EU Referendum (Free subscription) | 14 hours ago
The Independent is telling us that the Boy Cameron is facing "a growing challenge to his authority from senior members of his own party who say they have doubts about the Conservatives' stance on global warming." Leading figures including Peter Lilley, the former cabinet minister, Andrew Tyrie and Ann Widdecombe are openly questioning the political consensus on climate change. David Davis...
Iain Dale's Diary (Free subscription) | 27/11/2009
From now on, BBC1 is to be rebranded DAVE. And here's the programme schedule for Day One*... 6am The Big Breakfast with Eric Pickles 10.30am This Morning with Ann & Nick Winterton 11.30am Grumpy Old Tories with Sir Peter & Sir Patrick 1.00pm Fox News with Liam and Jesme 1.30pm Keith & Mrs Simpson 2.00pm The Darling Buds of Theresa May 2.30pm Just William Hague 3.00pm The Graham Brady Bunch...
SNOPPER SAYS..... (Free subscription) | 27/11/2009
THE RIGHT GOODBYE.. In a way it`s none of my business, as I`m not a `constituent` of Ann Widdecombe. But I am a taxpayer paying her wages and her allowances and, as such, entitled to the occasional comment. It seems odd to me that MPs seem, by and large, to have been viewed as a bit special by those who support them and I guess that in some cases that may have been justified. Now, I have no reason...
The Empire Chronicles (Free subscription) | 26/11/2009
Controversial plans were unveiled yesterday to force political parties to make Parliament less white, male, middle-class and heterosexual, the Daily Mail reports. Under proposals backed by Commons Speaker John Bercow, but labelled as insulting by former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe, parties will be made to declare publicly how many women, ethnic minority, gay and disabled applicants they reject as...
Derek for St Ives (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Ann Widdecombe MP and I took centre stage at an event held at the home of Sir John and Lady Nott on Saturday evening. The event, packed with local people hoping for the return of a Conservative MP for St Ives, was in honour of Cllr Doe Harry, President of St Ives Conservatives. Miss Widdecombe MP and I acknowledged the huge task ahead of both winning the General Election and then putting the Nation’s...
The Galloping Beaver (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry fire shots across the bow at the catholic church. These are two clips from the BBC's Intelligence Squared presentation of "The catholic church is a Force for Good." Hitchens is up first followed by Ann Widdecombe - a recent convert to catholocism - and Fry finishes up. bennie and the jerks: 0 Our side: 1 . . . . H/T BTO (Cross-posted from Moved to Vancouver...
Moved to Vancouver (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry fire shots across the bow at the catholic church. These are two clips from the BBC's Intelligence Squared presentation of "The catholic church is a Force for Good." Hitchens is up first followed by Ann Widdecombe - a recent convert to catholocism - and Fry finishes up. bennie and the jerks: 0 Our side: 1 . . . . H/T BTO Recommend this Post at Progressive...
BBC Internet blog (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Over on the Editors blog to introduce The People's Politician Tom Giles, executive producer, BBC Current Affairs, has written: Today, the BBC is helping to launch an new experiment to try and re-invigorate the link between MPs and their constituents - using what's known as "direct democracy" to test how far politicians are willing to do what local people want. Tom goes on to explain: Two...
BBC Blog - The Editors (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Another day; another political expenses scandal. Six months on from the worst Parliamentary controversy in memory, the political classes are still reeling from the fallout. Some may even be facing criminal prosecution . With a general election looming, MPs rarely have been held in lower public esteem. Polling, even before the expenses affair, suggests that an overwhelming majority of the public feel...
Cllr Ian Lewis (Free subscription) | 23/11/2009
What do these Labour MPs: Hilary Armstrong, Margaret Beckett, David Blunkett, Nick Brown, Mark Fisher, Kate Hoey, Huw Irranca-Davies, Tommy McAvoy, Alun Michael, Austin Mitchell and Dr Tony Wright have in common with Conservative MPs: David Amess, David Atkinson, Roger Gale, John Taylor, Sir Teddy Taylor and Ann Widdecombe? Answer tomorrow…
Times Online - Caitlin Moran (Free subscription) | 22/11/2009
A recently launched government initiative aims to give key advice to first-time fathers. Called “the Dad Card”, the leaflet is issued in maternity wards, and gives simple tips — including the suggestion that fathers should try to “help provide a loving and calm environment” during birth.
Labourlist (Free subscription) | 22/11/2009
By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982 Sunder Katwala has posted an interesting article on Next Left about Chris Grayling's "latest headline grabbing wheeze", namely the headline in today's Sunday Times: Tories to demand: are you married? Sunder says: "While his colleagues attempt a liberal love-bombing strategy by posing as progressive, Grayling is already gearing up for what could prove a...
underdogs bite upwards (Free subscription) | 21/11/2009
The Cameroids are fighting over the lunacy of gender-defined shortlists again. They must select women. Whether they select women who'd be good at the job is irrelevant. It matters only that they are women. That's how Labour worked it and look at how it turned out for them. Seriously, Tories. Take a good long look at how it worked out for them. And then look again at this: One senior local Tory complained...
Anglican Mainstream (Free subscription) | 18/11/2009
Early Day Motions (EDMs) exist to allow Members of Parliament to put on record their opinion on a subject and canvass support for it from fellow members. EDM No. 2140 was tabled on 22nd October 2009 by Lindsay Roy, MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife. It was co-sponsored by The Right Hon. Ann Widdecombe, MP for [...]
Scary Duck (Free subscription) | 16/11/2009
On crap-o-vision, again Typical. You go a whole year without anything truly, truly bad on television, and then two gems come along in a week. And bugger my luck - I go and miss both of them. Regular readers know that I'm a big fan of rubbish, and last year's Demons on ITV was a true turd on the otherwise white tablecloth of British television which I thought could never be beaten. And BANG - two in...
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