Labour party wicked and malicious

Ed Miliband Conference Speech

[podcast]http://toryradio.podbus.com/edmiliband.mp3[/podcast]

If you missed the speech Ed Miliband gave to Labour party conference click the play button above to listen to what he had to say.

Roger Helmer MEP suggests we could be better off out

 

[podcast]http://toryradio.podbus.com/helmeroneulatest.mp3[/podcast]

David Miliband has to go

That’s not my advice as a Tory who would gleefully rub his hands together at the loss of a great talent in the Labour party. It is a simple piece of advice given the situation the two Miliband brothers have gotten themselves into.

As soon as they both took the decision to go for the top job they really must have realised that it could well end as it has now. For so long it looked as if David would be the one crowned Labour leader, but even in that situation, if Miliband minor had come second could it work?

The whole Labour conference hasn’t been dominated by Ed’s victory – but about what brother David will do next. If David sticks around do we think that situation will change? No, as the media is fascinated by having two brothers who actually have different views on things jostling within the same party.

That is why David could never be Shadow Chancellor or even Shadow Foreign Secretary while his brother is leader. He would either have to agree with everything his brother said as leader, which frankly  we know he does not, or fight his corner which would play right into the hands of the media.

So David is damned to silence and collective responsibility, or he could speak out and perhaps do irreparable damage to his brother’s leadership.

For that reason there is only one option. It isn’t the selfish option of someone who because they didn’t win the top prize is not playing and taking their ball home with them. It is the action of a brother who knows if he stays in politics it can only damage the electoral chances of his brother. David Miliband has to leave front line politics

IMF supports Government spending cuts

Nothing more to add. Won’t help Labour’s narrative. But remember what Andy Burnham said:-

“Lets get some honesty in this debate. There would have be significant spending cuts under Labour, and there would have been job losses under Labour so lets get some honesty in this debate at the beginning.”

Seven Days Show from behind enemy lines on @toryradio and @ukpolradio

[podcast]http://toryradio.podbus.com/sevendaysshow42.mp3[/podcast]

The latest Seven Days Show with Iain Dale (episode 42) in now online.

In this weeks episode recorded from behind enemy lines (well at Labour Party Conference in Manchester) we spoke about the election of Ed Miliband as Labour leader; what price if any the Unions will want; have we seen the death of New Labour; was it a shock that Lord Prescott didn’t become Labour treasurer, or is it further evidence of Union influence; is there any irony that the leaders of the three main political parties are young(ish) fresh faced white males; wasn’t the selection of Ken Livingstone to take on Boris always going to happen and doesn’t Boris have to portray himself as independent of the party.

To listen to the podcast click the play button above.

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ComRes podcast on the London Mayoral election to come

Andrew Hawkins from ComRes gave UK Political Radio an exclusive inteview following the selection of Ken Livingstone as Labour’s candidate.

[podcast]http://ukpoliticalradio.podbus.com/comsresmayoral.mp3[/podcast]

To listen to the podcast click the play button above.

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Broken Windows policing please.. that will tackle the yobs!

Not that long ago I wrote that ASBOs were not the answer. I also wrote that the police need to adopt boken windows policing, as by concentrating on the little things, it will help cut the bigger more serious crimes.

Parents have stopped disciplining kids if my own neighbourhood is anything to go by, and then when you report what some would regard as small scale anti social behaviour – right up to property crime the police have shown zero instances in individual cases I myself can quote.

Now we learn that the forces own watchdog is suggesting the police have lost control of the street. To use a quote about a famous detective…. no sh*t Sherlock!

How many times does it need to be said. The law abiding majority want the police to clamp down on small scale crimes. That includes graffiti, that includes yobs on uninsured motorcycles, and that includes damage to personal property. Stamp down on the seemingly petty crimes and you can start addressing some of the larger issues.

But it’s OK for me to say it. It may be a harder thing to do it. This is still why I support locally elected police commissioners, because that may be the only way to get a responsive police force that will deliver a service that meets the needs of the local community.

Been there done that….

I just listened to Vince Cables speech to Lib Dem conference. For many years I attended all the party conferences, so unlike many I have seen Lib Dem Conferences in action. I absolutely appreciate that at time a conference speech has to appeal to party members. I also appreciate that within the coalition you have two distinctive parties. What worries me is when Members of a Cabinet say things that for me are quite worrying.

If a Lib Dem backbencher critcisises Government policy that’s fine. They aren’t bound by Collective Cabinet responsibility. When you are in Cabinet the rules are different (unless some people have a free pass to sound off?).

Cable has recently felt it appropriate to criticise Government immigration policy. Personally I think it quite dangerous to be so openly critical when being a Member of the Cabinet.

Today he said something in his speech which seemed just a little strange. Please correct me if I heard it wrong, but when talking about the future of our economy and having mentioned banking he used the phrase “been there done that”. What? You as Business Secretary are saying that banking and financial services have had their day? What are you on about? Are you dismissing the contribution financial services and the City of London make to our economy, and will continue making to our economy? Frankly if you don’t want it I bet Frankfurt would jump at having the business.

Come on Vincent. You can bank bash all you like, but do not portray banking and financial services as a yesterdays industry in one dismissive sound bite to please you members.

(And I haven’t even mentioned your comment that capitalism kills competition comment!)

In praise of entrepreneurship and hard work, and people who pay their fair share

In the latest episode of The Seven Days show Iain Dale and  discussed what the phrase “your fair share” meant when relating to paying tax and the often used phrase that the “rich” should pay their fair share.

I used the example that  if the rate of tax you paid was the same for the first pound you earned as the last pound and if you were at a 40% rate, someone earning £100,000 would be contributing £40,000 to the Exchequer. By the same rules if you earned say £20,000 and the tax rate was 20% you would be contributing £4,000.

Simplistic and not wholly accurate figures yes, but to me it shows that if you use the phrase, “your fair share” then people who are seen as high earners actually pay their fair share and then some.

Then that of course brings me onto the subject of my podcasting partner Mr Dale. I have known Iain  since 1997. In that time he has always seemed to be doing about 5 different things at once. Only this week he has started what for some would be a full time job, having a permanent gig on a radio station, combined with running a successful blog, combined with running a publishing company which in itself employs several people, combined with appearing regular on regular media outlets. Some would say that he now has a portfolio career. I would suggest that he works extremely hard and don’t know how he finds enough hours in the day. This isn’t an Iain Dale love in. He has his faults. He supports West Ham for gods sake. But I would find it hard pressed to find evidence from even his worst detractor which would question his work ethic. I have no idea what he  earns. I hop he is handsomely rewarded. But if he is, then he already pays his fair share in tax.

There are many people up and down the country like Iain. They work many hours, and equally important, they who take personal risks. They may have mortgaged their house to back their business. They may have had to put work befor personal relationships. They may be  responsible for employing many people who themselves contribute money to the economy. They are the people who the recovery will be built on.

And do you know what. They already pay their fair share.