Well, That's What I Think... (Free subscription) | 21/11/2009
Well, the last time I was sat at the computer typing out another blog post, there was heavy rain battering the street outside, one week on, it's still here! Joy! I shouldnt complain, most of Cumbria is under some kind of puddle. Of course, Cockermouth has seen the worst of it. It again raises the point of flood defences and also with the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change in 16 days aswell, I don't...
Blaney's Blarney (Free subscription) | 20/11/2009
Great news: another one of Ian Blair's chums who think policing is about structures and political correctness is threatening to quit. Good riddance Sir Hugh Orde. I was going to savage this out of touch, patronising, anti-democratic, overpaid trougher myself but the uber-sound Douglas Carswell has done it for me...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 16/11/2009
Key Conservative thinkers doubt climate change is man-made, according to a survey of the most influential Tories online All of the top 10 Tory bloggers either doubt or dismiss the scientific consensus that climate change is caused by human activity, according to a survey of the views of top Conservative thinkers on the web. The views run counter to David Cameron's focus on environment issues and will...
Two Doctors (Free subscription) | 14/11/2009
We face two serious oil-related threats, both related to burning too damn much of the stuff. First, we're warming the planet, causing climatic instability and a variety of other symptoms . Second, we're at or near the peak of global oil production, currently burning four barrels for every one we discover . Some believe the end of cheap oil will provide a natural limit on climate change emissions....
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 13/11/2009
Public services want to be more accountable. Why don't banks? Something I didn't expect happened at the Reform conference on the agenda of the new government on Tuesday. Remarkably, it was the speakers on government who argued passionately for reducing privilege, enfranchising individuals and decentralising power. The speakers on the private sector – at least on the narrow issue of the future...
Tory Bear (Free subscription) | 12/11/2009
TB's invite must have got lost on the way, damn postal strike eh? Anyway a word or two on the results of the Spectator Parliamentarian Awards: Newcomer of the Year: Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP - Newcomer? But a good choice, he has managed to tow the line re Europe and has seriously beefed up the Tory economic team. Inquisitor of the Year: Paul Farrelly MP - Something to with a certain Carter-Ruckas...
Left Foot Forward (Free subscription) | 12/11/2009
In this week's Spectator, Fraser Nelson argues that the relative quiet from eurosceptic Conservatives over David Cameron's new EU policy is: "not because they have accepted defeat ... but because they are deadly serious about victory" Of course, Daniel Hannan has resigned his advisory role and Douglas Carswell has announced he ...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
British citizens have become 'passive bystanders'. They must be given more information and take more responsibility The twin fiscal and democratic deficits facing the UK must be urgently addressed if we are to return to a path of growth – but government cannot succeed alone. Citizens must step up to the plate. Government, public services and society all rely on the willingness of citizens to...
A blog from the back room (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
I’ve become transfixed at the possibility that one day, Douglas Carswell and Lembit Opik will appear on TV together. This is because their jaws appear to be wonky at equal, yet opposite angles. You be relieved to know that it is possible to tell them apart. Carswell is grumpier looking, possibly because he spends his spare [...]
David Burbage's Weblog (Free subscription) | 10/11/2009
Douglas Carswell blogs (about tonight’s Cameron speech) “The first step is to redistribute power and control from the central state and its agencies to individuals and local communities. …. A necessary counterpart to decentralisation is greater transparency. That’s because information is power, so by giving people more information we give them more power… The third element...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | 10/11/2009
One of the most respected Eurosceptic Tory MPs today launched a campaign for a referendum on the Lisbon treaty in a direct challenge to the party leadership which last week said it would not make good David Cameron's pledge for a poll on the issue. In an email to constituents announcing his intention to campaign for a referendum, Douglas Carswell said: "I want you to know that I have begun a...
And another thing... (Free subscription) | 10/11/2009
A 38-YEAR-OLD man was said to be suffering from severe mental trauma this morning after he opened a newspaper and discovered that he was a Member of Parliament. Douglas Carswell has spent the past four years referring to members of the House of Commons as “them”, “they” and “awful people”. This had led many people – [...]
Looking for a voice (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
I could not make OH's stroll last year, but I am glad I made the effort this year, just to make an active point that some of us are not very pleased with the current set up. This is about the first 'manifestation' that I have been on since about 1973. It was good to catch up with the Devil, Anna Raccoon, Dick Puddlecote and OH, and others that had travelled the length & breadth of the country....
Alex Ross - Shipley Labour (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
Getting a new newsletter from Philip Davies is always a mixture of amusement and frustration. One of my favourite amusements was the ‘In your own words’ section that included a quote from the MP for Harwich and Clacton (Douglas Carswell), which last time I checked was nowhere near Shipley, nor is the MP for Harwich and [...]
TalkCarswell.com (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
Despite all the £ millions spent running the Parliamentary estate, and the £235 million thrown on Portcullis House, today there are 3,500 square meters of empty office space. All prime real estate at the heart of our capital city. Why is it that Parliament is as bad at managing office space as it has been at running its expense system? Because in a world of “safe seats” and...
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