Government 'disintegrating beneath his very feet'
THIS BLOG WAS CLOSED ON POLLING DAY - AND ALL POST-0600 ENTRIES WERE REMOVED (to comply with election broadcast rules)
Yesterday this Blog observed that the left-wing press was deserting Gordon Brown -- and 24 hours later, following hard on the heels of the Independent, the country's most important left-wing daily, The Guardian, has this morning called on the PM to go.
In the grand scheme of things, hostile newspaper editorials (even from usually sympathetic newspapers) are the least Gordon Brown has to worry about. Far more important is the impression that the government is disintegrating beneath his very feet and the growing view that, post Thursday's elections, the chances of a backbench revolt and/or a serious leadership challenge are growing by the day. And that's where the newspapers are important.
Labour MPs and activists read the Guardian and the Independent and, by and large, care about what they say. The combined effect of the editorials will be to reinforce those who want Mr Brown to go and to push those who are wavering in that direction too. We still don't know if that is the majority mood in the party. But I sense it's getting very close to it.
I never thought I'd live to see a government in a more severe state of disintegration than John Major's ailing Tory government of the mid-1990s. But it's beginning to look as if the Brown government is in an even worse state. After all, despite all the sleaze, divisions and general lack of purpose, even the Major government did not suffer from a rush to the door by ministers in the wake of a Cabinet reshuffle (we are witnessing Westminster's first ever pre-shuffle).
Yet that is what is happening before our very eyes and the PM looks powerless in the wake of the exodus. The next 10 days look like being the most interesting, in party political terms, since Michael Heseltine challenged Margaret Thatcher in the autumn of 1990. As then, so now: we are in uncharted territory.
Nobody knows what's going to happen -- not even the PM!
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~09~RS~)
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I have been wondering if this isn't simply a case of the problem MP's / Ministers being weeded out BEFORE the elections, so as to try to maximise what threatens to be a poor Labour vote. Damage limitation if you like. I think that's another possible interpretation of what's happening, but if the Government really is disintegrating and it does look that way - the sooner it's over and done with the better.
The key thing really, is which way the Labour MPs vote in the Commons next week on the SNP/Cymru motion to dissolve Parliament. I hope they would vote according to the properly researched views of the constituents, rather than looking after their own interests.
And to be honest, I can't see that their interests are best served by letting this drag on any longer. The row about Golden Goodbyes will continue for example and ther'll be questions about MP's judgement if they are still serving in Parliament but have been forced to stand down
On the other hand if they all vote for the Government, that would strengthen GB's position.
So it all boils down to Labour MP's consciences, what their constituents tell them and whether they really are Honourable members or not....
The Governments future is in the hand of the Labour Backbenchers....
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Gordon still does not get the message, the country do not want him or his party running the country, even his own people are getting out fast before the ship goes down! Maybe someone should take him to one side and let him know its time to go...
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Next week's dissolution debate may yet be the last chance Labour MPs have of leaving Parliament with the full "redundancy" package, so it may not simply be the empty gesture some are accusing the opposition of. How much more palatable will it be for Labour MPs to consider the prospect of £70,000+ now, as opposed to twelve more months of torture and public opprobrium, followed quite possibly by a reduced resettlement payout.
I for one will not be surprised to see a good many Labour MPs at least abstain next week.
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There's one person the country wants out of the cabinet before all others...Calamity Brown himself. Until he leaves it's all just window dressing.
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Love the idea of a "pre-reshuffle-shuffle!" Unfortunately it isn't going to be enough to save the Government. The clock is ticking...
PS: Nice to see your blog getting the readers/comments it deservs Andrew!
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The only way even a modest number of people are going to "vote Labour" as Ms Blears appealed on her way out the door is if she and a significant number of Labour MP's show they have at least got the guts and integrity to force Brown out of the door.
If they don't not only have they been incompetent and self serving, they will add cowardly and contemptuous towards the clear will of the people. They really will have no reason to complain if Labour is a political irrelevance for the far forseeable future if they don't do something while they still can.
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My old trusty computer seems to be cracking up, and I promised I'd take a break from blogging. But the wonderful news just now of Old Bleary Eyes quitting, has given me new strength.
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An incumbent government usually gets removed by voters when the economy takes a turn for the worse.
Today we have an economic crisis and politicians in a tail spin over their expenses. On top of this we have a government which is disintegrating. It's all a bit anarchic for my liking.
However, the pound is going up in value, which means the markets expect Mr Brown to shortly leave town.......and order to be restored to the public finances by some incoming political force.
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The world of politics is buzzing isn't it with all the revelations about the MP's expenses scandal and the fact that they seem to be as common as some others in the population, who try to take the tax payers for all they can get !
But the fact is that they are to get a re-settlement sum of money that is beyond most people's dreams, and instead of being discredited and punished, which is what the ordinary person would be, they,because of being politicians - and it seems above the law, are to be rewarded for their 'lapses in memory, in making these claims.'
No wonder a lot of people, including me will not be voting for the main parties tomorrow, as we are still reeling from the shock of this shambles, which is - One rule for the Government, and Another rule for the Electorate !
Mrs Jo Sparkes
Mattishall Norfolk
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#8 "An incumbent government usually gets removed by voters when the economy takes a turn for the worse...."
If only we had the chance, it seems PM GB will cling on until the last second while the country falls apart around him.
I fear your last comment might be true by changing one letter! "...incoming political farce...."
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A loaded question: Why was Caroline Spelman wearing mauve high socks?
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An absolutely 'flipping' fantastic programme today !!!
But when you have characters like Blears, Hoon, Gordon Brown and Caroline Spelman, the entertainment value is ready there for harvesting !!!
That said, it still takes a strong team to deliver the fruit of a great, tasty programme..
Right, that's enough sycophancy...
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Andrew,
Brown leads off by reading out the names of the dead soldiers from Afghanistan. Then! Disgraceful no mention of really why the soldiers are in Afghanistan, what exactly is the point. Nothing about the deaths in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, nothing about the very sad case of the people who committed suicide, where was their support, why do so many people now feel it that suicide is the only solution, whether by taking the awful decision to go over Beachy Head, or those that want to go abroad to have drugs administered to end their life.
As for PMQs the point is that eventually people will have to repay accumulated debt from deferred mortgage, they will eventually have to pay off the inland revenue for deferred taxes which they failed to pay off when they were due. All the debts will have to be paid off.
The smiling Brown just does not get it, Hoon should be sacked. Whilst he was apparently making sure that all his property transactions were within the rules how many soldiers died because of poor leadership, because of poor equipment, because of failed policies from the government, how many funerals did he not attend for fear of a reaction from the berieved, how many have been kept quiet for fear of losing compensation or treatment. Hoon is the reason why this government is in such a bad state, too much looking after his own benefits to really care about the people.
The man found the time to organise a court injunction against my son because he was saying what needed to be said, and the time to study the rules about property transactions, yet he failed to find the time for the funerals, too busy elsewhere. There must be an inquiry into Iraq. If Hoon is still in this government in any position then it will be a disgrace.
Brown is too busy saving the country, yet he can find the time to go to the D-Day 'celebrations', what a photo opportunity, what a chance for others to show exactly what they think of this appalling person. I would say that he is totally detached from reality, just like Hoon and Speelman on your programme. I think that there is something in this Ashcroft business, keep digging guys, nobody is above the law. Just because something was acceptable in the past, for example slavery, bear baiting, fox hunting, does not mean that things can continue as they are today. Smith does not think that her authority was blown, you can't believe it.
This contemptible parliament must end. Wonder what the Queen has been saying to Brown at their weekly meeting. Remember Blair was going to serve a full term, well he didn't, he misled us, just as we are being misled about the global economic crisis.
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Clearly the best speaker today-Andrew Neil
The most incisive yet and reflecting exactly the mood of the nation
.Anita gets a star also !
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No.10. mvan99 wrote:
"I fear your last comment might be true by changing one letter! "...incoming political farce...."
Take cover; incoming political farce!!!
You could be right, seeing as there's a significant risk that the anarchy of unregulated markets (over-indulgence of 2001 to 2007) has already destroyed the economy for many years to come, and no politician will have the skill to cure the scorched earth.
In the 1970s British governments didn't last for more than one term.
The question back then was "is Britain governable?"
Is history about to repeat itself?
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THE ROTTEN PARLIAMENT
The session of Prime Minister`s Questions today was - as has become its custom over the life of this Rotten Parliament - quite useless at holding the Executive to effective account. This Rotten Parliament has been continually proved incapable of holding the current governing executive up to the mirror of serious scrutiny.
The current executive drawn from its ranks is falling apart before our eyes and has utterly run out of purposes & the energy to pursue them, and yet the tarnished Opposition is unable to land a single effective oratorical blow upon the platform of Parliamentary debate before the watching nation without.
Only the upheaval of a general election and a thorough clearing out by the constituents of the current corrosive occupants of the green benches will offer the nation the chance of something better.
Ajax Bardrick, Surrey, England.
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When MP's can't regulate themselves, let alone the economy, and the penalty for misdemeanour is to have a year to fill your shopping trolley with salary, perks and pay offs, the Conservatives think the power and money will just drop into their laps without really trying.
Maybe it will, though I hope Mr Cameron might have to do more than just stand there to succeed at the election. I can see that neither of the big two will take any meaningful action unless they feel under threat, though by then it might be too late, and they will have been judged obsolete. For the good of the country I think the Labour government should continue, then we can see what the Kelly report says and judge the parties' responses, and then make our decision next year.
I'm not giving a mandate to any of these two without knowing their intentions. Same as before ? - not likely.
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Looks like Gordon Brown is raising the stakes. Now all his expense MP's are quitting won't this force David Cameron to have to do the same with his Shadow Cabinet. This whole business has shaken Parliament to it's very knees.
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Ministers that step down, MP's that refuse to serve in the Cabinet, Backbenchers that vote FOR the dissolution next week.
All these things will do the MP's chances of getting re-elected no harm whatsoever, provided they can show they are clean on expenses of course!
And if you aren't clean on expenses, I guess the sooner this is all put to rest, the better....!
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We have a car scrappage scheme - what about a government scrappage scheme?
Did Mr Brown say in PMQs that the expenses system needed to be sorted now. What about the Kelly report? Not long ago he said that we should wait for this. Once again he comes across as the "say anything" PM.
And DC, alright twist the knife in the ailing govn but counter at least some of the GB mumbo-jumbo. I did not vote for a government to Nationalise the banks but privatise the post-office. I did not vote for the govn to spend, spend, spend like there is no tomorrow. I also do not give a monkeys about MPs and second jobs provided there is no conflict of interest and they are doing the MP role. Rather a second job than spending time maximising personal gain by playing the rules.
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The more that comes out about MP's EXPENSES the more it is important that it is sorted out before any change to leader or party
As some MP's have all ready made attempts to change to freedom of information act to make there pay and expense secret again
and if we let them off the hook by having an election then they will just make the necessary change
they will tell us that we elected them and as far as they have considered all the options they have the right to make the changes
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I have to say the Cabinet looked at PMQ's as if it was about the mount the steps to the gallows.
Hazel Blears at last has done something right for this country. This country will never forgive the Labour Party if they continue to prop up an unpopular Prime Minister and government and continue to deny them the General Election they want.
It is time for others to wrestle with the conflict of conscience that Hazel Blears has wrestled with for perhaps to long.
Caroline Spellman looked as dodgy as William Hague did on Newsnight refusing to answer the question about Ashcroft. Is it really any wonder politicains are loathed when they indulge in this cheap tactic to try to bamboozle the electorate when they electorate can see right through them.
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I suspect that Hague and Spelman gave formulaic answers to the question of Ashcroft's taxes because they don't know the truth either, like the rest of us. Someone has decreed that he's meeting lawful requirements, but won't go into details. With the present demands for 'transparency', the pressure must build on Cameron or Ashcroft to reveal all.
Hoon tried to paper over the resignation of Blears by saying it was understandable that she might wish to work and campaign more in Salford. He avoided the reality of her statement that she wanted to 'reconnect Labour with the voters'. Note the word 'reconnect' - it suggests that something's gone wrong, somewhere.
And for Brown to constantly tell the world that the opposition have got no policies, but still refuse a general election (again) surely brings his judgement into question more than anything else. If the opposition are useless, why hang on until they get their act together? Is this being politically astute?
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We have given MP's power but they have all ways used that power to make the most out of us that they can and they have tried to hide as much as possible from us
So now we have them all on the ropes we should keep the pressure on them to make the changes before we change government as once we change government they will change the laws to cover up there greed
MP's have done this from day one and will not change if they think they can get away with it
I have seen MP's promise every thing to get elected and deliver every little and there answer is all ways they can not get cross party cooperation to get the vote through when it comes to pay and expenses the ONLY time there is cross party cooperation is when they are voting for how much they can take us for
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The Major administration accepted their situation was doomed and got on with the business of running the country, handing over an economy in the ascendancy to New Labour.
Surely with the recession taking a grip on the country it would be more pertinent for the Labour MPs and the Government to stop looking inward and start thinking about what the country needs.
Instead of making phone calls about Susan Boyle, Brown would be better served talking to LDV about how to save thousands of jobs in manufacturing.
However at this point ditching Brown will serve no useful purpose , the alternatives are not going to change the outcome of the election.
It is an unedifying sight to see their self interest taking precedence over the needs of the country.
If they want a change of leader they should force a General Election and be done with it.
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RE :23
Cameron and Ashcroft need to come clean even if there is nothing to come clean about, if you see what I mean. This stonewalling just makes it look like there is something to hide.
Hague and the rest should just tell the truth if they dont know they dont know. This so called formulaic form of words as you call it mike-jay just makes it look worse.
The public has the right to know who is buying influence in Parliament no matter how it is being bought. Does Cameron have the guts to face up to his multi millionaire backers? I doubt it.
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Thank goodness Hazel Blears has quit, I must say her stupid facial expression (not smile) made my blood boil.
Gordie will be gone by the middle of next week.
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MOD HQ Abbeywood Bristol
As Carilion are the main contractors for the MOD HQ,I enquired earlier today if the MOD HQ Project Buildings had been provisioned with Lightning Protection Systems (LPS). My email was binned withou being read??!!The reason I asked the question is because Carillion has failed to install the LPS on the Exeter PFI schools,hence, I thought I would ask them the simple question. Shows that Carrillion are a caring contractor.
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Blears Resigns - Good riddance to bad rubbish!
Blears was always one of the worst yackety-yackers who just blethered out that day's chosen line of spin, even if challenged she merely repeated it ad infinitum, and, insofar as I can recollect, she never responded to any specific legitimate policy query or concern that she was being asked to address. Why on earth do the media give such guff any airtime? - Surely if you were to deny them that supply of airtime when they won't debate the legitimate policy queries (as opposed to frivolous/spurious 'political' queries), they'll all soon start to become more responsive.
ALL of the present government pukes (and all prospective government pukes) should take note a significant underlying reason that the public are so incensed at their expenses malarkey is (certainly in my instance) founded upon the pukes wilful refusal to debate any of the issues and concerns properly, which refusal has been par-for-the-course since 1997.
Further, Parliamentary debates have been guillotined so that the executive could ram through ill-thought-through legislation, with the backbenchers acting as mere sheep bleating their way through the lobbies at the direction of the governments whip.
This rotten parliament must be dissolved.
Why? well just ask yourselves -
Does any of the public want any new legislation to be passed by this rotten parliament, let alone constitutional reform legislation?
Could any such legislation ever truthfully be credited with the description of the consent of the people (reference John Locke)?
The only solution is for an election to be announced - the announcement declaring that the election shall take place in the early Autumn - by the first week of September at the latest (the delay being requisite to allow the weeding out of the deadwood/misfeasant/corrupt members and to allow a process of selection of new untainted prospectives by the constituency associations).
What a gross conceit (qua wilful avoidance of consideration of the true circumstances) for ANY of the members of this Parliament to even remotely think that it is legitimate to contend that this rotten Parliament should continue for a further year.
Never was the call - Go! For Gods sake, just Go! - more appropriate.
From a Furious & Disgusted British elector in Scotland.
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28#
Probably better that you dont ask. Its all about short term financial gain and the riches that are to be made through PFI.
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# 27
I'm glad to see that Andrew and Paxman have both hammered the Tories over the matter of whether their donors are UK taxpayers or not. This is a fundamental democratic principle extablished in the USA that people who don't pay tax shouldn't be having a say on what the rest of the suckers in the UK pay.
Above all else it is also a matter of the law, and I would hope that the Conservatives pay that some due regard. The current Labour government are about to be placed in the trash can of history, and it would be a major miscalculation for the Tories to think that gives them a free pass into government. I'm an ex-Tory voter and find the smug evasion of Tory front benchers intensely irritationg, and I'm not prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt, if they can't give a straight answer.
Tricky is as tricky does, whatever that means, but looking and talking like a smart back street lawyer is not the way to gain electoral confidence. What happened to Labour can be repeated on the Tories, with no better track record to boast about.
'Two houses' Cameron could become a way to remind us how a multio millionaire is so impoverished he can only run two households with the support of the electorate, or should I say he can only get into No 10 with the support of the electorate.
Sooner or later some politician is going to see that giving up the 'second house' wheeze will get them into No 10. I'm waiting for that to happen and he/she will get my vote.
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I have a question I cannot find an answer to for all you politicos?
Has an opposition in this country ever overturned a governing party with a majority of 125 which would mean gaining 63 seats?
Do you know mike-jay? Or anyone else for that matter. What is the largest majority ever overturned in this country?
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Ref 30 Fabar-Saunders.
Can't agree wih you on that Fabar because if we don't ask, we will never get any info from them. Just think if the original question on the expense debacle wasn't asked, where would be now?!
It's the total disdain some of these people treat members of the public which make me stick my heels in the ground further.It's also ironical how Lightning Protection System (LPS) keeps popping up in my postings ,don't you think. Lets just have a recap where the LPS issues have been raised by me.
1.Exeter PFI schools.
2.Devonport Dockyard
3.MOD HQ.
4.Chad/Cameroon Pipeline.
5.Devon County Council HQ.
Lightning strike costs the Taxpayers millions of pounds each year and it's amazing how many people ignore LPS.
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Love Gerald Warner's article in the Telegraph yesterday.
"Dave, from the outset, can we agree on one thing? In your use of Parliamentary expenses you have neither broken the law nor infringed the rules of the House of Commons. That is great, Dave, and I really want to congratulate you on your blameless conduct. That is what we should first bear in mind, Dave: that your behaviour has been above reproach; you are squeaky-clean."
It's so tongue in cheek, I was on the point of throwing something heavy at the pc until I read it through a little futher.
It sums up the situation perfectly and does so in a nicely entertaining and eloquent manner, with some derision that to achieve such a saintly facade is only possible to those with multi million pound fortunes to rest on. I have no problem with him being rich. My issue is that he would punish benefit scroungers through the courts while claiming from the taxpayers for expenses he has no need of, other than to inflate his fortune.
In many ways those who got caught out on expenses were either rather stupid and/or pathetically greedy. Someone who can draw down the maximum benefit without attracting 'incoming fire' is something else, perhaps less attractive for someone aspiring to become Prime Minister.
When Cameron's actions match his words and when his lieutenants are authorised to answer direct questions with more than evasive answers, then maybe I'll vote for him, but he's not there yet.
Also bear in mind that when Brown goes, the Lords will be performing the same service for him that Australia did for us in the 19th century.
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DO NEWSPAPERS HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO REPORT WRONGDOINGS?
I would like to pose this question to my fellow bloggers and the Daily Telegraph and the Expenses debacle is just a prime example. Irrespective where and how they obtained their initial expenses data, do they have a duty of care to report such issues?
Allow me to give you a second example where a certain local newspaper in Devon is NOT reporting wrongdoings with the PFI schools. Why not, I know sceptics may say the issues are different but I beg to differ, both are public funds being abused , both are life threating.
Personally, I think newsppapers have a duty of care to report such wrongdoings and I think the Devon Newspaper(no names)have failed their duty of care.
Dito for the Unison Teachers Union
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The way things seem to be going, the Lib-Dems could form the next government if they would only drop their EU support, become real Eurosceptics, and adopt a less liberal approach to immigration. Those are their greatest barriers to progress.
Re #32. I have no idea, but I would guess that it might well be a record.
Re #35. Wrongdoing - in the legal sense - should always be exposed, by whatever means possible, and 'legal' wrongdoing by cutting corners and putting people at risk falls into the same category. There may be cases of wrongdoing in a purely moral sense where greyer guidelines might apply, but that's open to argument. I've never understood why genuine whistleblowers have been hounded or prosecuted - they do a public service and should be encouraged.
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Full on confident performance from Andrew today - you get the brownie points.
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I have been absent abroad for some time and returned to `The Daily Politics` and an avalanche of speculation and criticism over Mr.Brown`s leadership.
This view is not shared by people I have spoken to overseas, who think he has led on the banking and economic crisis.Not only is the crisis less severe in Britain than in Europe and the USA,but various international organizations like the IMF have endorsed Mr.Brown`s policies.
But there is a historical parallel to Mr Brown`s problems:In the 1930s,Churchill was reviled by his party, and was wrong about a lot of things like Indian independence.But he was right about the one big thing on which everything else depended, and that was the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Mr.Brown is also wrong about some things..But he is right about the one big thing on which everything else depends, the survival of the economy.
Watching Mr.Brown on PMQs I thought the man is a lion, because like Churchill he fights for what he believes.
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As my comment on your last blog entry said... shock and awe continues
And it will continue till appropriate action is seen. Gordon still just about has a way out of this, but the writing is on the wall. If he knew what to do, he would have done it already - I think he is toast.
I bet he goes out (within two to three weeks) with a stupid smirk on he's face.
The labour party will then have to vote in a leader and that leader will need to get in with a shiny clean agenda, plan to gut the PLP and dispose of the waste products, then call a general election..... its the only way Labour could possibly get another term.
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#38
It is a travesty to compare Gordon Brown with Churchill's WW2 leadership if you'd lived through the latter you would know that. The 'collapse' of the economy, whatever that means , is trivial compared with the consequences that Churchill - and this country - faced.
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My concern is that the Labour Party is going through a super nova implosion and Cameron will be allowed to escape scot free from having to clean out the Conservatives.
If Gordon goes, Cameron can just sidestep the expenses issues on his side. I don't foresee a new leader being able to resurrect Labour's fortunes, and anyone putting themselves forward as leader would likely only last for a year. Surely anyone with ambition would wait a year to take over.
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#38,#40
It is also true that whilst Brown has had to deal with the global recession, he has been unable to respond in the way he would wish because of the consequences of his previous economic decisions.
He therefore cannot escape complete responsibility for our current plight.
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How does it happen that Lord Mandelson - the much reviled, twice sacked poisonous stick insect - is put forward as a potential Foreign secretary ?
He talks like Aunt Jemimah, from a black and whote Ealing movie from the 1950's, with an air of disdain, and authority built on his own self belief, and reappears with monotonous regulariy like one of those unsnuffable birthday candles.
Can things ever be this bad ? MP, Euro Commissioner and now Foreign Secretary ? Is this to make up for not getting the winning place on Britain's Got Talent ? It seems he only has to think of a job and he gets it. I'm beginning to worry that he'll appear in the next Tory government.
I do begin to despair of the UK political system and the useless politicians who appear overpaid even if we ever separate them from our expenses.
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Have to say Shaun Woodward doesnt half come out with some dross. He was just on Newsnight doing it again. Talk about desperate for a promotion.
You can tell how desperate Browns position is by the fact Stuart Bell has been wheeled out to defend him. Mind you his defence of Michael Martin the Speaker was so good he lost his job. Maybe Bells defence is the kiss of death.
I hear Boris is on the ropes now for his expenses. He is another one that thought it was ok to claim for a Remembrance Day Wreath. Oh sorry it was a mistake. I wonder if the Telegraph was trying to keep this quiet it didnt exactly make a splash of it. Does anyone else feel that may be because he is a Daily Telegraph columnist or am I just too cynical.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5431700/MPs-expenses-Boris-Johnson-claimed-16.50-for-Remembrance-Sunday-wreath.html
Saw Cleggy on Newsnight too. I have a hint for you Cleggy about why the Lib Dems do not seem to be rising in the polls. Whilst the public is becoming MORE eurosceptic you are becoming MORE europhile. Many of us think the Lib Dems would sell this nation to Europe for a Euro.
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geronimo @ 34
yes yes - it's amazing to me that Cameron's gratuitous taxpayer funded mortgage scam has not attracted more flak - and when you think how he now postures as a dynamic cleaner upper of the system! ... breathtaking hypocrisy ... raises real doubts about his fitness to govern
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Expenses for the Attorney General and the Serious Fraud Office Head.
Whilst we are having a "THOROUGH" cleanout of Ministers Offices with special interests in the expenses claims, I strongly recommend the authorities to look at the expenses of the Attorney General and SFO Head over the last 5-6 years because these guys have been living the high life answering ONLY to one Tony Blair.
These two departments need a makeover and MUST be revamped to remove the current political bias.
Lets see what these boys have been spending OUR MONEY on.
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flamepatricia 65
I do not believe that is why Robinsons blog got shut down early, otherwise so would this one. Robinsons blog is starting to be hi-jacked by extreme people using all kind of insults and it is putting the sensible contributor off. It certainly is me, they are changing names to attack you under another name. However they slip up by using faces or phrases they have used under other names. I notice things like that. I honestly believe people should only be allowed one user name.
If the BBC are making an effort to clean this up to make it more civilized like this one has been I am all for it.
We can have disagreements without resorting to some of the insulting remarks I have had and seen lately.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
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