lord of the blog

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Friday, April 29, 2005

House of Lords

I will add a comment about the House of Lords tomorrow. I am off to watch Have I Got News for You. Should be interesting!

Spam

I am not sure how many people saw the invasion of duplicated comments but I have deleted them although I suspect it might be more instructive if I left them on so that people could see how a minority will try and prevent open discussion through blogs.

There was even a media group claiming they could block this site. So much for freedom of the press!

General election

I hope I am not the only person who has noticed that every time the Liberals are asked why Kosovo was not illegal if Iraq was, they duck the question.

The UN often doesn't give backing to regime change as in Kosovo, Bangladesh (by India), Cambodia and Uganda to name but a few powerful cases.

Our problem remains how to create a legal framework that allows regime change when it is necessary as in Iraq and how you manage the post conflict situation.

The whole thrust of this Governments foreign policy is to try address world poverty, political and economic instability and dictators and failing states.

Even without all the social and economic reasons for voting Labour I think this agenda on its own would compel me to support this Government. Not least because as an internationalist I believe it is wrong to turn a blind eye to gross human rights abuses of the type we find in dictatorships.

While I am on this issue let me say why I think the word "lying" has become so devalued. (Thanks largely to the tabloids using it as an easy headline word for all types of stories).

To be a liar you need to set out and deliberately deceive others by saying things that you know without doubt are not true and to do that consistently or over a long period of time.

We all tell lies at times although we often call them "white lies" or "fibs". We all argue our case leaving out counter arguments and we all exaggerate the strength of our case.

I very rarely call people liars because I know it is an easy insult which rarely takes the argument any further. I would also rather give the person concerned the benefit of the doubt until it has been proved to me that the lie is incontrovertible.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Science policy and Labour

There was a good letter in the Guardian yesterday from 35 scientists supporting Labour.

It pointed out that Labour had increased the budget of the Office of Science and Technology from £1.3 billion in 1997 to £2.8 billion now,

It talked of the spirit of optimism amongst scientists and engineers but argued for Labour to have a third term to continue the work.

Science policy often gets overlooked in General Elections but this is another good example of Labour policies working for all of us.

responses

Stephen Pollard in his comment below, raises the old problem of what to do when you want to support a particular political party but disagree with a key policy issue or with the candidates view on a key policy issue.

As an ex MP I can say that tough choices are a necessary part of politics! But let me try and be a little more  helpful!

As nobody has found a way of running a modern democracy without Party's we are all pushed into making a choice for a coalition which inevitably has many strands of opinion within it.

Sometimes the Party is so alien to our beliefs that we just can't support it. That's the easy bit. The tough bit is when you want to support the Party but either the candidate or one aspect of the policy stick in your throat.

In that situation you can join the Party and seek to change it within or you just have to make the choice on election day.

As a strong Labour supporter I am going to say that even if you disagree on Iraq (and Stephen Pollard believes as I do that it was right but his Labour candidate doesn't) then you can recognise that it was a tough choice and that there are strong arguments on either side.

From there you can go on to ask what the other candidates and Party's would do in the present situation and balance that against the overall policy aims of the Party.

I think the Liberals really do have to ask whether they are seriously going to pull the troops out of Iraq at the end of this year. That alone is a good case for not voting Liberal. Because even if you think that the invasion made a bad situation worse there is no case for making it worse still!

Time for the tough choices!

 

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

ASBO's

I could not believe Mark Oaten the Lib Dem spokesman on crime who was on the lunchtime news today saying Lib Dems supported ASBO's plus! I am not quite sure what the 'plus' is but I have very clear memories of him and his Party arguing against ASBO's as a serious infringement of people's rights.

Now they want a souped up version! This is known as political expediency writ large.

Charles Kennedy was struggling on ITV last night. You do get the impression that he hasn't thought through many of the policies they are pursuing not least on Iraq. Regardless of your view on the war withdrawing our troops before the Iraqi's want us to is a not a sensible policy.

Blogging

Some people are still trying to put libelous stuff on this site which is sad. I suspect they want to stop people blogging. Modern Luddites.

Here is a special and dedicated response to 'someone' with a special mention of IRAQ. I'll say it again in case you missed it! IRAQ. I am not sure where you have been for the past few days but it has been a top issue in the media. So don't worry we are not going to forget it and I am certainly not going to walk away from it.

Meanwhile can I suggest you write shorter response. I very much doubt that too many people are reading what you say all the way to the end. There are good points in there but they get lost in cyberspace!

Family policy

Here comes another good scheme to help families. From April next year families earning up to £59,000pa will be able to claim financial support worth up to £210pw.It is a tax break system that has been extended to include care within your own home.

The carer has to be registered under a new childcare approval scheme.

It is policies like this that keep Labour ahead of the other Party's.

Chinese for Labour

Chinese for Labour have produced a good newsletter on election issues for the chinese community in Britain. The Chair is Mee Ling Ng.

Contact chinese_for_labour@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Responses

The discussion between Andy and Dan highlight the dilemmas in foreign policy. Where is the dividing line between intervening or trying to build up contacts which might lead to change? Or do we just refuse to have any dealings with countries like Iran?

I think a deal on Rover cars might be beneficial. Iran certainly is sponsoring terror and is a pretty cruel regime but there is a lot of movement there and if we can give help and support to those groups then we should.

Andrew Price asked if Andy Slaughter (the Labour candidate for my old seat) is going to blog. The answer is I don't know but I think he needs time to get his new life organised if he is elected. The first months of being an MP are incredibly demanding.

Andy Slaughter did say to me that if people want to ask him questions then do so through andy@andyslaughter.com

To Andrew Baker I would say vote for your preferred candidate. As an ex chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party I can assure you that individuals can and do make their views known. I know that because it is one of the reasons I nearly got booted out of the job in the annual vote for Chair in 2000!

To the Andrew (when  did Andrew become the favorite name for bloggers!) whose wife wants to vote Tory but is a nurse in the NHS- well, I need to speak to her. Get her to come on line!

I just ran a spell check over this. The spellchecker had difficulty with Andy Slaughter's name. It offered me 'onslaught', 'insulter', 'insulate' and finally 'LANDSLIDE'  YES!!!

Hammersmith and Fulham

It is Greg Hands who would make a dreadful MP and take Fulham (and that bit of Hammersmith that was nicked of me by the Boundary Commission!) back to the dark ages of Tory rule.

Melanie, it is your namesake Melanie Smallman who has a lot of local experience and knowledge and would make an excellent MP.

This is a highly marginal seat and I'm sure Melanie would welcome more help there.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Responses

I do think some people are underestimating the way Baby Bonds can change saving habits and give poorer families a better start in life.

Think of those families where there is not a culture of saving and money management may not be too good.

I have seen plenty of people over the years who would benefit from having a bank account and it is important to remember that even the least well organised families might have friends or relatives who can also contribute over the years.

The issue of student fees was mentioned. I don't have the precise figures to hand but each student costs the taxpayer about £4000. Primary school children only cost about £1500 even with the increases of expenditure.

So if we have extra cash to spend why not spend it where it makes the most difference? That is Primary and pre school.Students do go on to earn more then non graduates.

If you are interested in this subject look back at the lively debate on this site when it was going through the House of Commons.

Dan. I will see the group about Iran but there is not much I can do during the election. If they want to see me after the election get them to write to me at 16,Church Road, W3 8PP

Issues like this and the latest reports from Burma on the use of chemical weapons show how important it is to reform the UN and regional groups like the ASSEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

Thanks to Dave Collins for his supportive comments. Chris or Simone ought to think about what sort of image they give of themselves. Most of us can engage in argument or discussion without personal abuse or libel.

People are not stupid. When they see unsubstantiated allegations of the type made by Simone and Chris they tend to ignore them and assume that the writer is either vindictive or unwell. In years to come they are likely to be embarrassed about these comments.

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Election coverage

Page 6 of the Guardian on Monday the 18th April had a revealing table dealing with media coverage of the election. 50% of all coverage was on political process - things like discussion by commentators on campaign strategy. Only 7.3% was on taxation and even immigration only got 6.8%.

I think this is one of the factors that turns all but political junkies like me off elections. Most people want to make a judgement about which Party has the best policies/record to run the country. How can they make that judgement if the emphasis is on Party strategies?

Japan and China

The riots in China and the war of words between the two country's is not exactly a burning issue in the British General Election but it is very important and we will have to return to it in due course

Responses

A few brief responses.

The tram issue will be decided by the Mayor but I have no problem with the Tory Parliamentary candidate for Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bush using it - I just feel a whole leaflet on it suggests they don't have much else to talk about.

Andrew - Do you really believe the Tories will spend more on the NHS? Get real! Don't look in the crystal ball when you can read the book. We know what they did.

Baby bonds will make a difference to poverty. Extra money goes in for the least well off and others can contribute. How about some of the better off critics making a contribution!?

Dave Collins puts the case against a local income tax better then me. It does unravel when you get to the detail.

I will have to change a number of things on this site as well as the letters 'MP'. I am in contact with my adviser in Canada!

Voice 1 should take Steve's advice and read the previous posts and the Fabian 2 document on my sidebar. It deals with most of his/hers questions. Another nameless person. Why? Don't be shy.

A final point on censorship. I have only had to delete one post since I started this site and that was on racist grounds. Simone is now the second because I can't allow this site to be used to make unsubstantiated allegations about other people's private lives especially with innuendo's about paedophilia.

Hassan is also sailing close to the wind on racism. Try substituting Moslem for Jew in the sentence you used Hassan and you'll see what I mean.

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Hammersmith and Ealing elections

Melanie Smallman is the Labour candidate in marginal Hammersmith and Fulham. All offers of help will be welcome.

Andy Slaughter is the candidate in Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bush and help is also welcome there. (16, Church Road Acton W3. Tel: 0208 896 2323)

In Ealing Acton and Shepherds Bush the Tory’s are campaigning on the tram which Ken Livingstone wants to connect Shepherds Bush with Uxbridge. Some councils and MP’s are for it and some are against it and it crosses Party lines. So why does the local Tory Party think it’s an issue for a General Election?

Maybe they think trams are safer then Michael Howard!

Liberals taking the kids piggy bank!

Why are Liberals so keen are stopping youngsters getting the Baby Bond? It is an excellent way of giving poorer families a good start in life and helping to break the poverty cycle

Liberals and local income tax

The Liberals are in trouble on local income tax. I was attracted to this idea many years ago but when you start looking at the detail it doesn’t stack up and it’s not particularly fair. Try local income taxes on a family of four all of whom are working – it’s painful!

Michael Howard

Michael Howard is certainly living up to his ‘something of the night image’. I can only think he is trying to firm up his core voters in the Tory Party. Immigration is a key issue on the doorstep and it is not an easy issue to resolve without encouraging the far right. That’s why Howard’s approach must be rejected.

The prize cartoon on Howard’s approach must go to Steve Bell in the Guardian. It paraphrased the Tory advert about a” bloke” on early release from prison breaking in and attacking “your” daughter.

Bell changed it to a “bat” breaking in and biting your daughter followed by “Are you drinking what I’m drinking”!

General

I have now removed 26 years of records from my old office in the House of Commons. All I have to do is work out what to keep and what to discard!

I will now start on some election issues and that includes Iraq where and when appropriate. The key question on this is how and when we should intervene and that has been discussed at some length on this site. It is an important issue for me so I will continue to discuss it.

Most of us will agree that morally we ought to intervene to deal with failing states and brutal dictators – the problem is how and when. I offered to meet the person who calls himself ‘someone’ but the offer was not taken up. I also don’t understand why anonymity is so important.

Why not use a name?

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Child (Contact) and Adoption Bill Report

The Joint Committee report on the Draft Child (contact) and Adoption Bill which I chaired is out today. Key Recommendations include a new time and place requirement designed to give family courts greater flexibility in dealing with parents who try and avoid carrying out the courts instructions on contact.

The suggestion of tagging non compliant parents is rejected as being too problematic for the child of the parents.

A new adoption agency is suggested to deal with overseas adoptions.

For the full Report see : http//:www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk

Friday, April 08, 2005

General

I am in the process of clearing 26 years of papers from my office and have just a few days left to complete the work. When I finish I will start on the election issues and deal with some of the points already raised in previous comments.

For those who asked for prior warning on broadcasts and other events I should tell you that Today in Parliament (23.30 hrs, tonight on radio 4) has an interview with Archie Kirkwood and myself who are retiring at this election and Michael Forsyth who lost in the 2001 election.

On Monday there is a press release on the report of the Joint Committee on the Draft Children (Contact) and Adoption Bill which I chaired. ( http://www.parliament.uk ) it deals with the difficult issue of parents who can't agree contact arrangements about their children.

The Bill will almost certainly be amended and put into legislation by the next government whoever wins. The report will also be published on Monday. Fathers4justice may have something to say about the report.

Friday, April 01, 2005

e-technology

There was something from yesterday's Guardian for bloggers to look out for in the near future. The government hopes to award a £10 million prize to a city or council from 2008 to encourage cities and councils to transform the delivery of public services.

The idea appears to be to encourage an e-city competition. If this catches on it could be a good opportunity to increase citizens participation, something that I have learned is close to the hearts of many bloggers.

Perhaps Hammersmith or Ealing could show the way. Any other offers? http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics  (Guardian 31.3.05 page 2)