Liberal Burblings

Archive for April, 2010

After the debate, I was tickled to see my hit counter had gone bananas today. What on earth happened? – I wondered. It turned out that dear old Le Monde had linked to my Bigotgate post. Bless them:

I will be live blogging the leaders debate here.

6:21:41 PM: It is good that the pressure is on Brown tonight, rather than Clegg, as per last week. #leadersdebate
7:43:53 PM: Liveblogging the #leadersdebate http://bit.ly/9r3pEa

7:56:04 PM: Expecting Cameron to make great play of immigration #leadersdebate

8:56:04 PM: Expecting Cameron to make great play of immigration #leadersdebate

9:04:44 PM: Once again, in the interests of research (of course ), I will be listening to part of the debate on the radio. #leadersdebate

9:19:05 PM: Brown has an odd knack of doing better in times of crisis. Its on the easy things he seems to struggle.-AlainSucrose http://bit.ly/bPF87F

9:30:37 PM: Ooh I could crush a grape #leadersdebate

9:34:24 PM: Excellent opening statement from Clegg #leadersdebate

9:35:52 PM: Nerves showing with a stammer each from Cameron and Brown in the opening statements #leadersdebate

9:36:24 PM: 11th word from Cameron was “change” – someone has just won the Channel Four sweepstake #leadersdebate

9:36:44 PM: Excellent set – very impressive – well done BBC #leadersdebate

9:37:37 PM: Brown still can’t get his eyelines right.We should allow for his disability- but is it that difficult to look at a red light? #leadersdebate

9:39:09 PM: Clegg already ahead 45% in C4 poll – Cam 15, Brown 35 #leadersdebate

9:39:48 PM: Excellent point from Clegg about the coming together of parties to decide on deficit reduction #leadersdebate

9:40:32 PM: Good point from Borwn. £6 billion cut now would be insane #leadersdebate

9:41:01 PM: Loads of Tory councils send out glossy leaflets!!! #leadersdebate

9:42:35 PM: Clegg well on top in Guardian rolling poll #leadersdebate

9:43:29 PM: Excellent passion from Clegg #leadersdebate

9:45:10 PM: ‘Save government waste’. Cameron – that means less jobs in the public sector #leadersdebate

9:45:38 PM: Clegg is doing brilliantly #leadersdebate

9:59:36 PM: Cameron was completely outwitted on inheritance tax. He avoidf answering the point repeatedly #leadersdebate

10:01:00 PM: Cameron took a major hit on inheritance tax and fairness #leadersdebate

10:02:28 PM: Cameron seems too interested in point scoring #leadersdebate

10:04:52 PM: This is a brilliant debate #leadersdebate

10:10:55 PM: Cameron’s face seems to be melting – even on the radio #leadersdebate

10:10:55 PM: Cameron’s face seems to be melting – even on the radio #leadersdebate

10:16:21 PM: Is it me or has it got a bit boring #leadersdebate

10:20:21 PM: I do hope that #bigotgate won’t lead to the bovinisation of the lmmigration debate #leadersdebate

10:23:26 PM: Does dumblebore really have to repeat the question for the third time? #leadersdebate

10:25:18 PM: So cameron comes back for another pasting on the ‘amnesty’ #leadersdebate

10:27:56 PM: Clegg deals brilliantly with cameron on ‘amnesty’ #leadersdebate

10:34:34 PM: Watch the Leaders’ debate LIVE here http://bit.ly/9fcZtg

10:42:46 PM: The Tories had the toughest minister, Peter Lilley, in charge of benefits and even he didn’t do what Cameron is on about

10:45:06 PM: Brown was obviously coached to say “It’s the same old Tories” 4,599 times #leadersdebate

10:48:08 PM: Channel 4 poll: Clegg 42, Brown 43, Brown 14 #leadersdebate

10:48:37 PM: Cameron is so vacuous #leadersdebate

10:51:52 PM: Cameron wheels out the pre-baked cack #leadersdebate

10:52:28 PM: Phonics? That’s really hands-off government isn’t it? #leadersdebate

10:56:40 PM: YouGov say Cameron won …only joking

10:57:54 PM: Cameron’s big themes seem to change on a daily basis. Now it’s the vulnerable all of a sudden #leadersdebate

11:00:32 PM: Brown makes some good points against Cameron in his closing statement #leadersdebate

11:15:02 PM: Unbelievable spin from Mandelson #leadersdebate

6:42:45 AM: In Liverpool. Up early to deliver tabloids for Colin Eldridge

7:42:45 AM: In Liverpool. Up early to deliver tabloids for Colin Eldridge

4:48:40 PM: In Hollister, the shop where you can barely see your hand in front of your face. It’s certainly different.

5:48:40 PM: In Hollister, the shop where you can barely see your hand in front of your face. It’s certainly different.

6:59:16 AM: Young Britons Foundation Hung Parliament leaflet is delivered far and wide http://bit.ly/9b0QOZ

7:59:16 AM: Young Britons Foundation Hung Parliament leaflet is delivered far and wide http://bit.ly/9b0QOZ

8:51:10 PM: Within the LibDems’ grabs: Devon Central, Dorset West, Ealing Central & Acton, Meon Valley, Northampton North http://bit.ly/adHmeQ

8:51:11 PM: Tories short of overall majority by 43, 35 or 18 seats – you pays your money and you takes your choice http://bit.ly/cFfp76

9:51:10 PM: Within the LibDems’ grabs: Devon Central, Dorset West, Ealing Central & Acton, Meon Valley, Northampton North http://bit.ly/adHmeQ

11:40:33 AM: @lordbonkers re:2nd May – I was in Liverpool

12:40:33 PM: @lordbonkers re:2nd May – I was in Liverpool

12:42:25 PM: I have reached that joyous part of the electoral cycle when my pockets are full of elastic bands

12:42:57 PM: Cameron says “the Conservative party has got its sleeves rolled up”. Presumably that particularly applies to their paid deliverers

1:05:15 PM: List of 26 constituences where Young Britons’ Foundation ‘Hung parliament’ leaflet has been reported to be delivered http://bit.ly/9rFQVK

1:07:07 PM: @lordbonkers you asked “Are you local?”. Not sure what tweet it was a response to. “Am in Hollister” was the only one I did at that time

1:11:19 PM: @lordbonkers Ah! I am finally with you! Sorry!

5:33:02 PM: Tory-backed business letter warning on hun parliament “flops” – Robert Peston http://bit.ly/flopss

5:34:45 PM: Tory-backed business letter warning on hung parliament “flops” – Robert Peston http://bit.ly/flopss

6:05:17 PM: It’s not often mentioned that we actually had a hung parliament 14 years ago. There. The sky didn’t fall in, did it?

9:42:24 PM: BNP in meltdown http://bit.ly/cNLJ74

10:07:07 PM: Alan Titchmarsh back on Sunday on ITV with a new series about ‘these islands’. …Nice to be warned in advance

6:18:33 AM: First good morning delivered

11:10:59 PM: An hour of insanity based on an exit poll using uniform national swing

11:13:27 PM: Sophie rainworth looking lovely

11:18:39 PM: John simpson not on good form

11:34:13 PM: Brillopad on the thames is teetering on the edge of disaster

11:37:08 PM: 1am is the worst time to open the markets. They’ll go apeshit

11:38:13 PM: Has alan johnson taken prosac?

11:44:31 PM: @leloveluck do you mean by the party tellers?

11:48:50 PM: Torbay result should be fascinating

11:57:14 PM: Emilx maitliss is a sort of screen touch slave

11:57:35 PM: Emily maitliss is a sort of screen touch slave

12:00:18 AM: @maximanchester yes

12:17:20 AM: They lost brillopad & the stars. Thank goodness for that!

12:20:30 AM: Now esther. I can’t take it

12:40:49 AM: It’s no good. I’ve had it with bbc. Bill cash was the final straw. I’m now with sky

2:10:47 AM: Torbay result rather belies the exit poll

2:13:29 AM: Torbay 1.1 swing from con to ld. Come on! Exit poll was rubbish-as paddy said

2:20:46 AM: ‘Let’s join andrew neill’ must we?

2:21:45 AM: Why is andrew neill shouting?

2:27:52 AM: @heavylight indeed

2:30:27 AM: The broadcasters seem incredulous that the whole country isn’t the same

2:31:42 AM: The broadcasters seem incredulous that the swing across whole country isn’t the same

2:34:13 AM: Not looking good for lds in wavertree

2:36:27 AM: That fist looks as though it is going through gordon brown

2:40:15 AM: @alixmortimer yes, that was flashed on the bbc but more were delivered

2:44:29 AM: Ben bradshaw looks sad

2:54:22 AM: @rfenwick not it newbury. David rendel’s name recognition & respect from voters is huge. Can’t speak for guildford

2:54:58 AM: @rfenwick not in newbury. David rendel’s name recognition & respect from voters is huge. Can’t speak for guildford

3:05:51 AM: Ben bradshaw was very good at hiding his joy

3:11:39 AM: @rfenwick yes, it’s gone back to exactly as it was in 1987 before michael mcn-wilson stood down. No surprise

3:13:10 AM: @rfenwick the surprise was that we managed to hold it for 12 years

3:20:32 AM: @andrewzcooper absolutely agree on that last point

3:21:31 AM: Eastbourne lib dem gain!

3:25:46 AM: Cons haven’t done brilliantly. Labour are doing better than expected. Libdems doing as expected before Cleggmania happened

3:34:54 AM: Rt @rfenwick we’re looking a bit more fucked than even I predicted <<-lol but uncomfortably true

3:39:17 AM: @soult I stopped watching bbc two hours ago

3:46:25 AM: Lab hold birmingham edgbaston. There is now NO WAY the Tories can claim victory tonight. Humility and talking is demanded

3:49:13 AM: No Boltons, no Edgbaston . This is a truly damp squib night for the Tories

3:54:06 AM: Hold press on edgbaston-possible recount, but there are reportedly 1300 votes in it

3:56:07 AM: Live on itv we just watched the humbling of david cameron as he watched the results on tv

4:00:17 AM: David cameron is looking just a little bit unhinged as he listened to his result

4:06:33 AM: Taunton libem hold – “let’s just rejoice!”

4:18:56 AM: Nooo! Itv have their own brillo-with-the-stars-by-the-thames! Dreadful!

4:25:09 AM: Oxford east lab hold. Cleggmania died on may 5th, I’m afraid

4:27:13 AM: Lib dem gain burnley

4:31:43 AM: Ok the exit poll wasn’t that bad << said through gritted teeth

4:56:34 AM: Possible lab-ld-plaid-sdlp-dup-snp? Coalition or alliance?

4:58:36 AM: Cameron’s cuup nonsense may turn out to be the biggest mistake of his career

5:00:42 AM: Cameron’s con uup nonsense may turn out to be the biggest mistake of his career

5:05:44 AM: @simond indeed

5:07:00 AM: Redcar! Wtf?

5:12:47 AM: Matthew taylor is talking a lot of sense on itv

5:28:20 AM: Poor old esther!

5:47:51 AM: Lib dems win new seat of chippenham! Well done duncan hames and team!

5:49:37 AM: well done paul burstow. Phew!

5:51:29 AM: Good lord was that a ld gain in norwich s?

6:07:34 AM: Is hazel blears kneeling?

6:12:38 AM: What is this obsession with overhead shots of cars?

9:12:10 AM: Her Maj: ‘one is backing orf’

9:55:24 AM: I can increasingly envisage Alan Johnson as Prime Minister

11:18:51 AM: Is Cleggie still in a Special Branch jag? If so, this must be a record for a lib/LibDem leader after an election!

11:19:54 AM: For anyone who has a fetish for the tops of of cars, this election coverage has been their dream come true

11:33:24 AM: Jon Sopel is almost over-stepping his brief. Ed Vaizey is a bit of an oaf, isn’t he.

11:33:48 AM: Ed Vaizey and Harriet Harman having a urination contest on BBC

11:35:08 AM: Oh Good grief! Wake up Britain! Wake up BBC! We have a parliamentary system!

11:44:07 AM: In many ways, Clegg’s speech is his “kingmaker” speech: Tories get first dibs, but they better cough up on electoral reform

11:45:49 AM: Great speech from Cleggie. I suspect the speech of his life. Hope I’m not going too far….

11:48:12 AM: Refrendum for PR agreed by Lord Steel and Ed Vaizey. Deal done

11:50:09 AM: Well done Srah Teather -big achivement to win Brent Central!

11:56:09 AM: “Tories do not have a mandate to ram their manifesto down this country’s throat” – Paddy Ashdown

11:57:53 AM: Conservative minority govt does not preclude progressive bills being passed by Lab,LD and others

11:59:31 AM: I feel a great sense of relief that the prospects of Brown just blundering on are much less, perhaps zero after Clegg’s Cowley st speech

12:28:36 PM: Rifkind says no chance of Tory LD coalition. Thank goodness for that!

12:30:30 PM: Downing Street still touting LibDem-Lab deal. Didn’t they hear Clegg?

12:31:04 PM: @iansummersgill Absolutely. He’s over-stepped his brief today. Pathetic.

12:42:33 PM: Good Lord! David Butler!

1:24:43 PM: David Owen has got a bit of a grump on

1:42:33 PM: Good Lord! David Butler!

1:49:49 PM: Jack Dromey talking balderdash

1:55:48 PM: Jeremy Vine: Politics for the hard of thinking

1:58:35 PM: The Tombola ticket is drawn http://bit.ly/cEf8AN

2:00:24 PM: Rhodri Morgan on forming a minority govt in Wales: “It took us two monthy and I ended up having a heart attack”. Reassuring

2:21:22 PM: Great news from cheltenham and westmorland.

2:22:11 PM: Will all this mean that the Tories will have to say nice things about us lib dems? That’ll be painful for them

2:24:44 PM: I wish I why we did fantastically well in some seats but bombed in others

3:21:22 PM: Great news from cheltenham and westmorland.

3:24:44 PM: I wish I why we did fantastically well in some seats but bombed in others

3:27:37 PM: I wish I could understand why we did fantastically well in some seats but bombed in others

3:34:21 PM: @chrisjw133 but we lost 13 seats which held

3:37:20 PM: Surely the bbc could ask guests to refer to our party by its correct name could they not?

3:38:04 PM: He agrees with nick

3:39:33 PM: Good god! An ‘offer’ to the lib dems! Stunning!

3:40:32 PM: This is extraordinary

3:42:42 PM: Bollocks to an all party committee on electoral reform

3:47:15 PM: Get the name of the party right bbc!

3:52:54 PM: There’s a lot of posing going on behind nick r

4:03:28 PM: It’s brillo and fruitcakes!

4:11:09 PM: Well done andrew george!

9:42:29 PM: No agreement is the likely and sensible outcome http://bit.ly/90m9PD

10:54:02 PM: They’ll be writing books about those results for years… http://bit.ly/du6i2h

7:23:18 AM: The view from across the pond… http://bit.ly/a0cK9h

8:54:52 PM: Protesters with pie charts http://bit.ly/auOSTx

8:54:53 PM: Iain Dale is The Times’ “Arse of the year” http://bit.ly/c90ELN

9:31:08 AM: Welsh guards in busbies marching through Moscow’s red square in the may day parade. Am I dreaming?

12:19:09 PM: Tessa Munt very good on the Politcs Show

1:22:05 PM: Do the Tories really want a liberal Home Secretary? http://bit.ly/cU2XD6

6:51:21 PM: Today’s Bells on Sunday are from St Helen’s Church, Sefton, Liverpool http://bit.ly/dm55G2

7:20:05 PM: @Sandanista Well no, that’s not how it has to work. It would be a Con-LibDem coalition, not a Con govt.

7:36:27 PM: Sensible views on the potential “deal” http://bit.ly/aCNDWs

10:46:14 PM: RT @AngryFromMCR Breaking news: Clegg and Cameron eating pizza!

10:46:43 PM: Re: Rainbow coalition. Bear in mind that rainbows don’t last very long and you can never find the pot of gold

11:10:13 PM: Oh gawd. ITV talking in terms of “prolonged” discussions / the need for one side to yield. You can’t do this sort of thing in a news cycle!

11:12:21 PM: @snookcocker Here’s a picture of one of those which I saw recently http://twitpic.com/16wtrw

2:21:37 PM: If anyone calls us ‘the Liberals’ to my face I will have to restrain myself from punching their lights out (ladies excluded patronisingly)

3:12:38 PM: @mekquarrie no restraint would be appropriate in that case

3:15:36 PM: @markpack indeed it was such an allusion by their mr darling that riled me into so tweeting

4:56:34 PM: Libdem mps enjoy coffee and muffins while the pm & country awaits a puff of white smoke from their chimney. By ‘eck isn’t this grand?

4:59:11 PM: Belay that pipe! @alexcanterbury says ld m7 have rejected the tory deal!

5:00:13 PM: Belay that pipe! @alexcanterbury says ld mps have rejected the tory deal!

5:08:16 PM: Belay the last three pipes. David laws says details are being clarified on tax, schools & voting reform. That’s 3 of the 4 ld priorities.

5:10:42 PM: Laws says talks go on with labour. Looks like one last bit of brinkpersonship to me

5:14:35 PM: @Chrisjw133 the implication seems to be that those 2 items are agreed upon

5:29:53 PM: @nickjbarlow hilarious!

6:05:55 PM: Brown to speak soon. Official lab-ld talks to start. The screws tighten and the dilemma sprouts an extra horn…

6:10:31 PM: Apologies for swearing. Fuck me this is impressive!

8:06:54 PM: Labservatives’ nuts are squeezed http://bit.ly/aHwRd6

9:06:54 PM: Labservatives’ nuts are squeezed http://bit.ly/aHwRd6

9:53:03 PM: John Reid is basically saying Labour must go into opposition. Fair enough. But you don’t even see pols falling on their own swords.

9:53:40 PM: “Liberals” count in ten minutes of BBC News 24: John Reid 1, Alastair Darling 1

9:54:37 PM: John Reid has done Michael Gove’s work for him. Don’t often see that.

10:01:15 PM: Wouldn’t it be great to be Nicholas Witchell? “Queen busy with blah…not expecting to see any politcians..investitures..Windsor…blah”

10:16:26 PM: Is it just me or is John Redwood finally showing signs of joining the human race?

10:28:10 PM: I can forsee a Federal Executive lock-in at this rate – bring in the sleeping bags with the pizzas!

10:36:11 PM: Can we just get two things straight, shall we? http://bit.ly/dlPwee

10:28:10 PM: I can forsee a Federal Executive lock-in at this rate – bring in the sleeping bags with the pizzas!

10:36:11 PM: Can we just get two things straight, shall we? http://bit.ly/dlPwee

11:36:11 PM: Can we just get two things straight, shall we? http://bit.ly/dlPwee

11:37:54 PM: ‘marry in haste, repent at leisure’. Just thought I’d mention it…

12:37:54 AM: ‘marry in haste, repent at leisure’. Just thought I’d mention it…

4:18:23 AM: Which ever you look at it, this lab-ld thing has all the robustness of a badly assembled 1980s MFI table

5:18:23 AM: Which ever you look at it, this lab-ld thing has all the robustness of a badly assembled 1980s MFI table

5:20:05 AM: It just needs Tom Harris to lean gently on it, and it collapses

5:21:49 AM: It’s got to be con-ld. The good of the country comes first.

5:23:57 AM: And I reckon Clegg has until 3pm today to announce and appear shaking hands with Cameron

6:11:18 AM: We can’t mess about with a MFI coalition http://bit.ly/djVSi3

7:11:18 AM: We can’t mess about with a MFI coalition http://bit.ly/djVSi3

8:47:22 AM: Is it me or Simon Hughes getting more & more like Herr Flick off of ‘allo ‘allo everyday?

1:20:59 PM: Do European hung parliaments also feature wall-to-wall shots of doors and aerial views of cars – or is this a peculiarly British thing?

1:55:45 PM: Why not have a Wacky Races up the Mall? Who gets to Betty first wins

2:37:31 PM: @el_cuervo 2 years the last t4md it erupted in 19th century. Wind direction is key

3:04:29 PM: ++’Senior Lib Dem’ tells bbc con-ld is now ‘only show in town’. Labour failed to cede key ground on areas such as civil rights

3:16:30 PM: @chriswiggin lol I thought that as well. Most Tories don’t know the difference, do they?

4:51:23 PM: Rumour ht @chriswiggin:they’re still explaining stv to Osborne. Worrying that tomorrow’s chancellor has difficulty with 1,2,3

4:52:47 PM: Labour game over

5:06:31 PM: Gordie is presumably putting green & red stickers on things in no. 10

5:40:56 PM: @rfenwick Roger Roberts tells Jon Sopel “maybe you know more about what’s in my waters than I do” – my hero <-mine too

5:50:52 PM: Confidence and supply Con-LD deal is likeliest outcome say senior Tories according to Fraser Nelson

6:16:22 PM: Tim MOntgomerie tells BBC that offer includes NIck Clegg as Deputy PM

1:01:50 AM: Fedex meeting breaking tp ‘thinks’ bbc news presenter

1:03:11 AM: Voting taking place- cöfirmation likely say bbc

1:12:19 AM: Con-ld coalition ratified

1:20:03 AM: “Hooray!” indeed

1:35:57 AM: @alansm oh right!

1:41:44 AM: Fantastic speech! I clapped at the end

1:45:11 AM: @lindylooz sorry Linda!

1:49:54 AM: @allanmknox sorry

6:46:36 AM: @lindylooz not a fibba. I am sorry you are devastated. We can’t have that! Do tell uncle Paulie all about it

9:51:33 AM: You know rolling news has rolled up its orifice when they interview a psychiatrist

10:12:01 AM: #iagreewiththedpm

10:47:07 AM: Wow! Cleggie wore a yellow tie when he walked into Number 10! I’m in tears #iagreewiththedpm

11:13:28 AM: @alistairrae indeed

11:17:57 AM: A yellow tie! I’m in tears. #Iagreewiththedpm http://bit.ly/caS2UP

11:20:42 AM: @caronmlindsay indeed I am a softie. West end of Glasgow 11pm last night: 2 kids behind me shouted out: ‘Woossie!’ So that confirms it!

11:32:00 AM: @caronmlindsay back 16.40 train thurs

1:09:06 PM: @caronmlindsay Well its a 3 day meeting in Erskine . But last night dinner overlooking harbour/sunset in Ardrossan-fantastic

2:10:43 PM: I can now believe it. The Deputy PM page on WIkiepdia has been updated! Wonderful to see! http://bit.ly/biwPDO

2:54:36 PM: @manwiddicombe he walks on water surely?

3:45:17 PM: ‘A commission to consider the “West Lothian question”.’ Good luck with that. It beat even Gladstone.

4:53:41 PM: @artesea they could call it ‘The Fog Knitting commission’

9:14:53 PM: I have it on the authority of a Dutchman who saw Nick Clegg on Dutch TV this week that Nick’s Dutch is “perfect”

1:26:50 PM: The lost art of vicariously enjoying someone else sitting in a limo http://bit.ly/cyZTmK

2:43:26 PM: Squaring the remarkable circle of the coalition government’s nuclear energy policy http://bit.ly/bV93IL

12:17:41 AM: A week is a long time in politics http://bit.ly/9YtqYN

12:41:29 PM: The sublime and the ridiculous – trawling through the May 6th election results http://bit.ly/a4U7VZ

3:53:59 PM: David Rendel ‘refuses to be drawn on coalition vote’ http://bit.ly/aeLu5b

7:33:36 PM: The view in Scotland – a sassenach writes http://bit.ly/cx8hch

10:20:44 PM: The runnethinging over of the cup http://bit.ly/9DUqj2

12:20:25 PM: Ed Milliband to be sponsored by Pampers. (always feel urge to change his nappies. His slightly trembling bottom lip perhaps?)

3:25:41 PM: @gselmer re: 21.8% sorry

3:26:08 PM: @ldconf many thanks to the liberal democrat voice team for updating us

3:30:42 PM: Beautiful Bells on Sunday from St Mary, Bishopsoke, Hampshire http://bit.ly/dm55G2

3:32:37 PM: #ldconf Can’t believe this isn’t on live stream or telly somewhere!

3:54:10 PM: RT @alexfoster Cripes, Simon Hughes fires up hall into standing ovation. <=That must have been a great speech! LDs don’t stand lightly

4:54:10 PM: RT @alexfoster Cripes, Simon Hughes fires up hall into standing ovation. <=That must have been a great speech! LDs don’t stand lightly

5:15:49 PM: Cleggs seeks to calm Pillsbury Doughboy=>RT @alexfoster Clegg: I know the stakes are high – for me personally as well as for the pastry

6:15:49 PM: Cleggs seeks to calm Pillsbury Doughboy=>RT @alexfoster Clegg: I know the stakes are high – for me personally as well as for the pastry

6:54:34 PM: “Under fire Clegg applauded at LibDem conference” Such equivocation from Sky News! http://bit.ly/aaAuhm

6:59:00 PM: LibDem conference overwhelmingly supports coalition deal http://bit.ly/c8CNdp

7:02:13 PM: @gedrobinson The way the FE and Parliamentary party approved the deal was perfectly democratic. Today was an extra

7:49:06 PM: I have now updated my trawl of the election results with Redcar. Sorry for the ommission http://bit.ly/9sNMv4 @gselmer

7:49:06 PM: I have now updated my trawl of the election results with Redcar. Sorry for the ommission http://bit.ly/9sNMv4 @gselmer

7:49:06 PM: I have now updated my trawl of the election results with Redcar. Sorry for the ommission http://bit.ly/9sNMv4 @gselmer

7:58:24 PM: 55% dissolution threshold is essential to keep power of parliament over PM http://bit.ly/akkCS6

12:48:13 PM: It’s funny that getting 846,064 more people to vote for you is painted as a disappointment http://bit.ly/9f0u1c

4:00:15 PM: Top ten swings – Labour to Liberal Democrat – election data http://bit.ly/clMRRy

4:00:16 PM: Top ten swings: Conservative to Liberal Democrat – election data http://bit.ly/cZ8JiJ

4:21:43 PM: @gselmer indeed. There seems to be a strong incumbency/anti-incumbency factor going on

5:21:13 PM: Labour Liberal Democrat swings – election data http://bit.ly/conGOk

5:34:24 PM: Message from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury http://bit.ly/9dawea

5:34:25 PM: The new Liberal Democrats’ target seat list http://bit.ly/di2B3T

6:34:24 PM: Message from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury http://bit.ly/9dawea

8:25:11 PM: How to deal with the odious “me, me, me” LibDem “I want a peerage” list http://bit.ly/cyGRBb

9:25:11 PM: How to deal with the odious “me, me, me” LibDem “I want a peerage” list http://bit.ly/cyGRBb

11:52:10 PM: Many thanks for all the retweeting!

9:28:22 AM: A glorious morning. Nice to have time to walk the dog.

9:32:55 AM: @snookcocker ‘walking the dog’ indeed!

6:19:54 PM: Blimey, this is still weird http://bit.ly/cA0POI

12:14:05 AM: OMG, another numpty who doesn’t understand the difference between dismissing a government and dissolving a parliament http://bit.ly/ag0NK3

8:53:14 PM: A word about Stephen Timms MP http://bit.ly/dxNSwF

10:51:48 AM: It appears to be de rigeur that all government announcements are made against a backdrop of a window and exterior foilage, these days

11:54:48 AM: Open primaries to be funded by government http://bit.ly/d1JAjA

1:56:58 PM: The first act of a compassionate government? http://bit.ly/bAs5nr

8:36:20 PM: Celebrating avoiding a £1000+ car repair with a highly agreeable Seth Efrican Shiraz

11:49:57 PM: Matt Smith and Billie Piper – A Doctor Who circle squared in advance http://bit.ly/ccfoPF

2:14:42 PM: ‘No one voted for this’ http://bit.ly/bcmK1I

5:17:46 PM: @manwiddicombe @lilwatchergirl Thanks for the RT

5:48:40 PM: Is Laura Bush in denial? or not keeping up with the news? http://bit.ly/dy9hpo

6:19:23 PM: Meme: Three life lessons learnt the hard way http://bit.ly/d2IBqw

9:38:29 AM: The Duchess of York, another scalp for the NOTW’s “Fake Sheikh” Mazher Mahmood – http://bit.ly/cVQGCI When will celebrities learn?

9:43:04 AM: Today’s Bells on Sunday come from All Saint’s Church, Harpole, Northamptonshire http://bit.ly/9HL7Ra

5:46:04 PM: Ah! That’s who David Cameron reminds me of… http://bit.ly/atCYyU

9:19:39 PM: VIDEO: Pseudo Napoleonic drummers and an acrobat suspended 100 feet above Newbury’s Market Place http://bit.ly/9Xze2R

10:20:45 PM: Fantasy Rock n Roll band http://bit.ly/azPtFp

11:22:08 PM: Chicken suits banned at polling stations http://bit.ly/d9gfLg

3:45:41 PM: @Sapphire_Bleach Thanks for the RT

3:45:55 PM: @strmrgn Thanks for the RT

3:46:23 PM: @caronmlindsay many thanks for the congrats

3:47:49 PM: @ScottJonCollins Thanks for the Bells RT

3:49:28 PM: @ShodenAlexM Re: Schumacher/Cameron Yes now you mention it – it’s uncanny!

9:11:46 PM: @flackon To explain: I followed a some people who were following LibDemVoice – thought they might be interested in following me. That’s all

10:11:46 PM: @flackon To explain: I followed a some people who were following LibDemVoice – thought they might be interested in following me. That’s all

10:23:59 PM: ICM: 59% support coalition (though there’s a distinct north/south split) 56% support a more proportional voting system. Forget about AV then

10:25:20 PM: Fascinating ICM poll in the Guardian http://bit.ly/a4Oviy

10:32:14 PM: Support The Liberal Democrats, add a #twibbon to your avatar now! – http://twb.ly/9lZvXD

9:13:06 AM: @kenday up in the top right hand corner – very minimalist!

10:13:06 AM: @kenday up in the top right hand corner – very minimalist!

10:14:24 AM: @eeleach indeed

10:18:19 AM: Ray Alan – superb ventriloquist http://bit.ly/bYoYFS

11:18:19 AM: Ray Alan – superb ventriloquist http://bit.ly/bYoYFS

2:19:40 PM: @kenday Very good. “My quiff” disappeared into the wide blue yonder in about 1982.

3:19:40 PM: @kenday Very good. “My quiff” disappeared into the wide blue yonder in about 1982.

3:41:00 PM: The acceptable “eyesore” of democracy – and the cobblers about “pomp and circumstance” http://bit.ly/b60hjt

4:41:00 PM: The acceptable “eyesore” of democracy – and the cobblers about “pomp and circumstance” http://bit.ly/b60hjt

9:50:14 PM: RT @ilmigliorfabbro The World Forgetting, By The World Forgot.: They doth protest badly, methinks http://bit.ly/9SJoo5

10:50:14 PM: RT @ilmigliorfabbro The World Forgetting, By The World Forgot.: They doth protest badly, methinks http://bit.ly/9SJoo5

10:52:11 PM: The disgraceful reactionary condemnation of the Parliament Square protests http://bit.ly/bvBEJf

11:52:11 PM: The disgraceful reactionary condemnation of the Parliament Square protests http://bit.ly/bvBEJf

6:54:29 PM: A major.hopefully positive, milestone in Northern Ireland on June 15,The Bloody Sunday inquiry report will be published http://bit.ly/9L9p3n

7:54:29 PM: A major.hopefully positive, milestone in Northern Ireland on June 15,The Bloody Sunday inquiry report will be published http://bit.ly/9L9p3n

8:52:12 PM: Loosen up, Willie Walsh http://bit.ly/c1Cfk7

10:23:16 PM: An answer to a question that many, many people have asked…. http://bit.ly/cnsz2j

9:38:35 AM: David Laws hailed as a cross between Gladstone and Superman http://bit.ly/auv27r

10:57:42 PM: Iain Dale spiked my peony http://bit.ly/b5CJvO

2:41:49 PM: Has Cable been reduced to a flex, and is this government following in the footsteps of Churchill? http://bit.ly/9PSfvG

5:13:27 PM: By popular demand http://bit.ly/d4QtOL

11:52:01 AM: DIsturbing news – IFS: Free schools policy ‘may hit building work’ on normal schools http://bit.ly/bo4NrV

1:34:43 PM: David Laws: A searingly personal issue http://bit.ly/d3acqG

1:36:51 PM: Moisty eyed congratulations to Floella, Meral and Lee http://bit.ly/92exu7

1:49:31 PM: #IsupportLaws So there

2:22:01 PM: Don’t be silly! Of course, David Laws should NOT resign. #Isupportlaws http://bit.ly/chDqpt

2:37:47 PM: @snirge That’s for the comissioner to decide. Laws’ explanation is completely plausible.

5:12:35 PM: Don’t be silly! Of course, David Laws should NOT resign. #Isupportlaws http://bit.ly/aZZ8zz

6:44:52 PM: I just voted in this poll – http://vxp.me/v2565

7:02:38 PM: @snirge Yes it is plausible and the Commissioner is the right person to decide

8:52:22 PM: Laws resigns – what a waste! http://bit.ly/deebhb

8:53:49 PM: Laws resigns – what a waste! http://bit.ly/aAKc8U

8:56:51 PM: Alexander to replace Laws WTF!

9:01:25 PM: Alexander to replace Laws WTF?

9:13:37 PM: Why on earth isn’t Vince Cable taking over as Treasury secretary? It really is quite incredible

9:21:42 PM: @snirge – as Deputy LD leader? Question of concentrating on BS role. Plus would be better to have non minister as Dep ldr

9:47:16 PM: Belarus butterfly wings! Hilarious! #eurovision

9:49:41 PM: Oh crikey! Ireland to win! They are to #eurovision what brazil are to the world cup

9:53:04 PM: Greece get an award for primeval chest-beating #eurovision

9:56:05 PM: It’s tim austin’s love child #eurovision

9:57:54 PM: It’s mark austin’s love child #eurovision

9:59:11 PM: Weak uk entry – dubious ending notes #eurovision

10:06:57 PM: Fantastic Turkish entry!! #eurovision

10:14:33 PM: Is there a man hiding under that dress #eurovision

10:18:00 PM: This is pants #ukraine #eurovision

10:20:36 PM: Oh dear #france #eurovision

10:23:55 PM: Turkey’s entry is the best #eurovision song I’ve heard since Abba’s Waterloo

10:28:16 PM: Quite good #russia #eurovision

10:29:34 PM: Not sure about the photo business though #russia #eurovision

10:30:17 PM: Windy in oslo tonight #eurovision

10:32:32 PM: Norton is sloshed. Excellent #eurovision

10:33:33 PM: It’s Shrek #eurovision

10:35:05 PM: A song about apricot stones. Yeeeaauuss #armenia #eurovision

10:36:58 PM: How lovely! #germany #eurovision

10:46:56 PM: Superb performance. Could be singing about the re-occupation of the gaza strip for all i know #Israel #eurovision

10:48:53 PM: A Police tribute band #eurovision

10:53:07 PM: Harmless tosh #spain #eurovision

10:56:35 PM: @pelik13 just did #turkey #eurovision

11:20:19 PM: Excellent production this year #eurovision

11:51:47 PM: “Halfway through the voting procedure” …makes it sound as painful as it is #eurovision

9:51:43 AM: Today’s Bells on Sunday are from St Mary’s church, Dunsford, Devon. http://bit.ly/aQKevf

2:26:37 PM: Laws: How can highly intelligent people do such stupid things? http://bit.ly/cflzaR

1:33:48 PM: Appalling. Israeli commandos storm aid flotilla in international waters. Ten dead. http://bit.ly/bNrjoT

1:50:57 PM: One bright chink of light in the whole sorry Laws episode http://bit.ly/bwaems

1:50:58 PM: Was today’s Guardian sub-edited by a monkey? http://bit.ly/cgAWnA

2:33:25 PM: Fowey….Polruan – It’s all the same when you’re sat in London http://bit.ly/9VOITt

6:32:58 PM: RT@jupitusphillip It has been a decade and we are no closer to discovering who did indeed, let the dogs out.Without closure,how can we heal?

7:34:34 PM: Nazareth – still going strong http://bit.ly/a99as3

10:34:11 AM: Telegraph banged to rights by Iain Dale http://bit.ly/9LYU8S

2:55:13 PM: @stealthmunchkin It happens. Feel flattered. I would.

2:55:56 PM: The way back for David Laws http://bit.ly/bP6AyH

3:00:40 PM: @jamesgraham @bat020 @ldn shouldn’t Mike Batt get a royalty?

5:10:18 PM: A cabinet minister for just 17 days – is this a record? http://bit.ly/abDHUa

9:02:02 PM: Did a moment of hubris lead to David Laws’ downfall? http://bit.ly/8YKoy8

9:59:21 PM: Why the Sam Hill will Israel lead the enquiry into the flotilla deaths? http://bit.ly/9WgdG6

10:43:19 AM: 78% back move to proportional voting system http://bit.ly/aK7Qx8

2:52:57 PM: @ianEiloart My thoughts entirely!

5:58:08 PM: PMQs: Hattie opens up the Coalition’s Grand Canyon http://bit.ly/dCzUZl

9:04:00 PM: Rest in peace – the Cumbrian Twelve http://bit.ly/dtQ7Uc

10:06:45 AM: Prayers for Cumbria http://bit.ly/95JUQ4

1:48:30 PM: Clegg more popular than Cameron; Cable is most popular politician; Labour figures languishing http://bit.ly/9gfJ4n

6:11:53 PM: Fiorina dismisses climate change as “the weather” http://bit.ly/bgfoW0

6:53:01 PM: @henrytapper indeed

12:17:47 AM: Now that’s a couple of fascinating bed fellows: diane abbott and kelvin mackenzie #bbcqt

12:22:17 AM: It’s a complete fallacy that Israel is a lone haven of democracy in the middle east. Both Palestine & the . Lebanon are democracies #bbcqt

11:56:39 AM: Cameron ’statesmanlike’ at PMQs – Pass the sickbag, Alice http://bit.ly/aNHlIL

3:58:35 PM: @snirge @AngelaPerkins47 It’s the description of “statesmanlike” after such an easy debut which I don’t like – rather than Cameron himself

3:59:57 PM: @snirge re: Clegg. Well he’s going to have to, isn’t he? He will get his chance when Cameron is off on paternity leave or on foreign trips

4:00:19 PM: @snirge there will also be a separate DPM question time

4:44:20 PM: Thank you party for David Rendel’s helpers http://bit.ly/dmg6um

5:44:20 PM: Thank you party for David Rendel’s helpers http://bit.ly/dmg6um

9:34:11 AM: Today’s Bells on Sunday are from St Chad’s church in Shrewsbury, Shropshire http://bit.ly/dchYJx

10:34:11 AM: Today’s Bells on Sunday are from St Chad’s church in Shrewsbury, Shropshire http://bit.ly/dchYJx

10:37:05 AM: @AngelaPerkins47 He’s certainly been given very favourable House of Commons conditions to start with

10:46:27 AM: Woke up thinking it was Monday then realised it’s Sunday. Always a bonus, eh?

12:42:21 PM: Winchester is looking divine in the sunshine

1:42:21 PM: Winchester is looking divine in the sunshine

9:09:23 PM: Oh dear. Ed Balls reveals his bovine side. Hasn’t he heard the Barking result? http://bit.ly/aXsAm3

10:09:23 PM: Oh dear. Ed Balls reveals his bovine side. Hasn’t he heard the Barking result? http://bit.ly/aXsAm3

10:57:41 PM: @snookcocker Compared to the 2005 GE, yes, but their vote fell spectacularly compared to the 2009 Euro elections

10:17:13 AM: @penn48 ah yes!

11:17:13 AM: @penn48 ah yes!

11:25:01 AM: Cameron – it’s all Labour’s fault. Methinks he doth protest too much http://bit.ly/aDfH3H

6:06:36 PM: @jeanie_2010 I think he’s exagerrating “the fault”. It’s not exactly unorthodox to spend one’s way out of a recession.

7:06:36 PM: @jeanie_2010 I think he’s exagerrating “the fault”. It’s not exactly unorthodox to spend one’s way out of a recession.

7:55:29 PM: Why unarmed police officers were right to stop pursuing Derrick Bird on his rampage http://bit.ly/ai3fRZ

8:24:07 PM: I’m posh, me – But where is the red trouser test? http://bit.ly/aGMbr9

6:51:28 PM: Quote of the week http://bit.ly/aSUinJ

6:58:44 PM: Danny Alexander has passed the Eddie Mair test

9:40:34 AM: Difficult to imagine George Osborne as Mrs Merton: “Let’s have a heated debate”

9:43:07 AM: Today on garden grabbing with Z Goldsmith.John Prescott:”I’m talking about families that haven’t got a home for God’s sake”. Got to love him

9:47:56 AM: Californian Republicans select ex-IT company CEO woman with bags of money she spent on TV ads-TWICE-Whitman and Fiorina http://bit.ly/9ttdHC

10:24:31 AM: …What was that about protecting the poorest? http://bit.ly/doCSNB

12:59:38 PM: Nominations for the loudest breathers on the media http://bit.ly/b0leti

6:26:56 PM: PMQs: Hattie tries to throw a “stinger” in front of voting reform http://bit.ly/9csRtW

9:27:24 PM: The question of the precise colour of Nick Clegg’s tie http://bit.ly/c3sFYE

9:27:25 PM: David Laws: I’m not a millionaire http://bit.ly/9Kd4pw

8:20:57 PM: Why it is wrong, wrong, wrong to fly the St George’s flag above Downing Street during the World Cup. That’s W-R-O-N-G http://bit.ly/9p2fs3

9:20:57 PM: Why it is wrong, wrong, wrong to fly the St George’s flag above Downing Street during the World Cup. That’s W-R-O-N-G http://bit.ly/9p2fs3

10:25:44 PM: It is very fitting that the originator of “The Desmond” scoreline (2:2 – Tutu – geddit?!) has helped open the World Cup

11:25:44 PM: It is very fitting that the originator of “The Desmond” scoreline (2:2 – Tutu – geddit?!) has helped open the World Cup

11:54:46 PM: #bbcqt we only finished paying off our world war 2 debt 4 years ago

11:58:55 PM: #bbcqt toby young is over-doing it. He’s a pussycat really

12:00:13 AM: @eeleach @gedrobinson it’s both

12:02:56 AM: #bbcqt katie hopkins. Pathetic

12:10:33 AM: #bbcqt jeremy hunt permanently looks as if he has just had a pleasant surprise

12:11:32 AM: #bbcqt now who’s name calling katie?

12:19:32 AM: #bbcqt katie hopkins. Privatise all universities. It’s so simple isn’t? Fuck me

12:23:15 AM: #bbcqt let’s blow up katie hopkins!

12:25:55 AM: #bbcqt #letsblowupkatiehopkins!

12:59:27 AM: If Margaret Thatcher and Princess Anne bred together, they’d end up with Katie Hopkins #bbcqt

11:29:30 AM: Speaking German yesterday. Spanish today. There’s a grave danger Nick Clegg might actually improve the image of the UK abroad. Hurrah say I!

2:43:21 PM: @lospompadores I’m delighted to hear it!

3:18:00 PM: PROOF: An unknown candidate, first on the ballot, can win a major election without campaigning http://bit.ly/cV8B3h <-”Random dude wins”

1:35:58 AM: Proof: An unknown candidate, first on the ballot, can win a major election without campaigning http://bit.ly/d9nMWx

11:39:57 AM: Sun front page – totally awesome Dude! http://bit.ly/cs9Trw

12:36:11 PM: St George’s flags with “ENGLAND” written on them – this is what Kenny Everett used to call “subtitles for the hard of thinking”

12:48:49 PM: @LLuncoollJ thanks for the RT

12:49:48 PM: @arianintheuk thanks – Capital radio circa 1978

1:05:35 PM: @JULIE_MOORE Sorry!

1:13:19 PM: ‘Tiresome’, ‘boring tripe’ of tributes to fallen soldiers at PMQs http://bit.ly/csxzfN

2:13:19 PM: ‘Tiresome’, ‘boring tripe’ of tributes to fallen soldiers at PMQs http://bit.ly/csxzfN

2:47:21 PM: The one real star in the Labour leadership race http://bit.ly/ckCSNn

3:47:21 PM: The one real star in the Labour leadership race http://bit.ly/ckCSNn

5:14:41 PM: @JoeDorward Ah! That certainly explains it then!

6:14:41 PM: @JoeDorward Ah! That certainly explains it then!

6:53:29 PM: The very worrying government cancellation of the extension of free school meals http://bit.ly/9GZNjJ

7:07:19 PM: Many thanks for all the RTs for Kenny Everrett’s bons mots. I am sure the old boy is chuffed in Dee-jay heaven

I suspect it is a seminal moment.

I know when something has hit a nerve of the national psyche when I receive three calls from non-political friends in two minutes, gleefully telling me of the newsflash. I was just getting into the shower at the gym when I took one of them…I know – too much information.

Talking of the gym, all this week I have watched there endless Sky and BBC News 24 live coverage of Brown going round supermarkets and streets. The coverage has been all the same. Gordie smiling beatifically, Sarah right by his side, lovely friendly remarks to surprised passers-by or shoppers:

Brown: “Lovely to see you….What are you buying?” Man in Asda: “Er…food” was one exchange in the fresh vegetables section of Bournemouth Asda.

Brown: “Oh”…pointing to a number on a rugby shirt on another shopper…”Do you play rugby?” Guy: “Yes”. Brown: “You must be fit” – flexing his (Brown’s) arm muscles to show what being fit must be like.

….You know the sort of thing. Very boring. Very stage-managed. Lots of security folks. No chance of anything democratic happening like a confrontation. It’s all just “Grateful citizens meet their PM” stuff.

So thank goodness Gillian Duffy had a go at him. At last some real interchange with the populace.

So, Brown was caught out with his radio mike on. He’s obviously never watched “Naked Gun”.

Basic mistake. Lesson one in broadcast training: “If you’re within a mile of a microphone – assume it’s on and it can pick you up”.

Unfortunately for Brown, this is the sort of incident that catches the public’s imagination. PM asking what someone is buying in the Asda vegetables section doesn’t catch Jo Public’s imagination. PM caught with trousers down does.

But it also plays into: Tired PM, Tired government, Angry PM, bullying PM, PM without common touch narratives.

So really, this is the end of Gordon Brown’s Prime Ministerial career. He can’t make it back from here. The Labour polling will be 3 points down tomorrow.

Hard cheese Gordie!

Oh…you ask about the issues. Ah yes. The economy. Health. Education. Cleaning up politics. That sort of thing. Errr…..crikey. I’d forgotten about them.

UPDATE: Bit of a mistake for Gordie to let himself be video’d talking to Jeremy Vine with his head in his hands. Gordie ought to ask John Major what happened to him when he smoothed his hair in his hands before speaking at the City of London dinner. That image will haunt Gordie forever more, I am afraid.

That’s this Slapometer.

Well, for goodness sake, just read this unmitigated pig manure:

…the beauty of the first past the post system is that it gives voters a direct link with their MP. If you don’t like him, or her, you can sling him out, regardless of national swing or anything else. If you want him to vote against a particular issue (the Iraq War, say) you can lobby him to do so. The idea that our response to the expenses system should be to break this link and create a new class of MPs who are shoved in on a party list and owe no allegiance to anyone but their party leader is somewhat bizarre.

After reading this, I had to check what I was reading. Hello? Which “Tom Bradby” is this the “blog” of? Is this some knee-jerk, ignorant right-wing ranting blogger who couldn’t give a monkey’s about the facts writing a little hobby blog? Some punter with a PC and a £4.99 a month dial-up connection who just happens to have the same name as the leading political correspondent on the nation’s leading commercial broadcaster?

It can’t, surely, actually be the actual blog of the leading political correspondent of the nation’s leading commercial broadcaster, can it? I mean, the actual Tom Bradby, as opposed to a ‘Tom Bradby’?

Good grief! It actually is the actual, genuine blog of the actual Tom Bradby.

What came over him? This respected journalist wrote the above paragraph. Ranting polemic based on total, mind-blowing ignorance. And it says “BRINGING FACTS TO LIFE” at the top of his blog, in big letters. Crikey! Bringing ignorant, lazy assumption to life, more like.

Before writing that Grade One Cack, would it have been too much to ask for Tom Bradby to click his laptop twice to read the Electoral Reform web site?:

Single Transferable Vote

No electoral system is perfect. Some, however, are more perfect than others.

We believe that where candidates are being elected to multiple vacancies, STV offers voters the best and most effective choice.

What is STV?

STV uses preferential voting in multi-member constituencies. Each voter gets one vote, which can transfer from their first-preference to their second-preference and so on, as necessary…