Amusing Canvassing Stories: No 94

This doorstep conversation is from yesterday morning in the Norwich North by election...

Tory MP: Have you decided who you will be voting for?
Male voter: I normally vote UKIP, but I was thinking of voting Conservative.
Tory MP: That's what I like to hear.
Male voter: Yes, but I am worried about Mr Cameron cosying up to homosexuals. I might as well admit it, you see I am a bit homopathic...

The MP just about managed to retain a straight (if that's the appropriate word) face.

2010 Blogging Guide: Your Advice Please

In early September TOTAL POLITICS, in association with APCO WORLDWIDE will publish the 2008-9 Guide to Political Blogging in the UK. It will contain articles on blogging by some of Britain's leading bloggers, together with a directory of UK political blogs, and a series of Top 20s and Top 10s. The book will be available at the Labour, LibDem and Tory Conferences, where TOTAL POLITICS will have exhibition stands.

In previous years, we have asked people to email in their top ten favourite blogs. We may do this again this year, but I'd like to ask if any of you have any better ideas for how people might vote. We had thought about using Survey Monkey, which I normally use for surveys, but I can't imagine people wanting to scroll through the best part of 2,000 blogs to vote for ten. Another way would be to compose a cross party panel to shortlist, say, 200 blogs for people to vote for. Or does anyone know any online software which we might use?

We are also looking to ask people to write articles on blogging developments over the last twelve months. If you have ideas for articles or suggestions for possible writers, do let us know.

If you are a blogger, check that your blog is included in the Total Politics Online Directory and that it is included in the relevant categories. Please check also that it is listed in the correct political affiliation. If it is not listed at all, fill in the form and we'll get it added. If you have done so in the last few weeks it is backed up in a queue to be added, but should be on the site over the next few days.

If you are a blogger and do not wish your blog to be included in the polling, please email katy DOT scholes AT totalpolitics DOT com by the end of next week. All blogs will, however, be included in the directory at the back of the book.

Ten New Blogs: Part 50

Soul Politics - Left wing
Left Side of Liberal
Order Order Moral Order
Libertarian Left
Left Outside
SG - Classical liberal
Dry Rose Petals - Labour
Move Like a Jellyfish
Red Rag
Cllr Richard Lowe - Conservative Councillor in Cheshire

These blogs aren't necessarily newly created, but I haven't known about them before and they had not, until now, appeared in the TP Blog Directory.

Visit the Total Politics Blog Directory which contains more than 2,000 blogs. If you know of one which isn't there, please fill in the Submit a New Blog form on the left hand side of THIS page.

Quiz Question

Q: If you have two members of staff, how can you possibly need eleven laptops in four years?
A: Ask Labour MP Fabian Hamilton if you see him...

I need you today, Oh Mandy

I'm not sure the Sunday papers are going to make happy reading for Peter Mandelson. Simon Walters has the story of how Mandy refused to talk to Gordon Brown until he asked Shaun Woodward to leave the room (hilarious).

Peter Mandelson forced Gordon Brown to throw Cabinet Minister Shaun Woodward out of his No10 office in a bitter power struggle in the Prime Minister’s inner circle. The peer reacted furiously when Mr Brown invited him to a meeting about tactics for combating David Cameron. To the astonishment of Mr Brown and Ulster Secretary Mr Woodward, Lord Mandelson refused to take part in the confidential talks until his Cabinet colleague was ejected. Mr Brown meekly agreed and a humiliated Mr Woodward walked out, leaving Lord Mandelson and the Prime Minister to speak alone.The disclosure is the latest evidence of the simmering tensions in Mr Brown’s kitchen Cabinet.Labour insiders have told The Mail on Sunday that there is considerable resentment at the way former Tory MP Mr Woodward is now among Mr Brown’s closest confidants.Lord Mandelson’s view of Mr Woodward’s skills as a political tactician is said to border on contempt.

But more seriously for Mandelson, the Sunday Times accuses him of covering up a report into MG Rover.

Ten New Blogs: Part 49

Wrexham Socialist
Oliver Mundell - Conservative student
Acid Rabbi
Opinionated Insolence
Tory Activist
The Dissenter - Northern Irish thinking
Andrew Peacock - Labour
Jack of Blades - Right wing
Pete North's Letters from Limbo - Libertarian
Angry Old Man - Scottish Conservative

These blogs aren't necessarily newly created, but I haven't known about them before and they had not, until now, appeared in the TP Blog Directory.

Visit the Total Politics Blog Directory which contains more than 2,000 blogs. If you know of one which isn't there, please fill in the Submit a New Blog form on the left hand side of THIS page.

To All My American Readers...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Happy Independence Day.

Angela Eagle's Difficulty With the Truth on Gay Hatred

I wasn't going to return to this subject, but Angela Eagle's performance on the Today Programme merits some discussion, not least because she told an absolute whopper about the Gay Hatred legislation and the Conservative attitude to it. If I was feeling uncharitable I’d say it was a lie. Listen to the discussion HERE - scroll in to 1hr 41 mins.

It is not true to say that the Tories voted against creating an offence of homophobic hatred, as Angela Eagle alleged. They DID support the creation of an offence – in fact David Cameron stated on the floor of the House that they would do so – and as a result that part of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 passed without division. So no Conservative voted against it.

The Tories did support amendments to the bill that would have inserted a ‘free speech’ clause of one sort or another. Edward Garnier tabled one at Committee stage on behalf of the front bench. Most Conservatives, on a free vote, then supported at Report stage another amendment tabled by LABOUR MP Jim Dobbin. In the House of Lords an amendment was successfully tabled by Lord Waddington. But when the bill was returned to the Commons, Labour ACCEPTED this amendment in order to get the bill on the statute book. In short, the Tories voted for creating an offence; but they voted for a free speech clause – as did Gordon Brown, Jack Straw and the Minister moving that part of the bill Maria Eagle. The argument that ‘only one Tory voted for it and that was John Bercow’ is a piece of shit-stirring, frankly – Bercow was voting with the LibDems and AGAINST Labour. At previous stages Bercow had not voted for the free speech clauses – but a handful of other Conservatives had done so too.

More recently, in the Coroners and Justice Bill, Labour are trying to remove the Waddington amendment. The Tory position is to retain the clause; Labour argue that it did not, in truth, reflect the will of the Commons.

Regardless, it is clear that the Tory position in relation to the homophobic hatred offence is that they supported it, and to say otherwise is a lie. The reason that people are free to stir up hatred against gay people is not for want of legislation but because Labour, typically, have still not actually brought this legislation into effect. Yet again, they have passed legislation largely for symbolic and strategic reasons but haven’t actually put it into law. You could argue that if Labour were serious about protecting gay people from hatred, they would implement that legislation rather than posture about it.

* I should make clear that the position I have outlined in the official Tory position on this legislation. It is not mine. I opposed this legislation as I made clear in a Telegraph column in November 2007.

Opposing this legislation is not anti-gay. Rather, it is pro freedom of speech. Such proposals would never see the light of day in the US, where freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution. This issue makes the case better than anything else for a written constitution.
If, as is suggested by Justice Secretary Jack Straw, the burden of proof is on the accused to prove they didn't mean something in a hateful way, it will create a legal minefield. If someone calls a homosexual a ''poof", it can be meant in a number of ways, as this week's Ofcom ruling in favour of Channel 4 has shown. It can be meant in a hateful way but it can also be used as an affectionate term, believe it or not.

Having said that this legislation should be opposed by the Opposition, I have few expectations that they will do so. Tories will seek to amend the proposals but in the end political realities will dictate that they will not go into the ''no" lobby. A ''courageous" abstention will probably win the day.

UPDATE: Michael Brown writes in the Independent that he is bored with reading and writing about gay politics.

The Daley Dozen: Friday

1. Anthony Little has a busy day.
2. Paul Waugh on a merry old Boris.
3. This week Mike Rouse has mainly...
4. Donal Blaney unmasks Mrs McBride.
5. Honorary Gayer Shane Greer on the legalisation of gayness in India.
6. ConHome on the latest misleading LibDem barchart.
7. I Spy Strangers on a bad day for Keith Vaz.
8. LibDem Voice has the latest Top 30 Wikio Blogs.
9. Martin Bright has another go at Press TV.
10. Cranmer on the divine right of politicians.
11. Cicero's Songs is in Vilnius.
12. Andrea Leadsom beats me to a speed awareness course.

And as a special treat, watch Gordon Brown not singing Old MacDonald had a farm. Eat your heart out John Redwood...

Parish Notice: No Radio Show Tonight

Just to say, there will be radio show tonight. PlayRadio have won two new FM licenses and they are starting to broadcast to Southampton and Winchester tomorrow and they have to play around with the studios. Hopefully I will be back next week. But you never know!

London Assembly Members Expenses To Go Online

Boris has finally got Labour Members of the GLA to agree to all their expenses going online from Monday. This will be on a voluntary basis until it becomes mandatory on 15 July. For some reason Labour members have been very reluctant to agree to full transparency. Tories have, I understand been posting their totals, although not full details, since Boris was elected. Having gloated over the demise of Ian Clement, perhaps they have something to worry about. We are about to find out.

Lord Barnett: Spending Cuts Are Inevitable

Former Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury Lord Barnett has told the BBC programme STRAIGHT TALK (in an interview to be broadcast tomorrow) that he thinks spending cuts are inevitable after the next election and also hopes that a future government will overhaul the Barnett Formula which distributes money to Scotland, Wales. He says it should be scrapped and replaced by one ‘based on need… that brings about more equity between England, Scotland and Wales’. He continued...

My own guess is, given that whoever comes into Government after the election will have serious problems on the public expenditure front. It will give them an opportunity to change to have a formula based on need, and gradually – they can’t do it in one go, I don’t expect that to happen – but over a few years, I would hope that they’d achieve a needs based formula that brings about more equity between England, Scotland and Wales.

Andrew Neil: is it not true that whoever wins the next election, there will have to be public spending cuts?
Lord Barnett: Oh, that’s absolutely right. I’ve no doubt at all about that. And from, after the end of the recession, hopefully it comes at the end of 2010, then there will have to be public expenditure cuts and possibly tax increases as well.… there will certainly be a need, as you rightly say, for major cuts in public expenditure and possibly tax increases as well.
AN: Do you think though that any Government – Labour or Conservative or coalition Government – will have the guts to change things?
LB: Well, the present Government certainly have made it quite clear they don’t want to review the formula. When David Cameron first went to Scotland as Leader, on his very first visit, astonishing to me, he assured them he would keep the formula and it’s the same formula that lost them all the seats.
AN: Every seat in Scotland.
LB: Since then he’s hedged his bets a bit. My own guess is, given that whoever comes into Government after the election will have serious problems on the public expenditure front, it will give them an opportunity to change to have a formula based on need, and gradually – they can’t do it in one go, I don’t expect that to happen – but over a few years, I would hope that they’d achieve a needs based formula that brings about more equity between England, Scotland and Wales.

Barnett is a respected figure. Perhaps his own party will listen to him. I know the Barnett Forumla will be revisited in a way where funding is based on need not on some thirty year old anachronistic formula which is totally out of date.

An Open Letter to Ben Bradshaw & Chris Bryant

Dear Ben and Chris,

I have read your attacks on the Conservative Party and its attitude to homosexuality with a mounting sense of despair. I do not believe there is anything the Conservative Party could do to stop these partisan attacks. Michael Howard apologised for Section 28, as David Cameron has done too. There are now two gay members of the Shadow Cabinet who are in civil partnerships. There are dozens of Conservatives who have been selected as parliamentary candidates and are openly gay - I know, I was the first back in 2003. Instead of concentrating on one or two recalcitrant dinosaurs in the Tory parliamentary party and alleging that a "deep strain of homophobia exists on the Tory benches" (I note you provide no evidence, just rather nasty slurs), why not celebrate the progress the Tories have made in adopting progressive policies on diversity? You know full well that the days of Section 28 are well and truly behind us. This year the Conservatives are orgainsing a Pride Night at a nightclub in Manchester's Canal Street during their conference. A decade ago there would have been a small fringe meeting in some dingy hotel attended by twenty or so conference delegates, who were attending out of a sense of duty. Along with Margot James, I am hosting this year's event. David Cameron will be there along with many of the Shadow Cabinet. I've written to Tory MPs inviting them and so far the acceptance rate is extremely high. This is not a sign of a political party which is ignoring diversity issues, or frightened of them. Indeed, I am sure if either you would like to come (and I hereby invite you) you would not only enjoy the event but be impressed by a party which has come to terms with its past on this issue, acknowledged its mistakes and apologised for them, and wants to reach out to people who, a decade ago wouldn't have even thought about supporting it.

Chris, you say you don't think Cameron is homophobic (well, that's a start) but you think that his backbenchers after the next election may force him to introduce anti-gay legislation. Well, it's nice of you to acknowledge that you're going to lose, but I am not sure whether you are making this accusation because you genuinely believe it to be true or to try to frighten gay people into making an anti Conservative vote. If it's the latter, let me assure you that you are wrong. Most of the new Tory MPs will be under 40 and have grown up in a society which is not only tolerant of gay people but embraces them. I can honestly say I know of no Tory candidate who would support, let alone initiate any move to reverse the legislation passed by Tony Blair's government on civil partnerships, age of consent or anything else to do with gay equality. Your accusation is unfair and I hope in time you will come to acknowledge that.

In my speech at my civil partnership ceremony I thanked Tony Blair for making such an event possible. Why do you both find it impossible to articulate any sort of acknowledgement of the fact that the Tories have changed? I know why. It's because it doesn't fit your leader's political narrative. What it does is show that you have now become the nasty party.

We all know that homophobes exist in all political parties and at all levels of society - just as there are racists and sexists. Yes, they all exist in the Tory Party, but you should also acknowledge that your own party has its fair share. Look at some of your own parliamentary colleagues and listen to what they say over a beer in the strangers bar of an evening. Despite many of the welcome changes to legislation your government has brought about, such atttitudes still exist. They won't be eradicated by petty political attacks such as the one you have made today. Gay people aren't stupid, yet you are both telling them that by voting Tory (as many of them have indicated they will) 'they know not what they do'. Actually, they know very well. Like the rest of society they pay mortgages, they see food prices going up, they are concerned at the huge levels of debt your government has racked up. Gay people use the health service and they see the chronic mismanagement and waste. Like everyone else they see town centres which are out of control at night through binge drinking. They are fed up with the political correctness your government encourages. They see an immigration system which is cracking under the strain and a police force which has been demoralised by the red tape you have introduced. In short they see a country crying out for change. They reject your politics of envy and politics of division. Gay people do not wish to become part of Labour's client state. In short they want change, and they see a Conservative Party which is not only ready to give it to them, but will embrace them and encourage them to play an important part in that change.

David Cameron won't patronise the gay community. He'll treat them like adults. And that's part of the reason why they are turning to the Conservatives in large numbers. It's about time you recognised that attacks such as those you have made today do great damage to your own standing and the cause of equality in general. We should try to find common cause rather than constantly to seek cheap political advantage.

Yours Ever

Iain

UPDATE 6.30pm: Ben Bradshaw has posted a reply to this letter on LabourList HERE. He doesn't really address the issues I have raised, but there we go.

Did Mr Speaker Leak His Own Statement to the BBC?

I happen to agree with John Bercow's proposal for Deputy Speakers to be elected. It is just as important that they command the support of the House as the Speaker himself. But I did think it was a little odd, to say the least, that the contents of the Speaker's statement appeared on the BBC website before he had stood up to make it. Simon Burns MP seems to agree. This was his point of order just after 1pm.

Mr. Simon Burns (West Chelmsford) (Con): On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I seek your advice and help. Since he became Speaker, Mr. Speaker has on a number of occasions deprecated to the House the habit of giving information on policy to the media before it is announced in the House. That is right.

I am sure that Mr. Speaker is as concerned as I am about the fact that his statement today was a significant story on the BBC news website half an hour before he made it. That suggests that it was leaked to the BBC. I was wondering whether Mr. Speaker would like to carry out an inquiry to try to find out how the statement was leaked and given to the corporation prior to its being made in the House.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: The hon. Gentleman could not possibly expect me to comment. Mr. Speaker will take note of what the hon. Gentleman has put on the record, but I could not possibly begin to opine about what may have occurred. I should just add that the fact that Mr. Speaker was going to make a statement was certainly in the public arena, in the sense that it was displayed on the annunciators in the House. I know no more than that.

Mr. Burns: Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I assure you that although the fact that Mr. Speaker was to make a statement was on the monitors, in no shape or form was it clear what the statement would be about. The other point is that if the Government have to bring statements here first rather than leaking them, no one—whether it is the Government or any other body with advance notice—should leak Mr. Speaker’s statements to the media.

Mr. Deputy Speaker: I cannot speculate about that. I say again to the hon. Gentleman that he has put his concerns on the record. If something injudicious or accidental has occurred, there will no doubt be opportunity for further comment. The issue is hardly more urgent than that.

No doubt government ministers will be thinking about sauce, geese and ganders. Or perhaps it was all a wheeze by Mr Bercow to get one over on ITN's Tom Bradby...

Obama Faces the Wrath of Helen Thomas

Helen Thomas is an institution in Washington politics. She has been attending White House press conferences for UPI since the mid part of the twentieth century. And she is not a woman to get on the wrong side of. President Obama seems to have done that, according to THIS story on the National Review Corner. She accuses him of trying to manage the media and control it in a way that Richard Nixon never did. Clearly Obama has been attending the same school of media management as New Labour...

Following a testy exchange during today’s briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press.

“Nixon didn’t try to do that,” Thomas said. “They couldn’t control (the media). They didn’t try.

“What the hell do they think we are, puppets?” Thomas said. “They’re supposed to stay out of our business. They are our public servants. We pay them.”

Thomas said she was especially concerned about the arrangement between the Obama Administration and a writer from the liberal Huffington Post Web site. The writer was invited by the White House to President Obama’s press conference last week on the understanding that he would ask Obama a question about Iran from among questions that had been sent to him by people in Iran.

“When you call the reporter the night before you know damn well what they are going to ask to control you,” Thomas said.

“I’m not saying there has never been managed news before, but this is carried to fare-thee-well—for the town halls, for the press conferences,” she said. “It’s blatant. They don’t give a damn if you know it or not. They ought to be hanging their heads in shame.”

Commons Confidential in the Staggers

I have 'sat in' for Kevin Maguire this week in writing the New Statesman 'Commons Confidential' column. Should you wish to read my pearls of wisdom you can do so HERE.

Why I Won't Appear on Press TV Again

Press TV is a relatively new station. They've just got onto the Sky platform. It's funded by the Iranian government. When I was first invited to appear on it, I wondered whether I should. But I decided engagement was the best way forward and decided that if ever I was censored or I noticed any form of overt Iranian bias I would refuse further invitations to take part. In all I have appeared about ten times over the last two years.

Over the last few weeks I have been invited on to several of their programmes (for which they offer a fee of £75) but have declined. I have been appalled at the way their website has portrayed what's happened in the Iranian elections. Quite how they have complied with OfCom's rules on objectivity, I don't know.

Tonight, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari has resigned from his weekly Question Time type show (which I appeared on once), and Newsnight has just carried an item in which the station's MD, Matthew Richardson appeared with Martin Bright. Having heard Mr Richardson on the radio last week and now seen his ridiculous performance against Martin Bright, it has confirmed my decision not to appear on the station again, and I shall also be instructing my three colleagues from Total Politics who have appeared on their programmes not to do so in future. I hope others will do the same.

The Daley (Half) Dozen: Wednesday

1. IndependenceHome announces UKIP has formed a new European grouping. It's catching.
2. Kerron Cross explains why he is bored with political blogging.
3. Norfolk Blogger has spotted the first poster boards in Norwich North.
4. The Libertarian Party announce their candidate for Norwich North. He's 18 years old.
5. Charlie Beckett wants to close down the BBC News Channel.
6. Richard Willis will miss Mollie Sugden (and her pussy).

June Statporn

June was the second best month for traffic with 131, 137 absolute unique visitors, compared with 142,079 in May. Page views have doubled since January with more than 1 million in June.

Year on Year Absolute Unique Visitors +68%
1 July 2008-30 June 2009 853,051 1 July 2007-30 June 2008 506,356

Absolute Unique Visitors +82% year on year
May 2009 131,137 - May 2008 71,877 - Apr 2009 142,079

Page Loads year on year +151%
June 2009 1,023,599 - June 2008 407,692

Here are my top 30 linking sites (ie incoming hits) for June, according to Google Analytics.

1. - Guido Fawkes 95,644 (102,233)
2. +1 Spectator Coffee House 21,878 (21,946)
3. +1 ConservativeHome 21,846 (21,715)
4. -2 PoliticsHome 21,529 (24,282)
5. - PoliticalBetting 17,221 (19,788)
6. +1 Facebook 6,980 (7,748)
7. -1 Twitter 6,190 (9,009)
8. +1 Daniel Finkelstein & Red Box 6,139 (6,571)
9. -1 Dizzy Thinks 6,079 (7,179)
10. +1 Telegraph blogs 4,195 (4,393)
11. -1 Obnoxio the Clown 3,199 (3,723)
12. +4 LabourList 2,376 (1,437)
13. - Tom Harris 2,144 (2,429)
14. NEW Boulton & Co 1,511 (-)
15. -5 Old Holborn 1,477 (5,106)
16. -1 Nadine Dorries 1,234 (1,570)
17. +12 Daily Referendum 1,153 (819)
18. +3 Ambush Predator 1,128 (1,090)
19. NEW National Review Corner 1,121 (-)
20. -1 Archbishop Cranmer 1,052 (1,160)
21. -7 Paul Waugh 1,051 (1,870)
22. +4 Burning our Money 1,021 (978)
23. +4 Douglas Carswell 1,021 (917)
24. +6 EU Referendum 1,015 (809)
25. -8 Bloggerheads 996 (1,434)
26. N West Ham Till I Die 968 (-)
27. -9 SNP Tactical Voting 936 (1,271)
28. -5 John Redwood's Diary 902 (1,021)
29. NEW An Englishman's Castle 892 (-)
30. NEW Adam Smith Institute 888 (-)

Source: All figures are from Google Analytics. Absolute Unique Visitors broadly means people using over 131,000 different computers visited this blog at least once. Some people may be counted more than once (eg, home and work computer),whilst some people may not be counted (eg, two different people use the same computer, or someone reads the site through a feed reader without ever actually visiting it).

A Preview of Next Week's PMQs

From a commenter called Fragmeister... A preview of next week's PMQs...

DC: What day is it today?
GB: Typical. Can't ask a question about policy. I'll tell you what Tory policy is on days of the week. They want to cut them. They want to cut Thursdays now and if they get in power, they will cut Saturdays as well.

DC: What colour is the sky?
GB: The Tory party is the only party in the world that wants to cut the sky. We have invested in the sky. We have brought forward spending on the sky and increased it by 0% whereas he would cut it by 0% year on year adjusted for real capital spending inflation.DC: What time is it?GB: That is up to the Chancellor to decide. I had nothing to do with it.

DC: Should Freddie Flintoff open the bowling at Cardiff tomorrow?
GB: If the pitch, if the pitch, if the pitch takes off cutters and that is the Tory policy. To bowl off cutters, 10% off cutters, from Mr 10%. Yes, you may laugh, but it is his policy. And I ask him, would he prefer to have Ryan Sidebottom bowling his left arm swing up the hill and into the wind?

DC: Do bears crap in the woods?
GB: Bear crapping has risen under this Labour government year on year where it fell under the previous Tory administration. We have invested in crap while they cut it. The previous government, of which he was an advisor, cut crap year on year while we have increased crap year on year in real terms since 1997. The party opposite is the only serious party in the world that is opposed to us increasing crap.

DC: Are you a liar?
GB: Of course I am. Can't think why you didn't just ask that question in the first place.

Cue an onslaught of commenters with a sense of humour failure.

Another Labour MP Quits

Derek Wyatt, Labour MP for Sittingbourne & Sheppey has just announced via Twitter that he is standing down at the next election. Seeing as he has a very small majority one suspects he is pre-empting the decision of the electorate...

PMQs Review & Open Thread

I have been a bad blogger again and wasn't able to see PMQs. Feel free to leave your analysis in the comments. Total Politics is moving offices today so I am afraid it's unlikely I will have time to blog.