Monthly Archives: July 2006

TweetI 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. … Continue reading →

TweetDavid 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 … Continue reading →

TweetI 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 … Continue reading →

TweetDavid 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 … Continue reading →

TweetMark 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! Tweet This Post Tweet

TweetI 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 … Continue reading →

TweetI 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 … Continue reading →

TweetForeign office minister Kim Howells has said about the attacks on Lebanon: “The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people: these have not been surgical strikes. If they are chasing Hizbollah, then go … Continue reading →

TweetWith 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 … Continue reading →

TweetLike 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 … Continue reading →

TweetIt was wonderful for Ming to get a decent period of exposure on Newsnight last night. I thought he made his points with real passion, conviction and eloquence. He answered the questions from the audience very fully. At the end … Continue reading →

TweetA manager moved into a new job but didn’t have time to do a handover briefing with their predecessor. So they had no idea what to do in the new job. Fortunately, while searching their new desk they found three … Continue reading →

TweetAfter reading Andrew Rawnsley’s article in the Observer today, I suspect that now is the time for newspapers to prepare their political obituaries of A.Blair, if they have not already done so. Thinking strigently, if only he had followed up … Continue reading →

TweetIn the Guardian yesterday, Marina Hyde described the National Lottery as a “tax on stupidity”. Fortunately, I have never taken part in the lottery, so I could laugh at this. Mind you, the reason I have never taken part is … Continue reading →

TweetYesterday was Saint Swithin’s Day. If the traditional rhyme is anything to go by, we are in for a good spell: St Swithin’s Day, if it does rainFull forty days, it will remainSt Swithin’s Day, if it be fairFor forty … Continue reading →

TweetYesterday was Saint Swithin’s Day. If the traditional rhyme is anything to go by, we are in for a good spell: St Swithin’s Day, if it does rainFull forty days, it will remainSt Swithin’s Day, if it be fairFor forty … Continue reading →

TweetWe have just done our Sports Relief mile at St Bartholomew’s school Luker athletics field, Newbury. It was great fun. Very well organised. We had to do our warm ups (which were more aggressive than I am used to!) under … Continue reading →