Drugs found at the home of defence secretary John Reid! How much worse can this week get?
Margaret Beckett in caravan scam? John Hutton revealed to have a personality? Alan Johnson used to steal letters on his postal round?
Now the soon to be former civil servant who slept with John Prescott has sold her "amazing" story to one of the Sundays for a sum in excess of 100k.
Then there is the Charles Clarke problem - will he be able to hold on? Or will the reshuffle have to happen before the local elections?
As with all the extraordinary resignations we have seen of late, it is too close to call.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Stress - It Makes You Gay
It would seem so.
We have tried here at politicsjunkie to be sympathetic to Mark Oaten and his family. It can't be much fun to be the wife or child of a disgraced politician, even if he is only a LibDem.
However, we just cannot let Mrs Oaten's exclusive interview with Hello magazine pass by without comment.
In among the usual 'I was devestated' blurb and the pretty pictures of the brave little woman 'at home' is one of the most fascinating comments I have read in a long time.
For those of us who are keen to understand the mysteries of sexuality, it seems Mrs Oaten has a unique hypothesis on what forms our sexual behaviour.
Visiting the same male prostitute over a period of months, having full anal sex with said rent boy, suggesting he arrange a threesome with another young man, then performing some pretty risque sex acts with them, is apparently ALL just a symptom of stress.
Next time I am down GAY club I must remember that. "Try not to let life get on top of you, guys! If only you were less pressured in your work environment! Then you would be happily married and living with a wife and kids in Winchester!"
I could not beleive that this woman could stand up and baldly assert that the reason, THE reason that her husband was having sex with rent boys is because of stress.
Stress pushes all sorts of buttons, according to Mrs Oaten.
I dont really know whether to feel sorry for this woman or to laugh at her.
We have tried here at politicsjunkie to be sympathetic to Mark Oaten and his family. It can't be much fun to be the wife or child of a disgraced politician, even if he is only a LibDem.
However, we just cannot let Mrs Oaten's exclusive interview with Hello magazine pass by without comment.
In among the usual 'I was devestated' blurb and the pretty pictures of the brave little woman 'at home' is one of the most fascinating comments I have read in a long time.
For those of us who are keen to understand the mysteries of sexuality, it seems Mrs Oaten has a unique hypothesis on what forms our sexual behaviour.
Visiting the same male prostitute over a period of months, having full anal sex with said rent boy, suggesting he arrange a threesome with another young man, then performing some pretty risque sex acts with them, is apparently ALL just a symptom of stress.
Next time I am down GAY club I must remember that. "Try not to let life get on top of you, guys! If only you were less pressured in your work environment! Then you would be happily married and living with a wife and kids in Winchester!"
I could not beleive that this woman could stand up and baldly assert that the reason, THE reason that her husband was having sex with rent boys is because of stress.
Stress pushes all sorts of buttons, according to Mrs Oaten.
I dont really know whether to feel sorry for this woman or to laugh at her.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Bad Week for Blair
It has been a hard week for the government, Tony Blair in particular. Three of his most senior and loyal ministers under attack, the local elections looking more and more like Labour meltdown.
Comparisons to Black Wednesday and the last days of the Major administration seem to me to be hysterical. Things are nowhere near as bad as they were when the pound crashed out of the ERM and interest rates rose 50% in one day.
No matter what scandal hits the Blair government commentators must try to remember the vital difference between 1996 and 2006 - it's the economy stupid.
Everything is fine for most people - interest rates are low, unemployment pretty much non-existent, house prices are bouyant. There are many issues that the votes feel negative about, such as the war, but as we saw in 2005 that need not be translated into losing power.
Despite the excitement in the Westminster village about the coming of David Cameron, he seems to have made little impact on the polls. Both the main parties are stuck at around 34 - 37% each.
The media love a crisis, so three at once is like christmas for all the good boys and girls of the press. Black Wednesday is a catchy headline, but very far from the reality.
Blair has come out fighting, accusing the media of turning every problem into a crisis, and assuring the deeply-uninterested public that he is working hard to solve all our problems.
Will he carry on as PM for another two years, as some fear? It would be tough on Gordon Brown if he did. Given the events of this week, he may not have any Blairite ministers left.
The reshuffle, rumoured to happen this week, may well indicate what we can expect from the next years of Labour goverment.
politicsjunkie can only hope he takes the opportunity to get rid of a whole tranche of boring old men who seem to have been squatting there since 1997.
The interesting question about the reshuffle in my mind is - who are these junior ministers that are ready to be promoted? Who are these outstanding new bucks ready to be rewarded with their own department?
Comparisons to Black Wednesday and the last days of the Major administration seem to me to be hysterical. Things are nowhere near as bad as they were when the pound crashed out of the ERM and interest rates rose 50% in one day.
No matter what scandal hits the Blair government commentators must try to remember the vital difference between 1996 and 2006 - it's the economy stupid.
Everything is fine for most people - interest rates are low, unemployment pretty much non-existent, house prices are bouyant. There are many issues that the votes feel negative about, such as the war, but as we saw in 2005 that need not be translated into losing power.
Despite the excitement in the Westminster village about the coming of David Cameron, he seems to have made little impact on the polls. Both the main parties are stuck at around 34 - 37% each.
The media love a crisis, so three at once is like christmas for all the good boys and girls of the press. Black Wednesday is a catchy headline, but very far from the reality.
Blair has come out fighting, accusing the media of turning every problem into a crisis, and assuring the deeply-uninterested public that he is working hard to solve all our problems.
Will he carry on as PM for another two years, as some fear? It would be tough on Gordon Brown if he did. Given the events of this week, he may not have any Blairite ministers left.
The reshuffle, rumoured to happen this week, may well indicate what we can expect from the next years of Labour goverment.
politicsjunkie can only hope he takes the opportunity to get rid of a whole tranche of boring old men who seem to have been squatting there since 1997.
The interesting question about the reshuffle in my mind is - who are these junior ministers that are ready to be promoted? Who are these outstanding new bucks ready to be rewarded with their own department?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Rebel MP dies
I was saddened to hear the news that Independent MP Peter Law died earlier today.
He was one of the 2005 intake I had contacted about an interview - I guess now I understand why I did not get a reply.
He was one of the new MPs I was most looking forward to interviewing. He took on the Welsh Labour Party over women-only shortlists, defied them and took the safest seat in Wales from the party.
I can only imagine the respect with which he was held in his constituency to achieve a result like that.
He was one of the 2005 intake I had contacted about an interview - I guess now I understand why I did not get a reply.
He was one of the new MPs I was most looking forward to interviewing. He took on the Welsh Labour Party over women-only shortlists, defied them and took the safest seat in Wales from the party.
I can only imagine the respect with which he was held in his constituency to achieve a result like that.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Tessa Blasts BBC for being TOO GOOD
We need to investigate the the extent to which the cost of other broadcasters are driven by the BBC.
"If the BBC came in at a lower level of talent, creativity and innovation, to what extent would that reduce costs for other broadcasters? To what extent does the BBC make the market?"
Tessa Jowell, giving evidence to the Lords select committee on the BBC charter renewal, puts forward the laughable argument that maybe the corporation ought to try being less good.
Its all that talent, creativity and innnovation the BBC keep doing. It makes it harder for the other broadcasters when the BBC keep making these incredibly popular shows you see.
This argument centres round the revelation that Radio 2 presenters, including Terry Wogan and Johnathan Ross, are paid upwards of half a million pounds a year.
Tessa then went on to invite the BBC's rivals, private companies Sky and ITV, to come over to her place next month and have a pop at their more respected and successful rival.
The Blairite mantra that the market must always be a better model than the public sector is yet again exposed as nonsense. The BBC grow and nurture talent, invest properly in staff and programme-making, and reap the results.
Its nonsense for the government to seriously argue that if the BBC tried a bit harder to be a bit less good, then suddenly Johnathan Ross would be worth a mere 20 grand a year instead of 530, 000.
It was revealed today that Ross is being courted by Channel 4, at a price no doubt exceeding 530k. The same Channel 4 who are the only mainstream broadcaster to grow their market share in recent times.
The same Channel 4 who pinched Paul O'Grady from ITV, paying top whack for talent that draws viewers.
Perhaps what Tessa should be telling ITV and Sky is that their shareholders should take less dividends and concentrate on spending money on talent, creativity and innovation.
If Channel 4 can succeed in this marketplace, so can Sky and ITV.
Channel 4 by the way does not have shareholders. It is still a publicly-owned company, set up to provide a platform for alternative voices.
It was the first TV company in the world to buy all its content from other producers, leading to the creation of our diverse and world-class independent production sector. It challenges and pushes the BBC to do better and to be even more innovative. This how a market place works.
I guess Blairite ministers like Tessa will never be able to accept that sometimes in the market place the public sector can hold its own.
"If the BBC came in at a lower level of talent, creativity and innovation, to what extent would that reduce costs for other broadcasters? To what extent does the BBC make the market?"
Tessa Jowell, giving evidence to the Lords select committee on the BBC charter renewal, puts forward the laughable argument that maybe the corporation ought to try being less good.
Its all that talent, creativity and innnovation the BBC keep doing. It makes it harder for the other broadcasters when the BBC keep making these incredibly popular shows you see.
This argument centres round the revelation that Radio 2 presenters, including Terry Wogan and Johnathan Ross, are paid upwards of half a million pounds a year.
Tessa then went on to invite the BBC's rivals, private companies Sky and ITV, to come over to her place next month and have a pop at their more respected and successful rival.
The Blairite mantra that the market must always be a better model than the public sector is yet again exposed as nonsense. The BBC grow and nurture talent, invest properly in staff and programme-making, and reap the results.
Its nonsense for the government to seriously argue that if the BBC tried a bit harder to be a bit less good, then suddenly Johnathan Ross would be worth a mere 20 grand a year instead of 530, 000.
It was revealed today that Ross is being courted by Channel 4, at a price no doubt exceeding 530k. The same Channel 4 who are the only mainstream broadcaster to grow their market share in recent times.
The same Channel 4 who pinched Paul O'Grady from ITV, paying top whack for talent that draws viewers.
Perhaps what Tessa should be telling ITV and Sky is that their shareholders should take less dividends and concentrate on spending money on talent, creativity and innovation.
If Channel 4 can succeed in this marketplace, so can Sky and ITV.
Channel 4 by the way does not have shareholders. It is still a publicly-owned company, set up to provide a platform for alternative voices.
It was the first TV company in the world to buy all its content from other producers, leading to the creation of our diverse and world-class independent production sector. It challenges and pushes the BBC to do better and to be even more innovative. This how a market place works.
I guess Blairite ministers like Tessa will never be able to accept that sometimes in the market place the public sector can hold its own.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The BNP "Threat"
It has been a fascinating week in politics away from the House of Commons.
The local election campaigns began in earnest (what do you mean you didnt know there was an election going on? Pay attention)
Minister and gaffe-machine Margaret Hodge appears to be working for the BNP - she went on TV and declared that 90% of her constituents might vote for the racist thugs in the up-coming elections.
We have been here before surely? Ever since I moved to London in the early 90s there are the same scare stories about the BNP seizing control of a council.
Hodge has stupidly provided them with yet another bout of publicity. They only have 21 councillors in the whole country - and lets not mince words - theyre SHIT as councillors - they have no coherence, policy or ability to work for their constituents.
Sure, the white working class in places like Essex feel abandoned by Labour - they might well end up voting BNP - in fact i hope they do. Lets expose the BNP not just for the incompetent politicians they are. For all their attempts to be emmoliate their views and appear to be a moderate party, we ALL know who the BNP are. We all know that scratch the surface of leader Nick Griffin and the same far-right Nazi fascists are actually the bulk of the party.
Diane Abbott is not a woman I agree with often, but her comments on the BNP made most sense to me. Diane pointed out that if we follow the BNP's "narrative" then we are helping them. By all means lets discuss the problems of the white working class. But let's refute any sugggestion that London's housing problems are caused by asylum seekers. Let us expose the stupid lies they tell to get people to vote for them.
Above all let the Labour party think about its core voters and for once stop chasing the middle class vote like David Cameron, Ming Campbell and whatever nobody is "principal spokes-human" for the Greens this week.
I know that English people will never end up like France, with far-right parties like LePen's Front Nationale taking 25 or 30% of the vote. It is interesting that within the context of the south-east of England, the BNP have no support in boroughs such Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Southwark where there ARE large ethnic populations living side by side.
They operate in communities with a small and visible ethnic presence - then they lie about the effects those immigrants have on the local community. All parties, but especially Labour, must tackle the BNP head on - ridicule them. Laugh at their "policies".
But do not please take tactical advice from Margaret Hodge.
The local election campaigns began in earnest (what do you mean you didnt know there was an election going on? Pay attention)
Minister and gaffe-machine Margaret Hodge appears to be working for the BNP - she went on TV and declared that 90% of her constituents might vote for the racist thugs in the up-coming elections.
We have been here before surely? Ever since I moved to London in the early 90s there are the same scare stories about the BNP seizing control of a council.
Hodge has stupidly provided them with yet another bout of publicity. They only have 21 councillors in the whole country - and lets not mince words - theyre SHIT as councillors - they have no coherence, policy or ability to work for their constituents.
Sure, the white working class in places like Essex feel abandoned by Labour - they might well end up voting BNP - in fact i hope they do. Lets expose the BNP not just for the incompetent politicians they are. For all their attempts to be emmoliate their views and appear to be a moderate party, we ALL know who the BNP are. We all know that scratch the surface of leader Nick Griffin and the same far-right Nazi fascists are actually the bulk of the party.
Diane Abbott is not a woman I agree with often, but her comments on the BNP made most sense to me. Diane pointed out that if we follow the BNP's "narrative" then we are helping them. By all means lets discuss the problems of the white working class. But let's refute any sugggestion that London's housing problems are caused by asylum seekers. Let us expose the stupid lies they tell to get people to vote for them.
Above all let the Labour party think about its core voters and for once stop chasing the middle class vote like David Cameron, Ming Campbell and whatever nobody is "principal spokes-human" for the Greens this week.
I know that English people will never end up like France, with far-right parties like LePen's Front Nationale taking 25 or 30% of the vote. It is interesting that within the context of the south-east of England, the BNP have no support in boroughs such Hackney, Tower Hamlets or Southwark where there ARE large ethnic populations living side by side.
They operate in communities with a small and visible ethnic presence - then they lie about the effects those immigrants have on the local community. All parties, but especially Labour, must tackle the BNP head on - ridicule them. Laugh at their "policies".
But do not please take tactical advice from Margaret Hodge.
Vote Blue. Red. Orange - GO GREEN!
Negative campaigning does work. The 1979 "Labour isn't working" slogan is a perfect example. It captured the mood of disillusionment with the government.
Negativity from the governing party is less successful. The Tory attempts to portray Blair as a nefarious force in the Devil Eyes campaign in 1997 backfired. It is difficult to portray the new man as bad before he has even had a chance to show his true colours.
The Cameron factor certainly seems to be rattling the Labour party. Their first party election broadcast in the local elections was an attack on the new Tory leader, portraying him as a chameleon.
He has only been in the job a few months, hardly enough time for the public to have a fixed view of him. The cartoon image of a chameleon on a bike may have seemed like a good idea on paper. In reality, however, its quite a cute image - I think it works in Cameron's favour. It also makes the Labour party look as if they have nothing to say about local issues.All of this in a council election where they are widely expected to lose swathes of seats and councils.
Cameron does have to be given credit for pushing climate change to the top of the politcal agenda. This week both Gordon Brown and Ming Campbell have given interviews on the environment, making all the right noises about personal responsibility. Brown told us we should turn off our TVs at night and not leave out mobile chargers plugged in. Ming confessed that he will no longer be driving his prized Jaguar.
Cameron also has to be given credit for one-upmanship. He popped up on a Norwegian glacier, looking like a chubby James Bond, being pulled on a sled by huskies. Much better than mobile phone chargers and vintage Jags.
The only question for the new Green Tory is - how did he get to Norway? Not by plane surely ....
Negativity from the governing party is less successful. The Tory attempts to portray Blair as a nefarious force in the Devil Eyes campaign in 1997 backfired. It is difficult to portray the new man as bad before he has even had a chance to show his true colours.
The Cameron factor certainly seems to be rattling the Labour party. Their first party election broadcast in the local elections was an attack on the new Tory leader, portraying him as a chameleon.
He has only been in the job a few months, hardly enough time for the public to have a fixed view of him. The cartoon image of a chameleon on a bike may have seemed like a good idea on paper. In reality, however, its quite a cute image - I think it works in Cameron's favour. It also makes the Labour party look as if they have nothing to say about local issues.All of this in a council election where they are widely expected to lose swathes of seats and councils.
Cameron does have to be given credit for pushing climate change to the top of the politcal agenda. This week both Gordon Brown and Ming Campbell have given interviews on the environment, making all the right noises about personal responsibility. Brown told us we should turn off our TVs at night and not leave out mobile chargers plugged in. Ming confessed that he will no longer be driving his prized Jaguar.
Cameron also has to be given credit for one-upmanship. He popped up on a Norwegian glacier, looking like a chubby James Bond, being pulled on a sled by huskies. Much better than mobile phone chargers and vintage Jags.
The only question for the new Green Tory is - how did he get to Norway? Not by plane surely ....
Friday, April 14, 2006
Smelly Coronets
Even I was taken aback that the Met police have made an arrest as part of their investigations into peerages-for-loans scandal
I do wish somone would come up with a witty one-word description - perhaps peergate? lordsgate?
Anyway.
An arrest is a serious blow. It did look as if it would all just blow over. I am certain not even the Plaid MPs who demanded the Met investigage expected to see anyone in the dock.
Apart from the arrest, the most eye-catching element of this story is the way it is being used to promote STATE funding of political parties.
We must oppose state funding as vigourously as we can. It is a politicians solution to a politicians problem. The taxpayer should not be funding parties - if they cannot get enough support from members of the public they should go out of business like everyone else.
The short money: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-01663.pdf
is often cited in the state funding debate. The opposition parties DO receive some funds - for their specific parliamentary responsibilities. The short money is not spent on advertising gurus and nice new branding experiments. Any expansion of state funded parties would mean the tax payer perpetuating the existence of a three party system - and THOSE three parties. UKIP, laughable as they are, have managed to create a new political force, fund it, and win considerable amounts of seats.
How can the three party hegemony ever be challenged if the tax payer pays for those parties to exist?
Personally I think they should just keep selling knighthoods - they are meaningless anyway. If you are the sort of person who wants one so much that you will pay for it - then I think you should have one.
We just need to formalise it. 5 million minimum. All transparent and above board.
Sorted.
I do wish somone would come up with a witty one-word description - perhaps peergate? lordsgate?
Anyway.
An arrest is a serious blow. It did look as if it would all just blow over. I am certain not even the Plaid MPs who demanded the Met investigage expected to see anyone in the dock.
Apart from the arrest, the most eye-catching element of this story is the way it is being used to promote STATE funding of political parties.
We must oppose state funding as vigourously as we can. It is a politicians solution to a politicians problem. The taxpayer should not be funding parties - if they cannot get enough support from members of the public they should go out of business like everyone else.
The short money: http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-01663.pdf
is often cited in the state funding debate. The opposition parties DO receive some funds - for their specific parliamentary responsibilities. The short money is not spent on advertising gurus and nice new branding experiments. Any expansion of state funded parties would mean the tax payer perpetuating the existence of a three party system - and THOSE three parties. UKIP, laughable as they are, have managed to create a new political force, fund it, and win considerable amounts of seats.
How can the three party hegemony ever be challenged if the tax payer pays for those parties to exist?
Personally I think they should just keep selling knighthoods - they are meaningless anyway. If you are the sort of person who wants one so much that you will pay for it - then I think you should have one.
We just need to formalise it. 5 million minimum. All transparent and above board.
Sorted.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Taking Risks The Politics Way
I was chatting to my friend Adam last night. Adam is a pro gambler and he was encouraging me to fully embrace the revenue opportunities there could be in linking politicsjunkie to a betting site.
Fine in practice - after all anyone with an interest will want to have a punt on, say, Blair's departure.
My mind is more mischevious than that. I would want to bet on things like ... will the new researcher that Mark Oaten is advertising for end up being a girl or a boy?
I met a guy in a bar a few weeks ago who used to be Oaten's researcher. He was stunning! He made a point of saying how the MP was highly professional and focused. He was as shocked as the rest of us to find out his old boss was gay, never MIND the rest.
This random meeting and my conversation with Adam led me to thinking about risk.
Adam says he doesnt take that many risks as a poker player. I thought this was odd but what he meant was that poker is a game of skill
Amateurs get a buzz from gambling precisely because they DONT know what they're doing.
As for Mark Oaten - why WOULD someone take such huge risks? Do you think that on some level he knew he would be caught, found out and humiliated?
I understand what urges drove him. We all feel them - well, all MEN do. But surely he would be aware of the dangers. If all he wanted was gay sex with a younger guy there would have been a hundred much more subtle ways of going about procuring that. But he wanted the danger we must assume?
That must mean on some level knowing you will be caught - in the same way that going into a casino, on some level, you know you are going to lose.
Anyway - by the end of this weekend ALL the comment and opinion pieces will be up on the site and from TUESDAY the politicsjunkie will be back at Westminster, champing at the bit for a bit of argie-bargie.
Fine in practice - after all anyone with an interest will want to have a punt on, say, Blair's departure.
My mind is more mischevious than that. I would want to bet on things like ... will the new researcher that Mark Oaten is advertising for end up being a girl or a boy?
I met a guy in a bar a few weeks ago who used to be Oaten's researcher. He was stunning! He made a point of saying how the MP was highly professional and focused. He was as shocked as the rest of us to find out his old boss was gay, never MIND the rest.
This random meeting and my conversation with Adam led me to thinking about risk.
Adam says he doesnt take that many risks as a poker player. I thought this was odd but what he meant was that poker is a game of skill
Amateurs get a buzz from gambling precisely because they DONT know what they're doing.
As for Mark Oaten - why WOULD someone take such huge risks? Do you think that on some level he knew he would be caught, found out and humiliated?
I understand what urges drove him. We all feel them - well, all MEN do. But surely he would be aware of the dangers. If all he wanted was gay sex with a younger guy there would have been a hundred much more subtle ways of going about procuring that. But he wanted the danger we must assume?
That must mean on some level knowing you will be caught - in the same way that going into a casino, on some level, you know you are going to lose.
Anyway - by the end of this weekend ALL the comment and opinion pieces will be up on the site and from TUESDAY the politicsjunkie will be back at Westminster, champing at the bit for a bit of argie-bargie.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Welcome to politicsjunkie
welcome to politicsjunkie
politicsjunkie is a new website for all those out there who love the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate, and just can't get enough quality interviews, comment and analysis of the Westminster scene.
The current version of politicsjunkie is a TEST.
politicsjunkie will be launched in full after the Easter Recess
politicsjunkie will be blogging regularly here on myspace too!
We are of course interested to hear your views on the site and on what goes on in Westminster in general. In the meantime if you have any comments about the site, please GET IN TOUCH!
We are keen to hear from talented writers and photographers who want to contribute to the site.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, and receive a weekly email full of all the best stuff from the week in Westminster, then email editor@politicsjunkie.co.uk
Go to http://www.politicsjunkie.co.uk/ and you will be directed to the homepage.
politicsjunkie is a new website for all those out there who love the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate, and just can't get enough quality interviews, comment and analysis of the Westminster scene.
The current version of politicsjunkie is a TEST.
politicsjunkie will be launched in full after the Easter Recess
politicsjunkie will be blogging regularly here on myspace too!
We are of course interested to hear your views on the site and on what goes on in Westminster in general. In the meantime if you have any comments about the site, please GET IN TOUCH!
We are keen to hear from talented writers and photographers who want to contribute to the site.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, and receive a weekly email full of all the best stuff from the week in Westminster, then email editor@politicsjunkie.co.uk
Go to http://www.politicsjunkie.co.uk/ and you will be directed to the homepage.
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