Is Scottish Tory MP the only Scottish Tory?

It might appear so from Howard's latest disastrous decision, as reported in the Opinion section of today's The Scotsman, linked here - which under the title 'Tories tactical blunder' started as follows:-

PETER Duncan has a new job. Some might think he has too many for one man. As well as being Scotland’s only Tory Westminster MP, he is also the shadow secretary of state for Scotland. And yesterday, Michael Howard also appointed Mr Duncan as chairman of the Scottish Tory Party.

Perhaps this multiple portfolio is designed to maximise Mr Duncan’s profile in advance of the general election. But by loading all these jobs on to one man, the London leadership only draws attention to the paucity of Tory parliamentary representation north of the Border, while making Mr Duncan look faintly ridiculous. Worse, setting him up as an alternative focus of attention to the Tories’ Scottish leader, David McLetchie, MSP, is a tactical blunder. For Mr McLetchie is not only the best-known Tory in Scotland, he has done much to distance the party from its previous anti-Scottish reputation (deserved or not).

Trusting Howard????

The following extraordinary statement is made at the end of an article by the political editor of The Spectator, linked here, to try to justify the cover story assertion that somehow Howard is more to be trusted than the totally duplicitous and dishonest Tony Blair:-

The British people may prove to be allergic to Michael Howard for reasons that are beyond anybody’s computation.

Any having read this blog for the past year, or used their common sense rather than listen to the media, would be perfectly well aware that Michael Howard is probably one of the least trusted men in the country. Conservative MP's used to recognise that fact when they decisively ruled him out of consideration as a leadership contender to replace his former boss John Major. What has changed ??

Patten blasts his Party, putting pension above politics?

It really is a close run thing trying to decide which of the two EU Commissioners returning to Britain from the Prodi years in Brussels has been most soiled by the experience. Patten went into the appointment with the shame of his means of entry the Patten report on policing in Northern Ireland, and his l handling of himself at the Hong Kong handover, the one and only real function he was expected to properly fulfil for his lucrative and cossetted Governorship. Therefore, before this morning, I believed it was probably Neil Kinnock who had been most demeaned by his years in Brussels. Signs are that Patten might be catching up.


This attack by Patten on his ex-Party shows extraordinarily enough that there is always somewhere lower to sink for senior conservative figures from the Major years. (Rifkind also excelled himself in that regard over the weekend with his comparison of UKIP voters with those who let Hitler into power!).

The Patten attack which is in today's Independent may be read from here.

Betraying their country

Christopher Booker in his Sunday Telegraph column, linked here, 'No way to win the nation's trust', hits the nail on the head:

So when it comes to putting his new "get tough" policy into action, Mr Howard not only has no trumps in his hand, he has no cards at all. His entire policy rests on bluff. And while this brave talk may fool the British electorate, it hardly seems the best demonstration of his trustworthiness.

Howard's conning conservatives by being so blatantly disingenuous over their EU policy, which they hope to marginalise, merely prove that all their other detailed commitments are not worth the bother of even reading let alone discussing or considering.

The poll flat-lining of yesteryear will soon take on the aspect of the steepest downhill slalom slope, unless Howard can be speedily dispatched - unhappily there remain no alternatives in the wings - unless UKIP wake-up and rid themselves of their old Tory deadwood.

Howards bid for 'Trust' is predictably still-born

The Independent carries an NOP showing a mere nineteen per cent of voters have fallen for Howard's laughable ploy to make himself appear trustworthy. The full report is linked here.

The poll does show a conference boost for the shameless conservative party putting them at 34 per cent, still two points behind Labour, but five points ahead of the pre-conference YouGov poll.

Only four per cent of those questioned believed in EU withdrawal, they were not asked, of course, whether they might be prepared to consider such a course were their democracy not to be restored.

Bill Cash goes EU obsessed!

A good indication of just how 'EU-native' has Britain's so-called conservative party become is provided in the latest report of the European Foundation, still run I believe by Bill Cash, one time (I am assured 'Genuine' Euro-sceptic!) I will not bore readers by quoting the whole turgid mass of EU news from the latest report, but leave those who wish to plough through the minutiae linked here - the section headline give a flavour:-

RUSSIA ON THEIR MIND
BRUSSELS TO SEND POSITIVE SIGNAL TO SOFIA AND BUCHAREST
GREEN LIGHT FOR TURKEY
CHIRAC PROMISES REFERENDUM ON TURKEY
ITALY AND POLAND TO PULL OUT OF IRAQ
WHY WALES?
STRUCK: KOSOVO STATUS SHOULD BE RESOLVED QUICKLY
SCHUMAN AND GASPERI NEXT?
SPAIN TO LEGALISE GAY MARRIAGE
NO SANCTIONS AGAINST GREECE
EU AND US FIGHT OVER AEROPLANES
BUILDING OF US EMBASSY STARTS IN BERLIN

So much for the eurosceptic wing of the ultra-federalist Tory Party. Can one really believe, when Cash started this newletter of protest against the EU, he would be headlning reports such as these ?

Please visit Ironies linked here, where resistance continues on a dauily basis!

Howard winds up the Conference pledging to restore the Trust to Politics!

"A government that is honest - a government they can trust" preceding a call 'Come and join us" thus did Michael Howard wind up the probably the last Conservative Party conference as number two party in the land, - no not government - next year they will almost certainly be only number three .

Can you credit such a call from cloud cuckoo land? Well just look at this one little statistic from the YouGov poll published today by YouGov ( click here) Tories 29 per cent Labour 35 and others 14.

Michael Howard in a government that is honest? More laughably still recalling the Major years a government we could trust? Does he really believe the British electorate have neither memory nor the sense to see through his latest EU lies and evasions.

MacShame on Sykes

The outspoken Europe Minister Denis Macshane has this to say in his Guardian column:-

I know Paul Sykes. He made his first fortune in the Meadowhall shopping centre 10 minutes from my house in Rotherham. We have debated Europe over the years in Yorkshire. He is strongly anti-Europe which is his perfect right. He also has millions to spend on politics as play and flits between anti-EU Tories and other outfits that are more stridently Europhobe. William Hague thought he had his support but then Paul gave the UK Independence party shedloads. Before that it was the people linked to the late Jimmy Goldsmith. In 1983, he would have given money to Labour because of the party's anti-European manifesto. But the vast bulk of Yorkshire businesses know that the Tory-Ukip line Mr Sykes supports would mean the UK would instantly be in breach of all its solemn treaty obligations, which would mean either massive fines or quitting the EU.

The Europe minister then goes on to prove that he knows absolutely nothing of business or economics, making it a clean sweep alongside his ignorance on his own portfolio. We will have to take his word for the fact that he does indeed know Paul Sykes, but his reliabilty factor based upon recent outrageous utterances is at rock bottom for me! The whole column may be read from here.

Ancram at Conference

Quote
“I want the world to look at us and to see a nation that is as strong as it is compassionate. Strong in the face of threats. Compassionate in the face of hunger and disease."
Unquote

If the Tories get re-elected there will be no nation to see whatsoever - just a group of regions run from Brussels - a Popperian tyranny with the people permanently unable to bloodlessly replace their rulers. Ancram knows it - Howard knows it - but the Tories just as much as Labour, the LibDems, the Greens and UKIP under Knapman are addicted to the EU cash! There is a word for what they are about!

Howard for PM? Ask the bookies!

(This is taken from Wales@westminster weblog - seems accurate it is linked here)

Time to get the flak jacket out. I appear to have upset some people by suggesting the Tories might find it difficult to win the next general election.

Sian Morgan writes, "I think it is terrible that David Cornock is so totally and openly anti-Conservative. Do you believe in fair journalism at all?"

Er, thanks Sian. The answer is yes - I try to be scrupulously fair to all parties.

The Tories have had three leaders in three years, have no MPs in Wales and only one in Scotland, have just been beaten by the UK Independence Party in a by-election and are below 30 per cent in one recent opinion poll.

There are parliamentary candidates here in Bournemouth who privately say Michael Howard has no chance of winning the next general election.

Would it really be fair to imply they're on course for a glorious victory? Admittedly you can get longer odds against a Welsh victory on Saturday, but there isn't a bookmaker in the land who believes Michael Howard will win the next general election.

Tragic Day for Tories as UKIP overshadow's Howard's Speech

The one crumb of comfort in what became a day of complete humiliation for Michael Howard, was the fact that for a moment he could revel in the knowledge that he had apparently , through the offices of one-time eurosceptic John Redwood, coaxed millionaire Paul Sykes into withdrawing backing from UKIP.

It was indeed UKIP that dominated the news bulletins and papers throughout the day.

Sykes of course was refusing to give any money to UKIP for many months before last June's elections, but finally brought forth spectacular sums for the billboard campaign. On that occasion it was the incompetence of Farage and Knapman in rebuffing his offer to stand as the Yorkshire lead MEP candidate that had brought on the sulk. Next time it is most likely to be the lack of any real anti-EU policies in Howard's manifesto that will bring back Sykes to the real anti-EU cause.

Kilroy's leadership bid is the talk of the hour, even knocking the likely rapid decline if not demise of Blair from the top story notch.

Throughout the day today, on BBC TV, going out across the world, Robert Kilroy-Silk is being afforded the chance on the 'Hardtalk' programme, to demonstrate what a refreshing breath of candour and honesty he will be able to bring to the corrupted and degraded British political process.

At the same time, through the prejudiced hectoring of Tim Sebastian, Kilroy has been able to spectacularly illustrate how far from the norms of broadcasting impartiality the British state broadcaster has now strayed.

Howard to accept culpability for Major years - will he therefore stand down?

According to a preview of Howard's first and almost certainly last conference speech as Tory leader, The Scotsman, linked here, reports the following:-

Mr Howard admitted that the John Major government in 1992 had, like so many other governments, let people down by increasing taxes instead of cutting them.

He was due to say: "This damaged people’s faith in politics so it’s hardly surprising that people don’t trust politicians today. In the real world, if you say you are going to do something you do it. And if you screw up, you can lose your job. It’s called accountability.

"But politicians seem to live in a different world. A world where promises are dropped just as casually as they are made. A world where there are no penalties for failure."

In the actual speech Howard blamed Europe and Tax for the loss of public faith in politics - presumably because of the Tories immense guilt over the EU the press release seemed to concentrate on the tax aspect - as seized upon by the Scotsman quoted above.

On the EU he tried to imply that he would restore accountability - FAT CHANCE while never negotiating while being prepared to contemplate withdrawal!

UKIP remains where the EU action is Sykes or no Sykes!

Is UKIP's leader under Tory control? (From Ukip Uncovered).

Do the following events explain why UKIP backed the Tory controlled and incompetent 'NE Says No' Referendum Campaign?

In the early summer of 2003 some even more bizarre disputes than normal occurred within UKIP's fractious National Executive Committee.

At the June 2003 meeting of UKIP's National Executive Committee, it was alleged in a pre-prepared statement- that after the May meeting one of the members had at the bar made a comment that Roger Knapman would stand aside and that the party leader was reportedly in debt for some three hundred thousand pounds as a result of his having been a name at Lloyds. This statement was reportedly then followed by Knapman himself accusing that member of having Tory party associations.

The accused NEC member, took legal advice after the meeting and refuted these accusations in a long letter dated 12th June 2003, that was addressed to the reader of the prepared statement which opened as follows:-

"Dear ----,

While I was generally quite relaxed about the discussion we had at the outset of the meeting of the NEC on Monday, even though I think it went on about an hour too long, I was very disturbed at the allegations about two things you made towards the end of the meeting:

1. You alleged that in conversation with you in the bar after the May meeting, that I made defamatory and personal allegations about Party leader Roger Knapman's financial affairs, including references to him owing 300,000 pounds.

2. You allege that in the same conversation I stated to you that Roger would soon no longer be party leader.

I am concerned about this for a number of reasons:

a) Both allegations are completely untrue and I can find no other NEC member who was present who will corroborate them.

(For brevity intervening points have been removed)

f) The Party Leader (Roger Knapman) followed with a statement that made clear that he knew exactly what was in your script, and that the information I am alleged to have given you about his financial affairs is only known to two sources - both high up in the Tory Party - and that the inference could only be that I am acting for the Tory Party to destabilise UKIP."

Later there is one further paragraph of present day interest:

"....Indeed the allegation that Roger is going to step down in favour of Nigel after the Euro Elections is common currency in the party, but is also one which I have never aired to anyone, partly because I do not completely believe it"

THE LETTER WAS ALSO SENT TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE NEC, WITH A COVERING EXPLANATION WHICH INCLUDED THIS POINT:-

"Roger Knapman followed (----'s) statement on Monday with a further statement alleging that, as only two other people know the information I am alleged to have given ----, the only conclusion that could be made was that I was a Tory mole. That inference has now been made to others in the party.

My lawyer was asked last Tuesday to obtain a court order of disclosure against the individual who recorded last Monday's NEC."

WHAT DOES ALL THIS TELL US ABOUT KNAPMAN'S FITNESS TO CONTINUE AS LEADER?

Firstly - it is plain that there were continuous rumours within the party that Knapman was to step down after the Euro elections, well over a year before polling day. This makes Knapman's statement of last weekend to the BBC as to being surprised at the suggestion he might have been prepared to stand down from the leadership a clear misrepresentation of some very well known fact. Had he not considered standing down then a public statement to that effect should have been made to the party following the entire NEC being notifed on 12th June 2003 that reports to that effect were common currency within the party.

Secondly and far more importantly, If Knapman truly believed that only two people knew of his debts and if they were both senior Tories, as it has been alleged then, how does he reconcile his own position with that of the alleged informant NEC member, who he implied must be a Tory mole through having contact with these individuals?

He apparently stated at the June meeting that anyone dealing with these must be a Tory mole sent to destabilise UKIP - what are we possibly to make of his own actions in apparently making himself so indebted and therefore beholden to people he viewed as wishing to harm the party he then led - and regrettably to this day still leads?

Normally I would hestiate about putting this on the open internet, but as Greg Lance-Watkins was extremely verbose on this topic, firing off three detailed and widely circulated e-mails about the incident during June 2003, (which are referenced in the legal riposte) the greater good seems to be best served by bringing the matter to light again now - particularly as it reflects on the veracity of Roger Knapman and therefore his fitness to lead.

Kilroy's offer to lead UKIP was made for the very short term. Recent events in the North East prove that the present party leadership has at the very least an ambiguous approach to the Conservatives and this morning reports are circulating that Paul Sykes might direct his funding in their direction in the future. That would be reward indeed for the comparatively small investment reportedly made by the two tories concerned, namely the neutering of UKIP by the continuation of Knapman's apparently duplicitous leadership and the aquisition by the Conservative's of UKIP's most generous backer. Can such a betrayal really have taken place, why has the NEC not been asking such questions? Just what does UKIP's present leadership intend towards the EU? Ordinary UKIP members should now get on the telephone and start demanding answers!

Knapman must be called to fully explain this affair. The two senior Tory Party members mentioned must be named so that their role in this matter can be properly understood and hopefully their own accounts obtained.

Tories at 28 pct - far worse than a year ago!

This blog really only got underway when the Conservatives unceremoniously dumped IDS because he was not rising in the polls quite rapidly enough. The party was on a rising trend that made a break through the 40 per cent level appear imminent but still just out of reach.

Tomorrow the Tories will start their conference reading a Times 'Populus' poll putting them at a mere 28 per cent. (the article actually reports 20 pct but that is probably a misprint!) . Read here.

Clearly this self-destruction is deliberate. The enemies of British independence and sovereignty have long desired the demise of our nation. I can write this without fear of being labelled extreme or anything else justifiably unsavoury - as this certain outcome was predicted in writing on this blog, over and over and over again. Read the archives from last October they begin with this item:- A party split from Top to Toe, and continue to the final entry for the month as follows:-

"Our main posts on the Conservative Party's apparent urge to self-destruct can be found on Ironies by clicking HERE....."

and so on throughout the year that has now passed. Why?

Why has the Conservative party BETRAYED...... and continued to BETRAY the people of Britain, that seems to me the question for the Conservative Party conference this week.

There is no answer of course, other than greed and selfishness. Ordinary conservatives and all concerned for their families and country should now perhaps seek an alternative.

Two-thirds of Tory activists are FOR Withdrawal from the EU

The above headline is a quote from a news report this evening, linked here:

...a survey showed more than two thirds of leading Tory activists are prepared to contemplate withdrawal from the EU.

Seventy one of the 110 constituency party chairmen polled by BBC2’s The Daily Politics said there could be circumstances under which Britain pulled out.

Touchy-feely CD on first kisses could really make you sick.

If this report in the Guardian, linked here, is to be believed, Tory voters will be flocking to UKIP in their droves once Kilroy is safely ensconced. First kisses of Howard, May, Soames etc uggghhhhhhh????

Talk about a party that has truly lost its way!

Haggard ex-Home Secretary Howard says 'Crime a problem'

This incredible report (just carefully consider every 'laboured' statement), is taken from a longer item on the Sky News website, linked here:-

Michael Howard

HOWARD'S ACTION PLAN

Conservative leader Michael Howard says he will announce a "timetable for action" in an attempt to win back voters, with crime the number one priority.

He will unveil the plan for an incoming Tory government at the party's annual conference in Bournemouth.

Arriving in the resort, Mr Howard said: "We are not only going to tell people what we are going to do, but tell people exactly when we are going to do it.

"After seven years of Labour government, people have grown more cynical than ever about politics and politicians," he said. (and many earlier years of conservative misrule and treachery for which he bears mush personal responsibility)..........

"What we want is action. Less talk, more action. People want to know that when their Prime Minister says something, it will actually happen........ NO HOPE OF THAT FROM LABOUR OR THE TORIES!

Sunday Times Leading Article on Leadership

The Comment piece concludes with the following:-

Thus Michael Howard, who this week faces his first party conference as leader, has tried to grab headlines with populist announcements while positioning most of his policies close to those of Labour. It is not working. An ICM poll today shows that voters still think the Tories are out of touch. Even though Labour is unpopular, more people will still vote for it than for the lacklustre Tories. Mr Howard needs to be bolder, more coherent, or else his party will be devoured by the snapping jaws of the Lib Dems and UKIP. And then Mr Blair and his successors will go on and on.

This assessment in my view is totally false. As Nick Wood argues in the Independent on Sunday 'UKIP is not the half of it' linked here, TRUST is the key, and it is the trust of the British electorate that the main political parties have deservedly lost.

UKIP has the chance of the biggest political shock imaginable if they can capitalise on the deep disgust the British now hold for the entire political class. First it must dump its own similarly soiled ex-Tory MP leader Roger Knapman, and install Robert Kilroy-Silk as speedily as possible so that intelligent election planning can begin and large scale recruitment from the Conservatives shattered ranks commence. Thereafter it can concentrate on the country's most deadly clear and present danger New Labour.

Who is the Tory frontbencher wanting to vote UKIP?

Such is a report conatined in this opinion piece from Fraser Nelson, political editor of The Scotsman, linked here. The quote is as follows:-

"If I wasn’t a Tory frontbencher, even I would vote UKIP," admitted one shadow cabinet member recently. They secretly admire the audacity of Robert Kilroy-Silk, the UKIP frontman and former talk-show host.

Howard to offer 'Early EU Referendum'

UKIP's humiliation of the Tories in Hartlepool is already bearing fruit. The Daily Telegraph this morning, linked here, reveals:

Michael Howard seeks to counter a growing threat to the Conservative Party's election prospects from the UK Independence Party today by promising to hold an early referendum on rejecting further European integration.

Elsewhere in the same paper Howard details all the other policies he will never now get the chance to implement. These fantasmal hypotheses may be read from here.

The facts of the matter are now of course quite different. As politics.co.uk reveals (here) this morning, it now appears highly likely that neither Michael Howard, nor the shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin, will even be Members of Parliament following the next general election. I quote from their report on the UKIP conference which starts this morning in Bristol:-

The anti-EU party is set to unveil a list of election target seats expected to include Conservative Party leader Michael Howard's Folkestone and Hythe constituency and Treasury spokesman Oliver Letwin's Dorset West seat.

"F*****g Awful"

Such was the response of Nicholas Soames to the Conservative Party's result in Hartlepool, where they only managed fourth place. The first time since the war that an official opposition party has not come in the top three according to another source. The Scotsman report is linked here.

Of course it is no surprise to readers of this blog which predicted the demise of the Tory Party immediately following the underhand ousting of IDS last year and his replacement by the deeply distrusted Michael Howard.

The fact that this disgraceful, oppressive and clearly anti-democratic government, reviled the length and breadth of the country cannot be defeated even in a by-election called for such a purpose, should set alarm bells ringing. A Prime Minister trusted by a mere quarter of the electorate now seems set to win a third general election victory and loudly boasts of continuing throughout such a term. Incredible!

The Economist on the Tories

Below this post is this week's Economist pre-conference report on the Conservative Party disaster.

It's tough being a Tory

Sep 30th 2004
From The Economist print edition

What people say they want the Conservative Party to be

HOW can the Conservatives change from a party that just holds on to votes to one that goes out and wins them? As Tories gather in Bournemouth for Michael Howard's first conference as party leader, many of them think that the answer is simple. Over in Bristol, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which wants Britain to pull out of the European Union (EU), will also be holding a conference. There, the message that foreigners are only good for trading with will be clear and loud. Surely, Conservatives wonder, we should be tougher on Europe and foreigners too?

Our Economist/YouGov poll shows why they think they are right. More than a quarter of voters say they would be more likely to vote Conservative if the party committed itself to withdrawal from the EU (see chart). And 44% say they would be more likely to vote Tory if the party took a harder line on immigration. If winning an election was like baking a cake, all the party would need to do is add those two ingredients and watch its vote rise steadily.

But the Tories are in more trouble than this quick fix suggests. Voters don't identify with the party and are not attracted to Mr Howard. Though they have sometimes harried the government effectively, the Conservatives have failed in an opposition party's other job, namely to charm voters by using the freedom that not being in power brings. After seven years of a government that is now widely disliked, 60% still say that the Conservatives do not understand their needs. Mr Howard has not yet found a way of talking to them.

Britain's failing Tories Sep 30th 2004 Why Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will have less to argue about Sep 30th 2004 How politicians fit on the political spectrum Sep 30th 2004 Iraq, Labour and the war Sep 30th 2004

Mr Howard's leadership may be part of the problem, however. Female voters seem particularly unimpressed by him. Only 7% of women say that having Mr Howard as leader makes them more likely to vote Conservative, compared with 13% of men. The other front-runners don't do much better: 33% of women say they would rather have someone nameless and younger, compared with 29% of men who feel the same way. This antipathy is particularly bad news for the Tories, since the party is normally better supported by women than by men.

At last year's conference, gloom about the party's prospects was lightened by the feeling that Iain Duncan Smith, the party's then leader, would soon by replaced by someone who could unite the Tories and make them loved and successful. Mr Howard has managed to save the party from itself. But if he doesn't begin to show how he will rescue the party from the public, Mr Howard's first conference as party leader could also be his last.

This article is reproduced as it appears on the Economist website LINKED HERE

Tory Train Wreck

Peter Hitchens article in this week's The Spectator, linked here, is worth reading in full ahead of the Conservative Conference. For those without the time I give this sample:-

Just as I said a year ago in an article for this magazine which has never been rebutted, let alone refuted, by any Conservative thinker, the Tory party is now a train-wreck, not a train, an obstacle to the cause it pretends to serve. The reasons are both mathematical and political. Only an unimaginable miracle could give it a parliamentary majority ever again. If it achieved such a position, it would in any case fail to pursue conservative aims in foreign, economic, social or cultural policy. It cannot agree on any such aims because its different wings hate and despise each other. Ice and steam can compromise, it is true, but the result is just a tepid wetness. Its collapse and disintegration are essential, so that this country’s civilised people understand the urgent need to form a new political instrument which can defeat the anti-British, anti-marriage, intolerant, multicultural, amoral rabble of New Labour and which would use its victory to some purpose.

I set out this position just before the sordid manoeuvre that placed Michael Howard at the head of the party. A change of leadership, as I predicted then, has done nothing for the party’s popularity or ability to win an election, and still less for the great causes of national independence and liberty, justice, order, honesty in public life, rigorous education and the rest.

AND the conclusion:-

The rejuvenated Labour party is in the hands of blithe, shameless cynics who are delighted to endure the attacks of stupid leftists who think they are ‘right-wing’ if they can convince enough dim Tories to believe the same piffle. The successful advance of a breathtakingly radical programme proceeds unnoticed and unopposed. New Labour is indeed a new danger, but it can only be beaten by people who both understand its nature and fundamentally disagree with it. That will not happen until the wreckage of the Conservative party is cleared out of the way.

John Redwood debates MacShame at Labour Conference fringe meeting.

A brief report from BBC News is linked from here. If greater detail of what was said appears I will add further links as they become available.

Running from Europe mouthing platitudes!

Centrally directed Conservative policy is beautifully illustrated in these excerpts from speeches by two shadow mimisters last weekend both of whom reportedly dismissed the EU question under the mist of 'it's not relevant at the moment' (both are as reported by Andy Edwards) :-

Quote

Firstly: Caroline Spelman (MP Meriden) Shadow Secretary of State for Local & Devolved Government Affairs. No funny jokes about the second half of her title, please! She is, apparently, the 'shadow' for 'Two Jags'Presclott.

Speaking at the autumn dinner of the Ledbury Conservative Branch, she brushed aside questions on the EU with an aside, carefully camouflaged in the usual ramble of 'health, education, crime' - yawn yawn, - "of course I am against the Euro and the EU Constitution".

All this was prefaced with the assurance that if the Conservatives returned to power they would immediately reverse any anti fox-hunting Bill. On closer questioning as to whether the Party could be more explicit on a theme of 'no more EU, reshape the obvious benefits and scrap the rest', she ended discussion with a curt, "I'm not going to answer that"!

Secondly: on Sunday evening, Bill Wiggin (MP Leominster) Shadow Secretary for Wales.

He was speaking at a cocktail fundraiser/rally the troops meeting, on behalf of the Conservative Candidate for South Herefordshire.

Mirroring Caroline Spelman, his opening remark was that 'all would be well with fox-hunting if they returned to power'. Probably thought the yokels would be satisfied with such platitudes! Then the assembled faithful were subjected to the same dreary record (or maybe it's on CD
these days) of health, education, crime, and not a mention of Europe in any context. When the subject was raised from the floor Wiggin replied that only 15% of the voters were interested - one has to wonder what that would be if MP's like Mr Wiggin, as well as all of the other front
benchers gave voters the facts?? He made much of the Tories having established a Referendum for 'us', and, after they had won the next election, would go back to Europe to 'renegotiate'.

If these two are as representative of the Tory Party in Parliament as many already think they are, then rumours that the 'smart money' seems to be heading towards the Conservatives possibly running into fourth place at the forthcoming Hartlepool bye-election is not an over
exaggeration!

Unquote

Howard attacked in Asian Press

'Does the leader of the Tory Party hate us behind our backs?' is the title to this article in Asians in Media magazine linked from here. Its conclusions are as follows:-

By doing the rounds of Asian religious groups in the UK Michael Howard hopes to get the Asian vote, but going by his latest rhetoric there's little reason why we should provide it.

In order to have any hope of being elected he needs to have original policies that adequately define the party, not a series of reactionary ideas borrowed from others that pander to the xenophobic elements of the press. That alignment won't last long once the Tories get upstaged by UKIP and the BNP, who will inevitably go even further in their bid to demonise non-whites.

Tories Worthy of Trust

As UKIP's Deputy Leader demonstrates his party's total unsuitability to lead the eurorealist cause in Britain, (see recent posts on Ukip Uncovered) attention must once again be focused on the Conservative Party. (Although yesterday's Daily Telegraph would have us believe we could put faith in Gordon Brown).

At the time of the undemocratic ousting of Iain Duncan Smith this blog strongly pushed the case for John Redwood, who is now back in the Shadow Cabinet - with a role clearly aimed against the EU!Those looking for other names to trust could do worse than read this paper by David Baker of the University of Warwick 'The Shotgun Marriage: Managing Eurosceptical Opinion in British Political Parties 1972-2002' delivered in Tennessee last year. It is linked from here.

A crucial quote:-

'Indeed, most sceptics have been keen to accept government posts and have been reluctant to resign from government office when they have found themselves opposing government policy.... even in John Major's divided government of 1992 to 1997, only John Redwood resigned his Cabinet post to fight the Prime Minister for leadership of the Conservative party with David Davis and David Heathcote-Amery the only junior minister(s) to resignand James Cran standing down as a PPS.....'

Tory's Turgid Tragedy

The whole front page of today's Daily Telegraph is given over to a huge, unattractive photospread of the haunted Howard and his latest desperate ploy - a commitment to reduce inheritance tax.

I would provide a link.....but as the article says nothing - and bearing in mind we have heard such pledges before - I don't think I will bother.

Howardseems now Blair's best weapon and guarantee of re-election!

Kilroy accuses Howard of plagiarism - Liam Fox seems to back Kilroy!

More Tory disarray as highlighted in this morning's The Independent, linked here, amongst others. Some quotes in support of my headline:-

Mr Kilroy-Silk told BBC radio: "I made a policy announcement two weeks ago, saying we would limit immigration to 100,000 and that we would have a points system, where people would be selected on the basis of their skills, their aptitude and ability to integrate into British society and make a contribution to it. He is saying virtually the same thing. He is plagiarising it."

A Conservative spokesman denied the claim of plagiarism, saying: "We have been working for months on this. If UKIP also study the Australian plans, they are likely to be the same, but we haven't stolen their clothes."

However, Liam Fox, the joint chairman of the party, confirmed he had told a recent meeting of the Bow Group, a right-of-centre think-tank, that the Conservatives had to take action to counter a drift of voters to the UKIP.

Redwood's plans

The Daily Telegraph, linked here, has an item on the Conservative's plans for reversing the loss of our national independence. A quote:-

"For many people, it was tempting to let the Prime Minister push Europe to the periphery of their field of vision. But that is not an option for the Tories, whose divisions on the subject have been so traumatic mainly because they instinctively sense its overriding significance. Mr Howard is right to force the issue back on to the national agenda before the election. If he means what he says about renegotiation, he will need an explicit mandate."

Howard and George W Bush

The fact that Michael Howard is being treated as a pariah by the White House is put about as being of no consequence at all to the now clearly interim leader of the Conservative Party.

I came across this report of a meeting of the International Institute of Strategic Affairs on 26th June 2003, over the weekend and the almost grovelling introductory and concluding remarks of the opposition leader amply illustrate how deeply this loss of contact must really now be felt. I quote:-

Sir Michael Howard
Ladies and Gentlemen - If there is anyone here that needs to have Condie Rice introduced to them they are here by some great mistake and they ought to go away.
I will not take up any of her precious time with an introduction - I’ll only say that it is an enormous pleasure and privilege to be able to entertain somebody, however briefly, whose activities have provided the Institute with so much material to work with over the last year or so - Condie it’s wonderful to have you and thank you so much.

---------------------------

Gary Samore
I’m afraid we’ve run out of time. I’m sure Dr Rice could speak for hours. I apologise to all the people I couldn’t get to. I’d just like Sir Michael Howard to say a few words.


Sir Michael Howard
I just want to on your behalf thank Dr Rice - we could keep her here all afternoon but she needs lunch and she has problems even greater than those we can present to her. I think and I know that we’ve all been enormously impressed Condie not just by your inspiring address and by your skill and frankness with which you’ve answered our questions, but I think even more by the courage and the energy and the sheer intelligence which you have brought to dealing with these problems which do give us a kind of confidence and support to provide you with when you go out on your mission. God be with you and I think you will need his help and our prayers, but I have no doubt whatsoever that you’ll have both.

Those with the time will find the whole report of interest, it is linked from here in pdf format.

Howard's hubris and treachery!

As the conference season is about to get underway, the dreadful lack of choice facing the British electorate will be increasingly exposed. The dire situation of the Conservative Party is mentioned in passing in this local article from Teesside on the LibDems linked here, from which this is a quote:-

The Tories' new leader Michael Howard seems to be doing even worse. At last year's Conservative conference the party's then leader, Iain Duncan Smith, basked in the cheers of 20 standing ovations.

Within weeks, though, senior Tory plotters had ousted the hapless IDS because they reckoned they could never win under him.

Suddenly Michael Howard was the delegates' delight, swept into the leadership without even the pretence of an election.

Fat lot of good it's done them. Twelve months ago the Tories boasted a two-point lead over Labour with the support of 37pc of the electorate. Now, according to the latest YouGov poll, both Labour and Tories have slipped back and are neck-and-neck on around 34pc.

Not much of a ringing endorsement for Michael Howard's vote-winning qualities.

Conservative party treachery in deliberately appearing to wish to sabotage the NO campaign for the North East Assembly referendum next Novemeber, described in detail by ChristopherBooker in today's Sunday Telegraph linked here, raises yet more questions as to the true motives of those who dumped IDS when the certain outcome was electoral suicide as repeatedly pointed out on this blog! Surely ordinary Tory party members must now realise that their party, like UKIP as presently led, seems to mainly serve the purposes of the EU federalists.

Tory driven NESNO referendum group conspiracy theories grow!

The Journal Newcastle's daily paper carries this latest report, linked here, of accusations that the recently formed Conservative controlled grouping is controlled and run by 'Quango Addicts". There is also to be a challenge to a statement from the Electoral Commission that the final decision was only taken on Monday. The following is an extract from a Journal article of 17th September:-

Conspiracy theories have suggested that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott influenced the decision in favour of John Elliot's NESNO campaign, because it has backing from the Conservative Party.

But that was immediately dismissed by the Electoral Com mission, with a spokeswoman saying the Government played "no part at all in any decision. It was a decision made only on Monday September 13."

For all the latest news put Neil Herron's blogon your 'favourites' or 'bookmarks':-

www.neilherron.blogspot.com or the real NO campaign www.northeastnocampaign.co.uk OR simply click here or here

Tory Logo goes Marxist?

Try this link and see what you think. What is your view, vote below if any of our views match yours:-

The new Conservative Party Logo. What you think -

A certain vote winnerWill alienate stalwarts Has totalitarian overtonesSeems non-representative of traditional party valuesI like itI hate it

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Saturday's Daily Telegraph has an article describing the warped thought processes and details of how the change was made. It may be read from this link. Is this yet one more step in the path to ensuring the party's permanent unelectability?

Scotsman attacks Redwood

On a seemingly somewhat convoluted and clearly contrived basis The Scotsman this afternoon launched an attack on John Redwood for holding shares in a company that has earnt revenues from Government advertising. Rum?

John Redwood Shadow Minister for Deregulation?

Apart from the matter of whether it is really possible to 'Shadow' a government department that does not exist, (or did I miss its creation?), what else arises from this surprise announcement from the normally uninspired Michael Howard?

The choice of post is intriguing ESPECIALLY recalling the well-known euro-sceptic credentials of the MP for Wokingham, who readers of this blog might recall I strongly urged to run against Michael Howard for the leadership (here) - in how much better a state might the Conservative Party now find itself had their MPs had the sense to select such a contender.

Given that regulation now almost entirely originates from Brussels, 'Deregulation' in this context therefore has to involve significant disengagement from the EU - the job title might well be a mere euphemism for the true objective. Developments will be reviewed with interest.

The Monday interview with Mr Redwood from The Independent may be read from this link.

Blogger breather! But STOP the CCB!

This blog with its associates is taking a break for a week or so. THOSE STEALING OUR FREEDOMS AND DEMOCRACY ARE NOT. Read these past posts on the topic of the Civil Contingencies Bill and contact one or more of their Lordships.

5th July Smacking debate to distract public attention aided by the BBC linked from here!

August 4th Civil Contingencies Bill

'Stopping the CCB' with contact details for members of the House of Lords from here.

Try these links as well: Statewatch and New Alliance

Howard's killed Conservatism

The column by Mark Steyn in this morning's Daily Telegraph linked here, concludes as follows:-

The damage to Republican-Tory relationships isn't the point: after all, you can't build bridges when one bank is crumbling into the river. It's the damage to the Tory party's identity. When you stand for nothing saleable that New Labour hasn't shamelessly appropriated, and when new parties are siphoning off votes on your Right, how stupid do you have to be to kick away the party's last remaining leg, the one that still seems relevant to the world we live in? If the Conservatives are no longer credible on foreign policy, what's left?

Or, as Toby Helm reported: "Among the alternative names that Tory modernisers are floating in private are the Democrats, the New Democrats, Progress." The first is the name of the US Left-of-centre party, the second is the Canadian socialist party, and the third could be anything, though it carries the vague whiff of a 1930s Mitteleuropean fascist movement.

Given that the Tories' identity is notable mainly by its absence, wouldn't it be easiest just to change the name to the Not The Conservative Party?

Independent on Sunday has Howard mortally wounded!

The headline says it all "Howard fury over White House ban" and the article linked here, concludes as follows:-

Some observers even predicted that the row could spell the beginning of the end of his leadership, which has been dogged in recent months by a failure to overtake Labour in the polls.

Mr Howard's most recent campaign, against political correctness, launched last week, was criticised as being like something from One Foot in the Grave. Others insist that Mr Howard will gain credibility for his stance.

More confirmation of Hague comeback!

Mathew d'Ancona confirms his recently growingl loss of political touch by praising Howard's leadership speech at the Saatchi Gallery and continuing to suggest he can still recover from his present deep, deep, trough! Read and laugh at the whole laboured daydream from here.

The Sunday Telegraph's 'Spy Column' , however carries this realistic piece linked from here as follows :-

Is Hague on the comeback trail?

After three years of self-imposed exile, William Hague is returning to the frontline with a speech at October's Conservative Party conference. Some reckon the former leader's address to the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward faction will be a plug for his new biography of Pitt the Younger. In fact, Spy understands that the event has more significance.

"He's doing other events to promote the book, but this will be a political speech," I'm told. "It's in the biggest function room in Bournemouth and organisers expect him to pack it out."

Hague's choice of platform is also of note. "CWF are the true believers," says my source. "William clearly wants to demonstrate that he's a man of the Right."

Observers will see the occasion as Hague staking a claim for the party leadership, should Michael Howard fail at the election.

Not he's the only one eyeing that prize. "Iain Duncan Smith's also been telling friends that he could make a glorious return, like John Howard in Australia," says another source.

William Hague re-emerges!

The Sunday Telegraph has an item of hope for the British poltical scene. As Nick Cohen exposes in his column in today's Observer titled 'When the price is right' (click here), British politics is rotten through and through.

The most trusted politician in the country (possibly one of the very few such Tories) is William Hague, as revealed in a BBC radio poll last year. It seems reading today's Sunday Telegraph, linked here, that he is now about to at least test the water before throwing his hat back into the ring.

Not a moment too soon as Michael Howard continues to compounds his own difficulties as evidenced elsewhere in the same paper, read Howard's rebuff to the White House snub, covered on this blog yesterday, from this link.

Howard deliberately ditches transatlantic ties?

The Sun, this morning carries this startling report, titled 'Bush: Stay away Howard' that Michael Howard's breathtaking incompetence has now led him to apparently deliberately sabotage not only the good relations usually enjoyed between the US Rebublican Party and the Conservatives, but possibly also relations between the two countries. The report may be read from this link and the following are selected quotes:-

... it has deeply damaged the decades-long alliance between the Republicans and the Conservative Party.

Senior US Right-wingers blame Mr Howard for undermining the coalition in Iraq and say they are privately rooting for a Labour victory in the next election.

A Tory source said: “They see Tony Blair as a true ally against terror and the Tories as a bunch of w*****s.”

The stand-off is particularly surprising in view of Mr Howard’s long standing admiration for America.

He set up the Atlantic Partnership, a think-tank which welcomes regular visits from Republican figures.

Senior Tories are amazed that the White House fury has remained a secret for so long.

One said: “I am astonished it hasn’t come out before.”

Tories trailing and UKIP threaten in latest YouGov Poll.

The Daily Telegraph linked here, will land with an ominous thud on the desks of top Tories this morning.

No party led by Michael Howard will ever win a general election in Britain, that was obvious from the start. Those who deposed IDS and placed Howard in his place, must also have recognised that fact - certainly their Labour opponents on the Guardian and within the BBC clearly did as they cheered on from the sidelines.

As repeatedly warned and forecast on this blog the party has gone backwards, a quote:-

Exactly a year ago, the Tories, then led by Iain Duncan Smith, had the backing of 37 per cent of voters and were two points ahead of Labour. They had already been ahead for two months and took the lead again in the autumn.

A year on and the Tories, far from having progressed further, are worse off. Only 34 per cent of voters now back the party - three points down from 12 months ago - and the Conservatives and Labour are now neck and neck.

Tory Eurosceptics lose again!

We urge our readers to follow this link to EU Referendum blog titled "Battle Lost"

Falmouth's Conservative & UKIP's video watchers still making waves!

Moves are afoot to deselect the central office candidate choice for the West Country constituency according to this Daily Telegraph report of this morning, linked here.

Falmouth was once considered as a clear UKIP target seat until that party's chances were sabotaged in the usual manner by Nigel Farage MEP insisting on parachuting in another scandal-ridden ex Tory MP, John Browne, who suffered the predictable whitewash just as Merchant himself managed in the North East euro-region during the June euro elections.

After that most recent defeat, once again on the usual Knapman/Farage jobs for the boys basis, Merchant was appointed UKIP's Chief Executive - which after some protest at the lack of advertisements for the position - was changed to Acting Chief Executive a position he holds to this day.

At the UKIP NEC where this was announced the salary was mentioned as anything between seventy five thousand and one hundred and fifty thousand pounds a year..... which must seem like riches indeed to the former Tory MP who stood down as campaign manager for the London Chamber of Commerce around the time of the Euro elections. Rumour reaching us indicates that to date Mr Merchant has not yet recived one penny piece in pay!

By the way, Conservative MPs fearful for their seats at the coming General Election might be heartened to know that however disgraced or even jailed they may become - there is always a new political home to be found while UKIP is run by Farage and Knapman - other rumours doing the rounds this week indicate that yet one more disgraced and ex-Tory MP, Jonathan Aitkin has made it onto the UKIP approved candidate list for the next general election.

Between the Tories and UKIP those promoting a return of Westminster sovereignty and a severe trimming of the powers of the EU look like once again having no real home for their vote when the General Election comes!

'Fawlty Tories' Day Two

More statements of the obvious from the one time Tory night press officer at central office linked here from the Mirror.

'Fawlty Tories' from the Mirror!

Read it in full from this link or savour an excerpt:-

Tim Miles spent four months this year working as the Tories' night press officer, and saw at first hand why this shambolic party couldn't run a Torquay hotel, let alone the nation.

THE conversation between the Tory press officers turns to the human failings of their political masters.

On one: "Bone idle - happiest in the pub."

On another: "Stupid and frightened to publicly expose his inept failure to grasp the basics of policy."

And this: "Disastrous image. Looks and talks like a prat."

They are united in their venom for one leading frontbencher. "Why Howard keeps him on is anyone's guess. Every time he appears on TV, we lose a thousand votes. He's got to go."

Make your own guesses I suggest. In an unusual day for the same paper it also carries another interesting article headlined 'Wasteminster' linked here.

Tories now pin revival on destruction of the UK!

The latest desperate ploy by the conservative party to regain government is now to be pinned on a further loosening of the bonds that bind England and Scotland according to the leader of that party North of the border, as carried in this morning's The Scotsman - linked here. It opens as follows:

THE Tories will wrap themselves in the Saltire claiming to be "Scotland’s True National Party" in an attempt overtake the SNP and become the second largest party north of the Border.

In a major speech to be delivered to the party faithful this week, the Scottish Conservative leader, David McLetchie, will claim that Tory policies would give Scots more autonomy than the Nationalists’ ‘Independence in Europe’ policy.

The United Kingdom now needs unity in the face of the EU's mounting and continued attack on our democracy and national independence. The Conservatives once again seem set to embark on the exact opposite course as the best interests of the nation obviously now require.

There will be plenty of time to discuss our national internal arrangements once the greater outside threat from the existing EU is finally fully recognised and neutralised. Do they really intend to callously leave vacant the post of flag-bearer for those who still belive in 'One Nation' (both North and South of the border!)?

The Sottish Tory leader will reportedly make this claim: "We are Scotland’s true national party."

Hartlepool Conservative Party Leader says Tories have 'NO CHANCE'

This report is from The Scotsman linked here:

Today the leader of the Tory group on Hartlepool Council, George Morris, warned his party had no chance of winning the poll.

And he said it was “most disturbing” that the Conservatives had still not selected a candidate to fight the seat.

“The Tory campaign isn’t going for Hartlepool,” Mr Morris told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme.

“The district officer hasn’t brought to the local association a list of any possible candidates. It is most disturbing.”

He complained that local Conservatives were “in the dark” and added: “We are disturbed by the fact that all the other candidates are making their play ... and here we are sitting knowing nothing.”

Asked if his party had any chance of winning the pending by-election, prompted by Mr Mandelson’s move to being a European Commissioner, Mr Morris answered: “No.”

Nice or not - Mr Howard?

It seems to me that the last definitive Tory statement on the appalling Nice Treaty was that made by the last party leader but one - William Hague who committed the Conservatives to its re-negotiation.

IDS , as far as I can determine, made no absolute statement on the matter, but appeared to be moving towards a rejectionist stance just before he was so undemocratically ousted from the leadership. Many might believe and I am one, that it was his growing eurosceptic stance that led to his downfall.

Mr Howard has supposedly returned from holiday early to consider great policy issues ahead of the next election. All pronouncements to date have been damp squids on minor matters of detail, in a country whose independence and democracy is being bled before our eyes. The report in the post below on Hartlepool is evidence of the treachery being perpetrated by the Tories under Michael Howard.

I suggest his party members ask their leader these two questions:-

1) Is there any actual limit to the restrictions on our national independence and democracy that would make our continuation within the EU unacceptable to Mr Howard? If so where might the limit lie. The present policy of the Tories under Howard is to continue within the EU regardless of however nationally socialist, corrupt, statist, totalitarian or non-democratic it might become!

2) If the EU Constitutional Treaty were to fail - is Mr Howard prepared to commit the nation to continuing within the EU under the terms of the Nice Treaty? If the answer is yes as I assume - How can that be justified given the previous stance of William Hague?

These are the crucial questions facing the country that the Tories seek to avoid. UKIP by shying clear of Westminster (at Leicester South, Hodge Hill and now by fielding no senior party figure at Hartlepool) has given the Tory leader an opportunity to regain the Eurosceptic vote ahead of the general election campaign - has Howard the strategic sense to see this and/or the courage to abandon and betray the eurofederalists who thrust him to the forefront of the party to finalise their destruction of this country and its democracy?

Tories deem Hartlepool Hopeless?

The Scotsman in this report titled 'Tories seem to give up without a fight in Mandelson by-election' makes quite clear that Britain is now effectively without a viable opposition party. And certainly without one with any hope of achieving government. In whose interests is this? The article may be read from here.

Is Oliver Letwin a Moron or Saboteur?

I have tended to believe the latter, ever since his performance during the 2001 election campaign, when his tax gaffes blew it for William Hague just as the contest got underway. His performance since being re-instated by the 'EU forever friend of the EPP' - Michael Howard has tended to confirm this - particularly his determination to maintain his daytime job in spite of being made Shadow Chancellor!

Now we have this extraordinary gaffe, attacking the middle classes one true feel good factor just ahead of a likely property price crash. 'Moron' is therefore back in the running - or perhaps more kindly - too clever by half, as we used to say of apparently brilliant class-mates at school- those whonevertheless seemed to lack the ordinary commonsense of others several years their junior.

Read it from this quite extraordinary link to this morning's Daily Telegraph here, and study the picture perhaps for further clues!

Howard by Bernard Levin and 'Black Information Link'

The Guardian had the following quote in its obituary of Mr Levin by John Ezard last Tuesday:-

Towards the end of his time as a writer, in June 1995, he said of Michael Howard as Conservative home secretary: "In Howardspeak, 'Howard to close migrant loopholes' means Howard needs another boost for his ambition, as odious as it is ridiculous, so he plays the immigration card: unwanted darkies, brownies, yellowies, even whities, out, out, out. The card, of course, is not just for him alone, but for the Tories in general, as they look at the polls and sink more and more into despair."

Today in this website the basis for criticism seems to have not substantially change, neither has the state of the polls for the Tories of course. A quote:-

Sensing a backlash against his comments, Howard mounted a rearguard action to woo the Black and Asian media. But this failed to save the Tory leader from a savaging, with The Voice, New Nation and the Asian Times laying into him.

At least this is one of his recent initiatives which got some reaction. We read he had returned early from his hols to launch a series of high-profile policy proposals which all seemed to land like damp squids - one paper stating that the unnecessary action was most likely caused by the realisation that he was now almost two thirds of the way through his leadership period if the General Election comes next spring.

Weekend press speculation made even that fraction look optimistic as the tired old rumours of a Portillo leadership bid were once again revived.

Blair's destruction of the 'Forces of Conservatism' - by Janet Daley.

The 'Telegraph' columnist correctly describes the plight of the Tories, and unlike this blogger sees hope for revival. The opinion piece is linked from here .

A comment on the leaked 'Renewal' editorial to The Guardian was earlier posted on Ironies and may be read from here.

HAS ANYONE LOOKED TO SEE WHAT IS COMING UP BEHIND?????

Howard sinks to 21 per cent

The link I provided to Ananova's poll report stopped working halfway through the day yesterday as other news appeared. Unable to provide a link to the FT report on the poll, here is one to a paper in Bahrain that gives a summary of Howard's continuing August agony. Click on Gulf Daily News.

Bad news continues as The Guardian follows yesterday's student loan interest hike story in its educational section!

Populus Poll - More Gloom for Howard in bottom place!

This report in Ananova linked here has more bad news for Howard, who is shown trailing the other two party leaders and now shows less than half of Tory party members believe in an election
victory.

Howard's attack on students headlined in Torygraph

Tories to charge students more for loans from here.

The article linked above is the second of two extremely unfavourable articles for the Tories in this morning's edition, topped by a withering leading article (linked from the next post) it appears the knives are now fully unsheathed and Howard appears doomed! Read the damaging report to be read with anger by students, secondary school pupils and all their parents no doubt with the utmost fury up and down the land. And this is supposed to be the silly season? Lunacy certainly is lodged at Central Office.

Tory branch suspended over Sanity 'Shockwaves' video!

In a huge publicity coup for UKIP, Conservative Party Central Office has suspended its Falmouth Branch for watching the anti-EU Subjects against the Nice Treaty - Sanity video. The action is reported in an article in today's Daily Telegraph linked here by Richard Savill and Toby Helm and the paper has a hugely sarcastic leading article on the ridiculousness of the action readable from here.

The video clearly states it is non-political but does mention UKIP at the close, as one organisation fighting the EU.

It is recommended viewing for anyone concerned at our growing loss of the means to replace our rulers.

(This post also appeared on the Ukip Uncovered blog this morning, where it will no doubt be read with both joy and incredulity - most UKIP members having seen the video in question!)

Stopping Labour!

The following is an edited version of a post on Ukip Uncovered made early this morning. Since that posting the writer has been informed that his application to stand for UKIP in the Hartlepool by-election has been rejected, without explanation, only some twenty four odd hours after being told his application would receive the full constiuency committee, the Chairman stating he had no doubts regarding the 'sincerity of the candidate'. Stopping Blair's Labour Party and its anti-democratic tendencies seems an ever more forlorn hope!

Quote

Two articles in the papers this morning, each with the same theme - the supposed inevitability of another Labour victory - in spite of the Party's real state, as Peter Kilfoyle , Labour MP for Liverpool Walton describes in The Guardian, linked here, for example this section:

Finally, talk to your friends, neighbours, workmates. Ask them for an opinion on Labour, and do not be astonished by the vituperation in some of the replies. We are truly, for many people, akin to the Tories in the depths of their sleaze period. That of itself is both repugnant and dangerous. Tie it to the loss of councillors in many areas (our key workers), and we risk the same downward spiral which the Tories faced.

The Daily Telegraph has a similar theme in its piece ' Blair to split up Blunkett empire' linked here which informs us as follows:

David Blunkett's Home Office empire is to be split up as part of a radical restructuring of law and order responsibilities planned by Labour after the next election.

A ministry of justice and a separate department of rights could be created, replacing the Home Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs, headed by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor............

Mr Blair is normally extremely cautious about predicting victory. But Labour's confidence has been helped by the turmoil in Tory ranks after their poor by-election showing and Michael Howard's mishandling of the debate on the Butler report on Iraq intelligence failings.

Mr Blunkett is at the centre of a tense struggle involving Lord Falconer and Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, over the future running of the judiciary and the civil and criminal courts.

It can be no co-incidence that the area of dispute could be more generally defined as that of 'citizen control' Democracy's last chance, it must be now no exageration to say, could be on the horizon as early as 5th May next year according to these reports. What individual freedoms and liberties the EU has left us - Blair's government - 'Labour' only in name, looks set to destroy.
Unquote

Howard's satisfaction rating slumps

The following is taken from an article in today's Independent on Sunday linked here, regarding the latest MORI poll (Who are the wierd group of voters who express themselves as satisfied with Howard's leadership..... and what happens to the index when that number does reach zero as soon seems likely?) read an excerpt from here:

The worst news for the Tories, however, is the dramatic slide in Mr Howard's personal rating since the start of this year.

In January, his "satisfied" rating exceeded "dissatisfied" by 8 points. His rating turned negative in April, with a 2-point net "dissatisfied" rating, which increased to 12 points in June and stands at 16 points now.

Labour: 32 per cent

When Mr Howard became leader last November, most voters had yet to make up their minds. But since then the undecided have moved steadily into the "dissatisfied" category.

His ratings dropped sharply last month even among Conservative supporters, after a poor Commons performance against the Prime Minister over the Butler report into pre-war intelligence on Iraqi weapons.

How would you vote if there were a general election tomorrow?Who are the wierd group of voters who express themselves as satisfied with Howard's leadership..... and what happens to the index when that number does reach zero as soon seems likely?

Labour: 32 per cent

Conservative: 31 per cent

Liberal Democrat: 24 per cent

Other: 13 per cent