Liberal Burblings

Archive for July, 2006

I see that the well-known cerebral newspaper, the News of the World, reports that Charles Kennedy is preparing a challenge to get his old job back as leader. Reports of regular “secret” meetings with aides are the basis of this. The Press Association also report on this, with details of the people who are supposed to be at the meetings.

All this is described as “fanciful” by Kennedy.

On balance, I believe Kennedy’s denial. I don’t think we should give much credence to News of the World forays into political reporting (alongside ‘Michael Portillo’s romps in Commons with City babe‘)

On the other hand, the denial would sound more credible if Kennedy refers to Ming by his name next time he is interviewed, rather than as “my successor” (as he referred to him on Question Time). And, the conspiracy theorist in me would not be surprised if there is a grain of truth in the story – at least regarding a challenge after the election.

The News of the World article is headed “Kennedy plot to oust ‘Ming’” and starts: “Former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy – dumped because of his drinking – is plotting to get his old job back. He is holding secret meetings with top aides in a bid to replace bumbling successor Sir Menzies “Ming” Campbell…”

However, it is not all sweetness and light for Charles. The story also mentions a “new biography of Kennedy coming out this summer…The book will detail Kennedy’s drinking and paint a picture of a man who was not in control of his party.” Perhaps he needs “secret” weekly meetings to work out his damage limitation strategy for the publication of that book.

The News of the World report ends by saying “However, other friends have warned Kennedy that he’s deluding himself, and that such a (leadership) move would make him a laughing stock. ‘He had to quit because senior MPs said at the time they would not serve under him,’ one said. ‘Even if Sir Menzies was deposed I just can’t see them supporting Charles again.’ “

I can’t find the News of the World report online (they only seem to cyberfy their more salacious stories). So I had to don dark glasses and mackintosh (hot in this weather) to buy a copy.

David Cameron’s ratings are at an all-time according to YouGov. My graph below shows a massive dip down to just a two point net rating. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Anthony King commented:

“The Conservative Party increasingly resembles a tired runner panting along in sweltering heat. He is ahead in the race but only because his main rival is even more exhausted…

The proportion who reckon he is not proving effective has nearly doubled from 19 to 33 per cent. The proportion of voters unable to make up their mind about him remains high: 32 per cent.”

I am a great fan of the energetic and wide-ranging blog of Peter Black AM. I read his blog entitled “It’s time for Ming to shape up” with some sympathy. It has now been covered by BBC News.

However, the focus of the article is wrong, in my opinion. I have read many blogs like that.

Quite frankly we should be saying to ourselves – it’s time for us to shape up. Each one of us in the party should be asking ourselves – are we doing enough? Enough leaflet delivering? Enough casework? Enough residents’ surveys?

Ming went to Bromley four or fives times during the campaign (I can’t find the actual number but it was something of that order). If we had all gone there as many times as Ming we would have won and we wouldn’t be in this situation.

One line on which I do agree with Peter is that before the conference I would like to see a Paddy-style tour of the country by Ming.

David Cameron’s ratings are at an all-time according to YouGov. My graph below shows a massive dip down to just a two point net rating. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Anthony King commented:

“The Conservative Party increasingly resembles a tired runner panting along in sweltering heat. He is ahead in the race but only because his main rival is even more exhausted…

The proportion who reckon he is not proving effective has nearly doubled from 19 to 33 per cent. The proportion of voters unable to make up their mind about him remains high: 32 per cent.”

Mark Oaten has announced that he will be standing down as an MP at the next election.

Very wise.

Sighs of relief and triples all round!

I enjoyed the article, entitled “Circus Maximus” in the Observer magazine yesterday about Max Clifford. However, the strapline was ridiculous. It said: “He’s the most powerful man in tabloid Britain”

The article’s writer Carole Cadwalladr kept quite objective throughout. So I suspect she did not write that strapline.

I just think of Rupert Murdoch, Sly Bailey and Viscount Harmsworth. They can sack editors, close down/buy/sell newspapers, close down printing presses etc etc

Can Max Clifford do any of that? Can he ‘eck as like.

It speaks volumes that someone at the Observer has fallen for this man’s line in self-publicity.

I just happened to spot Saturday’s Financial Times in a newstand. Not my normal reading. There was an interesting front page story on Rupert Murdoch’s view of David Cameron.

Previously, the spin was that Murdoch thought Cameron was the best thing since sliced bread.

Now, when asked what he thinks of Cameron, Murdoch says “Not much”.

He adds: “He’s totally inexperienced. He’s going around the country making speeches which . . . must be hugely upsetting to a lot of his older followers”.

I also notice that Tony Blair is jetting off to address the News Corporation clan gathering at Pebble Beach. It seems that David Cameron has not been invited.

Foreign office minister Kim Howells has said about the attacks on Lebanon:

With every passing day of hot, clammy weather I have become more and more like Test Cricket umpire Steve Bucknor. I move very, very slowly.

Today’s downpour was such a relief! I don’t think I have ever greeted rain with such enthusiasm.

I bought a Panama hat a few weeks ago. I needed it to do an impression of Hercule Poirot at Newbury Carnival. It then came in handy for my visit to Lord’s for the joyous first day of the first test against Pakistan.

Since then it has been an absolute Godsend. When you are like me and have to pay a search fee to the barber, protecting one’s bonce from the sun is all-important.

This morning was a classic. I did one of my dawn raids on the tradesmen’s bells of Newbury to deliver leaflets. While the air outside was cool, the air in the stairways of the blocks of flats was terribly warm and close. So much so that I had to take the unusual step of having cold showers between bundles!

Like everyone else, I am horrified by the latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East. I pray that it will end soon.

After viewing the Northern Ireland troubles from the sidelines for many years, I learnt not to try to suggest who was to blame or “who started it”.

One thing is for sure, the only place that the strife will halt is round a negotiating table.

It is remarkable to remember that there was a glimmer of hope in the Middle East with the Oslo Accords in 1993. It seems that the deterioration in the situation can be tracked back to the assasination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.

The Northern Ireland troubles went on for years and, to some extent, still rumble on. But what brought relative peace to Northern Ireland was some old-fashioned give and take, and endless tense negotiations.

We could all go on for years blaming people on all sides for the Middle East strife. But at the end of the process, all sides will have to swallow their pride and sit round a negotiating table with their enemies.

Let’s just hope that no more innocent people lose their lives before this inevitable meeting.