Liberal Burblings

Archive for March, 2009

All human life is here - from Paul Waugh’s Evening Standard blog. The Mail has a longer but less juicier article with a photo of the alleged individual.

When I first heard the news item about CS gas, I thought perhaps PC Plod had gone over the top (what’s wrong with the good old fashioned truncheon?). On reading this I am not surprised the officer discharged said gas. The altercation was within hearing range of the Commons chamber (Kerry McCarthy MP said on Twitter: “Was in Chamber when Pickles’ guest went on rampage. Much excitement, banging + shouting. Gillie Merron told us someone had set off CS gas.”). If the Speaker’s chair end of the chamber is anything like the other end, they have two officers with machine guns at the doors (when I once strayed towards the Commons’ entrance thinking it was the way out, they were immediately on the balls of their feet, twitching their guns, asking “Sir?”). So on the face of it, it is not surprising that the officer acted so forthrightly.

With a large hat-tip to the tweeting James Graham.

All human life is here - from Paul Waugh’s Evening Standard blog. The Mail has a longer but less juicier article with a photo of the alleged individual.

When I first heard the news item about CS gas, I thought perhaps PC Plod had gone over the top (what’s wrong with the good old fashioned truncheon?). On reading this I am not surprised the officer discharged said gas. The altercation was within hearing range of the Commons chamber (Kerry McCarthy MP said on Twitter: “Was in Chamber when Pickles’ guest went on rampage. Much excitement, banging + shouting. Gillie Merron told us someone had set off CS gas.”). If the Speaker’s chair end of the chamber is anything like the other end, they have two officers with machine guns at the doors (when I once strayed towards the Commons’ entrance thinking it was the way out, they were immediately on the balls of their feet, twitching their guns, asking “Sir?”). So on the face of it, it is not surprising that the officer acted so forthrightly.

With a large hat-tip to the tweeting James Graham.

Given the confidence with which he gave Gordon Brown a dressing down in the European Parliament, you might think that Daniel Hannan MEP has a very sure footed judgment when it comes to economic matters, would you not?

Well here’s a very interesting article he wrote in the Spectator in October 2004 singing the praises of those well known economic wizards…..er……the Icelanders:

In the ten years that I have been travelling to Iceland, I have watched an economic miracle unfold there. When I first visited the island, it had just joined the European Economic Area. Eurocrats expected that this would simply be a transitional phase on the way to full EU membership, but Icelanders saw it differently. As far as they were concerned, the EEA gave them all the benefits of the single market with few of the associated costs. Iceland is covered by the EU’s so-called four freedoms — free movement, that is, of goods, services, people and capital — but retains control over its own agriculture, fisheries, foreign policy, social affairs and non-EU trade. And, unlike full members, Iceland makes only a token contribution to the Brussels budget, amounting last year to 0.07 per cent of its GDP.

Today, Icelanders are absolutely rolling in it.

Not today though! As well as being virtually bankrupt, they are begging to be let into the EU on a fast track! It is very difficult to contain one’s laughter given the Euro-sceptic flavour of Mr Hannan’s tribute to Iceland.

With a hat-tip to a regular commenter, Rusty.

He watched Ocean’s Thirteen twice. Surely once is enough for anyone?

He watched Ocean’s Thirteen twice. Surely once is enough for anyone?

Fair enough. Jacqui Smith is taking a fair amount of political “hit” for a £10 pay-for movie bill wrongly shoved in with her expenses claim.

But surely this cannot begin compare to the embarrassment of a husband who has effectively been discovered by his wife, in the full glare of the media, having what might delicately be called “a crafty J.Arthur” while her back was turned? (And the alleged titles of the alleged movies are even being bandied around).

I doubt he will hear the last of it.

This is an appropriate time for a jolly recitation, I think…..

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cveZR4e91kU&hl=en&fs=1]