Ferrets in a sack 

This evening (9th January 2006) the BBC 24 Hour News reported upon the dignified and gentlemanly manner in which the Liberal Democrats are currently making arrangements to find a new Leader. However, before we all become carried away by the reasonableness of it all perhaps we ought to refresh our memories of reports in The Times of pending civil war and bitter feuding between the Lib Dems. It was very decent of the BBC not to dwell upon unnecessary details of discord and disharmony (after all, it is so un-PC, save where it applies to anything even remotely Conservative.) Liberal Democrats can do no better than read and act upon this article by William Rees-Mogg in The Times, today. The future of their Party might depend upon it.
 
9th January 2006

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More from The Sunday Times

Rod Liddle goes on the rampage. Good for him.
 
8th January 2006

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What is David Cameron for?

So you don't know what David Cameron is all about? Well, get a grip and read this article by Bruce Anderson in the Sunday Times today (8th January 2006).
 
8th January 2006

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Ouch!

I see that Simon Jenkins is in good form, as usual! Oh, how the truth must hurt!
 
8th January 2006

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David Cameron and the Tory Front

A long time ago, when the Conservatives were still in power, in disgust I deliberately failed to renew my membership of the Party (being a bleeding-heart-liberal/pinko-lefty-fag from the "wet" wing of the Conservative movement.)
 
Well, I suppose that now David Cameron has been elected the new Conservative leader, I had better rejoin the local association...
 
7th December 2005

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I am not a public authority!

We should all laud the Freedom of Information Act 2000 imperfect and in certain respects, limited as it is. I understand the purpose the Freedom of Information Act and the organisations to which it was mainly directed. I understand also the importance of a broad definition of the activities and organisations covered by the Act. However, in relation to 'organisations' such as mine, the dire warnings of the consequences of non-compliance (that is to say, criminal prosecution) received by way of standard letters from the Information Commissioner's Office, reflect a complete loss of perspective. The most recent communication received advises me to notify the Commissioner's Office in the event I fall within the definition of a 'public authority'. I am reminded darkly of my duty to maintain accurate details on the register. According to Schedule 1 of the Act, which I have considered most carefully, I am pleased to say that I am not a public authority. All said and done, it is the interfering, bullying manner of yet another arm of Government that I find objectionable and unacceptable.
 
Every Labour Administration since 1997 has routinely resorted to creating a criminal sanction to achieve the required compliance on our, the Public's, part. More and more ordinary people risk being beaten by the stick of the Criminal Justice System where no real criminal culpability, as that term was previously understood, is involved. I have little doubt that this current Administration will continue in the same course, oblivious to all reasoned argument. Let me give it a stark warning. Never has Small Government begun to look so attractive.
 
10th October 2005

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What are the Tories for? # 3

For anyone who missed The Sunday Times on 9th October 2005, read the piece by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge.
 
10th October 2005

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Are we all potential child abusers and paedophiles now?

The effect of well-funded single-issue fanaticism has caused concern to me for a number of years. More recently, I have become alarmed by how well-respected organisations seem to have fallen under the spell of promoting their cause in a similar, attention grabbing, but potentially misleading 'sound-bite' manner. The NSPCC is the most recent organisation to have made me feel uneasy. The recent television adverts and associated campaign might contribute towards creating an accusatory, spy-on, report-thy-neighbour, 'guilty before proven' atmosphere that is very unhealthy but yet not likely to help those children it wishes to protect. An interesting item appeared in The Times today (7th October 2005) concerning this very matter and I can do no better than refer to you to Mick Hume's Notebook.
 
7th October 2005

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What are the Tories for? # 2

For those Conservatives out there looking for ideas or inspiration, eat this!

3rd October 2005

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 What are the Tories for?

Well, what is the point in writing a post for your blog when someone else says the same thing, but better? I can say no more than just check out Matthew Parris.
 
1st October 2005

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