10-Sep-10
In a chat with Mumsnet the Labour leadership contenders were asked which historical figure they would be. Cue standard answers like Nye Bevan (Burnham), Republican president Lincoln (Mili-D) and, er, Elvis (Balls). However most telling was Ed Miliband's answer – Bobby Kennedy. So he's the little brother who never made it to the top. Though [...]
See: Coulson's Five A Day Tagged: Caption Contest
While the Mirror and the Guardian try desperately to breathe air into the phone hacking scandal, lets take a look at why it isn't really about evil Murdoch and his newspapers. A little evidence based research, with the help of the Information Commissioner's Office, shows how all the papers were up to dirty tricks and "blagging" - pretending [...]
Ever wondered how David Miliband miraculously has time to blog while he is out and about sewing up the leadership vote. Well he doesn't: A little look at the RSS feed for the blog shows us who the real author is... Tagged: David Miliband, iCampaign, Labour Leadership
Some eyebrows were raised when Joey Jones was promoted to Deputy Political Editor of Sky News. Older and wiser Jon Craig was apparently livid, but then again it was Joey that the BBC was trying to poach. News reaches Guido that Craig isn't happy and has his eye on another job – the new political [...]
Tom Watson says newspapers are... "...red-topped assassins, are the biggest beasts in the modern jungle. They have no predators, they are untouchable, they laugh at the law, they sneer at parliament, they have the power to hurt us, and they do with gusto and precision..."
09-Sep-10
Well not quite, but Channel 4 News have certainly put The Guardian in a tricky spot. The paper's strategy is to drip out one former Screws hack every day to keep the story alive, but it seems that they are grasping at straws already: "Paul McMullan told the Guardian newspaper this morning that David Cameron's [...]
The appointment of Robert Chote came out of left field and has been widely regarded as a clever move. One way to silence a powerful critic. But should it have been quite so unexpected? Especially with Osborne's whizz kid Chief of Staff Rupert Harrison around. Old Etonian Harrison has unexpectedly given Chote a very big job. Could it [...]
As the phone "hacking" saga gets its debate in the House, and now a Standards and Privileges Committee investigation, new levels of hysteria have been reached. Tom Watson is demanding that Rupert Murdoch to be called before Parliament to answer for himself. Don't hold your breath mate... Given journalists left, right and centre are openly admitting, sometimes live [...]
The was some speculation that the Office of Budget Responsibility deputy Graham Parker was looking to fill the gap that the still mysterious departure of Alan Budd created, but given the headache the IFS caused the government with their report into the "regressive" budget it is a shrewd move to steal their head honcho and bring him in [...]
What is it with Downing Street Heads of Communication? First we had Campbell's cringe-worthy porno writing career and now Coulson's getting his kit off. The high pressure atmosphere of a tabloid newsroom is often cited for various misdemeanours concerning the law. Now we know why Coulson was oblivious of what was going on – he was modelling for The Sun's [...]
The New York Times is claiming that the dialogue in Blair's book "A Journey" where the Queen says "You are my 10th prime minister, the first was Winston. That was before you were born." Is based entirely on a fictional scene from the 2006 film "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren. An amazing coincidence reckons the [...]
08-Sep-10
Tagged: Dave
Quentin Letts talking about Blair's book on Sky News: "It's a dreadful book... don't buy it Britain!" Tagged: Quote of the Day
In the closing days punters are shifting decisively towards David Miliband becoming the next leader of the Labour Party and winning all three sections of the vote. The money is on him winning even the trade union block, despite the hundred grand Unite gave his little brother. A poll for the Daily Politics had him [...]
Tagged: PMQs
David Cameron's father Ian has had a stroke and the PM is currently en route to France to be with his family. After holiday and paternity leave it seems Clegg will be minding the shop a little longer. Last time he did PMQs he managed to substantially alter British foreign policy concerning the war and [...]
Alastair Campbell once said you have eleven days to kill a story or you're toast. The sustained effort to keep the Coulson story going might just be enough to push it over that mythical cut off point. The Indy's Ian Birrell is a name floating around as a replacement. He was in the running to [...]
07-Sep-10
David Davis told the Commons last night... "I think of AV as an anti-Carswell system." Tagged: Quote of the Day
In giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Yates of the Yard has thrown a spanner into the Labour spin machine as it tries to keep the Coulson story going. John Prescott has made a song and dance of the fact his phone was "hacked" – a fact flatly denied by the police. He [...]
Officially there is no vacancy. Officially Andy Coulson has the full support of the PM and the government machine. Officially he isn't going anywhere. Unofficially last night was quite the flurry of activity. He may not be going anywhere just yet, but the longer the BBC, Guardian and the Labour Party keep screaming, the more [...]
Guido has reflected on the shared culture and worldview of the Guardian and the BBC in the past; The BBC is viewed by many right-wingers as the broadcasting arm of the Guardianistas. The Beeboids argue that this is unfair, and that the BBC is an unbiased, objective, public service broadcaster. Yesterday the regular Guardian contributor [...]
06-Sep-10
Buried away in the Sunday Times was a poll on the Hague story – 46% of people asked think the Foreign Secretary was telling the truth about his relationship with Christopher Myers. That leaves over half the country doubting the Foreign Secretary's words. Asked about that statement, a small majority of 59% think he was [...]
Buried away in the Sunday Times was a poll on the Hague story – 46% of people asked think the Foreign Secretary was telling the truth about his relationship with Christopher Myers. That leaves over half the country doubting the Foreign Secretary's words. Asked about that statement, a small majority of 59% think he was [...]
The BBC just spent 22 minutes of a half hour news program talking about Coulson. Tom Watson has been granted emergency questions in the House and the lefty press are determined to keep this going. There is nothing new to the the reheated and rehashed allegations in the New York Times. Everyone knows journalists break the law [...]
Old Holborn tweets... "Prostitute "horrified" to find her ex husband now works as a Tory MP "I'm shocked and disgusted" said Miss Whiplash today" Tagged: Quote of the Day
David Walker, the not-quite-breadwinner of the Toynbee household and outgoing spinner for the Audit Commission, has written a politically fuelled diatribe against the scrapping of his non-job by Eric Pickles. Guido has mentioned before that Mrs Walker has expressed concern in the Guardian, but Walker's piece for Public Finance is particularly scathing. Was the article jointly [...]
Quite an enjoyable ding-dong on the Victoria Derbyshire 5 Live show just now. You can be the judge of how it went when it is up on play again and we link to it on here. Guido's central thrust was that it was hypocritical for this blogger to be made a whipping boy by some [...]
Tagged: Cartoon
Well that was a busy week. It seems Guido's exclusive insight into the LibDem candidate selection for Mayor sent visitor numbers through the roof. 98,359 readers viewed 458,551 pages over the last seven days. Here are those seven most popular stories (in order of popularity) that you might have missed: Exclusive : Hague Shared Night in Hotel [...]
Tagged: Cartoon
04-Sep-10
Well that was a busy week. It seems Guido's exclusive insight into the LibDem candidate selection for Mayor sent visitor numbers through the roof. 98,359 readers viewed 458,551 pages over the last seven days. Here are those seven most popular stories (in order of popularity) that you might have missed: Exclusive : Hague Shared Night in Hotel [...]
While she may be getting regular slots on Sky News and the Today program, "freelance journalist and Labour Party activist" Sally Bercow must know she has really made it when Chinese news channels are animating her colourful past... Can anyone translate? Tagged: Drunk, GuyNews.TV, Speaker
Tagged: Caption Contest
Kelvin MacKenzie told Sky News last night... "If it turns out Christopher Myers is gay it could be a real problem for Mr Hague..."
Well there's Saturday's front pages sorted: Aww. UPDATE: Hats off to Dizzy for the headline "Florence Meets the Machine". Tagged: Dave
Another day and still the newspapers are poring over Hague's statement. Many "experts" have been wheeled out to criticise the foolishness of opening up to such an extent with the Telegraph leading the angle. The also look at his voting record and the Indy suggests there is whiff of homophobia about the statement. Tory MPs [...]
The official line is that Gordon will not be commenting on Blair's confirmation that he was indeed a dreadful PM and appalling team-mate, but then we've all heard that before. Instead he has chosen today, randomly, to announce the setting up of The Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown that will be paid for by [...]
Bad news for Lembit Opik – it seems that Cowley Street doesn't have faith in his bid to be London Mayor. Much like the Tories were before Boris threw his hat in the ring, the LibDems are desperately seeking a decent candidate for the coalition's first big election battle. A yellow spinner said "that's not the way we would [...]
Guido is currently on holiday in France at the maison secondaire, last night we had 10 for supper and Mrs Fawkes was not amused with the constant interruptions from the Blackberry, it was for her de ja vu (Prescott's mistress in 2006 interrupted her holiday). Guido had to explain himself to our guests. The French [...]
If Hague had kept an experienced press handler like William Littlejohn as his SpAd he wouldn't be in this situation would he? He wouldn't haven't released that stupid statement on Monday, which brought him more unwanted press attention. He wouldn't have released that cynical, Aitkenesque, "sword of fidelity" statement yesterday. All in all, he has [...]
"Extraordinary", "astonishing" and "startling" seem to be the words deployed by this morning's newspapers in response to Hague's nuclear statement last night. Nick Robinson was lost for words on News at Ten. The Sun manages to criticise the legitimate questioning of Hague's judgement as the "debasement of politics" with a straight face. Over at The Guardian, [...]
03-Sep-10
While she may be getting regular slots on Sky News and the Today program, "freelance journalist and Labour Party activist" Sally Bercow must know she has really made it when Chinese news channels are animating her colourful past... Can anyone translate? Tagged: Drunk, GuyNews.TV, Speaker
Tagged: Caption Contest
Kelvin MacKenzie told Sky News last night... "If it turns out Christopher Myers is gay it could be a real problem for Mr Hague..."
Well there's Saturday's front pages sorted: Aww. UPDATE: Hats off to Dizzy for the headline "Florence Meets the Machine". Tagged: Dave
Another day and still the newspapers are poring over Hague's statement. Many "experts" have been wheeled out to criticise the foolishness of opening up to such an extent with the Telegraph leading the angle. The also look at his voting record and the Indy suggests there is whiff of homophobia about the statement. Tory MPs [...]
02-Sep-10
The official line is that Gordon will not be commenting on Blair's confirmation that he was indeed a dreadful PM and appalling team-mate, but then we've all heard that before. Instead he has chosen today, randomly, to announce the setting up of The Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown that will be paid for by [...]
Bad news for Lembit Opik – it seems that Cowley Street doesn't have faith in his bid to be London Mayor. Much like the Tories were before Boris threw his hat in the ring, the LibDems are desperately seeking a decent candidate for the coalition's first big election battle. A yellow spinner said "that's not the way we would [...]
Guido is currently on holiday in France at the maison secondaire, last night we had 10 for supper and Mrs Fawkes was not amused with the constant interruptions from the Blackberry, it was for her de ja vu (Prescott's mistress in 2006 interrupted her holiday). Guido had to explain himself to our guests. The French [...]
If Hague had kept an experienced press handler like William Littlejohn as his SpAd he wouldn't be in this situation would he? He wouldn't haven't released that stupid statement on Monday, which brought him more unwanted press attention. He wouldn't have released that cynical, Aitkenesque, "sword of fidelity" statement yesterday. All in all, he has [...]
"Extraordinary", "astonishing" and "startling" seem to be the words deployed by this morning's newspapers in response to Hague's nuclear statement last night. Nick Robinson was lost for words on News at Ten. The Sun manages to criticise the legitimate questioning of Hague's judgement as the "debasement of politics" with a straight face. Over at The Guardian, [...]
01-Sep-10
Christopher Myers resigns from the FCO, citing "untrue and malicious allegations". Developing... Hague statement: "I feel it is necessary to issue this personal statement in response to press and internet speculation over the last ten days. Earlier this year a Sunday newspaper began questioning whether my marriage to Ffion was in trouble, and last week [...]
There are twelve Sure Start children centres in Westminster. The Bercows could have sent their kids to any one of them, when the live-nanny was away that is. Instead they demanded that a newly refurbished bar in Parliament was ripped out and replaced with a crèche. Something wrong with the local kids? The project was over-budget [...]
No surprises that Tony showers praise on his loyal heir David Miliband. A good spot by Andrew Sparrow who notes: "Blair says that Miliband was "fundamentally uncertain" in 2007 about whether he wanted the top job. But Blair also says: "Two years later he would be a different calibre of politician, with clear leadership qualities." [...]
When Ron Davies told Blair the Clapham Common incident "could have happened to anyone". Blair, Campbell and Chief of Staff Jonathon Powell all replied: "Er, not really, Ron". Tagged: Quote of the Day
As The Journey hits the bookshelves, the truth about the TB/GBs is seeping out. Gordon was "maddening", drove Blair to drink and he apparently always knew the nutter next door would be a dreadful Prime Minister. Nice of him to tell us this at the time, and during the election. Hacks are queuing up to [...]
31-Aug-10
A spokesman for William Hague said: "Any suggestion that the Foreign Secretary's relationship with Chris Myers is anything other than a purely professional one is wholly inaccurate and unfounded." Interestingly worded. Note there is no denial that they shared a hotel room. Tagged: Hague
Exclusive : Hague Shared Night in Hotel Bedroom with SpAd [ 31-Aug-10 4:21pm ]
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Guido has ascertained confirmation that for at least one night during the general election campaign the Foreign Secretary shared a hotel room with his then driver Christopher Myers, whom he has now appointed as his Special Adviser on the Civil Service payroll. Other campaign staffers stayed in separate more modest hotels and sources suggest that [...]
Further to the post earlier about the Guardian taking tens of thousands of pounds from local councils in return for editorial guidance over their review of the "Future of Public Services" Guido got thinking. Is this shabby journalism really what was envisaged by the tax-evading CP Scott? The Scott Trust is in place to "secure [...]
So Labour "oldies", or election winners as they are also known, are not allowed to comment on the future direction of the party apparently. Unless of course they are Alan Johnson. But was his description of David Miliband as "special" really the best choice of phrase? Well Guido chuckled anyway... Tagged: Labour Leadership
The withdrawal of public sector job advertising was always going hurt The Guardian, but it looks as if they are finding new craftier ways of propping up their bloated business model on the public purse. Wendy Miller, the rather grandly named Public Sector Manager, has been emailing local councils and asking them to cough up [...]
Iain Martin writes of Labour: "A party ready to take difficult choices wouldn't tell the only people with recent experience of winning to "shut up", would it?" Tagged: Quote of the Day
As much as the candidates may try to spin it, it is clear the old guard still have the ability to upset the leadership apple-cart. Guido, like most people, wasn't really paying much attention to the squabbles of the weekend after Mandy dipped an oar in. To summarise, it seems the Dark Lord made a supportive [...]
A spokesman for William Hague said: "Any suggestion that the Foreign Secretary's relationship with Chris Myers is anything other than a purely professional one is wholly inaccurate and unfounded." Interestingly worded. Note there is no denial that they shared a hotel room. Tagged: Hague
A spokesman for William Hague said: "Any suggestion that the Foreign Secretary's relationship with Chris Myers is anything other than a purely professional one is wholly inaccurate and unfounded." Interestingly worded... Tagged: Hague
Exclusive : Hague Shared Night in Hotel Bedroom with SpAd [ 31-Aug-10 4:21pm ]
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Guido has ascertained confirmation that for at least one night during the general election campaign the Foreign Secretary shared a hotel room with his then driver Christopher Myers, whom he has now appointed as his Special Adviser on the Civil Service payroll. Other campaign staffers stayed in separate more modest hotels and sources suggest that [...]
Further to the post earlier about the Guardian taking tens of thousands of pounds from local councils in return for editorial guidance over their review of the "Future of Public Services" Guido got thinking. Is this shabby journalism really what was envisaged by the tax-evading CP Scott? The Scott Trust is in place to "secure [...]
So Labour "oldies", or election winners as they are also known, are not allowed to comment on the future direction of the party apparently. Unless of course they are Alan Johnson. But was his description of David Miliband as "special" really the best choice of phrase? Well Guido chuckled anyway... Tagged: Labour Leadership
The withdrawal of public sector job advertising was always going hurt The Guardian, but it looks as if they are finding new craftier ways of propping up their bloated business model on the public purse. Wendy Miller, the rather grandly named Public Sector Manager, has been emailing local councils and asking them to cough up [...]
Iain Martin writes of Labour: "A party ready to take difficult choices wouldn't tell the only people with recent experience of winning to "shut up", would it?" Tagged: Quote of the Day
As much as the candidates may try to spin it, it is clear the old guard still have the ability to upset the leadership apple-cart. Guido, like most people, wasn't really paying much attention to the squabbles of the weekend after Mandy dipped an oar in. To summarise, it seems the Dark Lord made a supportive [...]
Tagged: Cartoon
30-Aug-10
Tagged: Cartoon
29-Aug-10
This is not the first time that William Hague's choice of Special Adviser has raised questions. Back in December 1995, when Hague was a Minister in the Welsh Office, eyebrows were raised about the appointment of another young Special Adviser with no experience of policy in relation to Wales. Although in the case of Barnaby [...]
