Progressive Politics

Fantasy Politics of Torbay Tory PPC - Letter to HE 260909

2009-09-26T22:13:00.004+01:00

Marcus Wood (no relation) writes the following in today's 'Herald Express' newspaper. It should be noted the Macus' preferred modus operandi is to mercilessly attack the Lib Dems at every opportunity, whilst coming forward with no ideas as to why to positively vote for him. Here's his latest missive with my unedited reply (as yet unpublished)

PEOPLE are growing weary of gladiatorial politics and want to know that their elected representatives can work together for the common good where necessary.

That is why we should celebrate that a Conservative mayor, working with a previously Lib Dem county council and a Labour Government have been able to make such good progress on the Kingskerswell bypass in recent years.

It was disappointing, therefore, that Nick Clegg turned his back on some promising signs of cooperation earlier in the year. While David Cameron offered Lib Dems the hand of friendship and cooperation Nick Clegg was saying that David Cameron was a 'con' and a 'fake'. Even more worrying is that according to a BBC poll, Liberal Democrat party activists are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping Labour in power if there is a hung parliament, regardless of voters calling for a change.

Many progressive liberals despair that rather than being an agent for change in Britain, the Liberal Democrat party has allowed itself to become a road block to progress. I don't expect all these people will become a card carrying member of the Conservative Party overnight but we will be urging them to vote for something exciting and progressive; I will be asking for them to put their trust in David Cameron and our party to deliver on those things that we all want to see, scrapping ID cards, the surveillance state and guard our freedoms, maintaining support for the NHS and overseas aid while working to reduce the national debt and bring down the tax burden on the lowest paid. And above all, returning some honesty and integrity to the political process in Britain.

At least 50 Lib Dem councillors have joined us since David became leader. Added to that are nine former parliamentary candidates, and Saj Karim in the European Parliament; and last week they were joined by Cllr James Keeley, until recently the Liberal Democrat candidate in Skipton and Ripon. These people have decided that the best way of getting this country headed in the right direction is to support us, and I know there will be thousands more joining us this time.

Working together for what is best for society is not just down to the politicians though. Once or twice in a lifetime the national situation is important enough that doing what is best for the country outweighs tribal loyalties; the next election will undoubtedly be such an occasion.

MARCUS WOOD

Parliamentary Candidate for the Torbay Conservatives

My reply is as follows :

Marcus Wood of Torbay Conservatives urges liberal progressives to vote for something 'fresh and exciting' in form of the Conservative party under David Cameron.

Most would consider the description of liberal conservative as an oxymoron in itself, but let's look at the evidence before us. As a supposed agent of change it took David Cameron three years to withdraw from the moderate centre-right EPP group within the European parliament. In doing so he moved his party away the influential governing parties of France and Germany. The Daily Mail (23 June) , a paper not noted for liberal sympathies, declared that the Tories new Euro allies "will include 15 MEPs from Poland's Law and Justice Party, which banned gay marches in Poland for being ‘sexually obscene’. One of its MPs said President Obama's election would mean ‘an impending catastrophe, the end of the civilisation of the white man'. The third largest grouping is nine MEPs from the Czech Republic's ODS, whose founder Vaclav Klaus has declared climate change a ‘global myth’. Their Latvian allies include some members, who see the Latvian Legion – the Latvian units of the Waffen SS – as brave patriots who fought against Stalin's Soviet Union. Not very much that is either liberal or progressive here.

Domestically as Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader said last week, Cameron says he says he wants to fix the broken society, yet he's promised tax breaks to the very rich. Further, the Tory leader claims to wants new politics, yet he won't even own up to whether or not his big donors pay full British taxes. As for political reform and the ending of safe seats via a fair voting system, or moving towards an elected House of Lords, the self-styled 'liberals' within the Conservative party support the status quo.

Progressive liberals can be agents for change, as the Liberal Democrats amply illustrated at their Autumn Conference. Policies agreed include a redistributive taxation policy that would lift four million out of taxation altogether, a genuine commitment to decentralisation and a programme of action to address youth unemployment. Add to this a pupil premium to aid schools in more disadvantaged areas, smaller class sizes and the recent reaffirmation of opposition to the expensive and dangerous development of nuclear energy sources. This is the progressive liberalism of the Liberal Democrats. Marcus, trying to claim this mantle for the Tories, is engaging in fantasy politics.

This paper has regularly carried partisan attacks made by Marcus upon the Lib Dems in general, and Adrian Sanders in particular. Therefore, the call by Marcus for the abandonment of tribal loyalties can only be seen as hypocrisy of the highest order.

Nationally the Tories talk of change, but they can't and won't deliver it ! Witness their present rule of Torbay as evidence of this ! Voters in Torbay that do want a fairer, greener, liberal and more equal country can help move us closer to goal by casting a progressive vote in favour of the Liberal Democrats at the next General Election.

Barrie Wood
Torquay

'Good Conference' or 'Bad Conference' ?

2009-09-24T18:36:00.003+01:00

The media would have the public believe that Autumn Conference went badly for the Lib Dems.

Well that's according to establishment figures like Andrew Neill. Frankly, despite the discomfiture of the leadership, it showed from my position on the TV sofa, that the party is a thinking party, has grown up quality debates and occasionally reminds (as it has done before) us all that Conference has to agree to policy changes (rather than the week long cheerleading that goes on at other party conferences).

In my eves I see a victory for debate and democracy and accountability. Any bruises felt by Clegg and Cable are entirely of their making. Despite what some may think I do not fetishise challenges to the leadership. As a former community worker I am ever mindful of the need to take people with you. A pity Nick Clegg preferred macho posturing in the media last weekend instead.

Instead of the doom laden froth of 'savage cuts' and ill-defined attacks on the public sector seeking core Tory votes, that are never likely to come our way, it's the fantastically progressive and redistributive taxation position that we should be taking out onto the doorstep.

So, it seems to me, that Conference was far from the 'disaster' than the political class would have you believe. I missed being there this year, but 2010 will be different !

The verdict on Nick Clegg - Good ? Bad ? Indifferent ?

2009-09-24T18:26:00.003+01:00

The Autumn Conference speech yesterday by Nick Clegg with vacuous references like the notion of a ‘progressive audacity’ was not one to excite me as a Lib Dem, let alone those outside our ranks. As Darrell Goodliffe says it's as meaningless as the supposed 'Third Way' of Blair and Clinton.

Last Autumn we had the imprecise detail as to how much of the £20bn of alleged ’savings’ would be redirected towards tax cuts and we had Nick’s inability to say what the basic level of the state pension was. This September we’ve had the irresponsible and alienating talk of ’savage’ cuts and trying to bounce the party on tuition fees. His political antennae is questionable, again.

Conference is meant to rally the troops and engage with the wider public. Did it achieve either outcome ? Most of the public are aware that times of austerity are coming, but as Steve Webb said the leadership overdid the gloom and doom. It is us who will pay for the greed of the banking sector and the artificial credit-led boom that turned sour.

The explicitly progressive taxation positioning clearly outflanks the other parties is what should have been shouted from the rooftops. Our commitment to reforming and cleaning up politics should resonate, following the MP’s expenses furore. Likewise, distinctive policies, such as the pupil premium, civil liberties stances, supporting the Ghurkas et al, are all good stories to tell – not an emphasis on getting into a dutch auction to see who can be harder on the public sector.

Critics portray Clegg as Cameron Lite. The faux sincerity of his body language apes Blair. Just because the media establishment tell you someone is good doesn’t automatically make it so. Didn’t the political class marvel at Cameron and Blair previously ?

Frankly, it’ll be a tall order to retain the number of seats we already have at Westminster next year. That a third of the populace have never even heard of Nick Clegg says it all. Further I remember vividly how God awful he was at the Plymouth leadership hustings. Disappointingly I’m no further impressed despite Nick having had time to ‘grow into’ the job of leader.

Sure he’s had his conference successes too. After the shaky start, I think he did crucially manage to get across how different we are from the Tories (and, of course, Labour).
That Labour is so electorally impotent and their haemorrhaging vote is going pretty much everywhere but NOT to the Lib Dems is a real reason for concern. How do those more impressed with Nick explain this current phenomenom ?

Not Joining the Greens after all - Mea Culpa !

2009-08-09T18:45:00.006+01:00

Hi All,

Well the Progressive Politics blog isn't dead after all !

It is fair to say that the Green Party does have some impressive figures elected to public office, most especially the persuasive and media-friendly Caroline Lucas. I rather like Jean Lambert and Peter Tatchell too. However, it is also fair to say that the local Greens and I are as unimpressed with other as could be. I'll leave it at that. I'm not in the business of personalising differences.

In short, the Euro elections are a difficult time always for me to be a Lib Dem. The ALDE group is from my standpoint fairly rightwing and the stance the Lib Dems take on the EU is not one I agree with. There seems to me little that is very open, accountable or democratic about this centralising monolith that takes power ever further away from communities. I very much struggle with the idea of voting LD at Euro elections. The Euro critical stance of the Greens does resonate more with me.

Mostly in politics it is unusual to take stock and to question where you are at politically at any given time. It is true (in the conventionally accepted use of the term) than I am to the 'left' of most Lib Dems. It is also true on a number of lifestyle issues such as restricting alcohol sales by use of minimum sales values that I can find myself in agreement with more libertarian minded friends. I'm not keen on banning or restricting things from consenting and informed adults, with the exception of the sport of hunting. After all who can speak for the sentient beings being hunted to exhaustion and savaged by wild dogs ?! Anyway I digress ! To this end, I got supportive messages to stay in the LD fold from individuals who (on economic issues at least) are at the other end of the Liberal spectrum from me. If only some of the debates online were mirrored in 'real life' local parties the Lib Dems might have a clearer and consistent ideological approach.

In short, the 'time away' has made me realise that philosophically and policy wise there is much I can agree with the Lib Dems on. Locally my perception of the Greens is of a middle class bunch of idealists, who appear **to me** politically naive and whose intervention into Torbay politics is likely to give the Tories a political kiss of life in the bay. The idea that my actions might make the election of the ludicrous Tory PPC (Marcus Wood) any easier and that a first rate Lib Dem MP (Adrian Sanders)would be ousted by such is not a political project I can sign up to. In terms of effectiveness I'm not sure as to what level the potential leaders of the soon to be formed Torbay Green Party actually understand of existing GP policy, as opposed to their desire to 'do something' for the environment.

Speaking of the MfSS, the Green Party policy document,lets just say there are aspects of it that are not very 'left' and certainly not very liberal. Yes I know some of you warned me, but there you go. Mea Culpa ! I got it wrong ! This restless radical is always looking and assessing ideas, sometimes you embrace new ideas and sometimes one makes politically disastrous choices.

Now it is true that I am not a party tribalist. I value politics that seeks greater inclusivity, strives for greater economic, social and environmental justice. I value (in theory and practice) liberal as opposed to authoritarian 'top-down' politics. Of course, these means I have common areas of both agreement and dissent with those from traditional Labour, the Greens, the continuing Liberals and the Lib Dems. The latter, to their credit, have previously been fairly accommodating politically of my political contrariness !

So with the August deadline approaching for payment of subs to the Greens to validate membership I chose not to engage further with that party. Their progress in the bay and wider South Devon will be interesting to watch. Naturally some Greens will say 'what a tosser' (!) and Lib Dems may now be wary of me, so for the time being I remain outside of the party, but open to re-engagement with it. In the interim, I'm getting my tin hat ready to face the political flak :-(

New Blog Address / Final Prog Politics post

2009-06-28T16:10:00.003+01:00

Can those who have followed my Lib Dem oriented blog please note that having left the party I shall now blog at wwww.therestlessradical.com

Lib Dems are welcome to subscribe, as will be radical social liberals, social democrats / democratic socialists and Greens.

Thanks to those who've read my Progressive Politics blog. This will be deleted within the next seven days or so.

Kind Regards,

Barrie Wood
(Torquay)

Goodbye to the Lib Dems and LD Blogs

2009-06-26T13:18:00.005+01:00

Last week I tendered my resignation from the party and, ergo, this means I need to remove myself from LD blogs too. This doesn't necessarily mean being active in a party political sense elsewhere.

During the recent European elections I voted Green. In short their radical environmental and social justice agenda sat better with me than the Liberal alternative. I was, and remain, firmly left-of-centre in my political outlook. I am influenced by a mixture of red / green / liberal thought. What I am not, is an economical liberal.

Upon arriving in Torbay I initially voted LD to 'keep the Tories out' here, but this was helped by having an excellent Lib Dem MP (Adrian Sanders) and a party who have offered a range of policies attractive to someone tribally Labour leaning previously. These have included the Iraq war position, 1p on tax for education, supporting a 50p tax rate to help revitalise public services, support for constitutional reform, awareness of the importance of our environment and a passionate commitment to civil liberties. How prescient the latter has proven to be under an authoritarian NuLab regime. My past professional experience as a community development worker and with it the desire to diffuse power and disseminate knowledge, clearly means that the decentalist philosophy of Liberalism is an attractive creed.

I joined the Lib Dems about four to five years ago. I have been able to fit in mostly with the local party and there are many good people within it's activist / councillor base. I even stood disastrously for the party at the last local elections in 2005.

Lib Dems boast of their democratic conference. Well it's true to a point but don't kid yourselves Lib Dems ! I went as a representative from Torbay to the 2008 Autumn Conference in Bournemouth. Am I supposed to be impressed by the 'sofa chats' instead of debates, the COG discussion without members being given a vote (for example) ? Whilst I don't fetischise rebellion, the 'tax debate' and the wheeling out of the great and the good, especially of the likes of Farron and Hughes to support the leadership view, was reminiscent of NuLab style political fixing.

Many other debates saw the wannabe politicial class at the podium time after time. Councillors and PPC's by the score being 'showcased'. How different is that from the bigger two parties.

It is seems like quite some time since conformist conference actually voted down a leadership supported position. It's a long way from the vigorous debates of Liberal Assembly of yore. As it is, positions adopted in recent times such as the badly presented £20bn cuts in public spending, the removal of the policy on the 50% top tax rate, the putative part-privatisation of the PO, the bizzare position taken initially on Trident, as well as inching towards a more economically liberal tone, have all alienated me. The increasing presence of the (from my point of view) the loony libertarian fringe only heightens my disquiet. Tristan Mills of the Liberty Alone sums up this headbanging tendency, with his 'NHS is oppressive' line. Try that one out on Torbay doorsteps Tristan ! It could a contender for the shortest political suicide note in history.

Worse still. as evidenced from debates / online discussion of church schools and their character illustrated how illiberal some Liberals can be. The unpleasant invective and bile from Laurence Boyle typifying this. I suspect there will be another challenge to the status of church schools again in the coming years.

With regard to public services I don't support moves to a so-called 'choice' agenda. In schools and hospitals what people want is a well resourced public services as close to their locality as possible. In the provision of most everyday goods and services the market works well, but I baulk at the profit motive in delivering much of our public service provision.

Even where the market has demonstrably failed, such as the services provided by rail franchise holders, are the Lib Dems calling for public ownership ? Sadly no. The party of the environment ? Well, better than the big two, but Lib Dem policy pronouncements are marred by inconsistencies and they have a tendency to say one thing at national level and do something else at local level. The Green Party gives the following examples :

"For example, Norman Baker LibDem Transport Spokesman has been saying a LibDem government would stop spending on road building; but his colleagues in Lancashire are still supporting the Lancaster Northern bypass."

"The LibDems have spoken in favour of congestion charging nationally, but against it in Edinburgh, Manchester and York."

"They want a zero carbon economy by 2050 - in principle. But they have opposed windfarm proposals in Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon and Worcestershire."

"The LibDems have opposed the expansion of Heathrow, but have been happy to expand Birmingham, Carlisle, Exeter, Liverpool and Norwich airports. They were wildly enthusiastic about Manchester airport's second runway - except for the LibDems in Stockport, which lies under the flightpath.

Before anyone jumps in, yes I know the Greens in Ireland, in coalition with Fianna Fail, have agreed to things no Green party ever should. I'm sure in some local authorities, such as Leeds in the past, there may be some interestung tales to tell too. So, I'm not going easy on them either !

Locally, and this may not be typical, the LD party seems pragmatic and strangely largely unideological. As well as shoring up the long-established Liberal core vote, there is always a pitch to Labour supporters to 'lend their vote' and to 'keep the Tories' out in the bay. But I know in some northern seats the emphasis, when challenging in Labour held marginals, is somewhat different. Without a firmer ideological anchor the inconsistencies in Lib Dem approaches will continue to bedevil the party.

Of course, the Euro elections have just concluded. The Lib Dem message of Europhilia is strange to understand. LD's call for democratisation at Westminster and decentralising of decision making to localities, yet conversely are hugely enthusiastic about an undemocratic institution that takes power further away from the people impacted by decisions made there. Worse still, in recent years, 'failed' UK politicians like Kinnock, Mandelson and Patten have had huge levels of power and influence, without any kind of electoral mandate. That institution is, of course, the European Union. I;m not a fervent withdrawalist. I'm internationalist minded. I can't, however, share Lib Dem enthusiasm for the illiberal EU. The EU 'critical' stance of the Greens has much greater resonance with me.

More recently, whilst approving of the shift on Trident made by Nick Clegg, is it for reasons of political and financial expediency, or a heartfelt change of opinion ? With a large minority of Green Liberal Democrats members in a survey last year (I think) stating that nuclear power may need to be utilised to meet our energy needs, it seems that to stay in the party might mean further 'trimming' and 'adapting' too many of my own views in order to support the party. When you start to notice these things more and more, then clearly there is a problem. I don't want to 'trim' any further !

Whilst in the Lib Dems I've put on the back burner ideas like actually challenging the limits of economic growth, looking at localising economies, the promotion of mutuals and co-ops, pushing for a strengthening of trade union rights, looking at radical changes to our work / life balance and areas like a universal Citizen's / Basic Income schemes. In a time of increasing unemployment and financial challenges, why am I not hearing more from the Lib Dems about LETS schemes, credit unions, time banks and local currencies ? If I've missed something please do tell me !

To conclude I now feel free to join the wider green left family. At present without being actively aligned to any party I have political freedom. That this is in tandem without any obligation to deliver any more inane Focus leaflets ia a major bonus !! Now also seems right to step aside as the candidate approvals panel will soon vet putative Torbay Council Lib Dem councillors. I was unsuccessful last time. In 2011, in the face of a much reviled local administration aqnd the prospect of probably being one year into a Tory government, the chances of Lib Dem electoral successes will be much higher. It is better to resign now with integrity than to seek personal political advancement under a banner I no longer feel so comfortable with. If only the libertarian fringe would do likewise, but that's another story. I shall follow the Lib Dems progress with interest. Under Clegg I fear you'll just tread water. With Labour having jettisoned progressive politics, there is a huge political space to fill. Modest centrism is not the answer. well not for me at least !

Who do you admire in other parties ?

2009-06-02T20:42:00.005+01:00

Often the tribal nature of party politics means one is blind to the talent that exists in other parties. Therefore I thought it might be interesting to consider who I admire in other parties. This is off the top of my head so I'll probably miss some obvious choices.

Labour :

Tony Benn - a great public speaker and debater. I loved his line upon leaving parliament when he said something akin to I'm leaving Westminster so he could get more involved in politics. A real democrat too.

Alan Simpson - one of the more thoughtful (and Green) figures on the Labour left.

Robin Cook RIP : a democrat, reformer, debater, a wit and committed to social justice. A pity he became too close to more conservative elements within his party like Kinnock and Smith and Blair at times.

The Greens :

Caroline Lucas : always comes across as reasoned and persuasive in the media.

Derek Wall : a slightly eccentric eco-Marxist. He's usually interesting even if you disagree profoundly with him.

I'm not too sure about their views / responses to 'overpopulation' though.

Liberal party :

Cllr Steve Radford : although fantastically over-obsessed with the EU. What on earth he is doing on the illiberal left list that is the (non-elected) NO2EU Euro list is a complete mystery.To have held his seat for so long in Liverpool as a representative of a minor party is some achievement.

The Tories ? : Tribalism has to start somewhere and I still viscerally loathe the Tories, so will proffer no name. I will say though, that in areas beyond Torbay, I have met Tory councillors whose motivations and community commitment is as great as those from any other party. Years ago in the NW, I did have a sneaking regard for Peter Thurnham, who was to later to defect to the Lib Dems ! I like Ken Clarke's bloke-ism, his man of the people 'persona' and go a little easier on him as he's a fellow Nottingham Forest fan !!! See, I tried being nice about a Tory...an impossible task !

UKIP / BNP et al : don't be silly. I'm not a mean-spirited, vengeful, scared-of-change right-winger ! Absolutely no-one at all, ever !

Any thoughts readers ?

Please help a disappointed Labour activist / councillor !

2009-06-02T20:33:00.003+01:00

Recently I swapped emails with a first class Labour councillor, someone of integrity, values and purpose. In it I asked :

Can you tell me of ANY progressive achievement from the Government since the last election ?

The reply below is very revealing :

A few new nurseries have opened, a little more money has gone into schools and hospitals and, er.. that's about it. The PLP has shown no vision whatsoever (except, it seems, when submitting allowance claims...). It's been too often sidetracked into areas like Immigration and "welfare reform" instead of the radical policies which would have transformed many lives for the better. The recall of Mandelson was the day the next election was effectively conceded to Cameron. Things have only gone downhill ever since.

It is true the number of achievements at local council level have been rather better and that my friend is someone I could happily vote for, but is that all Labour have to show for 2005 onwards. Can others, in a non-tribal fashion, suggest ANY other positives. Of course, not being the Tories is one plus but....

Offering advice to fractious Torbay Tories : Letter to H/E 290509

2009-05-30T00:28:00.001+01:00

Your report on the fractiousness within the ruling Tory group on Torbay Council and the alleged Masonic influence at the Town Hall it is deeply worrying. Whilst freemasons within Tory ranks may declare their Masonic allegiance an 'irrelevance', surely that is for bay electors to decide if such influence is malign ? That those critics of Carroll, such as Cllrs Oliver and Carter have been removed from committees they are well qualified to serve on makes one concerned that the needs of the party leadership are being put before the interests of the bay.

There is a solution available to disenfranchised Tories to ensure their voices are heard as committee vacancies are allocated proportionally according to party numbers. They could be take the politically brave and honest step of forming an Independent Conservative Group. I ask those councillors who've already spoken out and those who have yet to go public, is your loyalty to a Carroll-led Tory group or to the electorate and the best interests of Torbay ? Surely either Carroll or they have to go from the council group as the reported level of mistrust, if correct, appears beyond repair.

This is the unedited and likely unpublished version !

I've joined the 'liberal elite' !!

2009-05-26T19:46:00.000+01:00

In today's newspaper (and tomorrow's toilet paper) a correspondent in the 'Herald Express', Julian Head, writes of Mark Hellyer and myself as being part of Torbay's 'liberal elite'. When did I become part of the elite ? Do you get a badge like you would on 'Blue Peter' ? What privileges and responsibilities goes with such a title ? Do you get free tickets to Wembley ? Do you get to claim any expenses / allowances ? And, being a tad proletarian, how do I renounce the title, should I wish to ? Any ideas ?

It's good to know others write even more errant nonesense to our local paper than I do ! Well Done Mr. Head, I salute you !

Tory PPC - a 'fearless' campaigner ? Letter published in the Herald Express 220509

2009-05-26T19:18:00.003+01:00

The following is the edited version of a letter I sent to the local 'Herald Express' newspaper. Predictably they edited bits attacking the arrogance of Mr Steen and vt5he more trenchant criticism of Marcus Wood (Tory PPC - Torbay). It ended up reading :

JOHN KIDDEY tries to suggest in these pages that Marcus Wood (Conservative PPC) has been a fearless campaigner on the issue of MPs' expenses. However this 'fearlessness' only extends to situations where Mr Wood feels he can portray, rightly or wrongly, the Lib Dems as the bad guys.

In the interests of political even-handedness I asked Marcus for his comments on the £87,000 expenditure, at our expense, on Anthony Steen's £1million plus (second) home in Devon. His response, and I quote from his web blog: 'As to Anthony he will face his executive on Friday — it is for them or the voters of his constituency to judge him'.

Clearly in Marcus' world it's open season in the press on Lib Dem MPs locally, but it's not for him to judge Conservative party colleague Mr Steen.

Is this yet another example of political misjudgement, following your earlier fulsome praise for your Tory colleagues Bye and Carroll ? Let's start talking about policies rather than personalities Marcus, for whatever people in the Bay are looking for in their MP it certainly isn't politics by press release that you currently offer.

'Nip and Tuck' Reform or Radical Change ? Letter to the Herald Express 260509

2009-05-26T19:06:00.003+01:00

Letter (unedited) to the Torbay 'Herald Express' sent 260509 :

Much recent debate on parliamentary reform has, understandably, focused on MP's expenses. However the real debate is much wider than this.

Do you want a voting system that accurately reflects the voting strength of political parties and individual politicians ? STV, a proportional system, offers a fairer voting system that would more accurately reflect the will of electors at local ()elections, including quite probably Labour, UKIP and Independent representation in the bay at council level, which is largely denied by the current electoral system. Nationally, do you want a representative parliament, one where every vote cast counts ? Or do you want a party having absolute power at Westminster with in all probability less than a 40% share of the popular vote ? If you want 'fair votes' you'll need to vote Lib Dem.

Do you think that an upper house with law framing capabilities but elected by, and therefore unaccountable to, no-one is right ? Real reform is offered by the Lib Dems who seek elections to a reformed House of Lords. Likewise do you think donations from individuals or corporate bodies should turn marginal seats into a contest of cash reserves rather than political ideas ? If so, then vote for the Tories or Labour. and the vested interests that financially back them. The Tories, infamously, have received huge sums from Lord Ashcroft and others in an attempt to 'buy' marginal seats like Torbay. Nick Clegg of the Lib Dems seeks to limit individual donations to political parties to restrict such practices.

Whilst I welcome David Cameron's backing for fixed term parliaments, his remarks that the use of the royal prerogative which allows the prime minister, in the name of the monarch, to make major decisions without the backing of Parliament, would be limited and supporting greater auditing of expense claims, the response is, as Nick Clegg leader of the Liberal Democrats says, one of 'nip and tuck' reform. If you really want to refashion politics at Westminster, and more locally, then only the Lib Dems offer such with conviction. Are you ready to vote for real change or do you seek 'business as usual' from our politicians ?

South Devon Tory MP milking the system - Herald Express letter 200509

2009-05-20T21:51:00.004+01:00

Below is a letter referring to the £87,000 expenses claim by Totnes (Tory) MP Anthony Steen. This is the unedited (and as yet unpublished) version !

John Kiddey tries to suggest in these pages that Marcus Wood ( Conservative PPC) has been a fearless campaigner on the issue of MP's expenses. However this 'fearlessness' only extends to situations where Mr Wood feels he can portray, rightly or wrongly, the Lib Dems as the bad guys.

In the interests of political even-handedness I asked Marcus for his comments on the £87,000 expenditure, at our expense, on Anthony Steen MP's £1million plus (second) home in Devon. His response, and I quote from his web blog ; "As to Anthony he will face his executive on Friday - it is for them or the voters of his constituency to judge him." Clearly in Marcus world it's open season in the press on Lib Dem MP's locally, but it's not for him to judge Conservative party colleague Mr. Steen. Hypocrisy and evasion of the kind that gives politicians and politics bad name.

What mealy mouthed nonsense ! Mr Steen milked the system and you say nothing ! Is this yet another example of political misjudgment, following your earlier fulsome praise for your Tory colleagues Bye and Carroll ? Lets start talking about policies rather than personalities Marcus, for whatever people in the bay are looking for in their MP it certainly isn't politics by press release that you currently offer !

Who to vote for in the Euros ?

2009-05-19T11:45:00.005+01:00

As one of that rare breed, a largely eurosceptic (but not little englander) left-leaning liberal who can I vote for in the 2009 EU elections ? I have never understood Lib Dem enthusiasm for the EU. It is a centralising, unaccountable, undemocratic institution which few people in the UK pledge any allegiance too. That unelected figures - previously discarded by the UK electorate - like Patten, Kinnock and Mandelson had more say than elected parliamentarians hardly endears the EU to me. The case for massive reform is unanswerable and you don't need to be a swivel-eyed right-winger to believe this.

It seems the EU of today is far removed from best liberal principles and practice. To vote for the most slavishly pro-EU party, the Lib Dems, is quite a challenge. Without question the rancid racism (and residue fascism) of the BNP is a no-no.The xenophobia and right wing nature of UKIP rules them out, as should their performance in Brussels. And, if we want to talk about dodgy expense claims and disreputable behaviour, their MEP's take some beating. The Tories ? They seem set to align themselves to the wilder fringes of the EU. They are swapping influence for ideological purity, which is never a good move by a mainstream party. There is the added factor of the Tories I see 'in action' or should that be 'inaction' locally. Of course I am many things, but never a Tory.

On the left there's the No2EU - Yes to Democracy group, with a ragbag slate including trade union bureaucrats, stalinists from the Communist Party of Britain, the 'tanned trot' Tommy Sheridan and the Liberal party's EU-obsessive Steve Radford. As one might expect, no-one got to vote on who the candidates should be. 'Leftism' of the worst kind.

Labour ? What position do they take on the EU ? The Greens ? Well more to the point which Greens ? At the last Euros, the UK Greens were pretty Eurosceptic, but the wider continental Green group was much more EU-friendly.

In short, who can a progressive, liberal, left-leaning voter positively vote for this June ?

Who Cares About the Speaker ?

2009-05-19T11:38:00.002+01:00

Lots of writers cramp is not doubt impacting upon LD (and Tory) bloggers over the future of Michael Martin as speaker of the House of Commons. Whilst he has hardly covered himself in glory, it is not him that is exercising people's minds, it is the grubby expenses claims of MP's.

As ever this reflects, in my view, how out of touch with 'real people' most people politically active are. Frankly, I'm sure more local minds were on Torquay United's visit to Wembley than the chattering classes obsession with The Speaker of the House of Commons. Get real people, get real !

This Lib Dem says goodbye to Conference

2009-05-18T21:31:00.004+01:00

Yes it's goodbye to the Conference for this Lib Dem. As of yesterday, our yellow shirted heroes said goodbye to Conference football. A great day out at Wembley and the Gulls made Torbay and South Devon proud with the promotion play-off victory over Cambridge United. Having beaten Champions Burton Albion home and away, having not lost to any of the play-off contenders all season, Torquay United deserve the acclaim they are getting today. Thanks too must go to the local consortium that took over the club at it's darkest hour. They have, with manager Paul Buckle, turned the mess they inherited into a vibrant club who have done us all proud. Today I am bursting with pride at the Gulls achievements. Pride of place goes to our inspirational 37 year old captain, whose commitment and dedication is what this team is now all about. Mr Chris Hargreaves you deserve another 12 months contract (should you want to carry on playing). In just two years you've become a true Torquay legend.

Finally, best of luck next year to Cambridge and their army of fans. You deserve better. Here's to future contests with you in the Football League very soon.

The Return of 'Tito' and Letter to H/E 080509

2009-05-08T16:39:00.005+01:00

Rejoice fellow citizens of the bay, as Kevin 'Tito' Carroll the self-styled 'street fighter' of the Tory group returns to lead that group. Luckier still are we that he retains his 30K a year post as Deputy Mayor too.

With all the hoped for sell-off of council assets desired by the Tories we are most fortunate to have a former estate agent as an elected executive Tory Mayor, now ably assisted by a builder / freemason as his Deputy !

Less than a year ago when 'Tito' was on holiday (former Yugoslavia perhaps) the Tory group unceremoniously dumped him, leading to the 'hard man' of the Torbay Tories to declare 'that while the cat is away the mice will play'. Still, this unforseen setback was softened by the patronage of the Mayor (Nick Bye). Nick plays the role of 'Widow Twankey' alongside the er, 'ebullient' Tito. So we had for some months the curious anomaly of the guy the Tories sacked remaining as the (unelected) Conservative Deputy Mayor.'Tito' clearly was good enough for the Tory Mayor, but not for the Tory councillors !

Upon his return Kevin promised to be cuddlier and softer. It made the Tory 'hard man' sound like an ad for Lenor, but hey if absurd spinning is good enough for Cameron nationally, then why can 'our Kev' get in on the act ? Within a couple of weeks of his elevation 'Tito' is back in the news. His return soon became mired in controversy as Kevin never one used to listening to, let alone taking on board and agreeing with others, was lambasting the well respected head of the local Civic Society.

Whatever Tory opinion may be on the issues, and that is usually of a different view to that of local residents, 'Tito; and 'Window Twankey' can call on Marcus 'Mystic Meg' Wood (Tory PPC) for support. Often this support is hidden away on his little read blog but in the following letter to the local rag - and I do mean rag - I was happy to seek a wider audience for his views. The contents are below :

Like earlier correspondents I am disheartened but not surprised by the vituperative attack on the well respected Ian Hanford of the Civic Society by Cllr Carroll, the reinstalled leader of the Tory group on the council. Clearly the machismo and contemptuous manner displayed by Kevin Carroll has not been leavened by his earlier sacking by his party colleagues on Torbay Council.

Whilst others bemoan in these pages the paucity of talent within Tory ranks that result in the return of Cllr Carroll in leading the Tories, it is notable that on his online blog Marcus Wood (Conservative PPC) describes Kevin as 'someone who clearly has the leadership qualities they need' and that Cllr Carroll 'is well suited to the job, and he knows I wish him well'. To my utter disbelief Marcus in a characteristic rhetorical flourish goes on to describe our Conservative mayor, Nick Bye, as "a massive political asset because people see him as everything the Labour Government isn't - unspun, open and honest, prudent (lowest tax rise ever), hard-working, prepared to make tough decisions yet concerned for all not just the few". I haven't laughed out so loud in such a long time as my incredulity gave way to laughter !

Two further points arise , the pretence of the Tory group being in any way independent of the mayor looks more absurd than ever, with the Deputy Mayor leading them again. Further, what does this say about Marcus Wood's judgement ? Is Marcus on the same planet as me, let alone the same borough ? Are these individuals evidence of the new allegedly compassionate Conservative party. It seems that once again Marcus Wood is out of touch with opinion in the bay. A vote for the Tories at any level remains a disaster for Torbay.

For background reading let me refer you to : http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Tito-8212-s-ditched-new-cuddly-image/article-956762-detail/article.html

Marcus has his own blog, which virtually no-one reads, [but which I indulge in for a 'bit of sport] on which he rarely tells us anything about policy but frequently extrapolates every favourable opinion poll and if replicated in Torbay what good news it would be for him...sorry I'm sure he meant us ! After all, he moved here from Windsor to become our MP, so he deserves it. Why aren't locals more grateful ?! As Marcus frequently overlooks, who'd want to replace a popular local MP, respected well beyond Lib Dem circles, with a strong constituency team and presence with the the carpet-bagging Tory candidate ? Still good to have Kev 'n' Nick onside, if no-one else.

'Luckily' for Macus, the aforementioned Nick Bye is famous for 'pie in the sky' schemes as he longs to 'regenerate' the bay as outside consultants suggest. Sadly for him, he's had more 'visions', indeed his ever changing prospectus is loftily called the 'Mayoral Vision'. Sadly he's had more visions than pilrims to Knock, Fatima and Medjugore combined. Likewise, the authenticity of these 'visions' are frequently challenged. Still let him persist with the 'we're right and 130,00 bay residents are wrong' political strategy. We'll eventually see the error of our ways. The Lib Dems ? They're always wanting to stand in the way of 'progress'. Can't they see the potential for building on every bit of green space in Torbay as we seek to become 'a city by the sea'. Thank goodness the 'bluff Northerner' is back as the council 'enforcer'. Lets get that concrete mixer flowing ! As Tito previously remarked why not start with Paignton harbour ? Lets have an identikit Marina in place of the supposedly useless, but pretty, historic harbour. Hail to 'Tito' and welcome back again (until such time as you alienate your own group once more). I look forward to the new council motto being 'come and have a go if you think your hard enough'. I have one request, can you hold out until after the General Election ? I'd hate Marcus Wood to lose one of his principal local assets !

Let's wish the local Tories well - someone has to !

Torbay Tory PPC in a Pickle ? Herald Express Letter 270309

2009-03-27T14:05:00.004Z

A letter to the Torbay local paper follows. Ironically this is after recent exchanges within it's letters pages between Marcus and Labour about integrity and funding issues in politics ! This is, of course, the unedited and as yet unpublished version.

Marcus Wood, from the Torbay Tories, has frequently been on these pages seeking to uphold integrity and honesty as a virtue in politics, whilst excoriating others to do likewise. So what does he make of Eric Pickles' statement that he needs a second home near Westminster, paid for by taxpayers, despite his Essex constituency being arguably less than 30 miles from London. Eric, lambasted by a BBC Question Time audience, protested that he had broken no rules, following the moral outrage from those present. This comes hot on the heels of Caroline Spelman,the Conservative front-bench shadow minister having to repay £10,000 in expenses after breaking parliamentary rules by using taxpayer-funded expenses to pay her nanny.

Further, the largely Belize based tax exile Lord Ashcroft, through Bearwood Corporate Services, donated in 2006 £5,000 to Marcus Wood’s campaigning funds in Torbay and The Guardian (November 28 2006) reports that Lord Ashcroft has already promised to ensure that the Tories spend more in marginal seats well ahead of the next election. This, of course, will seek to circumvent spending restrictions immediately before an election. How much more Ashcroft money has been pumped in Torbay Tories' coffers since ? Illegal ? No ! But morally defensible and anyone's idea of clean politics ? Surely not. Stop pontificating Marcus and address the failings of your own Conservative party before slating others.

Labour too, through obstruction of the Freedom of Information Act, sought for MP's expenses to be exempted from it's provisions. This was rightly described as 'outrageous' by Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, with that party's MPs bound by a three line whip to vote against the measure at Westminster.

Unlike the large trade union donations received by Labour or big business interests backing Labour, there are no huge vested interests financially backing or influencing the Lib Dems. As Nick Clegg said "At a time when families are having to count every penny, it is outrageous that MPs are seeking to hide how they spend their money". The choice at the next election in Torbay will be one between a party and candidate of transparency and one whose rhetoric is not matched by actions. The choice is yours !

A lone Liberal voice critical of the EU ?

2009-03-25T20:34:00.007Z

This year sees the EU parliamentary elections and I'm not intending to be active at this time.

Now, I am not some swivel-eyed anti-European little Englander with nasty nationalist tendencies like many in the Tory party, UKIP or the BNP. I accept a good number of EU directives have had a positive impact upon this country, but as an institution it's centralising and undemocratic nature seems contrary to liberal values. That failed and unelected British politicians like Kinnock, Mandelson and Patten have had more say in the direction of the EU than elected parliamentarians seems an absurdity to me. That power is removed further away from the people it alleges to represent and decisions taken are often at odds with the political compass of individual member states jars with me greatly. Ever more qualified majority voting will only exacerbate matters.

Previous referenda where the political establishment has been defeated (such as in Ireland) only leads to further polls to 'correct' such outcomes. Yuk ! In short, to me, liberalism and the EU seem strange bedfellows.

Apart from Nick Harvey (I think) are there any other well known figures who are agnostic or sceptical as to the direction of the EU within the Lib Dems ? Anyone else on Libdemblogs feel this way too, or am I in a minority of one (again) !

Free Schools - repackaged / dumped / in the long grass ?

2009-03-10T17:38:00.003Z

Ok, I admit it, I've taken my eye of the ball. The earlier days at least of Nick Clegg's leadership were characterised by attention seeking media pronouncements. One of these was much loose talk about 'free schools'. Last September at Conference I went to a NUT fringe to find David Laws in a slim minority in his defence of Academy Schools and seemingly selection.

Now I see David Laws as being just about the last Lib Dem I'd like to be trapped in a room with, so having him as Education (or is that 'just' Schools) spokesperson made / makes me feel uneasy. Do I need to feel nauseous ? What happened to the 'free school' idea ? Has it been re-packaged, dumped or sat in a policy siding somewhere ?

I need to know !!

Clegg ? I still largely pretty unimpressed and hardly enthused, although the content of the Spring Conference leader's speech appears better than I've seen him deliver previously. It doesn't help him in the compare and contrast stakes that Dr Cable is listened to with a genuine respect, inside and outside the party, that Nick can only dream about.

Illiberal Liberals and Faith Schools

2009-03-10T17:15:00.002Z

Much has already been said on this subject so my posting will be short.

How can many in a supposedly decentralist party wish to impose from the centre a list of diktats on faith schools ? Those of a secularlist bent have plenty of schools that reflect that ethos, so why seek to deny choice to those of us who support the Christian values (but not scriptural indoctrination) of the best faith schools ?

If one is so concerned about equality of opportunity for all our children, might one focus attention on the absurd advantages the independent schools enjoy, not least including charitable status and attendant tax breaks.

Being pragmatic, something I'm often not, getting in a tangle over faith schools only risks alienating huge swathes of people which doesn't make electoral sense.

For my part, diversity within the comprehensive system remains the least worst option. Access to 'good' schools for those in our poorest areas remains the achillies heel in our quest for a more equitable schools system. Certainly here in Torbay, St. Cuthbert Mayne, unlike alternative non-denominational schools, does not select according to aptitude. Students come from a variety of backgrounds and a variety of learning needs, but are bound together by the Christian ethos of that school.

Irrespective of your opinion of faith schools, in general the mention of religious belief is a subject that often 'smokes out' the intolerance of illiberal Liberals. A recent LDV contributor Laurence Boyce's interpretation of Islam being a prime example. And no, I may be a Christian, but I am not a fundamentalist, I'm not homophobic, don't moralise about sex and hopefully don't fit the negative stereotypes such a label engenders in some minds. Here's an idea, lets be little more liberal.... on this and other issues.

Borrowing a line from 'Socialist Worker'

2009-03-10T16:58:00.006Z

Years ago the SWP paper 'Socialist Worker' on it's masthead used to say something to the effect that they supported neither Washington nor Moscow but were for international socialism. To paraphrase them, we should promote the politics of liberalism and not be fixated by potential deal-making at Westminster with either Tory or Labour.

We shouldn't (as things currently stand) do a deal with either larger party following an inconclusive GE result. Labour may offer the politics of the inept, but in terms of ethos and any shared ideals they are closer to me (and us I hope) than the politics of greed, self-interest and vacuity that typifies the Tories.

I would leave the Lib Dems if they entered into a national coalition with the Tories. I've spent all my life opposing the Tories and that's not going to change. As I argued a couple of years ago, Labour are our competition for the progressive centre-left vote, the Tories are the political 'enemy'.

And, in Torbay, success is dependent on squeezing the Labour vote and appealing to former Labour voters originally from the big cities and now resident here. A Tory Lite LD party in government would be disastrous for local campaigns here in Torbay. Extracting liberal policies from the largest party would be the way to go (on a policy-by-policy basis) in my view.

Promoting a more liberal Britain is where we need to be. Fatuous discussion over who is the more ghastly, Labour or Tory doesn't achieve this. I've always hated the Tories, but what's to love about Labour these days either ?

Illiberal 'Liberator' ?

2009-02-22T10:16:00.005Z

The commentary piece is the latest issue of ' Liberator' magazine pulls no punches ! It suggests that those around the Liberal Vision project and those who share the classical liberal outlook should basically put up or shut up and, when they've lost the argument, they should clear off ! Not the most liberal stance one might take !

I am strongly opposed to LV and, from what I can understand from the myriad explanations of it, libertarianism. I am very reluctant to push out those I disagree with. Certainly I was shocked by the tone of the 'Liberator' article. Of course, I want social liberalism to predominate as a guiding philosophy for the Lib Dems over classical liberalism or libertarianism, but is arrogant to believe that I can't ever engage with and be influenced by those holding such views.

That said, I DO feel the likes of Gavin Webb and others have far more in common with the Libertarian Party UK, but this tiny forum offers no prospect of office or influence. I DO feel it is disingenuous to belong to a party when another seems to be philosophically more in tune with one's beliefs, but that is for others to decide. Forcing people out is definitely not the answer.

All things considered a shoddy opinion piece from 'Liberator' !

Clegg - a Social Democrat ?

2009-02-22T09:41:00.004Z

Nick Clegg it is suggested on Jock Coates' blog is guilty of slandering libertarians. Certainly his response to a question about the differences between liberalism and libertarianism is less than enlightening. However, Andrew Withers of the LPUK loftily dismisses Nick as a social democrat. As if !

This seems the preferred insult of libertarian minded Lib Dems. In Tristan Mills' eyes I'm a social democrat. Charlotte Gore has implied that I feel that the Lib Dems aren't 'socialist' enough. Let's be clear, whilst the dominant philosophy that guides the Lib Dems is liberalism, the party was formed through amalgamation with a social democratic party, the SDP. It is not a 'pure' Liberal party. It certainly isn't a classical liberal, let alone libertarian, party. Why not accept this ? Is it not politically more honest to form or join a party that fits the latter philosophical bases, if that's what you believe ? Why be in a party whose modern day outlook and direction is not one you share ? Why bang your head continually against a political brick wall ? sometimes I have a sore head politically, but the other political brands would leave me with headaches too, so I carry on within the Lib Dem fold for now, at least.

It comes as a surprise to me that I allegedly have so much in common with Clegg, whom I not the greatest fan of by any means. How is Clegg not a liberal ?

Finally, surely the reason 'thickies' like me fail to understand libertarianism in any accessible way is because it seems to meen widely differing things to differing people within the libertarian family. Anyone care to explain in a digestable form what they feel libertarianisn is - and isn't. Seriously I am prepared to engage with this !

Liberals and Linux, Microsoft and Monopolies

2009-01-28T21:08:00.003Z

I was under the impression that Liberals were generally supportive of open and competitive markets as an aid to innovation and driving up standards and meeting consumer needs.

Yet, the majority of you no doubt write in support of such, despite (sometimes unwittingly) having paid your levy to Bill Gates in adopting a computer operating system brought to you by a company that hates competition. Microsoft often uses it's domination of the home PC market and it's financial position to either 'extend and embrace' innovative and popular rivals by buying them up, or forcing competitors out by incorporating elements into their operating system for 'free'. Where are WinAmp or Netscape Navigator now ? The bloatware that is Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer dominate the Windows platform in their place. MSN Hotmail ? That too was once an independent webmail operation, before being 'embraced' by Microsoft and being re-branded MSN Hotmail. Microsoft's anti-competitive zeal has few equals.

With it's armies of developers it took what, about 7 years, for Microsoft to introduce Windows Vista to replace XP. The result even more bloatware. Half truths about what was / is a Vista capable PC, lots of flakey drivers at the outset and the same security issues that bedevil all versions of Windows. Would you buy any other product that had so many failings upon purchase ?

Now I should add that I'm no geek. I'm not a great lover of command lines, want my OS to generally work 'out of the box' and installation and updates to be as pain free as possible. I have to say my last PC had Vista pre-installed. It was something I didn't really want or need but it's cost was factored into the PC purchase price - like it or not. It is actually quite hard to buy a PC without MS Windows installed on it.

Having tried on differing machines Ubuntu Linux, Linux Mint, Linpus Linux, Madriva Linux and Fedora Core nearly all, but especially the Ubuntu and it's sister spin-offs, have installed easily, worked well straight out of the box (sometimes initially without proprietary multimedia codecs which can usually be easily added). Adding and updating software, the quality of free (as in cost and in ability to change and adapt) open-source software, the frequent closing of any security loopholes by regular updates, put the Microsoft family of products to shame.

Windows really is the triumph of a private monopoly acting against the needs of the majority of IT users. So why are so many fellow Liberals using Windows and Office from the Microsoft stable? Why are you afraid of open-source alternatives. Why are LD councillors getting their local authorities to sign up to deals with Microsoft ? Why are councils employing an array of IT support professionals ? With re-training and re-thinking of attitudes Linux and other UNIX based alternatives offer a cost-effective solution, without the need of so many professionals to patch-up Microsoft's dismal efforts.

In contrast, with Linux one can refashion a 'distribution' to meet individual needs, be that the look and feel of the OS, or extend functionality in a way that suits you, should you have the time and coding skills. An operating system that, in the case of the leading 'distributions' or varients (like Ubuntu, OpenSUSE Linux, Fedora Core or Linux Mint) upgrades come roughly every six months (not 6 years like some). Programmers frequently fix glitches or issues with speed, rather than the year long wait for a Microsoft 'service pack' to emerge before a new Microsoft OS can begin to offer any kind of stability and online security.

Now, I am not a Linux evangelist per-se. I don't mind paying for quality hardware and software, I love the marriage of design, functionality and ease-of-use that many Apple products have. Mac OS X with it's UNIX underpinnings, stylish user interface, offers all this and a secure online platform You can even put Windows on a Mac system too if you've got essential applications or games only released on that platform that you rally can't do without. However, when my new Mac arrives in the next week or two, I'll still find space on my hard drive to install a version of Linux to sit alongside Mac OS X. I'll use lots of open-source applications. Why go either down the illegal route (via a pirated copy of MS Office) or the expensive route by a high street MS Office purchase, when Open Office will do the same thing, more or less, for free and is cross platform, which is a boon to those whose productive tasks are done across Linux, Mac and MS Windows environments. Need a lightweight but useful word processor ? Use Abiword instead. Need a responsive Media Player ? Try VideoLAN VLC player, it'll play just about every audio-visual format you can chuck at it ! Photoshop too expensive ? Try the GIMP ! Prefer more secure browsing ? Try the infinitely more adaptable Firefox. The list goes on !

Even if you can't let go of the Redmond beast that is Microsoft Windows, seek out the many great open-source applications available often on Linux and Mac, as well as Windows. There really is no need to accept spyware, trojans and virus infection as a 'norm'. You really don't need to download 'hookey' versions of MS Office from dodgy websites offering illegal serials or cracks for commercial products. Be legal and be free in every sense of the word. Liberals should be liberal in their approach to software. Try some of the options suggested, invest some time with those applications mentioned and ideologically you'll be doing the right thing and your bank balance (and maybe moral conscience too) will be in better shape !

Finally, for Lynne Featherstone MP, as IT advisor-in-chief to Nick Clegg, please make sure that the party's own IT structure / communications are multi-platform in orientation.

Semi-rant mode now off.

Anyone want to defend the unlovely crew from Seattle way ?

On the Left - What a surprise ! - But nowhere to go ?

2009-01-23T12:30:00.005Z

The Political Survey 2005 : www.politicalsurvey2005.com/ reveals to no great surprise that I'm politically left-wing. With regard to political compatibility it suggests that of all the largest political parties it is with the Greens whom I have the greatest similarity of views, with twice as many respondents sharing similar views,than do Labour and Lib Dem inclined voters. It would have been interesting to compare my typical views with those held by the continuing Liberal party, but they are not included in the comparison chart.

Happily there are no BNP or UKIP supporters with whom I share commonalities with, despite being more Eurosceptic minded than most other Lib Dem members. In terns of the wider populace the survey says :

* 8.6% are significantly to your left
* 45.8% have views about the same as yours
* 45.6% are significantly to your right

That seems about right ! I'm glad that it recognises that I am internationalist in outlook, prefer rehabilitation to retribution in respect of the criminal justice system. And, in economic terns, it describes me as 'slightly socialist' and anti-war. In reality, I very much support a redistributive economic model.

So where does someone who is broadly on the left, is internationalist in outlook, redistributive in economic terms, a Euro agnostic, favours decentralisation, has small l liberal values go ? Traditionally and tribally I was Labour. Blair, the Iraq War and a shift to the right put paid to that. Lib Dems outwardly appear quite attractive, but their taxation policies and their potential impact on public services concern me. The floated proposals on 'free schools' could result in more selective and socially divisive system and some at the top of that party want to reposition the party on issues like scrapping tuition fees. In short my perception is of a party moving rightwards under the leadership of an ineffectual leader. The Greens ? Disorganised, often illiberal and their policy programme seems in part disjointed and unrealistic.

There are people in each of these parties I admire, ethos and policies that I can subscribe to (and disagree with). But none really enthuse me.

As someone who has always been politically engaged I feel 'switched off'. Watch most political programmes on TV, listen to radio broadcasts, read eports in the written media and little reflects my concerns or those who live in areas like mine. On a political blog I find myself more enthused about writing of the Derby - Forest match this evening. How has it come to this ?

At least America was offered clear and distinctive choices. No-one could doubt the differences between McCain and the Republican party and the alternative of Obama. Obama in European terms is hardly a radical, but the choices on offer meant voting could make a difference. Nationally whilst I'd hate to see the return of of the Tories and, locally I see how they still serve the few rather than the many, I just don't feel motivated politically at all. Am I alone in feeling this way ?

Can anyone give me good reasons to leave my armchair and be politically active again. Nasty conservatism in one borough (Torbay) can only motivate one so much !

A Kinder Gentler Derby ?

2009-01-23T11:10:00.007Z

Nigel Clough one of my all-time Nottingham Forest favourites with 300+ appearances in the Garibaldi shirt leads out the Rams for the FA Cup contest between Derby and the Tricky Trees. Hopefully Nigel will be given a respectful and generous reception from the Reds faithful.

Some Forest fans were not happy that new Forest manager, Billy Davies, had himself a largely successful tenure as Derby County manager. Frankly, it's his track record that is key and having got Derby promoted to the Premier League and previously taken Preston North End into the play-offs, his experience at Championship level makes him ideal, in my view, for rescuing the Reds from their lowly league position. Happily recent good form has seen the Reds move above our 'friends' from the other end of the A52 ;-)

The first meeting of the season in the league was full of controversy. On the balance of play Forest deserved their draw, but two very late and very poor refereeing decisions stopped the Sheep loving ones from gloating for months ! To see their angst at the time was sooooo amusing !!! I'm still laughing !!

So to tonight. What can you expect ? A kinder and more restrained Derby clash ? Forget it ! It'll probably be played at a brisk pace with lots of barely legal tackles flying in. There'll probably be little in the way of pretty football. It'll be all about not losing ! Local pride matters more than the actual prize of an FA Cup 5th Round place.

Being the curmudgeonly pessimist that I am, I fear a narrow Sheep victory, with home advantage being decisive. Whatever one might say about the Rams, I have to say the loyalty of their support, despite going a full year without winning a league match, continues to impress. A whole YEAR, what joy !

I remember years ago the Derby match day programme talking about the fierce but 'friendly' rivalry between the two clubs. The vicious fighting between rival fans throughout that evening and the fact that something like a third of the Derbyshire constabulary were said to be deployed at that particular match, makes talk of friendly rivalry look hideously inaccurate.

Unfortunately I can't get to Shame Park for the game tonight so it'll be a night of anxious tension and much swearing at the TV. Here's to a quiet night for the Police, but to a handsome Forest win and much gloating at our 'friends' from the Sheep Dip !

Is it just me or is seeing your main rivals losing almost a pleasurable as seeing your own team win ?!

Forget rationality, its Derby v. Forest, so C'mon you Reds !!! Please don't let me down !!

Torbay Mayor on 60K slams councillors on £8K a year

2008-11-07T21:26:00.005Z

Yes, only in Torbay could the much derided Conservative Executive mayor Nick Bye, he of the rhetorical flourishes and 60K per annum 'allowance', publicly question whether councillors on £8,000 a year are justifying this figure. Let's not forget this is a man whose holiday allowance and time away from the Town Hall is far greater than anyone else I know in any regular workplace. How many holidays and cruises does this man have each year ?

Add to this the sacked former Tory group leader Kevin Carroll (but still Deputy Mayor) is on £30K a year and it needs to be questioned whether this 'leadership' pair are 'good value' to the Torbay taxpayer ! Talk about pot, kettles and black !

Failure to attend a meeting was what had Nick Bye shooting from the hip once again. But, Mr Bye, as you principally make all the decisions, there is little point in prioritising Town Hall meetings over constituent casework. Under the system you and your Tory colleagues promoted, one is left with impotent backbenchers, so quelle suprise that engagement of councillors (from all parties) under an elected executive mayor system of local government isn't great.

Below is the unedited letter to the local 'Herald Express on this subject :

I am appalled at the sideswipe at Councillor colleagues by Mayor Nick Bye. It is ironic that he questions the payment of £8,000 per year to backbench councillors when I believe few would contend that the £90,000 per annum paid to the mayor and his deputy represents 'good value' for taxpayers.

Allow me to put things in perspective. Prior to the last local election I surveyed over 30 councils, mostly unitary authorities, only to find that allowance paid in Torbay is broadly the average paid nationwide. The idea of a gravy train authority therefore doesn't stack up, bar the leadership's allowance, of course.

Further, as a candidate in the May 2007 elections, I can clearly say that had I been elected I would have been hit financially, due to loss of earnings and the likelihood of limited future advancement within the company I work for. Moreover, balancing full time work, family life and council commitments would have been very difficult, but I stood for council as I love the bay and sought a better way forward than the one the mayor and his fellow Conservatives were and are offering. Add to this the way coucillors are continually vilified in the media it is a wonder that anyone stands at all !

Having been a councillor on a hung council 'up country' years ago and having lived all over England and in areas that have been run by all 3 main parties, most councillors of all parties become such as they seek to represent their areas to their best abilities. Since those elections I have continued to work with the hard working Councillor Cindy Stocks in Ellacombe and remain active in the ward. Money is definitely not the motivating factor. I do so in my spare time.

Two of the councillors referred to by Mayor Bye, Jenny Faulkner and Robert Excell (one Lib Dem and one Conservative) both work hard for Tormohun. Indeed, under the present local government structure in Torbay, they are right to put casework before Town Hall meetings, as the ability of councillors to influence the all-powerful Conservative mayor's agenda or 'vision' is minimal.

Frankly, I am fed up with the pontificating of this egregious Mayor. He might like the council to continue to be unrepresentative of the bay, reflecting the aspirations of the few rather than the many, but a more diverse council is needed. That the council is in danger of being the preserve of the monied or retired classes is entirely unhealthy in my view. Yet again it is Bye whose judgment is wrong and his criticism misplaced.

Slurring the reputations of Torbay councillors is unwarranted. It is you Mayor Bye that brings Torbay Council into disrepute. However, take heart, the good people of Stoke on Trent after a referendum have thrown out the Mayoral model of local governance. My guess is that given a further referendum here the result would be the same as that in Stoke. Our day will come too to be rid of this undemocratic structure and maybe then it would be worth councillors attending most meetings again !

Yours Sincerely,

Barrie Wood
Torquay.

Do Liberals annoy you ?

2008-11-05T21:16:00.003Z

This gem can be found on LabourHome. The original text is this :

Do liberals annoy you?

jkitleft Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 12:22:27 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook
I am young, so I don't know many in my age group who would describe themselves as 'socialists', or 'social democrats'. Most describe themselves as liberals.

What does that mean exactly? They're 'liberal', because they are pro gay-rights, pro-choice, and anti death penalty.

They annoy the hell out of me.

Don't get me wrong, I think gay rights, a woman's right to choose, and the abolishment of the death penalty are incredibly important, and I support all three causes. But to me, social housing, minimum wage, parental leave, redistribution, the fight to end child poverty etc. are more important issues.

I resent being told that the Labour party is more right-wing than the Tories, by 'liberals' who publically admit to being snobs.

These liberals would easily vote fo Cameron: ooh look, he has had a picture taken with a polar bear. There he is with one, wait, TWO(!), gay shadow cabinet ministers. He must be such a progressive then...

You can call yourself left-wing if you come help Labour defend redistribution and equality. You can call yourself left-wing if you come join Labour in defending universal healthcare. You can't call yourself left-wing if you're only claim to liberalism is being 'green', while fanning yourself with industrial sized air conditioning in Whole Foods Market, but not giving a damn about the day to day issues that effect the working and lower middle classes of this country.

Ok, rant over.

Even more interesting are the comments to this. These can be found out :

http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/10/11/72227/583

Two quick points :

1) Few have any notion of any of the differing strands of Liberalism or understanding thereof

2) Remarkably many see their party as being on for 'liberals' !

Public Services and 'the parasitic classes' - A classic quote !

2008-10-22T10:52:00.002+01:00

Here is Tristan Mills' view of public services :

So called public services don't serve individuals, they serve the parasitic classes who live off the sweat of others.

Huh ? Do we inhabit the same planet as well as the same party Tristan ?!

Liberal Vision (Again) - Pressure Group ? Faction ? Entryists ?

2008-10-22T09:31:00.004+01:00

Let's be clear, I have an inherent dislike of closing down debate and respect there are many libertarians who pose questions and raise issues that otherwise would go unheard in the Lib Dems. In that context, they firmly belong within the broad church that is, and should be, the Liberal Democrats.

Now my formative political years were spent (like Messrs Littlewood and Fernando) in, ahem, another political party. My time as a Labour member and councillor saw the rise of the 'Militant' faction within the party. Despite being on the 'left' the damage this group did to the wider left and to Labour in particular is now a matter of record. They had a separate agenda, a different ideological base and ran parallel to the party they resided within. They were not too keen on their own internal democracy either. To my mind Liberal Vision [LV] share some of these 'entryist' and factional tendencies.

Mark Littlewood argues that they are no different from any other organised group within the party (minus internal democratic elections of course), such as ALDTU, Women Lib Dems, DAGGER et al. But, there is a difference the SAO/SO groups all sign up to the preamble of the party, rather than the pick and mix approach of those who support the politics of LV.

As I said in a previous post, LV is I believe a subsidiary of Progressive Voice and has a remarkably similar narrative to the UK Libertarian Party. Just take a cursory glance at the policy proposals of the UK Libertarian Party and compare them to the proposals of Progressive Vision.

As for the policy thrust of LV, consider this currently unpopular truth. It has been a progressive centre and centre-left agenda influenced by liberal and social democratic thought that has delivered over the last three elections (1997 / 2001 / 2005) for this party the greatest number of parliamentarians for us since the 1920s.

Although critical of an over-bearing state the Lib Dems and it's predecessors have never been afraid to legislate and be 'interventionist'. The welfare state has a Liberal DNA running right through it. The LDs, since it's foundation, has been a progressive tax party to fund improved public services. Now it seeks to be the party that offers a quasi-Thatcherite helping of tax and spending cuts. This looks like an opportunist attempt to stem the Tory tide across a swathe of southern English seats.

The party, rightly, continues to be interventionist. Presently it has offered distinctive positions on policy debates relating to issues as diverse as 'nationalisation' of banks through to minimum prices for alcohol (although I strongly disagree with this very illiberal proposal - booze for the wealthy only - what a vote winner !!!).

LV has little to say to the poor, little to say on the environment. Further as Thomas Gilbert remarks on Lib Dem Voice many Lib Dems have fought against the small government, low tax agenda for years. Mr. Littlewood and others like him wants us to spin around 360 degrees and offer the electorate something totally inconsistent with what the Lib Dems have offered since the formation of the party, thereby putting at risk the coalition of support built up thus far.

Even so far, the mild shift in emphases doesn't appear to be working. But to suggest that’s because we’re not moving far or fast enough to the right, that we are not radical enough is nonesense to my mind. This line of argument reminds me of Tony Benn and others arguing that Thatcher's victories over Labour were because they were not sufficiently socialist enough ! He also saw the disasterous Labour performance of 1983 as several million votes for 'socialism' ! Pity those of us less well off who had a torrid time under Thatcher, at least we could console ourselves with the fact that an impotent Labour Party had turned to the left. Let's not allow the Lib Dems to repeat elements of that kind of experience through our own internal battles and striving for a vote-losing LV inspired narrative.

Luckily the shrill voices of many libertarians and classical liberals online may not match the reality in the constituencies. I know of no-one active within my local party (Torbay) that would subscribe to the ideas being promoted by LV and others. Is this the same for others ?

One of the things I've most enjoyed about the 4 years or so of LD membership, some of them active and some not, is the lack of organised factionalism. However, it might be necessary, and with some reluctance, for the 'left' of the party to come together, become organised and challenge the classical liberals / libertarians in the party. An open, democratic organisation, maybe modelled on the lines of the Compass grouping within Labour, might be a useful starting point. The Beveridge Group, if it opened out beyond the 'great and the good' might do this, but otherwise we need to do it for ourselves. What do people think

Chandila, Liberal Vision & the LD Presidency

2008-10-21T16:19:00.003+01:00

One vital criteria that I believe is important for the postholder of Lib Dem President is ideally that someone should be respected across the party, politically and geographically, and have the ability to be the bridge that brings together the voluntary party and it's senior elected parliamentarians.

Chandila Fernando says many things including the downgrading of party membership in favour of creating party 'supporters'. The US parties already have such 'fan clubs'. Their role is limited to being hired hands at conventions, leaving decision making and policy to the 'great and the good'. This is not a model I can accept for the Lib Dems. Chandila might have experienced this kind of 'engagement' whilst in the Tory party, but this is not how the Lib Dems do things.

His personal hobby horse, Liberal Vision [LV], is an 'interesting' organisation, with Chandila as Director and Mark Littlewood as Chairman(sic). Neiher of these people are elected to these positions by anyone. Indeed on Liberal Vision's FAQ page is the following : "It is an unincorporated association which is run as a “benign dictatorship”. If you expect internal democratic elections, AGMs, committee meetings and minute taking, this may not be the organisation for you." Being a democrat I am instinctively wedded to democratic mandates for officers, that goes hand in hand with membership of an organisation.

Linda Jack asked and Chandila answered : As someone more on the “left” of the party, why should I vote for you? I have in my heart the passion of an activist and the courage of a lion to take on the establishment." What he ought to have said is that I'm a uber-libertarian far removed from the ideas you hold Linda ! It is worth looking at LV. They are a wholly owned susidiary of Progressive Vision, whose politics and ethos are uncannily more akin to those of another party - the UK Liberttarian Party - than the values, practices and policy positions of the Liberal Democrats.

What I am not saying is that such people should be 'banned' from the party. As a liberal, even a 'left wing' one, I am instinctively against banning things or people. Libertarians bring a differing perspective to the party. Many are long-term committed Liberal Democrats and long may that be so, no matter how much I heartily disagree with them. However, uber-libertarians, such as Gavin Webb, surely would find the UKLP far closer to their strident libertarian outlook ?

You may say that the President is a party figure head and non-political. But that person has a key role [and vote] on the Federal Executive, therefore personal political positions are of some importance. Clearly Chandila is ambitious, but his proposals for limiting the usefulness of party membership and the lack of a democratic structure in the organ he does run mean for me he is entirely unsuitable to be LD President.

He might 'overlook' his politics in running for election. I do not. Why be so shy about your libertarian credentials Chandila ? Further, Chandila is said to have left the Tories when Michael Howard came to the Conservative leadership. Presumably then he had no quarrel with Hague, IDS and Major ? None of these are paragons of liberal virtue. Be honest Chandila, tell us what you are about ?!

I may stand corrected, but it is hardly inspiring to know that even his LV colleague, Mark Littlewood, is voting elsewhere ! The poor quality website, the divisive politics, the re-branding marketing speak all show clearly that Chandila is not the man for the job. So who am I voting for ? It'll be a vote for Ros Scott, a safer mainstream option, with a good track record in the party. That may not sound overly exciting, but after it's fair share of upheaval at the top of the party in recent times a unifying figure I think would be the best choice.

Conference in rude health ?

2008-10-19T20:02:00.004+01:00

This Autumn I attended my first Liberal Democrat conference. I enjoyed many a fringe meeting, attended a couple of training events and a fair few of the debates in the hall. The thoughtful nature of the debates, irrespective of outcomes, revealed the party to have a lot of talented people within it's ranks.

However, being the curmudgeonly sort that I am, I have nagging doubts as to how vibrant and important conference is.

1) Can anyone tell me when the party leadership last 'lost' a vote at Conference ? That should happen at least occasionally at a democratic conference. The much talked about 'tax debate' was swung (I believe) by the great and the good - that being largely senior parliamentarians being wheeled out to ensure representatives voted the 'right' way. Don't get me wrong it was a high quality debate and, as a democrat, I accept the result of the vote.

Now this wasn't a one-off either. The part-privatisation of the PO debate was similarly 'won'. I suspect a debate on 'choice' [for some] in school provision could be next. Anyone want to bet David Laws wont seek to further undermine the comprehensive ideal and promote Academy Schools as the way forward ? If Lib Dem News and conference fringe meetings are any guide, albeit an unscientific one, there is no great appetite for re-organisation of the school system, be that via Academies or 'free schools'. More importantly, there is no great demand in the country for such. As ever, especially if you live in a small town / rural area, the key is a good school in your own locality. Now there's an unfashionable idea to strive to realise !

Sadly David Laws seems to be one of the few 'fans' of Lord Adonis....

2) Again thinking of the taxation debate, but also a fair few others, there was relatively little activist participation. Instead it seemed more like a stage-managed display of the leading parliamentarians, PPCs and Euro PPCs. Too harsh ? The diversity of the party and the country as a whole seemed rather under-represented at Bournemouth.

3) Possibly most important of all there were so very few debates / motions resulting from local party and / or conference representative submissions. Take away FE / FPC inspired debates, there was little much evidence of a politically engaged party in the country. Again, possibly harsh, but is there an element of truth to this ?

4) What a clever ruse to have the Bones Commission Report scheduled first up when many delegates are not in the Conference hall. Further, why was the debate only consultative in nature ? Oh what irony, the proposals to centralise a decentralising party !! There may be good reasons, but to a non-seasoned LD conference-goer I'm not sure what they are !

5) I think there should be a sliding scale of conference fees levied. Frankly when added to accomodation costs, for a family man on a limited income like myself, the cost is prohibitive. For the previous two years I've been elected to be a conference representative from Torbay, but cost has ruled out participation. I'm sure I'm not alone in such circumstances. The move to start conference on a Saturday is a good one and allows more people to participate. Reducing costs for those on low(er) incomes might help achieve a more representative conferences too.

Don't misunderstand me. I did enjoy Conference overall, but in conclusion, whilst our Conference may still be soverign and votes do matter, it isn't quite the demonstration of a vibrant and engaged party that we'd like to pretend. Anyone else feel this way ?

Liberals - A party of the left ! Lib Dems a party of ?

2008-10-19T19:36:00.003+01:00

Yes it's true ! Darell Goodliffe (http://momentsofc.blogspot.com/) and myself should be pleased ! Sadly, it is the continuing Liberal Party (www.liberal.org.uk) that has decided to indentify itself as a 'party of the left' following it's Annual Assembley two weeks ago in Wolverhampton. Whilst the Liberals are 'officially' a party of the 'left', the Lib Dems are now a party of ...?

Whilst there are many positions where I agree with the Liberal Party, their influence and reach amongst the electorate is limited to Exeter / parts of Devon, Liverpool and Worcestershire and not many places elsewhere. It is intriguing in todays me-too centrist / centre-right consensus politics to see a party explicitly declare themselves as 'radical' and of the 'left'. But as a public voice of liberalism and liberal ideas - forget it !

In the time I've been away from Lib Dem blogging we've had the spinning to the Torygraph by Clegg about our tax cutting agenda, prior to policy approval by Conference. That it needed the wheeling out of 'big guns' to win the vote for Clegg (and on a narrower majority than the press declared) tells me all isn't lost for the Lib Dems yet. Last December I wasn't convinced by Clegg and I'm still not. Prior to the taxation vote, that Clegg's biggest publicity was for not believing in God and for the laughable GQ interview says it all. That he thought the state pension was around £30 a week just shows out of touch he is. I remain semi-attached to the Lib Dems. Being the best of a bad bunch is hardly a call to arms is it ?

Whatever else the tax positioning does / doesn't do, to me it smacks of opportunism and an attemp to outflank the Tories in the south of England. And, no, I do not put tax cuts above the continuing need for further improving public services as a party priority.

Lazy 'leftie' LD blogger returns to the fray !

2008-10-19T19:13:00.002+01:00

Well I've got the motivation to write once more. In it's previous incarnation this blog twice featured in the ' Blogs of the Week' award of Lib Dem Voice and nestled comfortably twice in the Top 100 Lib Dem blogs. It's good to know that people read this blog (and often disagreed with me).

Why did I stop ? In short, I was and remain ambivalent towards a Clegg-led Lib Dems. As someone, who like Sir Menzies Campbell, was happy to descibe my politics as centre-left, the drift to join the me-too centre-right consensus leaves me cold.

Being the best of a bad bunch is hardly a call to arms. Locally it is the wretchedness of the local Tories that keep me active. Having a good MP (Adrian Sanders) and a good council group leader (Cllr. Steve Darling) with good social liberal leanings helps too. But enthused, hardly !

My crystal ball says that the next trimming of policy will come at Spring Conference where David Laws will ask that we further embrace greater 'choice' in schools provision and academies in particular.

Anyway, this curmudgeonly contrarian is back once more.

Vince Cable 'bigged up' by Tribune !

2007-12-02T21:39:00.000Z

The current issue of 'Tribune', the self-styled voice of the Labour left, contains an interesting piece by Ian Aitken, formerly of The Observer. In it he describes Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats as such :

" If there is a 'great clunking fist' anywhere in the Commons, it belongs to Vince Cable' !!!

Certainly his line about Brown transforming from Stalin to Bean got many laughs at PMQ's this week. However, this is one of a number of consistently impressive contributions by Vince as stand-in leader. He's not my cup of tea politically in party terms, but I have like others been surprised by Mr Cable. Certainly his stance on the future of Northern Rock bank has had Gordon Brown on the ropes. Nice one Vince !

We need Huhne and Clegg rather than Huhne versus Clegg

2007-11-26T20:27:00.000Z

I see in yesterdays piece by Nick Clegg in the 'Independent on Sunday' that Nick says that his leadership rival Chris Huhne will feature prominently in any Clegg-led Lib Dem party. Rumours of personal antipathy between the two men have hardly been quelled by the leadership campaign, but the party needs to utilise fully the talents of BOTH men, irrespective of the leadership vote.

I'd hope that Chris would be equally magnanimous in victory too in finding Clegg a key role. Has he said anything on this subject ?

To be fair, Clegg's performance on 'Newsnight' a few days ago was rather better than either the Plymouth hustings or 'Question Time' appearances. We need therefore, Huhne and Clegg in tandem, much more than the needlessly divisive 'heat' of the leadership debate.

In closing I'm still voting Huhne but looking beyond the 'froth' of the current contest.

'Woolly and Waffly' Clegg and the Plymouth Hustings

2007-11-18T19:16:00.000Z

John Rentoul in todays 'Independent on Sunday' describes Nick Clegg's performance on BBC TV's 'Question Time' programme as 'woolly and waffly' and having attended the combined Devon and Cornwall plus Western Counties Regional Conference which included the Plymouth hustings one arrived at exactly the same conclusion.

Critics have likened Clegg to a kind of Liberal version of a Cameron clone. The alleged 'great communicator' proved to be heavier on style than substance at Plymouth. The lack of passion displayed on QT was replaced by a contrived 'passion' and a conversational-style address akin to that of Cameron at the Conservative conference. I cannot remember ANYTHING of note that he said just one day later !

Now, those who've read my blog before will hardly be surprised to know that my leadership election vote was never going to go to Nick Clegg. However, at the close of nominations, I fully expected that Clegg would emerge as leader after the vote. As such, I attended the hustings with a view to assessing the next probable LD leader. Frankly I thought he was woeful on the day. From QT and Plymouth evidence it's 2-0 to Huhne ! I am hugely disappointed in Clegg. Moreover, the other two members of our party from Torbay were similarly unimpressed by Nick and one of those was genuinely undecided beforehand.

Likewise another party member I spoke to on Friday was swayed towards Huhne after the QT head-to-head. This was someone, who like many, had previously felt that Huhne might appeal more to party activists like himself but that Nick might have the greater currency amongst the wider, largely apolitical, public. THE QT debate has probably swayed his vote away from Nick. Those of us worried about a more 'marketised' or continental style NHS or a voucher scheme policy for schools heard little to allay those anxieties from Clegg. Sadly I was also wary of Nick's potential positioning on economic and 'nuclear' issues. I still am ! An opportunity missed I'm afraid.

To be fair, as Nick himself alluded to, being a liberal Home Affairs spokesperson is probably the toughest call of all for a LD and Nick has been very effective. This makes his lack-lustre campaign all the more mysterious.
Let's hope, if Clegg is the victor in the leadership contest, he will prove as successful as some think he'll be in halting a potential swing to the Tories, especially in Lib Dem / Tory contests. Happily, though, for Nick I nearly always back losers in leadership contests !

As in the last contest which (as a Hughes supporter) I'd concede that Huhne ran the most energetic and thought provoking campaign but lost the contest in terms of votes, I have a feeling of history repeating itself again ! As before, the Huhne vote may prove to be much higher than expected when the race began. Anyone else at Plymouth on Saturday have a view?

Europe and the Tories - Yet Again No Answers ? - H.E. Letter 141107

2007-11-14T20:13:00.000Z

The text below is the unedited version of a letter to the 'Herald Express' seeking clarification on the Tories' European policy. In what is becoming typical fashion, Marcus Wood Tory PPC for Torbay, preferred to attack the LD's than answer any points raised in my earlier letter(s).

Here is the letter published on 14 November 2008 :

Marcus Wood in his riposte to my earlier letter about Conservative Party policy on Europe chooses not to answer any of the points raised about the EU, but opts instead to attack the Liberal Democrats!

Contrary to his implied assertions I do indeed support a referendum on our membership of the EU as this would enable those of us of middle age and younger to have a say for the first time on this country's relationship with the rest of Europe. So why can't the Conservative Party's candidate support this position? Or is he afraid that were he to break ranks he would end up like the recently sacked candidate for Rowley Regis who spoke his mind?

Having brought about ever closer European integration via the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty without referenda whilst in office, is it not hypocritical to demand such when in opposition now ? A direct answer from the Conservative Party's mouthpiece in Torbay would be welcome, and possibly a first since he moved here to fight the Torbay seat and pursue his career in politics!

Thirdly, if leaving the moderate and influential centre-right EU grouping - the EPP - is the correct course for the Conservative Party, why wait until 2009? Again a straight-forward question deserving of an answer from someone who wants the votes of local people.

Finally, I want to put on record that Adrian Sanders MP did support a bay wide referendum on having an elected mayor, even though he and other Lib Dems like myself knew it would risk ending up as we have done with a more expensive model of local government. That, as Mr Wood learnt at the least General Election when he received fewer votes than the previous Conservative losing candidate, is democracy.

Is Tory PPC Capable of a direct answer on Europe ? HE Letter 141107

2007-11-14T16:01:00.001Z

Below is my THIRD letter on the subject of the EU and, in particular, to ascertain our local Tory PPC's position on European affairs. The usual response is to talk of something else. The 'something else' is usually his unhealthy obsession with the Lib Dems and to denigrate our MP and party !

THe published text is as follows :

I am appalled at the sideswipe at Councillor colleagues by Mayor Nick Bye. It is ironic that he questions the payment of £8,000 per year to backbench councillors when I believe few would contend that the £90,000 per annum paid to the mayor and his deputy represents 'good value' for taxpayers.

Allow me to put things in perspective. Prior to the last local election I surveyed over 30 councils, mostly unitary authorities, only to find that allowance paid in Torbay is broadly the average paid nationwide. The idea of a gravy train authority therefore doesn't stack up, bar the leadership's allowance, of course.

Further, as a candidate in the May 2007 elections, I can clearly say that had I been elected I would have been hit financially, due to loss of earnings and the likelihood of limited future advancement within the company I work for. Moreover, balancing full time work, family life and council commitments would have been very difficult, but I stood for council as I love the bay and sought a better way forward than the one the mayor and his fellow Conservatives were and are offering. Add to this the way coucillors are continually vilified in the media it is a wonder that anyone stands at all !

Having been a councillor on a hung council 'up country' years ago and having lived all over England and in areas that have been run by all 3 main parties, most councillors of all parties become such as they seek to represent their areas to their best abilities. Since those elections I have continued to work with the hard working Councillor Cindy Stocks in Ellacombe and remain active in the ward. Money is definitely not the motivating factor. I do so in my spare time.

Two of the councillors referred to by Mayor Bye, Jenny Faulkner and Robert Excell (one Lib Dem and one Conservative) both work hard for Tormohun. Indeed, under the present local government structure in Torbay, they are right to put casework before Town Hall meetings, as the ability of councillors to influence the all-powerful Conservative mayor's agenda or 'vision' is minimal.

Frankly, I am fed up with the pontificating of this egregious Mayor. He might like the council to continue to be unrepresentative of the bay, reflecting the aspirations of the few rather than the many, but a more diverse council is needed. That the council is in danger of being the preserve of the monied or retired classes is entirely unhealthy in my view. Yet again it is Bye whose judgment is wrong and his criticism misplaced.

Slurring the reputations of Torbay councillors is unwarranted. It is you Mayor Bye that brings Torbay Council into disrepute. However, take heart, the good people of Stoke on Trent after a referendum have thrown out the Mayoral model of local governance. My guess is that given a further referendum here the result would be the same as that in Stoke. Our day will come too to be rid of this undemocratic structure and maybe then it would be worth councillors attending most meetings again !

Yours Sincerely,

Barrie Wood

LIb Dem Leadership Race....zzzz....

2007-11-13T15:06:00.000Z

Two ex-public school, middle aged, middle-class and [in party terms] men hardly offering competing and contrasting visions for party direction leaves me feeling slightly bored. Differences thus are exaggerated and minor details aside it's down to personalities. On the margins, I feel that on public services and the environment I feel happier with Huhne than Clegg.

Last time around the favoured media candidate was Ming Campbell and the received wisdom was that he was a 'safe pair of hands'. Now we are to be impressed by the 'youthful' and 'telegenic' Clegg. What on earth is telegenic ? I remember Blair being described as such, so someone possessing such an attribute might not be so appealing at all. Further how can anyone be described as 'youthful' at 40+ ?!

Saturday sees a hustings at the SW REgional Conference - hopefully I'll be more enthused then.

As for a party seeking to be one of diversity and reflective of the modern day UK the narrow range of candidates in terms of perspectives and backgrounds is very disappointing. Am I alone in feeling relatively ambivalent about the LD leadership contest ?

In fairness both men are very competent and well able to reflect and project liberal ideas. I look forward to 'getting behind' the victor. For those Clegg minded, your man looks to be the winner as in most political / union / student votes in my life I never seem to vote for the winner !

The most risible Tory PPC response ever ?!

2007-11-13T14:48:00.000Z

Marcus Wood, nominally the Conservative PPC for Torbay, but selling himself on a "I'm not the Lib Dems' ticket replied to my second letter on European issues [see Herald Express letter 031107] in these terms :

LIB DEMS ONLY WANT RIGHT ANSWER

11:00 - 07 November 2007
In response to Barrie Wood, Tory attack on EU reform treaty stance is a bit rich (Your View, November 30.

I was so looking forward to reading his defence of the Liberal Democrat position on this matter. What a pity then he seemed intent on simply attacking David Cameron instead.Like so many issues, the Lib Dems are all over the place when calling for referendums.

In Scotland the Lib Dems oppose giving citizens a referendum on independence; while in Wales they demand a referendum on having more power.

In England they are busy demanding a referendum on a written constitution, yet they vehemently oppose giving us a say on the new EU constitution which would take precedence over it.

Locally, our MP did not support a Bay-wide referendum for the really important issue of having an elected mayor, yet he loudly demands a ballot of the people on the wafer-thin question of whether we have one casino or two.

The fact is the Government are reneging on a promise it made to give us a say on the constitution. They can be sure of getting this through Parliament, even though several uneasy Labour MPs may rebel, because the Lib Dems will back them to a man.

The Lib Dems' own 'core statement of principles' says: "We believe sovereignty rests with the people and authority in a democracy derives from the people".

But perhaps they should add the words "provided the people are going to give us the answer we want".

MARCUS WOOD

Torbay prospective Parliamentary candidate

You'll notice no mention of European policy at all. No defence of Tory policy or a considered response to Sir Menzies Campbell's call for a referendum on EU membership. The other Mr Wood's stock in trade is to denigrate Adrian Sanders MP in particular and the Lib Dems in general. Such a debating 'style' would be poor at Student Union level, but from a would-be Tory MP it is profoundly depressing and worthy of ridicule.

Does anyone else face truly woeful political opponents ? Having lived around the country I've been represented at Westminster by members of all three main parties and have had respect for 'the competition' but in Torbay, with the headline chasing but achieving nothing elected mayor and a Tory PPC as bad as this I despair of the alleged 'new' Conservatives !

For a critical, but non LD view of Torbay, go to : www.westphalia-on-sea.blogspot.com/

For the uninitiated Charlie Windsor bears 'striking similarities' to Marcus Wood and the ego-centric mayor [Nick Bye] has 'everything in common' with the character 'Dr Pangloss'.

Herald Express Letter 031107 - Tories and Europe [Again] !

2007-11-13T14:45:00.000Z

Whatever the merits or otherwise prove to be with a finalised EU Reform Treaty the position taken by Marcus Wood and the Tories is one of political chutzpah of the highest order.

Labour's stance, that of parliament deciding, is a coherent one, albeit potentially politically unwise. They take the view that in a representative democracy elected parliamentarians vote on the issues of the day.Further, those adopting this approach would say we have little tradition of voting by referenda.

The EU we have today was, of course, shaped principally by the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty, both signed by Tories when in office and without recourse to a public vote. Was the Tory approach at the time misguided then Marcus?

Now out of office the Conservatives demand a European referendum. Consistent the Tories are not in demanding from others what they didn't offer themselves.

Like most of his contributions to these pages Marcus Wood's letter of October 31 contains another dig at the Lib Dems.

He entirely overlooks the fact that Sir Menzies Campbell put forward the most radical proposal of all for a Euro referendum, namely that of our very membership of the EU itself. Does he support the current Liberal Democrat position? If not, why not? Surely the voters of Bay have a right to know.

He is also quiet on another inconsistent Tory European policy. David Cameron promised upon assuming the leadership of his party to withdraw them from the European People's Party, the dominant and hugely influential EU group of moderate continental Conservatives and Christian Democrats.

A majority of Tory MEPs were aghast at the idea of being on the fringes of European debate and having little influence. Now it is said they'll withdraw from the EPP in 2009. How principled is that u-turn?

Being at the periphery of the EU, influencing no one and with Cameron at odds with his European colleagues and demanding a referendum from the government, having not offered such when in power themselves, leaves the Tories looking opportunist, erratic and ill-serves the British electorate.

I look forward to an explanation from Marcus.

Tory Hypocrisy on Europe - Letter to 'Herald Express' 170907

2007-09-17T12:36:00.000+01:00

Marcus Wood doesn't let inconvenient facts get in the way of his latest attempt at political point scoring through the pages of your paper.

He accuses the Lib Dems of hypocrisy with regard to a potential referendum on the EU Reform Treaty. He fails to note that the Liberal Democrats went into the last general election promising a UK referendum on the EU constitutional proposals which collapsed in 2005 when Dutch and French voters rejected them. It is right that our people have a full debate about our future relationship with Europe as Sir Menzies Campbell has recognised by offering the most radical referendum proposal of all - namely about our membership of the EU itself ! Do you support this Lib Dem proposal Marcus ?

If any party is being hypocritical it is his own Conservative party ! The EU we have today was hugely shaped by the Single European Act and the Maastricht Treaty, both signed by the Tories, but without reference to the British people. Even Marcus, on his online 'blog' admits in respect of Maastricht that "I think we should have offered a referendum on the issue and so do most modern Conservatives".

Lastly, as should now be clear, and contrary to the claims of Marcus Wood, the Lib Dem position is wholly different from that of the Labour government. Wishful thinking from the Tories is no substitute for debate based upon the facts ! Wrong again Marcus !

This was in response to the following letter laughably headlined LIb Dem support for Labour puzzling :

Guess what, once again the Liberal Democrats are demonstrating hypocrisy of the highest order, this time over the European Constitution; a law that would give a great deal more power to the EU, and reduce our right to make our own laws and foreign policy.Pro-European Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell has now formally sided with Gordon Brown in refusing to allow the British public a say on the Constitution.

"My judgment is a referendum is not necessary on this document," he said in an interview ahead of next week's Lib-Dem conference in Brighton.

With the backing of the Lib Dems, Gordon is now certain of enough votes to ensure that this treaty will get through parliament without the British public having a say, in spite of having made a clear manifesto pledge that we would be given a vote.

These are the very same Liberal Democrats who make a living complaining endlessly about a lack of democracy and who demand referendums of everything from road pricing to the monarchy.

Our local MP has himself made desperate attempts to force our elected mayor to hold a referendum of the vital question of, er, whether Torbay has one casino or two. Yet it would appear he will calmly vote to deny you or I a say in one of the most fundamental changes to our constitution since the Act of Union in 1707.

MARCUS WOOD

Torbay Conservatives prospective parliamentary candidate

Bye Bye lots of West Country Lib Dem MPs ?

2007-09-13T13:53:00.000+01:00

The West Country - and I don't mean Bristol or those 'south Midlands' places like Gloucestershire ;-) - is one of the stronghold areas for the LD's. Equally, it is one of the most euro-sceptic parts of the UK ! Therefore, it is my view that lots of LD seats are at risk if the party chooses not to accede and allow the British people a say, via referendum, on the EU Reform Treaty.

It is strange to find Liberals not 'trusting the people', especially when tactically and politically it is the right thing to do, even if the result doesn't 'turn out right'.

As recently as the May 2007 local elections evidence [in Torbay at least] suggested that the respectable UKIP vote came as much, if not more, from erstwhile LD supporters as from former Tories. This is one of the few things that Marcus Wood (Tory PPC for Torbay) and I have ever agreed upon.

So what's it to be, follow the lead of 'mediocre Ming' or listen to the voice of the electorate ?

Your perception of the Lib Dems ?

2007-09-07T12:22:00.000+01:00

There is a growing concern among many MPs that the party has allowed itself to be caricatured as a protest group for the middle classes by taking too little interest in social justice. This is alleged in a piece in 'The Guardian' yesterday. Is this your perception ? It was mine prior to joining the party and there is still a hint of that in my mind.

That may possibly hold some water nationally, but as the only party campaigning and opposing the Tories in Torbay, I believe it isn't true locally.

Anyone got a view on this ?

Not quite Yellow, Red or Green politically !

2007-09-05T14:54:00.000+01:00

Recent posts by Tristan Mills and myself asking if we are, respectively, too right / left wing for the Lib Dems has set me thinking some more. My influences cut across all three shades of progressive political thinking, thereby pleasing few people, other than myself ! My thoughts can be summarised as such :

I'm hopeful that you have all ascertained that my views cut across yellow/green/red [but never blue] thinking. I share the commitment of many ordinary Labour members in seeing that greater equality of **outcomes** is essential for a fairer and more harmonious society - one that we can all feel ‘ownership’ of. Without such, L/liberal notions of 'freedom' are meaningless! As I said in that previous post, to paraphrase the LD constitution - no-one should be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity - but what real freedoms exist if one lives in inadequate housing, suffers from poor health or is on a subsistence level income ? Choices ? What choices do such people have ?

From the Greens (party and movement) I embrace the promotion of more localised economies and ideas like credit unions, time banks, LETS and localised currencies. Ideas around Citizen’s Income are also intriguing, but practical, affordable or sellable ? The way Greens do not separate out productive paid work from informal work is one that should challenge us all policy wise.

Further as a fairly libertarian rather than statist ‘left’ I am keen to support mutuals and co-operatives as an alternative to public / private monopolies.

From the Liberal camp the commitment to civil liberties, decentralisation, progressive taxation, environmentalism and internationalism all pull me towards the LD’s. As liberals / Liberals well know power needs to be pushed down to the lowest practicable level and for people to take greater charge of their own communities, so ideas like restorative justice and community panels suit this former community worker whose ethos is to work with, as much as - and in preference to - for, individuals and communities. Empowerment and participatory democracy are key motivations for me, rather than the top-down, passive, Toynbee / social democratic 'we'll do it **for** you approach.

I regret all three main parties seem wedded to economic liberalism. As for NuLab the cult of personality that was Blair, the Iraq war, PFI, Academy schools and perhaps a greater support for nuclear power are issues that took me away from that party. Civil liberties issues such ASBOs, ID Cards, ‘anti-terror’ proposals / detention without trial reveal an authoritarian streak within NuLab. I cannot subscribe to this.

Look how many new laws Blair brought in ? But, to what result ? Now the prisons are full - where next ?

In truth there are many fine people within the Labour party - certainly people I can do business with. However, beyond narrow policy differences, I am very aware that it is only the LDs in Torbay that provide a counter to the [locally] resurgent Tories. So despite an eclectic range of influences the Lib Dems are where I feel both most comfortable and politically useful.

Certainly I was a child of the Thatcher years and I’m in politics to counter the politics of greed, authoritarianism and self-interest that the the Tories represent.

Too 'Left Wing' for the LD's ?

2007-08-31T15:10:00.000+01:00

During the 2007 local elections and in a recent online exchange elsewhere it was put to me - by a couple of Labour supporters that I should fight for what I believe in from within the Labour party.

'Red Flag' - curiously enough argued with me on a Tory PPC site - that :

By the way Barry your left wing views challenging New Labour should be from with[sic] Labour not from inside that minor party of yours ! Lib Dems too right wing for you surely ?

Now in a previous debate some Lib Dems took issue with the my use of the terms right and left wing, but I hope my response gives Red Flag and others the answer as to how I see myself politically. I replied :

BTW 'Red Flag' whilst I have no problem with being broadly seen as being on the 'left' - much to the chagrin of some LD's - I think the liberal / authoritarian axis is equally important.

Therefore, I can agree with the socially liberal free-marketeer David Laws often more easily than 'left wing' social conservatives / authoritarians like George Galloway. So, on their own the terms 'right' and 'left' wing hide nuances of difference, and as such, could hide the very core values and emphases that separate me from the 2007 Labour party.

[Dis]agreements on policy is one thing and these wax and wane over time. It is core values and principles that are key. Contrary as ever, I'd describe myself at the moment as a Liberal Democrat rather than Liberal per se. I am socially liberal, politically liberal, personally liberal but economically more social democratic oriented, especially in relation to the state and public services.

On core areas I can agree with the LD emphasis on civil liberties, decentralisation, environmentalism, fair taxation, electoral reform, internationalism et al. I did many months ago flesh out some of the policy differences with Labour, so will not do so again. However, I probably share a greater affinity with the typical Labour members' commitment not just equal opportunitiies, but to more equitable outcomes too. This puts me at odds with a number of Lib Dems in blogoshere !

In short, to paraphrase the LD constitution - no-one should be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity - but what real freedoms exist if one lives in inadequate housing, suffers from poor health or is on a subsistence level income ? Choices ? What choices do such people have ? There is still a role for the state, at least as 'guarantors' to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Carling Cup 'fever' hits Leicester - and Leicester only !

2007-08-28T16:15:00.001+01:00

Leicester City come to the City Ground tonight talking up our derby game with them. I don't know how many times you have to tell the typical Fox fan but the biggest East Midlands derby is between the 'Trees' and the Rams - Nottingham Forest versus Derby County. 25,000, including 5,000 Forest fans turned up for a pre-season friendly a few weeks back, that tells you the intensity of our rivalry with them. I'll be surprised if anything like that many attend the City Ground tonight, despite the influx of the Fox faithful.

True, hardly any other team will take 5,000 away fans to a second round CC tie this evening - no other set of fans are daft enough ! Still after 35 years without a win at the City Ground, the poor Foxes, despite being a division higher, are making a big deal out of a visit to a 'third division' club.

For me personally, having lived in Leicester for many years I want to see City soundly beaten and normally I view the fixture with relish. If it had been a league game or FA Cup tie I'd be up for the game, but an early round CC tie isn't worth the trouble and expense. That the worst element of the City following will be present and a busy night ahead for the Police is in prospect hardly has one clamouring for a ticket !

As it is, a defeat might just push Colin Calderwood closer to the exit door and that would be not a bad outcome. OTOH, it'd be quite nice to make it 36 years without a win on Trentside for the Foxes, but my overall feeling is one of indifference.

One the plus side, the 'Brazil of the West Country' (copyright A. Sanders MP) top the Conference table today after a well earned point at Forest Green Rovers. One point separates the top nine teams ! It promises to be a hugely difficult division to get out of. With Torquay having a squad containing 16 new players this season a play-off place would be a creditable achievement for a new team under new management. Come on you Gulls !

Inheritance Tax and the Tories

2007-08-20T15:32:00.000+01:00

For a party that talks of 'fair' taxation I hope the Lib Dems [and Labour] will leave any commitments to slashing / abolishing Inheritance Tax to the Tories. Jackie Ashley's views in 'The Guardian' today chime with my own. She says :

"While it's true that fast-rising house prices have brought many more people into the ambit of inheritance tax - Scottish Widows thinks up to 40% of households may eventually be hit - this remains a powerful engine of social fairness. Only 6% of estates pay the tax at present, and it puts a modest cap on the accumulation of wealth and power in some families.

At a time when the super-rich can avoid so many taxes, it means that the wealthier families cannot simply transfer all their advantage to the next generation. If family homes are sold to pay inheritance tax, rather than passing to the next generation, that releases more properties on to a market desperately short of housing. Is it really fair that those whose parents were lucky enough to have enjoyed rocketing property prices should simply pocket all the advantage? In a country where social mobility is an increasing problem, inheritance tax helps. You would have thought a Labour government could be a little more vigorous making the case for its defence".

In my view the Tories are lurching all over the place is search of a narrative that keeps on board the traditionalists but has wider electoral appeal. The Economic Competitiveness Report and their Tax proposals suggests the dinosaurs of the right are increasingly confident and vocal. Luckily for the rest of us their ideas are unlikely to win over anyone but the already committed Tory. More of this and [happily] defeat number four awaits the Tories ! They're losing the plot again ?! Hague, IDS, Howard all realised that a shift to more moderate political ground was necessary and all tried to do so briefly, but the their party wouldn't let them, nor were the leaders convincing as 'moderates' - too much 'past form'. Is Cameron following suit ?

John Redwood's 'Red Tape'

2007-08-20T15:14:00.000+01:00

Aghhh.... in the couple of weeks or so since my last posts 'The Vulcan' has returned centre stage. The only good thing about his return is that it illustrates that the talk of the Tories fighting from the 'centre ground' is just that. talk. What Redwood calls red tape that stymies business, I see social policy that protects people at work.

'Highlights' from the Redwood produced report include :

* loosening health and safety regulations
* making it easier to sack those in post
* opting out of the social chapter and undermining EU attempts to ensure all workers get 20 days holiday per year PLUS bank holidays
*opting out of the 48 hour working time regulations.

Of course, the £14bn tax cut proposals is prefaced by the caveat of 'as the economy allows' for this and other tax cuts. Is Cameron's position so weak that he has to shore up his position by supporting such a rag-bag of right wing proposals ? That George Osborne 'welcomes' the Redwood led report tells you how little the Tories have really changed.

Inheritance Tax ? See next post !

How Representative are Lib Dem bloggers ?

2007-08-20T14:55:00.000+01:00

A recent comment on my blog described the political balance of the Lib Dem party this way :

'orange bookers' are under-represented among the party activists, but more numerous than the 'beard and sandals brigaders' among the ordinary members and the Lib Dem voters. How would you explain otherwise, that Ming was elected as leader rather than Simon Hughes? And the parliamentary party is divided roughly between 1/4 'orange bookers', 1/4 'beard and sandals brigaders', and 1/2 'unconcerned centre'.

Now it is my **perception** that the centre of gravity as expressed by online Lib Dem bloggers over-represents those who put an emphasis upon 'economic liberalism' and a more explicitly free market political orientation. The wider party, I believe, is broadly centre and centre-left, but is the party dynamic changing and the 'Orange Book' tendency more influential than I thought ? I certainly don't see much in the way of such ideological zeal in my local party here in Torbay. How typical is this ?

Other parties ? Well ConservativeHome certainly indicates that the unelectable swivel-eyed brigade is alive and well in the Tory party. Maybe the debate between the 'modernisers' [those seeking to get elected at any cost so we'll say anything we hope might be popular] and 'traditionalists' makes for interesting reading ! Let's have more of John Redwood to remind the wider public as to how out of touch they are !

Labour ? Fairly restrained and debate not as sharp as on the Tory and LD offerings. Where's the left perspective comrades ?!

Communalism, party choices and liberalism !

2007-08-03T14:19:00.000+01:00

Some time ago significant numbers of former Labour members came across to the Lib Dems from the Labour party, in both Birmingham and Derby if memory serves me correctly. Similarly a number of leading figures in the Ealing and Southall Labour party moved from that party to the Tories, with another coming to the Lib Dems. Am I alone in viewing with suspicion the bulk transference of party allegiance ?

Historically, and well beyond the Asian communities of this country, we've seen diverse communities vote [ or join] in overwhelming numbers for a particular party. In Scotland the so-called 'Catholic' vote has been a bedrock of Labour support in the central belt, with the Tories 'Unionist' outlook gaining much support from working class Protestants well into the 1960s at least. More obviously, and for more understandable reasons, voting patterns have been polarised in the north of Ireland.

All this makes it difficult for smaller parties to break the Tory / Labour hegemony.

However, did the en-masse defections alluded to above enhance democracy in any way ? Are we really to believe that collectively in large numbers these individuals became liberals, socialists or conservatives overnight ?

Did personal sleights and failure to be selected for particular 'seats' drive any of these defections, rather than political conviction ? When I lived in the London borough of Brent in the early 90s it was like a game of musical chairs in the council chamber at one time !

Hmm... yet all parties parade such 'captures' with glee !

That said, being in a political party can be a difficult choice. Tribally I was part of the Labour fold for many years, despite being at odds with many policies, especially now their authoritarian policies and lack of internal democracy [ to say nothing of the bloody war in Iraq]. I used to joke that the only remaining 'democratic centralist' regimes left after the fall of European communism were to be found in North Korea, the Vatican and under the 'Dear Leader' Blair in London.

The radical message of the Greens seems outwardly appealing, but their wish to 'impose' solutions to the threatening environmental crisis is alarming. Add to this their near non-existence here in South Devon then joining them would be a pointless exercise.

The Lib Dems ? The progressive strain of modern liberalism influenced by Keynes, Beveridge, Asquith, Lloyd George et al is attractive. Likewise, the emphasis on issues like fair votes, civil liberties, decentralisation, progressive taxation, green issues and democratic conferences all are facets that I like about the party. Having an excellent MP and being the only party able to challenge the Tories locally is also a key factor in their attractiveness.

Being a party of contrarians and being a group of people who can be swayed by debate is more attractive than the ' sellouts and betrayals' mentality of 80s and 90s Labour I knew. The 'culture' of the Lib Dem party is much more encouraging.

I was asked about my 'liberalism' at the candidate approval panel for the 2007 local elections. I said prefer the hybrid party name of Liberal Democrat to that of being a 'Liberal' and can claim the former title. Whilst being personally and socially liberal, I would not describe myself as an economic liberal ! In economic terms I remain social democratic in my leanings, albeit with a greater emphasis being put upon decentralisation and local accountability. Crucially, I still have a passion for equality, not just with regard to opportunities but with regard to outcomes too. From how I see things, none of the main parties seeks this now, not even Labour.

On the downside the 'Orange Book' element and the strident economic liberalism of some is far from where I am. Many Lib Dems in blogoshere represent this strand of liberalism, although I believe them to be over-represented online in terms of the wider political balance of that party.

The changing positions on tax and Trident are ones I'n not enamoured with. Certainly a 'hung parliament' and any deal to propel David Cameron into Downing Street would almost certainly mean me heading to the exit door.

As it is, I've found it easy enough to fit in to the broad church that makes up the Lib Dem party, even if that means me being the Brian Sedgemore of Torbay ! Fundamentally though, in my time, it is Labour who have changed more than the other parties and it is Labour's policies and values that have changed more than my own !

There are many figures across the parties holding left-of -centre views I admire irrespective of party label, hence the introduction at the top of this blog. One thing that has sustained this left-leaning writer is the longevity of my antipathy to the values and policies of the Tories [and hatred of racist elements like the BNP].

Ming - It's about results !

2007-08-03T13:58:00.000+01:00

Let's be clear I put Ming in third place out of three in the Lib Dem leadership contest. Ming comes across [to me] as personally wooden and politically unconvincing [other than on foreign affairs].

Can I see Ming engaging with and inspiring voters on say, a Rochdale council estate or in central Torquay, to hold seats we have, let alone increase our representation at Westminster ? I am doubtful. If I, as an activist am unenthused, then this bodes ill for connecting with the wider public.

BUT, being a party leader is akin to being a football manager. It is 'results' that count. As the 'political season' has yet to run it's course and it's conclusion may not be too far away it would be illogical - and unfair on Ming - to change course now. 'Matches' with Labour and the Tories thus far have produced about acceptable performances, so it's a case of 'supporters' getting behind Ming Campbell and team right now and leaving a fuller and more thorough judgement to when the 'league table' shows the outcome of the next Westminster elections.

Herald Express Letter 010807 - Casino Referendum

2007-08-01T17:21:00.000+01:00

According to Marcus Wood, Adrian Sanders MP should abandon his principles and integrity by adopting a position in favour of a second casino for the Bay.

If he were to do so, would Marcus talk about a 'U-turn' and call him unprincipled and opportunist?I did contact our MP to ask what the balance of opinion was from correspondence received from constituents and was told that a bare handful had written in favour of a new casino development and that two of those are senior local Conservatives.

I accept that the casino has its supporters, but I'm convinced there are far more opposed to a second casino. Either way, trying to push ahead with such a divisive proposition is not the way to engage the public with regeneration plans for the Bay.

The mayor has powers to enable him to run a referendum on this issue and for the people of the Bay to have their say. This is surely necessary as James Purnell, the requisite government minister, in his letter to local authorities regarding casino applications states that national government places 'a great emphasis on the importance of local consultation and local accountability'.

Why are local Tories apparently refusing to let the people decide? Are they afraid of the outcome of any putative referendum?

Despite being an opponent of the casino on ethical grounds, in addition to being also unconvinced of the economics of the matter either, I am as a democrat happy to accept the settled will of the Bay's populace.

As for Marcus, as ever, he has more to say about the Lib Dems - and Mr Sanders in particular - than he does about trying to sell the ever-changing Tory vision of the future.

After the social moralising evident in their recent tax proposals and the contradictions in their position(s) on grammar schools, no wonder explaining Conservative policies comes second to attempts at political point-scoring locally.

BARRIE WOOD
Torquay

Setanta Blues ? TV is killing live football !

2007-07-20T13:08:00.000+01:00

The way football is going I think we are going to see live coverage of South Devon League football soon. What next ? Maybe it'll be Upton Athletic versus Brixham Villa indoors as the clubs have no lights - all exlusively on numpty satellite channel 'Devon Sport ' ?!

My point is that TV is killing 'live' football - as 'in the flesh and at the stadium'. Already Torquay United and Exeter City combined will be on the box for seven live matches on the Setanta channel before Christmas, with the Gulls opener not on Saturday 11 August 3pm, but on Sunday night 7.30pm ! Sunday night for goodness sake. Obviously there's going to be a lot of visiting supporters with that kick-off time - not ! And, all this for Conference football. I'm certainly not going to call it the Blue Square Premier League., as this makes it sound even worse than it is.

Do the maths. Four Torquay games, luckily three being away, before the end of October. £10 subscription for month one, which includes SPL / Dutch / Portuguese / Italian / French league football, in addition to a weekly Premiership game live versus £14-15 to go to Plainmoor for one hideously timed home game. Guess which I'm going to do ? I feel guilty, but £15 for Conference football is too much !

Worse still the Chief Executive of the 'Conference' seems reluctant to say how much the clubs will get for the live screenings. Hmm... makes me think that the deal is not that lucrative. Sadly Torquay's following for the three away games at Burton, Oxford and York will be minimal. But compare the Setanta subscription fee with the time and money needed to travel to these fixtures. Crucially, will the lack of support, especially at what appears to be difficult away contests, hamper the progress of the Gulls this season ?

For me with Celtic and Torquay being my 'other teams' Setanta is [somewhat selfishly] good for me, but not for the clubs and the wider game. Ironically, my first sporting love - Nottingham Forest - are only on live TV once for the 'attractive' fixture at Carlisle. League 1 and 2 of the Football League are virtually ignored unless there's no Premiership / Championship football due to international fixtures and Sky then need a 'filler' for their Sports channels. How very strange.

It will be interesting to see Setanta's viewing figures for Conference games. Forest Green Rovers v. Salisbury City on 13 September is definitely one for your diaries !!

Third in a two horse race !

2007-07-20T12:26:00.000+01:00

Yes, the happy outcome in the Ealing Southall by-election. The Tories third in a two horse race !!

Only the Tories can stop Labour claimed 'David Cameron's' Conservatives. How wrong they were ! 5 visits to the constituency from dashing 'Dave' and even his name on the ballot paper, rather than Mr Lit being listed as just the Conservative party candidate - all to no avail. To see the knives sharpening on ConservativeHome is a guilty pleasure for sure !

Maybe, bearing in mind Tony Lit's very recent donation to Labour he should have been listed as Conservative AND Labour candidate. After all the publicly declared differences between them seem to be narrowing all the time - he could have cleaned up !

As for Mr Iain Dale the reasoning that ES was not 'natural' Tory territory. Is he referring to the ethnic make-up of that part of West London ? Too many 'disadvantaged' voters too ? Admittedly the Etonian vote is pretty low there [and almost everywhere else too]. Come on Iain do explain.

It seems Scotland, Wales, the northern cities and urban areas in much of the south remain not 'natural' Tory territory. Is the 'natural territory' left enough to win a Westminster election anytime soon ?

'Dave' seems to be following recent tradition. New Tory leader makes noises about connecting with modern Britain. Modern Britain doesn't believe them for long. Enter next Tory leader ! I do think Cameron realises what he needs to do, but every time he throws scraps off the table to keep 'traditional' Tories happy he reminds everyone else how out of touch his party - especially the wider membership- is ! How else can you explain away the Grammar Schools and married couples' tax bribe issues ?

Overall a very good outcome for Labour well into a third term of office. My point of view is of an acceptable outcome for the Lib Dems, especially in Sedgefield. This takes attention away from Ming's performance as leader. Whether this is a good thing or not, I'll leave you to decide. Did we do well enough though, this far into Labour's time in office and considering the poor quality of the Tory [sorry Davie C's] candidate ?

Finally a bugbear I always have with the Lib Dems ! The exaggerated claims the party frequently makes. Only the Lib Dems can stop Lab or Con winning here, sometimes even when we start from a poor third place previously ! A classic example was Duncan Borrowman yesterday claiming it was 'neck and neck' in the ES contest ! A good strategy perhaps to get more helpers for a final push as a campaign closes, but somewhat insulting to the intelligence of the voting public ! There said it - got it off my chest !

As Tony Benn always says :

2007-07-01T14:06:00.000+01:00

Who elected them, whose interests do they serve, who are they accountable to and how do we get rid of them ? Therein lies my problem with the following appointments to ministerial posts or advisory positions in the leadership team of Gordon Brown. All the below :

Sir Digby Jones: Trade minister

Prof Sir Ara Darzi: Health Minister, patient care

Admiral Sir Alan West: Home Office minister, security

Lord Malloch Brown: Foreign Office minister, Asia, Africa and UN

Lord Stevens: Adviser on international security issues

Lib Dem Baroness Neuberger: Volunteering

Lib Dem Lord Lester: Adviser on constitutional reform

have one thing in common - no-one elected them ! The latter two Lib Dems are only in advisory posts, but others are to be parachuted in to government via the Lords. So much for 'change'. For Tony's cronies read Gordon's gofers.

What we are seeing is the forward march of the unelected !

Yes, a Tory and even a Lib Dem administration would also draft in non-elected personnel to positions, but that doesn't make it right either.

The likes of Digby Jones hasn't even any intention of joining the Labour party. His position is that he is only accountable to Gordon Brown. Another four senior arrivals are from within those taking the Labour whip within the Lords already. Is this democracy ? Add on our flawed electoral system, the proliferation of quangos and unnecessary centralist government and we are far removed from any notion of modern liberal democracy.

As for the wider cabinet, the presence of Hazel Blears, Geoff 'Buff' Hoon and Des Browne hardly fills one with confidence. Nonetheless seeing Broon waltz past the Tories in the polls this week, allied to the Quentin Davies defection from Tories to Labour has amused this observer greatly. Not a great few weeks for 'Dave' Cameron.

Ditto, more ominously for Sir Menzies Campbell too.

Nasty Party Alive and well !

2007-06-27T19:34:00.000+01:00

Tie him to the stake and burn the political heretic I say!

see : www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6385595&postID=4117920489331046168 for full text.

This in response to the 'crime' of being a Christian Liberal and liberal Christian !

Tories - such nice people !

Lib Dem / Labour 'Alliance' - Herald Express 270607

2007-06-27T19:23:00.000+01:00

Below is my [edited badly] letter in response to ridiculous claims of a Lib Dem / Labour alliance at Westminster by Marcus Wood (Tory PPC for Torbay). His 'contribution' is also included for reference.

Marcus WOOD's speculation about an alliance at Westminster between the Liberal Democrats and Labour was hasty and unfounded. Party leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, ruled out this prospect and Paddy Ashdown emphatically refused to join the Labour government.Liberal Democrats have, in the interests of forming stable administrations and in promoting liberal policies, joined partnerships with Labour in Scotland and Wales previously and also more recently have turned down the prospect of governing with that party. Similarly there have, and continue to be, a number of local councils where Lib Dems partner the Conservatives in 'hung' councils. Partnership with the Tories does not presage an alliance or preference for that party either.

Locally, Cllr Darling's offer to the Conservatives to broker a better relationship with mayor Bye and his fellow Conservatives is an attempt to seek agreement where possible and for grown-up politics to win out over unnecessary tribalism.

The initial Tory response suggests, as we've said all along, that it is the Tories that don't want to work with the Lib Dems locally rather than vice-versa, contrary to popular public perception.

In reality it is New Labour and the Tories who might be better aligned as evidenced by their shared support for curbing civil liberties, academy schools, nuclear power, sending troops to Iraq, limiting Freedom of Information and continued support for the unfair Council Tax.

The debate is not just between left and right, but two increasingly indistinguishable main parties and the Lib Dems.

Marcus when are we going to hear what you are for? Being the chief critic of the Lib Dems is not good enough for a would-be parliamentary candidate.

BARRIE WOOD
Torquay.

Marcus said :

The revelation that Sir Menzies Campbell and Gordon Brown have held a series of secret meetings to discuss the possibility of Lib Dems joining his Labour government this week is very revealing.The polls continue to suggest that the outcome of the next election will be a hung parliament with no clear winner.

What the voters will want to know before they vote in a general election, and what they are entitled to be told, is which way the Lib Dems would jump in the event of there being no outright winner?

Since undoubtedly the Lib Dems will evade this question throughout the election campaign (as they always do) I would advise voters to remember this piece of news as the best clue they are going to get.

MARCUS WOOD

Torbay Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

Hard Left Jon Cruddas ?!

2007-06-25T18:00:00.000+01:00

Andy Mayer, Lib Dem blogger writes off John Cruddas as being ' hard left'. Actually John Cruddas is responsible for putting the issue of affordable housing - to rent or buy - back on the Westminster agenda. So I say well done John ! Further, to come third despite standing against cabinet ministers past and present is some achievement. Best of all, the horrid smiley Blairite Hazel Blears came last. Excellent !

As for Harman, I think her contrast in PERSONALITY and background with that of Brown will serve Labour well. I can see her on GMTV / daytime TV on those 'sofa interviews' helping to keep lots of the 'nice middle classes' in the Labour coalition, especially in the SE.

A much more shrewd option than the favoured Johnson methinks. Write Labour off at our peril.

And, if you think Cruddas is 'hard left' then you must be pretty right wing Andy !

Letter to Herald Express 300507 - FoI

2007-05-30T16:17:00.000+01:00

Letter sent to the 'Herald Express' newspaper 300507 :

Marcus Wood of Torbay Conservatives has accused the Liberal Democrats of jumping on the bandwagon in public with regard to the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill, but not following this up with action.

The reality is this : on Friday 18th May, Conservative and Labour MPs voted to exempt Parliament from Freedom of Information laws, creating one law for MPs and Lords and one law for everyone else. The opposition was led by Liberal Democrat MPs Norman Baker and Simon Hughes and not a single Lib Dem MP voted in favour of the Bill.

Yes, Adrian Sanders MP did miss the vote on the third reading of the bill, but this was only brought about by a totally unexpected calling of votes earlier than planned. Adrian had previously voted in two earlier divisions on the amended FoI provisions.

Adrian's public position and voting record is wholly liberal and consistent. The new made over and supposedly 'liberal' Conservatives have Anthony Steen MP for Totnes in favour of a bill he sees as generally 'not important' whilst Marcus takes an entirely different view. These two prominent local Tories can't even agree amongst themselves, yet Marcus still has the chutzpah to wrongly assail the Lib Dem record !

Wrong again Marcus !

Barrie Wood
Ellacombe Liberal Democrats

Grammar Schools - Letter in Herald Express 280507

2007-05-30T16:14:00.000+01:00

Published 28 May 2007 - written in a personal rather than Lib Dem capacity.

David Willetts, Conservative Education spokesman is right to declare that Grammar Schools 'entrench privilege' and do nothing to serve the needs of children from poorer communities.David Cameron is quoted in The Guardian as saying 'Parents fundamentally don't want their children divided into sheep and goats at the age of 11'. Right again.

Of course, this doesn't sit well with a Tory shadow cabinet for whom over half had the privilege of a public school education.

As for Marcus Wood, the announcement of Tory opposition to Grammar schools leaves him in a difficult spot. Does he defend the new party direction which many Conservatives will be aghast at, or does he speak out against his own party nationally and become more popular with local Tory opinion?

The Tory policy seems to be that Grammar Schools are bad, but not if your child attends one. As it is, under the guise of parental 'choice' the Tories support Labour's programme of Academy schools. Academies have so far a questionable record in terms of entry requirements, so we are far from the end of selection by ability in over-subscribed schools.

While the Tories continue to be obsessed with choice and selective school systems I'd contend what most parents seek is a good school in their own neighbourhood. Tory hypocrisy moves us no nearer to that goal.

BARRIE WOOD
Torquay.

Our Scottish leader must go !

2007-05-19T15:00:00.000+01:00

No, not Ming Campbell, no not Nichol Stephen, but 'Calamity Colin' Calderwood manager of Nottingham Forest FC.

His substitutions turned the game around last night - and not for the first time this season ! As is become frequently the case his defensive mindset has seen the club with the biggest support, biggest squad and biggest wage bill in the division flunk yet another 'big' game. 2-5 at home to a Yeovil side who created enough chances to win three or four matches is a disaster. Credit to the Glovers though. Their attractive pass and move football, their attitude in coming back from a 0-2 first leg position was the very opposite of a dire cautious Forest approach.

On the plus side, the generous ovation given to the enterprising Westcountry men by the home support showed our fans in good light. Compare this with the aggressive response in victory of Derby County fans at the Sheep Dip against Southampton makes me very proud of the calibre of support the 'Tricky Trees' have.

Next season a fixture list comprising possibly Shrewsbury, but definitely Hartlepool, Northampton, Crewe and Walsall is so very dispiriting. That is what we deserve. Time to say goodbye Colin. You said anything less than promotion would be a failure. How right you are.

With my local club [Torquay United] also going down to what was the 'Conference' but soon to be exotically known as the Blue Square Premier League it has been the season from hell. And, the torment may not be over, victory in their play-of final for our 'friends' Derby County would seal the most dismal of seasons. DCFC in the Premiership. In the name of God, no, no, no !

For a football fan of any other club I hope your team had a better season.

Independent 'given' key position on Torbay Council

2007-05-18T14:36:00.000+01:00

So Julien Parrott who as an Independent candidate triumphed over both the Tories and myself in the local elections is to be the Co-ordinator of the council's Overview and Scrutiny Board.

I just wonder as to how this will work out. The one independent is to be put there by Tory votes is to scrutinise the Tory mayor and cabinet ! As if happens, despite it being spun already in the local paper, this matter has not actually been voted on by council members. Yes, I know the Tories are in the majority, but surely they could wait until the matter is voted upon ! Oh well, I suppose that is democracy Tory style.

This follows on from the Tories denying the Chairman-elect and current Deputy Council Chairman (Roger Stringer) the top civic post since having a majority of councillors following May 3rd. Are the Tories determined to eliminate the Lib Dems from all positions of responsibility ? Even the executive Tory mayor was allegedly critical of the Tories in putting forward Beryl McPhail for the Chair's job.

Cameron's Sheep and Goats

2007-05-17T16:33:00.000+01:00

David Cameron, in relation to his no new grammar schools announcement, is quoted in 'The Guardian' as saying " Parents fundamentally don't want their children divided into sheep and goats at the age of 11". David Willetts talks, rightly, of the history of Grammar schools entrenching priviledge, but what about the genetically modified goats of Eton ? Dave's parents clearly did want to 'entrench priviledge' via his Etonian education.

And, with the Academies having a questionable record in terms of entry requirements, we are far from the end of selection by ability by over-subscribed schools.

Further, we are still stuck with our partial Grammar school system in Torbay. As for Marcus Wood (Tory PPC) this education initiative leaves him in a difficult spot. Does he defend the new party direction which many Conservatives and others will be aghast at, or does he speak out against his own party and become more popular with local Tory opinion ?

So far, trying to face both ways at once seems to be his approach !

Once again, despite Blairites, the Tories and the right of the LDs making a fetish of 'choice' what most people still want is a 'good' school in their own locality. To those people I say show me a consistent snapshot of public opinion that says otherwise.

Proud of party support

2007-05-17T16:18:00.000+01:00

... so says Gordon Brown - Prime Minister elect, but elected by no-one outside of Fife.

How much 'prouder' and 'humbled' would he be if he had at least the support of the majority of the Labour party ? So 313 say 'yes' to Gordon, but what of the 200,000 other Labour members ?

This is the man who has just said he hopes to 'rebuild trust in politics' - a bit rich from Gordon Brown, the man without a mandate !

Tory / Labour spot the difference !

2007-05-14T17:43:00.000+01:00

The following short letter published in 'The Independent' on Saturday 12 May said succinctly why the Tories are not an alternative to Labour.

Sir : Before we finally condemn Tony Blair for his war escapades we must remember that he would not have been able to go to war either in Iraq or Afghanistan if it had not been for Conservative support.

And we would not be now committed to wasting billions on a worthless nuclear weapons upgrade without the Conservatives . For many millions such as myself , the Conservatives are not a serious alternative.

ROBERT MacLACHLAN
Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Of course add support for Blair's education proposals [ for Academies read Tory CTC's] , on / but now off support for ID cards and even on February 7 2006 [as reported in 'The Guardian' Cameron was trying to pinch innocuous ideas from Gordie such as a national youth volunteer programme, compulsory English classes and a new focus on history teaching.

So what's it to be Tory, Labour or a distinctive liberal agenda?

Can anyone draw up a more definitive list of policy 'similarities' between the the bigger two parties ?

To Be Fair to Blair

2007-05-11T11:30:00.000+01:00

I am no fan of Blair, but was a little too harsh in my posting yesterday, so I would recognise the following I see as achievements :

Minimum wage
NI - peace and devolution
Scottish and Welsh devolution
Civil partnership legislation
No boom and bust - a relatively stable economy (albeit one coming under pressure now - Gordon leaving the Treasury at a convenient moment).
Sure Start
Tax Credits for those less well off (albeit fiendishly and unnecessarily complex)
Increased resources for Education + NHS (although not always delivering 'value for money').
Trade Union recognition rights
Compare northern cities like Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester now with how they were during the Thatcher years !

Don't get me wrong there's a whole slew of negatives too, but to always rubbish the 'other side' can leave one looking churlish and silly.

As others have said, come the big occasions and you have to admire the combination of skill, performance and chutzpah of Blair's oratory. Yesterday was one such day.

Finally given a choice between 'authoritarian' Labour and the faux 'liberal Conservative' Cameron crew then I'd go for the former.

This week is not last week or so I hope

2007-05-11T11:20:00.000+01:00

Last week saw a shock [to some] defeat at the hands of an independent for me in the Torbay local elections and the week was topped off by Nottingham Forest falling just short of automatic promotion to the ludicrously titled 'Championship' [Division 2 more like) and the end of 80 years of league football at Plainmoor. That Forest lost out to Bristol City - the team my step-daughter supports - makes it that bit worse.

On the plus side the indie candidate beat the Tories too !

Never mind the hoo-hah about Blair it is a vital week for different set of Reds. It's a trip to Somerset for the twice former European Champions and a trip to the new Wembley hopefully beckons for a play-off final. Please don't flunk it boys as you've done in other 'big' games this season. Well for Aha the 'Sun Always Shines on TV', but TV (especially Sky) cameras turn the Trees into gibbering wrecks. The 0-1 League Cup defeat at mighty Accrington being typical and the spineless defeat to Chelsea touched a new low. I think we've lost something like 7 out of out last 10 appearances on live TV, so I expect the worst.

To hell with entertainment - just give us a good score to take back to the City Ground....please !

Miracles do happen ! Blair gets something right !

2007-05-10T16:00:00.000+01:00

Did I really see the 'Big Man' 'Dr' Ian Paisley agreeing to share power with nationalists in 'Norn Iron' ? Big up for the perennial 'Dr No' of province politics. Ulster - well six of the nine counties - finally said Yes. How great that is !

Republicans too deserve credit. It seems not that long ago that on a Trades Council visit we took in a visit to the Maze prison and border areas and stayed in 'hotspots' in Derry and Belfast. To see republicans embracing home rule at Stormont is quite a compromise, but one well worth it as it will be saving countless lives.

Last I heard the area around the Maze was being touted as the potential site of a new stadium to house the province's football team. How times change !

Credit to Tony Blair and the Labour government [and let's not forget the much missed Mo Mowlem's contribution here]. Credit is also due to the forgotten men of the peace process such as John Hume and even David Trimble.

Similarly, the republican heritage of Fianna Fail and Bertie Ahern from the '26 counties' was instrumental in bringing the Shinners on board. Well done to all.

We have a cessation of violence, even a semblence of peace, but it's still a long road to an inclusive, liberal and non-sectarian NI. There's still a battle for hearts and minds to be won before the ghosts of the past can be finally banished. Here's to a better future for a beautiful part of our isles. Maybe this is where our sister party - the Alliance party - can be most influential.

A pity 3,000 + lives needed to be lost before the futility of war was realised.

My thoughts are with their families, irrespective of their 'tradition'.

Tony Blair and Me !

2007-05-10T15:28:00.000+01:00

May 1997, whilst having few illusions as to what might be achieved, ushered in Tony Blair and a 'Labour' government. As a [then] Labour party member and former councillor I cheered their election and the demise of the Tories. I was very definitely 'tribal' Labour !

May 2007 I stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the local elections in Torbay. That speaks volumes !

The authoritarian control-freakery of the Blair-led party doesn't trust it's own members let alone the wider public. There seems no ideological basis for them to exist anymore, other than they may or may not be better technocrats and managers of UK plc. That on so many issues they are closer to the Tories than us says a lot about each of the three main parties. Further, Tony's 10 years have arguably dented the future prospects for all progressive politics within and without the Labour party.

Why the Lib Dems and not Labour for me now ? What I wrote on 10 January 2006 sums it up :

For my part I changed my politics to a degree, but Labour changed there's even more. I used to be portrayed as ' hard left' [!] in my Labour days, but this was a crude stereotype. Whilst I shared with the left a commitment to social justice and a bias to the poor in terms of policy priorities, I did not and do not adhere to top-down centralism. I never will be told what to think or act politically !

Other issues where I depart from 'New Labour' othodoxy can be summed up as such :

commitment to green issues and inclusive grassroots co-operative practice with power devolved to the lowest practicable level (eg credit unions, time banks, mutuals, town/parish councils, community associations, neighbourhood committees)

firm believer in electoral reform (STV)

opposed to the state 'policing' of families (asbo/parental orders)

believe in free university tuition (as experienced by most of the Labour cabinet)

entirely believe in upholding individuals' civil liberties (anti-terror legislation, trial by jury, 'house arrest',equality before the law). I distrust the potential power of private monopolies and the state equally.

internationalist in outlook (pro reformed and more democratic EU and UN)

Accept that open and COMPETITIVE markets usually provide well the consumer goods and services we expect, but am less convinced about private engagement in public service provision such as schools, hospitals, probation service et al. New Labour has a dogmatic private good, public bad philosophy.

It could be that I am just a contrarian, but these days I feel much more in tune with the Lib Dems nationally than Blair's Labour. In reality I have more in common with the instincts of social liberals, be they in the Lib Dems, Labour or Greens. I still see myself as being firmly left-of-centre, albeit in an unorthodox collection of ideas and influences. Maybe others don't see me as being very Liberal, who knows ?!

Maybe I am the 'Brian Sedgemore' of Torbay ;-)

Bye, Bye then Tony. The Labour government has been run almost along 'democratic centralist' lines. With the fall of the 'Communist states' in the latter years of the last century only the Vatican and Labour hold to this tradition in Europe now !!

Anyone think Gordon Brown will be any better ? Hilary Benn as Deputy Leader wouldn't be a bad shout - anyone agree ?

Ming Campbell - The Lib Dems IDS ?

2007-05-09T19:44:00.000+01:00

The Lib Dems' IDS - that's the view of a crowing Marcus Wood, Torbay's Tory PPC. Amazing how one set of local election results can bring out an arrogance from the Tories.

Now, I placed Ming 3rd out of 3 candidates in the leadership election, but I would firmly counsel against him being replaced at the top of the party.

Yes, I do think Ming doesn't appear to connect that well with the floating or soft Lib Dem inclined voter. He does seem a bit wooden and charisma free. I can't envisage him going down well on a Newcastle council estate or in the area I live in, a disadvantaged area of Torquay.

However, it is not the perception of his personality he should be judged on. He has continued to be consistently Liberal albeit in keeping with what Tony Greaves called the right-wing tradition of the old Liberal Party. He was, is and will continue to be Liberal. Compare that with what Cameron used to say and what he's articulating now.

The loss of council seats and disappointing results in Scotland and Wales owes more to the fact that for the first time in a generation or more the Tories are once again electorally competitive [in England at least], in a way they were largely not under IDS, Hague or Howard. It had to happen eventually, sadly. Basically CK had a much easier ride and the fortune of a pivotal issue that harvested votes beyond our core support. So arguably the combination of lacklustre Tories and a once in a generation prime issue that separated us from the opposition should have delivered more, particularly with Labour also running out of political capital on other issues too. So it is against these elements that we should consider the Campbell record. Maybe the much lauded Charles Kennedy actually under-achieved ?!

Leading a party is a bit like being head coach or a manager of a football team. It takes time to shape a team and get results. Many in the LDs probably got complacent and expected a steady but inexorable rise in support to continue, especially at the Tories expense. Certainly too many changes at the top and disunity can only lead to the Lib Dems becoming the Manchester City of politics. I'm still slightly hopeful about the play-offs, so I didn't proffer the example of my beloved Nottingham Forest !

So we need to accept that we all as a party and not just Menzies Campbell need to raise our game. The Tories are back, get used to it, but if we hold our nerve and campaign on those issues where we are strong we can hold our own. It should be Cameron under scrutiny, but eventually the policy commissions and working parties will have to come up with at least SOME firm commitments and with the passing of time the vacuity of 'Dave' may well become even more apparent.

Already we have Green Tax Switch versus a big fat zero. On crime, LD councils have implemented innovative ideas and that compares with what exactly from the Tories ? Localism is one of the Tories 'new ideas', but is something that LDs embrace instinctively rather than for the sake of party 'rebranding'.

All in all let's get behind Ming and recognise that the political terrain is more challenging. Lets not make it harder by being seen as lukewarm in support of our party leader. Dwelling on past successes will get us nowhere ! Ming is far from the IDS of the Lib Dems ! Cameron may well prove to be the Tories Blair though !

Lib Dem 'Unionism' - Why ?

2007-05-09T13:48:00.000+01:00

I continue to find strange the complete attachment to 'unionism' from the Scottish Liberal Democrats. My point of view is well expressed by Simon Jenkins in today's 'The Guardian' He writes :

"That the party of Irish home rule should reject so liberal a proposal as territorial self-determination is odd"

As Jenkins further argues, all that is being demanded is merely a vote on independence and one seemingly tempered with the alternative option of increased self-governance for Scotland, which LDs support.

If the union is that strong then Scots will recognise this and vote accordingly. Why be so afraid of a vote ? Give the people of Scotland the outcome they choose. As it happens, rather than a vote for separation it looks from here as if much of the SNP support came in this election from leftist voters sick of Blair and McConnell, hence the transfer of votes from Labour and socialist parties.

Maybe north of the border there are other complications, but the independence referendum seams a strange deal breaker from t'other side of the border.

Don't get me wrong, Alex Salmond's rhetoric about Labour not having the moral authority to be in government and that Labour was on the decline for good in Scotland was utter cant. So 47 seats and well short of a majority gives you authority, whilst 46 spells the end for Labour is fatuous to say the least. What price the SNP not winning either a majority in either vote share or seats at the next Westminster elections ?

The rest of his Jenkins' opinion piece is utter tosh BTW !

Tory Ranter of the highest order!

2007-05-09T13:42:00.000+01:00

On Marcus Wood's blog today is an amusing piece of ranting from a Tory coucillor rather shy on identifying him/herselsf ! (see marcuswood.blogspot.com)

Anonymous said...

I am a conservative councillor (not one of yours) who has faced a concerted barrage from the Lib dems for years.

I am surprised at you Marcus for using terms like 'good leaflets' - they are the worst kind of gutter politics.

What the Lib Dems do is spread lies and rumours, make nasty and petty personal attacks against their opponents, deceive their electors about their chances of winning and generally do anything to win votes at any cost.

No policies, no philosophy, just envy and bile directed at anyone already elected.

All this does is drag everyone down to the lowest level - and then we wonder why no-one bothers to vote and councillors are held in such low regard.

Oh I know I shouldn't bite and I briefly referred to the Green Tax Switch and crime initiatives of the party but this just shows the standard of some elected under the Tory banner. Who said the 'nasty party' was a thing of the past ?!

23-9 to the Tories in Torbay ! What Next ?

2007-05-06T16:51:00.000+01:00

My previous post proved quite prophetic as in Ellacome the vigorous long-running campaign of Julien Parrott saw him beat both the Tories and myself in the local elections. At least we retained one seat in the shape of Cindy Stocks who is Ellacombe through and through.

Having absolute control now the mayor has an entirely free hand, but I hope he learns from his mistakes to date, for the good of the bay.

Listen to residents as much as business interests, consult and take people with you and engage with councillors, including LD ones, irrespective of the cabinet make up. It will no longer do for Mayor bye to blame us for all the ills of the bay - and vice-versa for us !

From a LD perspective, I am encouraged that many of our disadvantaged areas (ala Watcombe, Hele, Ellacombe, Upton et al) still have SOME Lib Dem representation and the concerns of residents in such areas can be voiced through them.

Further, six to twelve months ago we were dead in the water and people were unremittingly hostile to us, this is no longer so. I'll admit we have work to do to restore our fortunes, but working all year around as we do, you can be sure of some vigorous contests ahead !

Amusingly a Conservative party boasting the Town Hall 'talents' and egos and personalities of Bye, Carroll, Excell and Oliver should be 'interesting' to follow. It will be interesting to see if the unlovable Caroll retains his position of leader following the initial Tory group meeting on Monday.

All is not lost though. Our MP - Adrian Sanders has a personal popularity level that is far greater than that for the party and indeed the local Tories too. Moreover, the heavy defeat fails to illustrate that we were not too far behind in a number of seats despite the hostility to the Chris Harris led LD group who took a number of decisions that alienated us from bay residents, even allowing for the hugely unimpressive Tory executive mayor that followed.

Interestingly as the electorate sought to punish us and usher in fresh faces all the LD successes were sitting councillors and the group has no new faces. In several wards, including the one I stood in, the new faces [at least to bay politics] polled notably fewer than the better known councillors. Thus a number of wards were politically split between ourselves and opponents.

It seems imperative that we select and build-up new candidates at an earlier stage.

To be fair to Marcus Wood (Tory PPC) his criticism that we ran too hard on the thorny issue of the casino bid he may be right. Whilst bay residents ARE opposed to it and resent the lack of consultation we probably 'gambled' too much on this issue and on the failings of the elected mayor. In hindsight more from our local manifesto may have delivered better results and we must move beyond being the anti-Mayor Bye party.

The current LD group need to formulate a way of balancing constructive engagement with, as well as opposition to, Conservative Mayor Bye. From a personal point of view, I still think it'd be a mistake to join his cabinet. There is little common ground and the mayor is utterly uninterested in the fate of some of our more disadvantaged districts. The public perception, much advanced by Bye, is that we were utterly oppositional throughout his term of office to date. We need to counter such perceptions better, irrespective of the tone of our local paper.

I think the election strap line of 'Standing up for local People' and the claim that we ARE the only party to work all year round need to be realised from heronin. That is the way forward. What credit we have is for opposing the mayor on issues that have resonated with local people, such as the casino, the concessionary bus pass scheme, future of some of our historic buildings and in opposing the closure of care homes. We need to carefully pick the terrain that we maximise our opposition to the mayor.

Lastly, the council group has a new leader, in Steve Darling. He would have had my vote and should prove the right choice as he is almost certainly the figure who unsettles the Tories [and especially the Mayor] most. A radical choice and an astute political operator and a ferociously hard-working councillor is what we've now got heading the LD. The only way now is up !

So what's the vibe on the streets ?

2007-05-01T13:42:00.000+01:00

Following on from our defeat in the 2005 referendum over our structure of local government and the subsequent election of a Tory Executive mayor we faced a difficult set of local elections here in Torbay.

As regular readers of 'Liberator' will know relations between our council group and the rest of the party (MP, officers, activists and supporters) could have been better. Unsurprisingly as well as the mayoralty vote, we lost a number of successive by-elections.

Torbay, by anyone's standards, is an oddity at local government level, with wild swings between the the Tories and ourselves typical at council level. 2003 was an emphatic win for us, but we were trounced in 2000. So defending a high watermark of 2003 was always going to be a severe challenge and less than six months ago I envisioned low single figures as being the totality of the incoming LD council group of 2007.

But, due to the ineptitude of the Tory Executive mayor, allied to a much more sure footed leadership of the group [for the most part] under Cllr. Gordon Jennings and we're back in the running again. I'll predict no more than that, even if the Tory PPC is forecasting his party having a majority of councillors. We are getting a good response on the doorsteps, but the presence of a committed Indie, another Indie, UKIP and BNP, as well as Tory and Labour means that I am not so quite as optimistic as my running mate, Cllr Stocks. Mind you, I am a curmudgeonly glass is half empty kind of guy anyway ! My one previous experience of being a candidate I felt exactly the same, only for a comfortable victory to be the result. Here's hoping for a repeat scenario !

Sadly the mayoral election is not until 2011, but such are the mayor's failings that this can only help in our efforts to retain the Westminster seat. For lots of anti Lib Dem sledging go to :
http://marcuswood.blogspot.com/ . Don't expect to read much in the way of Tory policy ideas though. Attacking Adrian Sanders MP continually seems a poor tactic especially as Adrian's personal popularity arguably outstrips that of both the local Tories and Lib Dem parties !

To be less than partisan, I must publicly pay tribute to the Labour candidate. Arguing the case for a hugely discredited party in national office and in an area with no Labour councillors can be no easy task, but his workrate has been phenomenal and without any obvious party support on the streets. Jermaine I salute your efforts ! A triumph of youthful optimism for his one-man-band campaign. He will truly deserve every vote. I hadn't the heart to tell him our squeeze message was about to hit the front porches of the ward today !

As a candidate in a local ward one thing strikes me greatly. In 1989, as a Labour candidate and subsequent victor in a then marginal ward, I don't remember being worked so hard as I am now ! Now I know what the Lib Dems mean by pavement politics ! It's time to inspect some more of those Ellacombe roads armed with leaflets ! To all those also standing and / or campaigning enjoy it and here's to some good success stories on Friday morning !

Stop the Rot : Letter to 'Herald Express' 300407

2007-05-01T13:40:00.000+01:00

As yet unpublished ! :

It is with some incredulity that Torbay Conservatives' core message for the 2007 local elections is to 'stop the rot' with regard to Torbay Council. One assumes this is meant as an attack on the Liberal Democrats, but this blithely overlooks the fact that their party controlled the council from 2000-2003 and again from October 2005 to date. The first administration was rated as 'poor' by the Audit Commission and Conservative rule since 2005 has seen the Tories seek to foist a second casino on Torquay without reference to the residents of the bay, to ignore the 7,000+ petitioners and respectively 'privatise' St.Kildas and close Dunboyne care homes. We've seen the abysmal handling of the change in the senior citizens bus pass scheme, without recourse to proper debate at full council and worrying 'noises' about the future of some of our most famous landmarks.

One Tory poster I've seen speaks of the achievements of the Tories under Mayor Bye and asks us to imagine what they might achieve in four years following the local elections. Just imagine indeed !

Conversely other literature asks voters if they are fed-up with a Lib Dem run council. It seems they can't even decide if they are running the council or not ! On the plus side they do at last recognise Mayor Bye in their election materials as being one of their own. Hopefully we can move on from his pretence to be 'Independent'. What a shambles of a campaign !

How kind of David Cameron, someone whose knowledge of the bay was hitherto unknown, to outline his vision for Torbay. The Tory leader joins Marcus Wood and Richard Morgan (Torbay Development Agency) in promoting a second Torquay casino. All these people beyond knowing what's best for us are, of course, unelected and therefore unaccountable to local people.

As for the Conservative Mayor, he was quoted in this paper on November 18 as saying about the casino : "this is not being pursued personally by me, but it is a bid supported by the cabinet and some councillors", yet the same Nick Bye then tried unsuccessfully to sell the idea of a casino at a public debate a few days later ! Confused? I am ! Such feelings were reinforced when the success of the bid was followed by the inevitable 'photo-op' of the mayor celebrating this outcome.

Every indicative poll, be it through respondents to Bayview, listeners to Radio Devon, the poll on the website of Adrian Sanders MP and the one public debate have all shown overwhelming opposition to the casino. No wonder the Tories say no to a referendum on the matter !

With the local elections almost upon us I have been asked many times by people in Ellacombe my own personal view. I was, and remain, vehemently opposed to the casino as I believe the notion of regenerating Torbay on the back of others' addictions is morally repugnant. Furthermore, I remain sceptical about the project in purely economic terms too.

The Lib Dems will stand up for local people, the Tories seek to impose their plans upon us. Whilst bay residents are denied a direct vote on the casino you can express your opinion via the Torbay Council elections on Thursday. Please use your vote and send the Tories a message they can't ignore.

Barrie Wood
Liberal Democrat Candidate
2007 Local Elections
Ellacombe Ward

Torbay Tory Campaign and Stupid Tory Pledge

2007-05-01T13:12:00.000+01:00

As many will be aware we have an all-powerful executive mayor in Torbay, along with a Conservative 'cabinet'. The greater number of councillors are currently Lib Dem. An uneasy period of 'co-habitation' since October 2005 has been the result.

The thin-skinned mayor is not keen on being challenged and held to account by the Lib Dems, despite the limited powers these councillors have.

In their local election materials on the one hand the Conservatives boast of his achievements since being in power. On the other hand they ask if people are fed up with this Lib Dem run council. It seems like they can't even decide if they run the council or not.

The combined 'achievements' of the mayor and his Tory allies to date include :

* Closure and / or privatisation of care homes against fierce opposition from the people of both Torquay and Brixham.

* 'Success' in winning in their bid to 'regenerate' Torquay via their casino bid - again, yes you've guessed it, despite overwhelming opposition to the plan from local residents. Naturally they were never asked for their view.

* Made a complete hash of the change in the senior citizens concessionary bus pass scheme. This was done behind closed doors without even reference to the LD Transport 'Champion'. The actual implementation of the new scheme looks to have swallowed up much of the cash that was to be saved by the change of policy, due to a lack of foresight in issuing the revised pass.

* Mayor Bye getting elected as a 'Conservative' but tried [unsuccessfully] for several months to pass himself off as an 'Independent' despite continuing to be active in a local Conservative Association !

Still his colleagues have come up with a list of priorities for the first 100 days of a Tory council which include the tackling of the issue teenage pregnancies. This from people who already control the council and make a hash of even a bus pass scheme. You really couldn't make this stuff up.

Still it is a pledge and moves on from the executive mayor election campaign where the Tory winner offered a vision of a 'cleaner, safer, more prosperous bay'. Try reversing this and find me a candidate of ANY party seeking a crime infested, litter strewn and poverty stricken bay.

Torbay - the place where pantomime and politics meet !

Three dull political parties ?

2007-03-19T11:49:00.000Z

With Spring Conference 2007 Ming Campbell completed his first year leader of the Liberal Democrats. I'm sure many have commented on this already, but am I unreasonably out-of-kilter in feeling uninspired 12 months on ? Frankly the difference in policy terms [where the Tories have or have signalled them] between the three main parties I believe is leaving the electorate feeling as bored as I am. Frankly if I'm bored as someone traditionally politically active, then what of those less engaged ?

Yes, maybe we have been more 'up front' and ideologically committed to the environment via Green Taxes, but all parties will offer up something on this issue at the next election. On crime our position is divergent and more nuanced than the authoritarianism of the other two parties, but hardly the stuff of political imagination to excite electoral passions. On Trident, conference went with the 'support Ming' position, as if supporting the leader is the raison d'etre of a democratic party.

Admittedly I didn't go to Conference as I'd pre-arranged to visit the East Midlands. The combination of a Forest home game [and 5-1 win] and the prospect of seeing US classic rock giants Journey in Nottingham sounded a far more exciting prospect. The latter, especially Neal Schon's incredible guitar work and new frontman Jeff Scott Soto's stage presence I lapped up. What I saw of Ming's speech was as always, worthy but unremarkable. As with his set-piece TV interviews, he came across as 'wooden' and lacking personal 'warmth'. Like it or not in a televisual age and focus on party leaders this does matter to the electorate, if not party political activists.

Sadly it could be that the lack of radicalism and the arguing at the narrow margins of policy difference makes the turgid and bigoted [and in parts still fascist influenced] BNP look like the 'radical alternative' to the ill-informed seeking easy answers. A scary thought.

Does no-one else see the poll tallies for 'others' rise and not wonder if / why the main parties, LD included, are failing to strike a chord with the electorate ? My crystal ball suggests that UKIP, Greens, BNP and alleged independents may all do quite well in local elections in England.

Of course, it could be that I'm just moody, difficult and a political 'contrarian' ! Oh well, I'd better turn my attentions to Torbay again. Locally the chasm in policy, attitudes and priorities between the Tories and LD's are reason enough to get 'stuck in' politically once more. Having suffered ill health, redundancy and experienced sub-standard housing in 2007 I have not offered much to the party in the local election campaign thus far. I apologise for that, but it is something I'll be striving to change over the coming weeks !

SNP - A Centre-left social democratic party ?

2007-03-19T11:24:00.000Z

Hmm...the SNP like to portray themselves, especially in urban Scotland as a progressive alternative to Labour, but how does this fit their acceptance of a massive donation from Brian Souter, the chief of that predatory monopolist-minded 'Stagecoach' company ?

Whilst Alex Salmond is a good media performer he has the problem of trying to keep on board both the independence fundamentalists and the pragmatists in his party. Likewise there is the contradiction of the moderate party portrayed in rural Scotland standing against the supposedly more left-leaning party challenging Labour in the central belt. And, people accuse the LD's of being all things to all people !

I'm looking forward to seeing / hearing Salmond sell / spin this donation to those of us who abhor the anti trade union and homophobic attitudes of Mr Souter. Further his muscular brand of evangelical Christianity may not endear him to the large traditional 'Catholic' vote that Labour has traditionally harvested. Let the fun begin ?!

As for Stagecoach I remember only too well how he acquired his monopoly position in Darlington when I lived there. 'Free' buses were put on. This drove the municipal transport operator into the ground and having attained a stranglehold on public transport in the town the end result was the usual cocktail of poor services, high travel costs and anti trade unionism that (in my view) typifies his company.

True, services are better here in Torquay, but travel costs are ludicrously high. How can it cost £4 for a daysaver covering a small Devon borough whilst you can travel the breadth of Greater London on the same terms for £3.50 ? Crazy !

Lib Dems and Scotland

2007-03-19T11:17:00.000Z

I may be missing something here but I don't really get the Lib Dems attachment to the union. Surely the Scottish Lib Denm position ought to be more fluid and not take such a rigid Unionist position. Surely it is a matter for the people of Scotland and we should be happy to reflect the will of the people and make their preferred constitutional settlement work, whatever that may be. Instinctively we are for powers being devolved to the lowest practicable level so outright opposition to independence doesn't seem apt.

Mind you, being (very much) south of the border it is none of my business, but I am curious as the what party members / supporters feel in Scotland. Any feedback would be most interesting !

Torbay Tory PPC - Sponsored by Bearwood Corporate Services

2006-12-11T17:44:00.000Z

Letter to Herald Express 111206 :

As The Independent (30 April) noted, the Tories were able to outspend their opponents to devastating effect in last years’ General Election. 23 of the 31 seats won from Labour by the Tories were targeted by three Tory donors who channelled money directly into constituencies. In 19 of these 23 constituencies the Tories outspent Labour by 2.5 times and the resultant swing to the Tories averaged 4.5%, well ahead of the 3.1% national trend. One of these men, the Belize based tax exile Lord Ashcroft, through Bearwood Corporate Services, donated £5,000 to Marcus Wood’s campaigning funds in Torbay and The Guardian (November 28) reports that Lord Ashcroft has already promised to ensure that the Tories spend more in marginal seats well ahead of the next election. This, of course, will seek to circumvent spending restrictions immediately before an election.

It is laughable that Marcus Wood, Conservative parliamentary candidate, has the temerity to challenge the small donations made by locally based individuals be they Lib Dem councillors, members or supporters to support the campaigning work of Adrian Sanders MP, whilst 60% of his own campaigning costs were met by a man who pays little UK tax, whilst Conservative party treasurer gained overseas donations to the party that many deemed inappropriate and on the BBC News online site (23 November) he is quoted as describing curbs on party spending as ‘barmy’.

Lord Ashcroft has bought influence before. Michael Ashcroft has made large donations in Belize too - rumoured to total about $1m - to the right-wing People's United Party (PUP) when it was in opposition. In 1998 the PUP came to power after defeating the centre-left United Democratic Party (UDP) and subsequently introduced several pieces of legislation financially advantageous to Mr Ashcroft. They included a law giving tax-exempt status to some companies including Mr Ashcroft's offshore holding company Belize Holding Inc (BHI). The Ashcroft-owned Bank of Belize was also granted the exclusive right to set up offshore companies in Belize for US and UK citizens (BBC Website 31 March 2000).

I think it is Marcus Wood and the Tories that have much more to answer with regard to party campaigns funding and having lambasted Lib Dem councillors for supporting their MP, in the interests of even handedness he will want to equally denounce the £1,800 donation made by his Devon County Council colleagues to their party in Teignbridge ! Likewise he will be ‘angry’ that Labour councillors in Leicester donate three per cent of their larger £7,800 basic allowance to group funds promoting that party’s agenda in the city.

I’ll let readers decide if they prefer a candidate supported by ‘foreign' money from an influential tax exile or small donations from local people supporting Adrian Sanders their local Lib Dem MP. I know which I prefer and trust. Maybe the ballot paper should read Marcus Wood (Conservative Party) sponsored by Bearwood Corporate Services Ltd !

Thatcher and Pinochet

2006-12-11T11:52:00.000Z

How nice to be reminded by the unlovely Margaret Thatcher of how horrid she and her party can be ! How thoughtful of her to pay 'tribute' to that mudering despot General Augusto Pinochet. My thoughts are with the families and friends of those murdered in Chile by his regime and I;m very much on the side of democratically elected governments [even ones as bad as her's was ] !

I wonder what 'Dave' makes of this ?!

Tory PPC dismisses Christian Voters' Views !

2006-12-11T11:48:00.000Z

Unpublished Letter to 'Herald Express' 23 November 2006

On his online diary entry of 22 November Marcus Wood, Conservative parliamentary candidate, reports on the public debate between mayor Nick Bye and Ian Handford of the Civic Society regarding the provision of a ‘super casino’ in the bay. Beyond waxing lyrical about the debating skills of the mayor [and I readily admit he is a talented debater and an eloquent public speaker], he seems to imply that even though the meeting in his words voted three to one against the casino bid that this can be largely ignored as many of the audience were allegedly drawn from the Christian community.

Are we not council tax payers, voters and an integral part of the bay too? Why are the opinions of people of faith any less important than the wider electorate? I trust Marcus will publicly apologise for his offensive tone and accept that this issue is one that divides opinion across and within all political parties. Your own report on the meeting is informative. Revealingly those you record as speaking in favour of the casino were largely drawn from the ‘political and professional class’ with those opposed being members of the public.

As Adrian Sanders MP said in the Herald Express on 18 November the social costs could well outweigh any economic benefit and the Torbay bid scored poorly in terms of regeneration prospects. In the same article our Conservative mayor tries to distance himself from the bid by saying ‘this is not being pursued personally by me, but it is a bid supported by the cabinet and some councillors.’, yet the same Nick Bye then tries unsuccessfully to sell the idea of a casino at a public debate a few days later ! Confused? I am!

Although I remain unconvinced about the casino bid, I fully acknowledge the motivations and integrity of those who see the matter differently. However, I trust voters equally respect and welcome independent minded candidates seeking public office, even Christian ones!
Barrie Wood
Ellacombe Liberal Democrats
2007 Local Election Candidate.

Note to Editor: see www.marcuswood.blogsot.com entry entitled Is Torbay to be the new 'Monte Carlo' or another 'Las Vegas'?

£500 the Price to be a Tory Councillor !

2006-12-11T11:44:00.000Z

Letter to Herald Express published 29/11/06 :

Far more revealing than your front page story regarding the usage of Lib Dem councillor allowances is the revelation from Kevin Caroll, Deputy Leader of Torbay Council and leader of the Conservative group, that their candidates are expected to pay £250 towards an election campaign and, upon election, pay a similar sum to the party. Surely this undermines David Cameron’s efforts at remaking the Conservatives as a more liberal and ‘inclusive’ party and one attempting to be more reflective of modern Britain. ? Surely the Tories need to reach out beyond the professional and business classes that are heavily over-represented on councils all over the country. Is £500 the price of being a Tory councillor?

Conversely, I am delighted to say that I was both approved as a candidate and selected by the Ellacombe ward party as Lib Dem candidate for the 2007 local elections on the basis of my ideas, experience and commitment to both the party and the bay. My income was never a factor. As someone on an income very much closer to the minimum wage level than the national average and with a ‘lifestyle’ to match, I believe that I reflect the experience of many Ellacombe and Torbay households and that such voices need to be heard at Council level.

Contrary to Marcus Wood’s claims that the Tories are genuinely changing it seems its prospective candidates for public office are still drawn from, and represent, a narrow strata of Torbay’s populace. It looks like ‘same old Tories’ to me, representing the interests of a few rather than the many!

Barrie Wood
Ellacombe Liberal Democrats
Torquay.

Playing Catch Up !

2006-10-31T09:48:00.000Z

Well it's nearly a month since my last missive. So what's new ? Not much really !

Last month I was selected to contest the Ellacombe ward on Torbay Council for the Lib Dems. And, maybe as a reaction to a prospective 'full on' level of political activity I have been bedevilled by illness since. I have a rare condition that periodically involves muscular weakness and muscular spasms. Luckily most of the past year has been trouble free, but the last three weeks have been absolute hell. Happily I'm coming out of this spell now, but activities other than the necessity of going to work have been curtailed massively. My first political engagement for weeks was the local party executive last Friday and, in truth I didn't really feel like it and couldn't wait to get home ! It is just so disappointing when you think you have a condition under control and then it comes back to haunt you again. But the possibility of losing to the Tories is a strong motivator and I fully intend, alongside my co-candidate Cllr Stocks, to campaign vigorously and retain the ward for the party in what will be a difficult set of elections in the borough next May.

Mind you it looks like Torquay United are having 'mobility' issues too. 10 hours without a goal and 1 point from seven games. So another season of struggle and with it a brand of dire route one football. Still my first sporting love - nearly wrote my first love to the disgust of my wife - Nottingham Forest are - the Scunthorpe debacle excepted - top of the table, picking up points with more efficiency than style and looking like promotion is a real possibility for them. In our historically speaking lowly position points make prizes and here's to a return to meeting with our 'friends' from Derby and Leicester next season ! With top striker Nathan Tyson still to return from injury things are looking good.

Moreover, the boys are still in the hunt for 'glory' in the Johnstone Paints Trophy ! What a waste of time this is ! Still having won the old Full [or is that Fool] Members Cup twice we have history in winning such minor competitions [ in the guise of sponsorships from Simon and Zenith Data Systems].

On the wider political front we've just 'celebrated' a year of Tory rule in the shape of an elected executive mayor. The result ? A £1.9m budget overspend. A £2m underspend on social care meaning the pending privatisation of two much respected local authority care homes. We've had endless speculation on the future of Oldway Mansion and the Pavilion, both much loved historic buildings threatened by asset stripping by the Tories. Regeneration is key for the Mayor. Yet this regeneration pays more heed to business interests than those of local residents, with the push for a new casino by the mayor attracting at best lukewarm support from the people of the bay. Indeed, people - especially the most vulnerable - hardly come up on the mayor's political radar at all. His updated community plan list 10 major priorities, but fails to list one of the foremost unmet needs within the bay, that of affordable housing [be it for rent, to buy or shared ownership].

In place of concrete policy we have had the ludicrous spectacle of the mayor's ego-stroking media stunts. We've had the mayor in a hard hat at AstraZeneca, in parking attendant uniform with the NCP staff on duty, we've had Nick Bye dressed as 'Hercule Poirot' - the list goes on. I think here is a man who'd go to the opening of an envelope if he thought the 'Herald Express' or other local media outlets would give him publicity. We've publicity instead of policy and a mayor serving the interests of a few and not the many. The experiment of an elected mayor has been a total disaster. Strong opposition is required and it is the way events have unfolded here in the bay that encouraged we to stand for election to the council after vowing never to become a councillor again after my previous experience in Leicestershire !

What is interesting is that whilst the Lib Dems have strongly opposed the 'outsourcing' of the two care homes and it is a big issue with a combined total of 7,000 plus signatures on petitions challenging their closure, the ubiquitous Blarite Labour spokesperson, UKIP, assorted 'independents' have had nothing to say on the matter. It is only the LD that present a challenge to the mayor, within and without the council chamber, there is no other alternative and that is a message that must be got across to the voting public.

Time to up the ante !

REAL Tory policy views !

2006-10-03T09:04:00.001+01:00

The Conservative.Home / 'The Independent' survey of Tory grassroots makes interesting reading. Included in it's principal findings are the following nuggets :

Right-wingers are most popular members of shadow cabinet: The members of the shadow cabinet who would traditionally be seen as right-wingers - David Davis (72%), William Hague (56%) and Liam Fox (44%) - generally produce much higher levels of 'net satisfaction' from members than those who could be categorised as 'modernisers' - Francis Maude (2%), Theresa May (3%) and Oliver Letwin (10%).

On Cameron : 27% are either quite or very dissatisfied with Cameron

The authoritarian John Reid is the most feared would-be Labour leader, no doubt as his agenda chimes well with the core Tory impulses. Remember too how the term 'liberal conservative' was met with an embarassing response from the Tory grassroots during a Cameron speech earlier this week !

The A-list : A paltry 6% of Tory members believe that the A-list includes "the most talented candidates in the party" ....More than half of members (54%) thought it "a politically correct list that has excluded many of the party’s most experienced male and local candidates and it is a backward step."

Tax - and the only figures you're going to get from the Tories this week ! : 91% want personal tax cuts with 30% wanting a promise of a substantial tax cut before the General Election. Most members are disappointed with the modest Tory opinion lead: 65% of respondents thought that the 4.8% lead in ConservativeHome's poll of polls (as the lead was last week) should be larger given Labour's difficulties.

And beyond this poll we can see fissures on tax all too apparent within the Tory party. The Thatcherite 'No Turning Back Group', chaired by the 'much-loved' but strangely gone missing these last few months, John Redwood, has produced a pamphlet on taxation. In it; Lord Blackwell, who ran the Downing Street policy unit in John Major's government, said he thought taxes could be cut by between £20bn and £30bn over the next Parliament.

He said ensuring that public spending rose 1% slower than the growth of the economy would leave room for those tax cuts - and still see spending on public services increase by £40bn. What could be easier, everyone a winner - as if !

Edward Leigh, Conservative chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, claimed that at least 100 Tory MPs wanted plans for tax cuts set out immediately. He warned: "If the Conservative Party does not promise tax cuts then it's nothing."

Mr Leigh said the Conservatives would be "torn apart" by Chancellor Gordon Brown, the most likely next Labour leader, if they were "all spin". This is the same Mr. Leigh from the socially conservative 'Cornerstone Group' whose traditional views on family, welfare and immigration make chilling reading. Take a look at their website, the reactionary Conservative elements are alive and well and influential in that party.

Redwood points to the low tax regime of the Irish Republic and it's levels of economic growth, but typical of the Tories says nothing of the huge increase in inequalities in Ireland and the attendent social problems that have resulted.

It seems 'The Vulcan' wants to return to a retro 1980s Toryism, as do most of the members. This is the real Conservative party of today. Just like NuLab, they will tolerate Cameron as long as there is any possibility of winning the next election, but his platitudes hide the right wing sentiments of his membership.

Another word of warning. The last Tory leader to offer a threadbare policy programme to replace a discredited Labour government resulted in Thatcher and her ideological onslought and a very disunited Kingdom. Anyone for more of the same (potentially) ? Thought not !

On the plus side, I think the veneer of a new moderate conservatism is being exposed this week and, indeed, many commentators are taking issue with the total absence of concrete policy on ANYTHING.

Meritocracy - ' Dave' Cameron style !

2006-10-03T08:54:00.000+01:00

Having posted last week on the fact that one affluent and atypical London borough seems strangely so awash with Tory political 'talent ' that it provides more A-list party candidates than from Lancashire and Yorshire combined, it seems that Eton public school is similarly blessed.

'Dave's ' shadow cabinet of 35 contains from one public school - Eton - as many representatives (5) as there are from the thousands of state schools nationwide. That says more about the Tory party than any level of cosmetic makeover.

Welcome to the new 'inclusive' Conservative party of 2006 !

Conference Blues......Reds and Yellows....

2006-09-27T12:10:00.000+01:00

For someone watching the party conferences at home - well the Lib Dem one and the 'big hitters' from Labour's jamboree at least, the following thoughts come to my mind.

The Leader's Speech : always straight afterwards you get interviews on radio and TV with party reps / delegates and predictably they tell you how brilliant it was ! This is even when the evidence is very much to the contrary, Bloggers do likewise and try to 'spin' these events just like their professional counterparts. The lack of candour is very irritating !

Can you imagine the day when a party hack from the respective conference says Tony / Gordon / Ming or 'Dave' got it wrong and admits the speech was less than inspiring ? Even, I've seen him (and sadly currently only 'him') give better never passes the lips of these part-time politicos. Why these responses are televised is anyones guess, but I'm sure the public sees right through this oiliness !

So clearly Ming 'rallied the troops' and 'delivered substance not spin' and has 'stamped his leadership on the party and his is a party of 'liberal values' - strange that from a party called the Liberal Democrats !

Tony is, of course, 'the great communicator' and 'the author of three New Labour victories alonside Gordon'. Labour delegates have amnesia and forget about Iraq, Lebanon, trust schools and Academies, nuclear power, ID Cards et al . Swept up by the atmosphere of conference they fall in love with Tony again, oooh for at least five minutes, especially with the media in tow.

Best examples of this are major trade union leaders. At the TUC, the likes of Woodley, Prentis, Simpson and their ilk come to bury Blair, but come Labour conference it's talk of our great 'Labour government' and 'labour movement'. Bill Morris once of the TGWU was a master of this double-speak.

The Tories ? I confidently predict their convention attenders, for it is hardly a policy making conference, will say something along the lines of ... that 'Dave' gave the speech of 'Prime Minister-in-waiting' - join the queue behind Gordon Brown at least you upstart ! No doubt his speech will be 'inspirational' and maybe will express 'traditional Conservative values but in a modern setting' or maybe Tony Blair has said and done that already ?! Maybe he'll say 'go back to your constituencies and prepare for government' - hopefully with the same success David Steel had to that clarion call.

We'll definitely hear how 'modern', 'united' 'liberal' and 'green' they allegedly are too. All utter hogwash naturally. Oops nearly forgot that oxymoron 'compassionate conservatism' !

Speaking of being united, usually party activists say how united they are, 'reinvigorated' and ready to take that 'positive message' out to the country and challenge the policy-lite other parties. In print media Liberal Democrat News so often reverts to the "...only the Liberal Democrats..." can make our economy sound, get a No 1 record for 'Posh Spice', save the planet, restore Nottingham Forest to the Premiership or whatever. Like only Lib Dems have good ideas ?!

Conversely, following a fractious conference, senior personnel will in rare and reverential tones talk of the 'sovereignty of conference' and that how their annual borefest is democratic, unlike the other parties, naturally. That's having tried to twist arms and circumvent debate to get conference to vote down the newly-adopted but unwanted policy !

In short, memorable if not always great speeches have happened at conferences of all the main parties. However, I look to Labour, Greens, the miniscule Liberal Party as well as the Lib Dems for a source of progressive ideas and as an alternative to political conservativism. No-one has a monopoly on good ideas.

A summary of the Conference 2006 season so far [and this without any reference to Torquay United's minor league rivals Exeter City !] ;

Lib Dem Conference - a good week, some quality debates and the tax proposals are genuinely radical. Content-wise a good speech from Ming - a 7/10. But the delivery and lack of obvious warmth and passion marks him down a little. The 'image building' PR attempts in respect of Ming truly were nonsensical and counter productive.

Chales Kennedy had a horrendously difficult task in trying to say something interesting whilst not deliberately upstaging Ming. Now, whilst he's good on TV I don't think he's the great public speaker many Lib Dems would say. What I saw / heard from Charles was rather worthy but dull, as inevitablty it had to be.

Nick Clegg ? I'm not as great a fan of him as many. A bit Blair-like. Well delivered, some soundbite grabbing ideas and scored well with both Lib Dems and the public alike I should think. Well, the public, as in the political anoraks that watch the conferences on the box ! 8/10 for delivery and 7/10 for content. Trouble is his persona comes across as a kind of liberal or Liberal younger Blair ! To have Blair and his Tory clone Cameron is quite enough. Maybe his relatively youthful [in political terms] 'poshness' is distracting me.

Labour ? A memorable speech by Tony Blair brilliantly delivered. It was like a 'Greatest Hits' package with all the duff stuff conveniently left out. Blair at his best and worst. He connects well at this level, especially to the public. There were flashbacks to the Blair of '97 and not the shop-soiled goods of 2006. 9/10 for delivery, content 7 if you're a Labourite, otherwise 6/10.

Gordon Brown ? Shameless attempt to deny his weaknesses. Ergo, his claim to want to empower local authorities and send power downwards. You've had nine years to do this, instead the author of much domestic policy has proven to be a great centraliser. Sounded pretty much like 'more of the same' to me, but minus the insincerity and sleaze, as befits a former son of the manse. Usual, OK but dull, from the Chancellor. I'm not really sure he is the person to renew NuLab.

The Tories ? Next week lets see more of Norman Tebbit, Edward Leigh. Andrew Rosindell and the incomparable John Redwood, to remind us how awful they were and still are, beyond 'Dave's' slick salesmanship.

Oh how I love and hate the party conference season !

Radio Bloke and Anti-Scottishness

2006-09-27T11:18:00.000+01:00

I was listening to Radio 5 Live a little after Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Conference the other day . Afterwards they ran a vox pop on how acceptable GB would be as leader of GB. The hostility to his Scottishness, some of it appearing explicitly racist was alarming.

Ironically no-one seems as bothered or mentiones Sir Menzies Campbell's Scottishness ! Talking to people I know I think the tennis player Andrew Murray's alleged comments about supporting 'anyone but England' seemed to start this ball rolling [again]. Of course, whilst there seems to be anecdotal evidence of an increasing level of anti-English racism directed at the English in Scotland and a grain of anti-Englishness is in the psyche of some north of the border, but for the first time in my life, I am seeing / hearing some of this being reciprocated quite openly. A United Kingdom ?

At the same time, I hear on the news this morning, that RC's are allegedly six times more likely to be subjected to sectarian abuse than their Protestant counterparts in Scotland. I am however pleased that this hasn't been lazily blamed all on the 'Old Firm' of Rangers and Celtic as is often the case.

A Scottish perspective would be interesting on this, hopefully we might listen to each other and understand each other better. Gordon Brown, as for Ming Campbell too, should be judged on policies alone. Liberal values of tolerance and celebrating difference are much needed.

More on Ming ! - Not Moron Ming !!!

2006-09-27T11:01:00.000+01:00

Generally pretty positive conference vibe. Ming Campbell scored well on content but still looks a bit stiff and lacking in pesonal warmth. He looks uncomfortable, which in a televisual age distracts some from the message he seeks to relay. I say this having watched on TV.

The 'Blair Babes' style picture with mostly younger female Lib Dems on Brighton seafront again seemed very un-Ming. Play to his strengths and not resort to media-oriented spin.

What did nark me was the smug 'we are a party of substance not spin'. Surely this was undermined by media manipulation in pushing the new tax proposals for all they were worth prior to the conference debate ? Ditto attempts in the media to ramp up Ming's 'image' as leader. All that ex-Olympic runner stuff is utter crap ! It just draws attention to all his yesterday's [and some of ours no doubt].

He is who he is. Accept that or move on !

At least the bloke is consistent politically unlike others we could mention !

A List Meritocracy Cameron-style

2006-09-27T10:40:00.001+01:00

The latest tranche of Tory A-List hopefuls sees 11 out of 14 being London based. The head honcho [Shireen Ritchie] of Dave's attempt at inclusivity emanates from Kensington and Chelsea Conservative Association [KCCA] and was formerly Chairman (sic) of KCCA and a councillor there. Of 150 hopefuls in total we've got :

Timothy Coleridge (K&C councillor)
Margot James (K&amp;amp;amp;amp;C councillor)
Joanna Gardner (K&C councillor)
Elizabeth Campbell (K&C councillor)
Mary Macleod (Deputy Chairman K&C)
Mary Weale (K&C councillor)

Add to this : Melanie Mclean - who lives in the seat
Angie Bray GLA - whose Assembly seat includes K&C.

Consider this, KCCA provides more candidates for the A-List than the whole of Lancashire and Yorkshire combined. The Tories control Worcester, Walsall and Coventry councils - why aren't we seeing more of those councillors popping up?

As one commentator on Conservative.home says with deep irony: "Yes, having 5 K&C councillors plus the deputy chairman of the association on a priority list of 150 overseen by the ex-chairman of the association is merely a coincidence".

I'm mostly using the words of Tories up and down the country. It's all spin and a sham from Cameron.

Good to see the Tories want to reflect modern K&C..... sorry Britain ! I guess they've swapped the male city bankers / lawyers et al for their female counterparts. Great to see a smallish London borough produces such a swathe of 'talent'. Hats off to Davie C once more !

Pre- Conference Thoughts

2006-09-18T09:58:00.000+01:00

Watching Sunday AM with Andrew Marr yesterday I can only but agree with Stephen Tall that Ming was 'top notch'. It was the best interview I have seen him give since becoming leader and one where his advantages came to the fore : he was authoritative, measured and well briefed.

Now I didn't vote for Ming as even my second preference let alone vote for him as leader but I do sense he is growing into the job. The Ming of now, seems far removed from the hesitant and nervous Ming of those first few weeks.

That the MORI poll in the 'Sunday Times' of 3 September deems him the most trusted of party leaders, ahead of Cameron, Brown and Blair is something we should play up. Whilst others cast around for political policies of expediency [step forward Mr. Cameron], Ming has been true to his 'gut liberal' and 'creature of the centre-left' instincts.

As a consequence I am much more of a 'Ming-er' than I was and am 'at ease' with his leadership. Further, I am postively willing him to give a conference speech that will resonate well beyond the Brighton hall.

Tax ? I'm still open-minded, although still swing towards Evan Harris' amendment. But, I can live with and campaign on either outcome. Good policy will result either way !

On a differing tack I was delighted to be ranked at No. 28 in the Top 100 Lib Dem blogs. It is an encouragement and I am surprised to be ahead of a number of a number of well-established and quality blogs. And, I was amused to see Marcus Wood (Torbay Tory PPC) rated at No. 77 in the Tory listings !!

Moreover, I hope Iain Dale's guide to UK Political Blogging will encourage bloggers - old and new - from across the political spectrum. Frankly the quality to be found on the likes of ConservativeHome.com, Lib Dem Blogs Aggregated / Liberal Democrat Voice and Labour Home / Bloggers4 Labour all give greater insight to party thinking [especially at the grassroots] than that offered by the 'spun' offerings of the national media.

Great idea and a useful resource - Well done Iain !

Westminster Hour and Tax

2006-09-14T09:30:00.000+01:00

Yesterday along with three other Torbay Lib Dem party colleagues I took part in a pre-conference discussion for the BBC Radio 4 programme 'Westminster Hour'. Now I haven't done a radio interview for about 10 years and even that was in a community worker role. Prior to that I did do some media work as a councillor but virtually 'retired' from active party politics for most of the last decade.

It was so much easier being an armchair critic, but my opposition to the prospect of having an elected executive mayor in Torbay was the catalyst for action. The loss of both the referendum on the mayoralty and the Tories winning the position has compelled me to become active in politics again.

Anway, so I was pretty nervous and probably spoke way too much. Generally questions were straight forward and centred upon Ming's performance as leader, Charles Kennedy, political positioning of the party and, yes, tax. Amusingly the interviewer told me afterwards he forgot to ask about the so-called Orange Book Mark 2 - can't remember the title. Is it generally available yet ?

I have to say whilst I think we batted away most of the questions OK I guess we were, in part, a little 'off message' on tax. Whilst I think the consensual view was that we are open-minded and persuadable, I don't think any of us is fully on-board yet in respect of the new proposals from the Tax Commission.

I am open-minded and persuadable but :

a) the new policy seems more complex and difficult to 'sell' on the doorstep
b) the Tax Commission proposals are being spun heavily by the party hierarchy. I feel like we are being railroaded into adopting this new policy. I thought it was the other parties at their conferences that played follow-my-leader. Conference is sovereign. Persuade rather than coerce me !
c) elements of the new plans are ripe to be misrepresented by our opponents.
d) the 50p top rate is transparently progressive, clear and popular.

Liberal Legend (http://liberallegend.blogspot.com) says :

"Were you not paying attention during the General Election? Did you not see the campaigning style of our opponents? Don't you think that having a top rate of 50% puts off aspiring 20 and 30 something professionals....." and on Evan Harris " ...I had hoped he would have seen sense over the taxation proposals..."

Well firstly what arrogance about Evan seeing sense ! His view represents a notable tranche of party opinion and it is right that we have a full debate at conference. And, the writer above living in the SE of England, might find perspectives different here in the West Country. We've sadly too few aspiring professionals and entrepreneurs in range of the 50% top rate tax ! Rather more are on fixed incomes (retirement / benefits) and overwhelmingly closer to the minimum wage than even the national average wage ! Furthermore, as for the 'Chelsea Tractors' how do we distinguish between those that need them for their livelihoods in rural areas and those in urban areas that buy them as a gas guzzling status symbol ? Moreover, outside of metropolitan areas, punishing motorists whilst public transport is often poor, is a potential vote loser.

Don't get me wrong I do support the green agenda. Likewise there seems to be some real merit it the tax proposals being suggested for adoption. I hope conference will enable me to feel we might be replacing a good policy with an even better and allegedly more redistributive one.

Rant over !

Oh, if I / we come across terribly be nice, think of it as a 'learning curve' I'm on - hopefully one not too steep !

Polish Migrant Workers

2006-08-31T17:10:00.000+01:00

Letter to Herald E xpress 310806 ;

As a TGWU member I was delighted to read of Cllr Jennings; leader of the Torbay Liberal Democrat council group, lending his continued support to ensure that the same employment rights are afforded to Polish workers, especially in relation to the national minimum wage. The trade union maxim of equal pay for work of equal worth needs to be enforced for equality before the law is a cornerstone of democratic society that needs to be upheld. The council are therefore to be commended for producing 'Know Your Rights' leaflets in Polish to attempt to realise this goal. This follows organising and recruitment materials produced by the TGWU with similar aims in mind.

In contrast to Mark Dent of UKIP's thinly disguised opposition to the influx of Polish workers I'd prefer to recognise the positive contribution individuals from the new EU member states are making in our tourist industry, care sector jobs and, indeed, even in my own workplace. What is needed are initiatives to confront the bay's low wage economy as it impacts upon all our communities, irrespective of ethnicity. This is, of course, a more difficult longer term proposition than seeking electoral support for the populist but chauvinistic position that UKIP subscribes to.

Finally I'd like to suggest to readers that the quest for equitable employment practices should not be conflated with the issue of immigration. The latter is an issue of ongoing policy debate. The former is about the application of existing employment law.

This is in response to the following story from the 290806 edition of the Herald Express :

MISERY OF BAY'S MIGRANT WORKERS

Migrant workers are being ripped off and threatened by law breaking Bay bosses, it is being claimed.

Three Polish hotel staff working in separate establishments and a nightclub worker from France have been exploited by Torquay employers.

All four were paid less than the minimum wage, one receiving just £3.50 an hour.

And the nightclub worker was warned by his boss he would be deported if he complained to anyone.

The minimum wage varies: £5.05 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older; and £4.25 per hour for workers aged 18 - 21 years.

The shocking facts came to light during a drop-in advice session aimed at the Bay's migrant workforce and staged by The Transport and General Workers Union at the Acorn Centre.

Bay councillor Gordon Jennings, who is also the TGWU branch secretary, believes there are many more underpaid migrant workers in the resort who are too frightened to come forward.

He said: "We staged the session to tell migrant workers about their rights of employment in the UK and we picked up four who were not being paid the minimum wage with threats alongside it.

"The French guy working in a nightclub was told by his employers that if he divulged what he was getting they would have him deported.

"Obviously, they can't do that but he was very worried and thought they could.

"The three hotel workers were not aware they were being paid less than the minimum wage until they came to the drop-in session.

"I am concerned there could be others that are frightened to come forward because they have received similar threats.

"These people have a legal right to work in this country and it is illegal to pay them below the minimum wage."

The hotel workers from Poland are now all being paid the minimum wage, after TGWU representatives spoke to their employers.

Cllr Jennings continued: "This sort of thing is why it is so important to inform them of their rights when they are working in this country."

"As a councillor I have taken this back to the council and we have produced some 'know your rights' leaflets written in Polish which are available at Torquay Library and the job centre.

"These are the sort of things that should be in place to help people coming into the Bay from Europe to find work.

Mayor 'Mare on BBC 2

2006-08-08T10:51:00.000+01:00

Torbay Council's elected Executive Mayor made a complete buffoon of himself on national television last Friday evening. He described the resort as a 'parking paradise' which will come as a surprise to residents and visitors to the bay alike.

The NCP contract and the 'zest' of the parking attendants has alienated many. Further, the car parking charges are significantly higher than neighbouring boroughs and it certainly influences my shopping and leisure choices. Quite often I'll go to Ness Beach in Shaldon (Teignbridge) than to more local choices like the lovely Broadsands / Elberry Cove combination because of this factor.

A wider issue pertains to the mayor's antics however. His quest for endless media attention and photo-opportunities mean he's operating more like a ceremonial mayor, not the sole executive decision maker of the authority. Whilst aspects of the NCP contract and the wider issue of car park charges do need addressing, one might ask whether the mayor himself is justifying his near £60,000 salary !

Only a couple of weeks ago he attended an official opening of an extension to my workplace. Well Nick, you 'achieved' a nice photo in the paper and some inane quotes were attributed to you. But, Mr Bye that engagement was surely the job of the current Chairman (sic) of Torbay Council, who does much of the work formerly done by ceremonial mayors !

Maybe Nick you might belatedly wrestle with your own under-funding of adult social care which is threatening the closure of local facilities, rather than embarking on more ego stroking media appearances. The LD warned of the shortfall at the budget meeting and since then your error is being compounded by inaction.

Some time ago a LD councillor had to apologise to the mayor for calling him a buffoon. As an activist, rather than councillor, I see no reason to be quite so circumspect [with regard to this matter at least]!

Be More Like Lib Dems say UKIP !

2006-08-08T10:40:00.000+01:00

Thanks to an anonymous contributor to my blog for this tip off ! This letter remains unpublished, but it is amusing to see opponents imitating us. Pity UKIP locally have no discernible policy differences with the Tory mayor and their lead candidate - Susie Colley - has a slim electoral platform that can be summed up as 'I'd be a really good councillor and I hate the Lib Dems' !

Text of Letter to Herald Express 310706 below :

UKIP just bang on about Europe – so why should anybody vote for them come local election time? This is the question posed on 15 May 2006 to UKIP's own online 'Democracy Forum' The suggested answer was to emulate the Lib Dems and adopt a 'community politics' based approach.

To apply this in practice it is suggested that UKIP members buy no less than 6 recommended guides from the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors to give their activists the skills to be more like the Lib Dems ! Has Susie Colley placed her order yet ?!

I should warn UKIP members though that an inability to talk about subjects other than Europe will limit the effectiveness of the suggested publications !

Barrie Wood
Torquay.

Torbye View 050806

2006-08-08T10:36:00.000+01:00

Letter to Herald Express :

'Torbay View', the periodic magazine of Torbay Council, is meant to be an
informative non-political publication highlighting the successful work
of the council, included the often under-valued contribution made by
its staff. Whilst accepting that the elected mayor as the bay's first
citizen should rightly feature, the summer edition is notable for its
inclusion of only Conservative politicians - the mayor [several times]
and his deputy, Cllr. Carroll.

A first glance one could misconstrue this as a partisan party political
magazine. This Summer edition might be better called Torbye View ! I trust this was not the intention of all concerned and look forward to future editions featuring a broader range of council members from all parties and none.

Sadly Nick Bye continues to be erroneously described as being
Independent, despite continuing membership of the Conservative party,
presiding over a ruling Conservative administration and there being
direct weblinks to his neglected online presence from both websites of
the Torbay Conservatives and Marcus Wood, their leading spokesperson
locally. Everyone must know you're a Tory Nick, why persist with this
pretence and put distance between you and your party ?

I await the next issue with interest !

Barrie Wood
Torquay

Pity much of the last major paragraph was chopped when published by the paper!

The Tories - Still the Nasty Party !

2006-08-02T15:09:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Paul Clarke on the LDYS Forum for drawing my attention to this :

"Nasty foreigners are ruining Britain" - spokesman for Cornerstone Group of Conservative MPs. See : http://www.cornerstonegroup.org.uk/

BBC Report on Cornerstone statement : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5232776.stm

Some things don't change. The Tories are the 'Nasty Party' and the BNP the 'Nazi Party'. No amount of sharp suits, makeovers or honeyed words will change this anytime soon !