Comments for Party Political Animal

Comment on Brown is Blair without the charm – and there ain’t much else left by Jonathon Smythe-Bowles

Jonathon Smythe-Bowles — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:19:43 +0000

One of Gordons mistakes was to side step an election in October 2007. Gordon has built his political reputation on being strong when the going gets tough, however much political gain was made when he opted out of calling a general election. This in turn has opened up a debate over his leadership style, this has gained momentum by several other political events and this in turn has developed in to a media hunt on his personality . It occured with John Major who spent the latter years discussing events rather than policy……..Its an interesting time for politics in the UK.

Jonathon Smythe-Bowles

Comment on If you live by the spiv, you die by the spiv – Levy represents so much that is wrong with politics by David Boycott

David Boycott — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:15:42 +0000

Why the crack at the Eurosceptics? Theirs was a principled position, which did their careers harm. Europhiles, on the other hand, are free to take up well-paid roles in Brussels and then pick up a pension, whose provision is conditional on continuing to serve the interests of the EU. Perhaps that is why Kinnock was prepared to destroy the career of a whistleblower rather than properly investigate the endemic corruption at the heart of the EU.

Comment on If you live by the spiv, you die by the spiv – Levy represents so much that is wrong with politics by Robert

Robert — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:41:11 +0000

Our spivs are as nothing compared to the Euro spivs.

What I cann’t understand is why our politcal elite have fallen for this Euro bullshit. They cann’t all dine at the top table. What is really in it for them?

Comment on When a disability isn’t a disability by editor

editor — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:59:40 +0000

Accidentally deleted a comment showing some sympathy with the chap. I didn’t dispute the fact the kids may have hassled the poor man - WHAT THAT DOESN’T EQUATE TO is having a disability!!

Comment on Things can only get better…no wonder more old Prezza tried to eat himself to death! by curly

curly — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:41:29 +0000

So we’ve gone from “Things can only get better” to “Shakiring all over“

Comment on New politics or same old? by PolitiPornster

PolitiPornster — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:23:13 +0000

I seem to remember some guy running in 2000 that promised that he was a “Uniter” then after becoming president he became the unilateral “Decider.”

Must have been all of that “free trade” and benefits to the American Economy that led Straight Talkin’ Johnny to tell the citizens of Michigan that the jobs weren’t coming back.

McCain not a bad guy, in another words He’s no W for instance. But McCain has no new ideas, no new way forward and will only perpetuate the ill-informed unworkable policies of the current administration and I’m not even talking about policies regard Iraq.

Comment on Will any MP fight back? by editor

editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:40:43 +0000

Frank - That is a fair point. Let me tell you my position. I have just accepted a job that will pay a salary similar to that as an MP. I have done exactly what you suggest - Ive gone and done it. That is something Conservatives should welcome. I started my career after going a degree and Masters degree in the Mail room of Post Office countrers. As Tebbitt suggested - I went on my bike and went and got a job.

When you say however, the rest of us don’t have a choise - what do you mean? Everyone should have the chance to better themselves. I haven’t always earned a good salary. In fact having worked for myself for the last 18 months my monthly take home pay was less than that of my grandmother who relies solely on a state pension.

If we are anything in the Conservative party we should be for enterprise, and we should never forget that private businesses create jobs, not Government.

Wealth of course is relative. Income does not always equal disposable income does it.

Comment on Will any MP fight back? by Frank

Frank — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:26:45 +0000

There was a survey of Conservative ppc’s. 70% said on entering Parliament their salary would be less or the same. Since only 10% of taxpayers pay the higher rate it shows most of our candidates (I am a Conservative councillor) are wealthy-at least to the other 90% of us. That means most candidates will be very unrepresentative and will complain they could earn more outside Parliament. I’m afraid my reply to that is, “go and do it then.” The rest of us don’t have a choice.

Comment on Will any MP fight back? by editor

editor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:05:07 +0000

You are correct - I was making a point about people not understanding what an MP does. As for three ladies of a certain age in the Post Office being representative - they are probably representative of the group in society most likely to vote at the next election.

Why not ask Mr Dale why he doesn’t link to you? Just a thought.

Comment on Will any MP fight back? by Diablo

Diablo — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:04:39 +0000

Do you really think that three blue rinse ladies in the Post Office queue represent the views of most people? OK, I know you were making a broader point about people’s understanding about the role of MPs.

The problem is that when MPs tell us how hard they work (and I’m sure they do) Joe Public just hears the stuff about the “John Lewis list” and paying their relatives tax payers’ money for not doing anything. Until they sort that out we will not have any faith in what they say.

Oh, and by the way, why do you get a link from Iain Dale when my blog is just as interesting, informative (check it out) and challenging as yours?