Liberal Burblings

Archive for June, 2006

First, the Guardian diary, picked up on the fact that Tory PPC Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is not the only black farmer in the country, as claimed. Now, G2 has actually visited the other black farmer in England. He is David Mwanaka. In today’s supplement there is a wonderful photograph of him with his family, plus a detailed interview and article by Laura Smith.

Joy all round! And to think all this started with a simple Google search!

I think I will start a little file collecting together lawyers’ comments about Cameron’s “Bill of Rights” idea (calling it a ‘plan’ or a ‘proposal’ is somewhat over-egging it).

If we put aside the thunderous criticism from Lords Falconer, Goldsmith and Carlile plus Sir Menzies Campbell, due to their current or past party affiliations, we are still left with some pretty strong condemnation from veteran Human Rights lawyer, Mike Mansfield QC, who described the idea as “complete nonsense” and said:

“How is it (the HRA) hindering the investigation and prosecution of crime? No examples whatsoever. It certainly isn’t doing that in relation to terrorism or terrorist cases…I’m afraid it’s totally misconceived and it’s tabloid driven.”

You can see the relevant BBC News article here.

The Mail on Saunday reports that senior Conservatives have called for Jonathan Ross to be sacked after his interview with David Cameron. Particular offence was taken by Ross’ references to certain….ahem…boyish practices in connection with Lady Thatcher.

Norman Tebbitt said: ‘If I had been on the show I would have told Ross that he was a slob. It is a pity that Mr Cameron didn’t tell him so and leave the show.’ (One wonders what strange set of circumstances would need to be in place for Norman Tebbitt to be offered and to accept an invitation to appear on “Friday night with Jonathan Ross”.)

The Mail on Sunday leads with this story today, giving it the full splash headline: “OBSCENE”.

As usual, this appearance was no doubt calculated by Cameron and his advisers to give him some great publicity, particularly amongst the under 30s. (It is a shame that “Dick and Dom in da Bungalow” isn’t still going because I am sure that DC would enjoy playing “Pro-celebrity Bogies”.)

But I do enjoy imagining the likes of Tebbitt and retired Colonel-types across the home counties spitting out their G&Ts at the sight of their leader laughing uproariously when asked:

‘Did you or did you not have a **** thinking “Margaret Thatcher”?’

You can see the Mail on Sunday story here and all about Dick and Dom here.

I had a pretty hair-raising experience this morning, while queuing to pay for diesel.

I spotted the Daily Mail headline: “Belinda Oaten: Why I am letting Mark back into the family home – see pages 8,9,10 & 11.”

I am afraid I couldn’t resist. I already had the Guardian in my hand, but I scooped up a copy of the Daily Mail and waited there with both papers. Then I thought:

“What am I doing? I haven’t bought a copy of the Daily Mail for 20 years. Am I mad?”

Fortunately, as I waited, I was able to scan-read pages 8,9,10 and 11 in thirty seconds (amazing how you can do that with age isn’t it? I think it has something to do with having seen it all – or at least most of it – before) and there was a pile of Newbury Weekly Newses by the counter which acted as an emergency escape route. I put the Mail down on top of the Newbury Weekly Newses just before my turn came, causing a misfiling within the shop for which I felt quite guilty – but not entirely guilty as it was the Daily Mail, after all. Let’s not get too carried away.

Anyway, the emergency was averted.

I have now read the Mail story in depth via a free copy at Victoria Park café in Newbury.

Obviously, I feel enormous sympathy for Belinda Oaten. The Mail story was very much a human, wife’s story. Fine.

I can’t help but think that this whole Oaten affair has dragged on quite unnecessarily . One always thinks that the last shoe has dropped and then another one comes dropping along.

The Daily Mail has a circulation of 2 million copies. So, although we bloggers might be absorbed by Three Jobs Bob, Cameron’s U turn on Iraq, Brown on Trident etc etc, for multitudes in this country their biggest awareness of the Liberal Democrats this week will come from reading about Belinda Oaten’s “eggy bread” in the Daily Mail today.

It is strange, all this. I make no criticism of Belinda Oaten. Indeed, she deserves a medal. She is a very striking and courageous woman. But, thinking back, I don’t remember a single word in public coming from Jeremy Thorpe’s wife after the Bunnygate business (or whatever it was called). And that also involved lurid details coming out like the “Bunnies” nickname and pillow biting.

Ah well, times change. All people are different.

You can read the Daily mail story on Belinda Oaten here.

Just four months ago David Cameron said:

“Issues that once divided Conservatives from Liberal Democrats are now issues where we both agree. Our attitude to devolution and the localisation of power. Iraq.”

Now on Jonathan Ross’ couch he is reported thus in a BBC article headed Cameron backs Blair on Iraq war :

“Conservative leader David Cameron has said he still believes going to war with Iraq was the right thing to do. In an interview for BBC’s Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, he said the war had been “very unpopular” and some bad decisions had been made since it began. But Mr Cameron said “those of us who supported” the military action should “see it through”. “

David Cameron is a complete joke. How can he expect to be trusted when he flip-flops on so many things? (see my earlier post here).

Well, you work it out.