POLITICS CORNER

[Whyperion]

I would doubt that Labour would get a critical mass of membership with the capability to deliver a reasonable socialist set of policies. Tried in Liverpool and crushed away. The problem to rise within any party you have to play the games and end up insulating yourself from the external realities. Gordon Brown could have run a socialist party but did not seem to have the desire to do so , he was handed control effectively of a substantial part of the British Banking systems , which with swaps could have delivered chunks of industry and property back into public ownership and control cheaply. Instead GB continued forcing local authorities etc to mini privatise through PFI and incentives for housing associations.

Partly I think this was from EU edicts - which despite Conservatives' view that much EU powered directives are too left-wing actually seem to restrict the commercial ownership and operation of enterprises by governments national and to lesser extent local.

Done in London , Boris manages to avoid answering any kind of media question yet manages to have the support of a large chunk of voters , which says a lot about attitudes and aspirations. Still the preference of none of the above at around 55% of the people whom dont vote clearly shows the amount of disengagement of the populace to party politics.

[Stanley]

Richard and Ian, two good posts and I agree with both of you. Significant that the real socialists remember their history. With all his faults I loved hearing Wedgie Benn talking about how his mother made sure he knew where the vote and the 8+8+8 came from. One of my main beefs against the Tories is that they are trying to dismantle the advances we made. Look at the working conditions of many in badly paid jobs, no overtime and minimal wage and benefits. That's why I keep banging on about a living wage.
Great example of Tory attitudes yesterday when the Culture committee split on the wording of the final report, the Tory members objected to Rupert being described as not a fit person to run BSkyB. Good illustration of two things, the size of the disconnect between Tories and the electorate and an indication of tensions within the Coalition. Cameron is in a deeper hole than he thinks. I suspect he will not get a lot of reassurance when the Council election results come in. I shall be using my right to vote as soon as they open tomorrow! ( An old beef surfaces, we are going to hear of people who don't vote on principle. What an insult to all those men and women who fought for us against the odds for years but won in the end.) By the way, there was an interesting discussion about how the report would play in the US with the dissident shareholders of Newscorp. The consensus was that they would actually read the report and that this was bad news for the Murdochs. (LINK)
I am watching Sarcozy pandering to the extreme right because he needs their votes. The most despicable form of electioneering. I wonder if the French will fall for it?
It just struck me, where is the logic in assenting to the body of the report whilst objecting to the statement? Surely anyone who accepts all the facts about the cover-up etc can't possibly think he was fit?
I see that logic has prevailed and that in spite of all the protestations that all is well with waiting times at immigration the minister has admitted that there is a problem. Significant that if reports are to be believed, Cameron called him in and instructed him to level with the protesters. He's got enough on his plate!

[Tardis]

A small political spatt in Coates ward hit the papers yesterday.

Not entirely sure if an actual complaint was received or it was electioneering at its worst by Cllr Whipp. The Telegraph didn't make it plain. If it stands up, however...

[Tardis]

Noticeable on Today this morning that the Labour committee member of the CCM avoided answering a direct question on a number of occasions. Almost like they were back in government.

Make a damning report under parliamentary priviledge and then don't back up those words for fear of being sued for inaccuracies.

Meanwhile Mr Tom Watson under investigation for revealing exact wording of report in his new book "Dial M for Murdoch", which also has not yet appeared in the register of members interests. If you are going to "smear" again (#Smeargate) then maybe you have to make sure your own position is squeaky clean first. Thus a damning report turns into both barrels shooting at one section

You really have to wonder if they want power, or are just happy knocking each other for book royalties

[Stanley]

Nice day for voting! Tip to Dave, tomorrow morning when you are explaining why you did so badly you can always say the weather was against you. Poor people more likely to vote if they don't get wet.
Given all the information made public about hacking-gate I fail to see how anyone could fail to have doubts about the Murdochs and in my book that is enough to at least raise doubts about their qualifications to run BSkyB. Offcom should err on the side of safety. The biggest question mark hangs over Les Hinton who was Rupert's right hand man for years and no doubt his firewall.
I see Mervyn has been talking common sense again. He is asking for the bank reorganisation to be speeded up, little doubt that there is a lot of procrastination going on behind the scenes.

[Tardis]

Hmm, #mervtheswerve put out his "My part in Gordon Brown's Downfall" or "How I avoided any blame" speech on R4 last night, and then popped up on Today this morning. Both times Evyn Davies the questioner who was much softer than some of the questions, and the later debate on Today.

Rightly the man has been savaged for his part in the whole debacle, and even now he states that if there was another enquiry it should only look at what the regulators were responsible for. Not why they looked the other way with "willful blindness"

He blamed Brown for 1,000,000+ job losses, the destruction of the economy.

He blamed the banks for the size of leverage, when it was Brown policy to rely upon this revenue and the asset inflation delivering more people out of means testing of the welfare state (The Third Way).

He said the economy was sustainable, when clearly it wasn't. It wuld have bounced back by now if it had been a blip.

He said the economy went from stable to bust without any boom. So why have all these companies gone bust? Why have house prices not even got back to their 2008 level.

He said he called for restraint in asset prices, but couldn't provide the reference. He said he pointed at debt levels, when?

He said he recognised some of the issues, but increasing interest rates would have made more problems. Well I'm sorry, but what omnishambles does he think he has delivered?

He was quick enough to start the printing presses, but not fast enough to recognise the scope of the banking crisis, or stop the Rock and B&B going belly up. It could also be argued that by the banks actions this propelled some of the underlying mistrust within the banking sector. RBS intervention occured hours before it was insolvent, and yet he knew long before.

Why this man is still in position is just unbelieveable. He takes the tax payers money, and yet shunned any responsibility for the whole

It is easy to pontificate when the horse has left the stable yard and it is supposed to be running in a race that day.

[Tardis]

I do wonder how many people think that voting in council elections affects country politics?

I voted for the people who empty my bins, tidy the streets, look after my community centres, the sports centres, road sweeping etc. Whitehall only affects the block grant, which shouldn't be allowed to affect localities through gerrymandering. A council should be accountable for the money it raises AND spends, which is totally outside the remit of Whitehall as we can now have local referendums on Poll Tax increases above a certain agreed limit.

If you have a vote you should use it, even if the only thing you want to do is "none of the above" because then your piece of paper has to be counted and you have engaged in democracy.

Did anyone notice that none of the leaflets that came out said they would promise to "spend" on cherished projects? Could that be because the budget was already set and they know that there is "no money"?

[Wendyf]

No leaflets at all delivered here, but we walked down Harden Clough into Kelbrook to vote anyway. Only a moorland footpath connects us to our Polling Station (or a drive down all the way through Earby and on into Kelbrook) and I like the link with the past.

[PanBiker]

If you have a vote you should use it, even if the only thing you want to do is "none of the above" because then your piece of paper has to be counted and you have engaged in democracy.

Well said Tardis although I know from experience that a lot of the Barlick electorate will not turn out even if you offer them a lift. They are usually the one's who can be most vociferous in their opinions as well. That was certainly the case when I was involved in the game anyway. Anyone would think that "marked up registers" didn't exist!

By all means turn up and if you are that way inclined or not convinced by any of the policies put forward, spoil your paper. Even these are counted and you will have made a statement. I personally would introduce compulsory voting with an abstain box on the ballot, an issue we have discussed at length on the site (usually at this time of the year coincidentally).

Well done also to Wendy, I would expect nothing less from you though, as a historian you will be well aware of the countless sacrifices made by people in the past to get everyone a vote, underlined with the fact that you walked to the poll which for you has a tangible link to the past.

I will be walking as well but for us it's only round the corner.

[Stanley]

Mervyn King. Don't shoot the messenger. After 1997 the BofE had no control over the banks, shifted to FSA. All the bank could do was advise. MK didn't do QE on a whim, the bank were asked for an alternative way of devaluing the currency and they came up with it, cunning wheeze actually ordered from Downing Street. Be grateful that he's seeing retirement coming and is taking the opportunity to tell us the truth.

All politics are local. THE COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS ARE NO GUIDE TO A GENERAL ELECTION BUT ARE A GOOD INDICATOR OF THE MOOD OF THE ELECTORS (Bugger caps lock! Not shouting...) It looks as though Labour have wiped the slate, just what I expected. However, before Millibean at al start to crow, this is a protest vote against the Tories and the LibDems. Bad for Tories but a disaster for LibDems. The thing that strikes me at the moment is how well the local Labour parties have done in the old core Labour constituencies. Despite neglect of the local parties they are still there and active. I naturally want to see social democrats doing well and this is a ray of hope for the future. I shall look at the complete reports with interest. I note that Eric Pickles has already leapt for the microphone to say this is what they expected and is no indication of lack of support for the Coalition. Par for the course, we shall hear much more like this today. (LibDems at lowest ebb since they re-formed in 1988, a clear message for Clegg.)

[Tardis]

Turnout 37.8% for Pendle

[Tripps]

Thought of this thread when I read the following on Jim Greenhalf's blog. As Mr Speaker Bercow might say ' The spoilers have it, the spoilers have it'.

"Subsequently: Ian Greenwood (Council Leader), did lose his seat, after four recounts, by 17 votes. There were 22 spoiled ballot papers"

[Tardis]

Coates and Craven both Lib Dem

Earby remained Tory

One good thing was that one of the BNP people was defeated

Council now 18 Tory, 18 Lab, 12 Lib Dem, 1 BNP

Tories lost one, but gained another (Andrew Stephenson), the other stuff hasn't manifested itself on twitter yet, but in some wards there were some very low votes

[Bruff]

I note in Edinburgh Pentland Hills, the Lib Dem candidate garnered fewer votes than Professor Pongoo, an independent dressed as a penguin.

Reminds me of the death of the old SDP in the Bootle by-election some years back, where they garnered fewer than the Monster Raving Loony Party. The real insult though was the offer by the Loony Party post-count of a coalition going forward, with them as senior partners.....

Wirral moves to Labour control after 10 years of No Overall Control and one of the few times they've had control since 1970. Interesting as Labour has has a justified kicking recently over some of their councillors' shenanigans, and a couple resigned. Mind you, the Tory leader is facing bullying and harassment claims from two disabled employees who work remotely and from home.

Sefton (Bootle up to Southport) has gone Lab after 40+ years - this is a surprise, usually Con or NOC. Must be a load of 'scousers done good' moving in....

I guess in Liverpool we'll have to see if becomes a genuine Lab hegemony - there's not been a Con councillor for years in Liverpool and the LDs got a real kicking last year, so a few more might tumble. I'd have thought there'd be the odd one left.

Seems folk aren't too keen on elected mayors given the choice.

Richard Broughton

[Pluggy]

Turnout 37.8% for Pendle

I did my bit, little disappointed with the candidates on offer, 3 main parties & UKIP. No imaginative Independents or raving monster loonies etc....

Can't expect too much from local council elections I suppose.

[Stanley]

Much as I expected including the reactions. Boris defeats Ken but by only 3%, there was obviously a protest vote there as well. A political victory but containing the same message as the other results. Two thirds of the electorate were unable to vote, or they were too ignorant and idle. If the latter they should be ashamed of themselves. I take comfort from the fact that a large percentage in electoral terms used their vote to register unease with the Coalition. There are still some people out there with a few brain cells rubbing together. Question now is how the parties will react? Tories will move defensively to the right. Lib Dems will start agonising about leadership and what to do to avoid wipe out at the next general election, most likely thing is that they will start to oppose more inside the coalition to try to prove blue water between them and Tories. Labour will have a rush of blood to the head, important that they realise that this vote is a call by the electorate for an active and imaginative Opposition.

[PanBiker]

Labour will have a rush of blood to the head, important that they realise that this vote is a call by the electorate for an active and imaginative Opposition.

Ed should come to the ILP Clarion House Centenary celebrations we will be having in August up Ginny Lane. Maybe he could pick up some tips about what that taboo word socialism actually means.

[Tardis]

According to the stuff in the Lancashire telegraph the turnout in Barnoldswick was 32%

Which probably means that 68% didn't think it worthwhile or couldn't vote for the people that they were really allied too.

Some very large numbers of Postal Voting patterns in certain communities exposed in the LT too, one ward was 66% of all votes cast

Labour won 2, so effectively the Tories lost one and gained one, and the Lib Dems must have lost one to gain one but I don't know who they all are so couldn't tell you personalities.

[Stanley]

Rumblings in the Tory Party. They are suggesting Dave should be more like Boris! They will press for a swing to the right and even more reactionary policies. Ossie admits this morning that "the budget could have been better presented" but refuses to make any drastic changes in policy. Downing Street says that gay marriage is still on the agenda and HS2 project will not be affected.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest France and Greece go to the polls and the betting is that anti-austerity and pro-growth factions will gain control. One wonders what the markets will make of this. The Euro Project is still teetering on a knife edge. Interesting that they have managed to turn the volume down on reporting of what is actually happening. The Merkel/German bid for complete budgetary control is proving to be a rocky road. This means that the move towards a more federal political system is on hold.

[Stanley]

Good day for democracy and common sense in Europe yesterday. Françoise Hollande decisively beats Merkel's poodle in France and in Greece small anti-austerity factions look as though they will be a majority in parliament. Add this to the UK election results and there is a clear picture of a move against the concept of cuts being the only way out of the current minefield. I have no illusions, many of these voters are simply angry and voting against reduction of living standards but others can see the fundamental mistakes being made. I shall bore you a little....
I have always opposed attempting to deal with debt by austerity bearing down on the poorest and supporting the current system by creating more debt and devaluing currency (because that's all Quantitative Easing' is). The way out is to use credit, not to buttress the institutions that caused the problem in the first place (the crazy gambling and greed of the financial markets) but to protect personal disposable incomes by injecting funds into the base economy and allowing it to circulate through the system getting the benefits of the Multiplier Effect. The big mistake was made in 2008 when all the money was thrown at the banks to save them and was effectively sterilised.
So what do I think the election results will do to the present situation? Merkel will have to rethink her strategy to use France as an ally in preserving 'Sound Money' (The German Economy) by gaining budgetary control over the whole of the EU and pressing forward to full federal government. The moist likely scenario in Greece is that by fighting further cuts Greece will torpedo the bail-out and trigger what should have happened in the first place, leaving the Euro Zone. There could be a domino effect in Spain Portugal and perhaps even Italy. In terms of the Sound Money project this is bad news but in the real world it could mean that the artificial Euro (always seen as basically flawed from its inception) will have to be significantly readjusted. In the process the markets will react and accelerate this readjustment.
It all sounds like bad news doesn't it but there may be a massive bonus. The biggest drawback of the last two years has been financial paralysis in Europe with no clear resolution of the evident problems. This has hog-tied all the individual economies including the UK as they waited for some sort of certainty. Leaving aside whether the reasons for the protest vote were valid, the inescapable fact is that the electors have revolted and eventually the politicians will have to recognise this and see that the solution to the problems are not the old discredited mantras about 'Sound Money', we tried that in the 1920s and 30s and it failed. The UK economy didn't start to recover until growth was re-established, in the 1930s by deficit financed spending on the war effort. It could be that this earthquake forces a similar change but it is going to be a rough ride.
So, being an optimist I see a faint light on the horizon. What happens now depends on the ability of our politicians to read the runes and change course. It may take another earthquake like the break-up of the Coalition to trigger this. The train wreck is back on. Tin hats out lads!

[EileenDavid]

Sarkozy gone the pound has gone up a whole cent now 1.24 euro's to the pound. Noticed here when you get a bill here they still have the cost in francs showing as well as the amount in euro's. Don't know about him being a poodle I thought that was Tony Blair. Eileen

[Stanley]

Dave and Nick are going to 'relaunch the Coalition' today. I would have thought that a period of contemplation of the EU situation and how it will affect UK would have been in order instead of a transparent PR exercise. This is idiotic politicking and par for the course. Can't they see that what the country wants is a revised plan, not a PR sticking plaster? US view is that Europe is concentrating too much on austerity and until they take measures to encourage growth the outlook is bad. I'll go with that! See this LINK. He is one of the most respected economists in the world and has been right in his predictions so far.
This quotation from the article caught my eye: "The U.K., which the International Monetary Fund reckons accounts for a third of the budget cuts in the 10 largest European Union countries, is already back in recession." I knew we were leading the pack but didn't realise how big our lead was!

[Stanley]

Instead of faffing about with gay marriage the government should do something positive about farm gate milk prices. All the major middle men in the3 market have dropped prices 2p because the supermarkets are grinding the price down. There is a 'fair trading' mechanism that would prevent this but it is not being enforced. Action this day!
High Street trading is down 3% on last year. It was something of a surprise in the last growth figures that it had 'held up so well'. Evidently the figures were optimistic. Not a good sign.
The Euro starts to slide downwards, the markets have taken note of the recent anti austerity movement in UK, France and Greece. The Cameron/Clegg show has not fooled anyone, bad reviews in all the major papers. It will take more than PR to repair the damage to the Coalition and they must know it. Greece runs out of money again in June and there is no prospect of them having an effective government. I forecast a long time ago that throwing money and austerity at them would not save the day. Default begins to look inevitable and the question is whether this triggers a melt down in the other Mediterranean cripples. Interesting times and the train wreck could suddenly gather pace. Cameron et al know all this, question is what can they do about it?

[Bruff]

If folk have a problem with gay marriage they should do what I did and marry someone of the opposite sex (to paraphrase Ben Summerskill).

Richard Broughton

[Tardis]

The West Craven Area Committee has a new Chair, Cllr Whipp.

One of the first things pushed through was £3000 for the Jubilee events without any documentation to say what the money is for.

He then seemed to upset rather a lot of public in the audience too with his delivery.

Very noticeable that apart from Cllr Whipp the other Lib Dems said nothing unless it was brazen party politics.

Hopefully more folk will go to these meetings now and actually see his blustering and bullying persona in action without any restraint.

Salterforth development passed