great week ahead for Conservative fortunes and how the Great Tory Tory fightback had begun...
Then the mikes were apparently switched off, and delegates started moaning that they couldn't hear.
According to Michael White of The Guardian, one hack from a Tory paper suggested the delegates turn up their hearing aides...
One (Labour) MP quipped that the Golden Moments of Silence provided the most sense anyone has heard from the Tories for years...!
Wasn't it the hapless IDS, one of David Cameron's many predessessors over the past few years, who told a previous Tory Conference that he was about to turn up the volume (shortly before losing his job as Tory Leader...)
Seems the current leadership has managed to turn the volume OFF...!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Anne tells hubby: You are the weakest link: Goodbye...
I wonder how many of tomorrow's papers will have this headline after today's news from the BBC about Anne Robinson's marriage.
I realise her nasty TV persona is supposedly an act to boost her ratings, but don't think I've managed to get through an entire episode of her show without discovering the 'off' button.
Personally, it always amazes me how people queue up to be humiliated by her icy-tongued put-downs on her awful show.
My attitude did thaw a degree or two recently when I happened to see a documentary on how Annie fought - and beat Fleet-Street-induced alcoholism, how she lost her job at the top of journalism and how she climbed (clawed??) her way back to greater fame and fortune through a break on television.
But if her long-suffering husband and one time agent John Penrose, has managed for 27-years - some of them clearly very difficult - and there's no-one else as reported on the BBC, one wonders why they don't patch up their current problems and stay the course now she's a mega-star...?
I realise her nasty TV persona is supposedly an act to boost her ratings, but don't think I've managed to get through an entire episode of her show without discovering the 'off' button.
Personally, it always amazes me how people queue up to be humiliated by her icy-tongued put-downs on her awful show.
My attitude did thaw a degree or two recently when I happened to see a documentary on how Annie fought - and beat Fleet-Street-induced alcoholism, how she lost her job at the top of journalism and how she climbed (clawed??) her way back to greater fame and fortune through a break on television.
But if her long-suffering husband and one time agent John Penrose, has managed for 27-years - some of them clearly very difficult - and there's no-one else as reported on the BBC, one wonders why they don't patch up their current problems and stay the course now she's a mega-star...?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Deepings Freemason and teacher jailed for vile paedophilia...
A well-known Deepings teacher and prominent Freemason who mercilessly beat young boys with a hosepipe is starting a lengthy jail sentence this weekend for vile paedophile offences.
A judge heard he has lost his job at Bretton Woods School, Peterborough. He has also lost his wife, his family, his home, his reputation.
And now, thank goodness, he has lost his liberty.
Story in a number of national papers and broadcasts, and also in our local evening paper, the Peterborough Evening Telegraph
A judge heard he has lost his job at Bretton Woods School, Peterborough. He has also lost his wife, his family, his home, his reputation.
And now, thank goodness, he has lost his liberty.
Story in a number of national papers and broadcasts, and also in our local evening paper, the Peterborough Evening Telegraph
More good news for Gordon
More evidence that Labour is enjoying a double-digit lead over David Cameron's Tories.
A Populus survey for The Times published today confirms what we all knew: Gordon Brown blows David Cameron away when it comes to leadership ability. The Prime Minister rates almost twice as highly on the percentage of people who has what it takes to be a good PM:
Brown 59. Cameron 30.
Populus also asked who cares most about the problems faced by ordinary people?
Brown 60. Cameron 45.
Three months into Gordon Brown's Premiership, it is clear that people now realise he has the strength and vision needed to lead Britain.
As The Times says today, as Tories gather in Blackpool, their Conference is make or break.
A Populus survey for The Times published today confirms what we all knew: Gordon Brown blows David Cameron away when it comes to leadership ability. The Prime Minister rates almost twice as highly on the percentage of people who has what it takes to be a good PM:
Brown 59. Cameron 30.
Populus also asked who cares most about the problems faced by ordinary people?
Brown 60. Cameron 45.
Three months into Gordon Brown's Premiership, it is clear that people now realise he has the strength and vision needed to lead Britain.
As The Times says today, as Tories gather in Blackpool, their Conference is make or break.
Torygraph delivers the good news...
The Conservatives are now trailing Labour by 11 points, a new Daily Telegraph poll shows, leaving David Cameron on the brink of a landslide defeat if an early election is called.Intro and graphic from Saturday's Daily Telegraph
The Tory leader faces a crucial party conference as the survey shows that Gordon Brown's lead almost doubled in the past week.
With a queue of prominent Tories queuing up to handbag their leader in Blackpool this week, Cameron's Conservatives might just implode this week.
But don't write them off just yet. Endless speculation this weekend about the possibility of a snap November General Election, coupled with Gordon Brown and Labour ten points ahead in the polls might be grim enough news for some Tories to actually back their Leader.
An interesting week ahead...
Fair Deal Phil beats Boris...!
Chuffed to bits to see I've been voted number 26 out of the Top 500 in Iain Dale's new Guide to Political Blogging 2007 published tonight.
A huge THANK YOU to readers and fellow bloggers who voted for me.
Last year I was thrilled to be placed seventy-something in Dale's top 100 Labour blogs.
So I'm delighted to be 26 in this year's all-comers league table. Iain says 14 of his top 20 are on the right and only two on the left. (and i notice some are professional writers and broadcasters).
So he appears to rank me about fifth highest Labour blogger.
Just noticed I'm ten places higher than Boris Johnson in the all-comers table and 16 places above John Redwood.
Bet you can't guess who's at the top of Iain Dale's league table...
Anyway, the top 300 are on his site. He says you'll have to buy the book to see the full list of the top 500!
A huge THANK YOU to readers and fellow bloggers who voted for me.
Last year I was thrilled to be placed seventy-something in Dale's top 100 Labour blogs.
So I'm delighted to be 26 in this year's all-comers league table. Iain says 14 of his top 20 are on the right and only two on the left. (and i notice some are professional writers and broadcasters).
So he appears to rank me about fifth highest Labour blogger.
Just noticed I'm ten places higher than Boris Johnson in the all-comers table and 16 places above John Redwood.
Bet you can't guess who's at the top of Iain Dale's league table...
Anyway, the top 300 are on his site. He says you'll have to buy the book to see the full list of the top 500!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Petty Tories cancel tribute to Barbara Castle...
All you need to know about the state of the Tory Party under David Cameron in this story in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Back from Conference...
Arrived home from Bournemouth with minutes to spare before Deeping St James Parish Council's monthly meeting. Cream-crackered and totally hoarse after burning the candle at both ends for the past week.
What a Great Conference!
Sorry no posts since Tuesday.
Normal service will resume this weekend.
What a Great Conference!
Sorry no posts since Tuesday.
Normal service will resume this weekend.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Gordon's big tent just got bigger...
I've been invited on BBC Radio Lincolnshire's morning show at 8.10 (Tuesday) to talk about Gordon Brown's speech to Conference yesterday - his first as our Prime Minister.
And what a great speech: clearly demonstrating that he has the strength and vision to change our country for the better.
Not just for a few, but for everyone.
And what a great speech: clearly demonstrating that he has the strength and vision to change our country for the better.
Not just for a few, but for everyone.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Quentin does it from the heart...
Brilliant speech here at Bournemouth from Labour's newest MP - Quentin Davies, member for Stamford and Grantham.
No notes. From the heart. The best endorsement of Gordon Brown as having the strength and conviction to meet the challenges ahead - and destruction of David Cameron's all-spin and froth. Labour for the many. Unchanged Tories as ever for the few.
Standing ovation.
Welcome to Labour Quentin...!
UPDATE: Telegraph confirms standing ovation and quotes from the QD speech...
No notes. From the heart. The best endorsement of Gordon Brown as having the strength and conviction to meet the challenges ahead - and destruction of David Cameron's all-spin and froth. Labour for the many. Unchanged Tories as ever for the few.
Standing ovation.
Welcome to Labour Quentin...!
UPDATE: Telegraph confirms standing ovation and quotes from the QD speech...
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Will he or won't he...?
Thanks to the Torygraph, we discovered today that Gordon Brown is on course for a landslide victory if he calls an early General Election.
That's the prediction of their latest YouGov poll which gives Labour a lead which would deliver an increased Labour majority of over 100 if translated into a general election.
The Prime Minister of course, will decide when to call the only poll that counts.
But today's YouGov poll - and tomorrow's similar good news in another poll for the Mirror - has ramped up election fever on the eve of Labour's Conference here in Bournemouth.
Gordon was giving no clues tonight at a welcome event for North West delegates he attended with his wife Sarah.
But he was on top form - and given a rousing reception as he congratulated North West activists on their recent wins in council by-elections in Rossendale and Darwen where Labour took two seats from the Tories on Thursday. He also mentioned Liverpool where Labour won a seat from the LibDems last week.
He didn't have to mention the spectacular 17% swing from Tories to Labour at a by election in Worcester where the Tories lost control of the council in the early hours of yesterday....no doubt he saved that one for the West Midlands Reception!
That's the prediction of their latest YouGov poll which gives Labour a lead which would deliver an increased Labour majority of over 100 if translated into a general election.
The Prime Minister of course, will decide when to call the only poll that counts.
But today's YouGov poll - and tomorrow's similar good news in another poll for the Mirror - has ramped up election fever on the eve of Labour's Conference here in Bournemouth.
Gordon was giving no clues tonight at a welcome event for North West delegates he attended with his wife Sarah.
But he was on top form - and given a rousing reception as he congratulated North West activists on their recent wins in council by-elections in Rossendale and Darwen where Labour took two seats from the Tories on Thursday. He also mentioned Liverpool where Labour won a seat from the LibDems last week.
He didn't have to mention the spectacular 17% swing from Tories to Labour at a by election in Worcester where the Tories lost control of the council in the early hours of yesterday....no doubt he saved that one for the West Midlands Reception!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Heart-wrenching, just heart-wrenching...
Peterborough ET has been speaking with the family of Aydan Roebuck-Wilson, the 14-year-old Deepings schoolboy killed on his bike near his home in Spalding last week.
I trust the ET won't mind me using their photo of Aydan.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Praise for Gordon from LibDem peer...
Former Labour Foreign Secretary David Owen is the latest politician to lavish praise on Gordon Brown
Lord Owen left Labour in the 1980s to become one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party which later joined the Liberals to form the Lib-Dems.
Wonder if he'll be next to enter 'Gordon's big tent'...?
Lord Owen left Labour in the 1980s to become one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party which later joined the Liberals to form the Lib-Dems.
Wonder if he'll be next to enter 'Gordon's big tent'...?
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