Lets be friends

I really like the new idea of Conservative friends, I don't mean my friends who are Conservatives (although I do like them too) I mean the new membership/advertising campaign from HQ.

You can see David Cameron explain it all here, or even look at the facebook group.

Evening Standard debate

I was at the Evening Standard's debate last night. It was fun seeing Nick Ferrari and Ken Livingstone on the same platform, no love lost there.

At the start, Livingstone came across relaxed and jovial, cracking the odd joke here and there sometimes self-deprecating. But the slick image cracked a little when passionate audience members pushed him on the congestion charge, fear of crime, his comments about Israel and the actions of Lee Jasper.

Livingstone's answers were well rehearsed and he never lost his rag completely but I think he was expecting an easier ride from the audience, many of which were clearly his supporters.

What really struck me was despite the title of the debate being "How London can stay ahead as a great world city?" he was remarkably light on ideas. Boris has been deploying the policy ideas, worked on in the lead up to Christmas, on almost a daily basis. All Livingstone could say was I have been a good mayor (debateable) please vote for me again.

Lost links

I have finally changed this blog over to the new version of blogger (about 18 months after everyone else). In doing so I have lost all of the links which I had in the titles of the posts, sorry!

I am going to find a way of putting them back in but while I do so please bear with me.

Thanks.

Joined up thinking on transport

While Livingstone is scrabbling around signing up Labour members to his latest chain letter, Boris has been thinking about ways to improve London's transport.

Livingstone will be blissfully unaware that traveling around suburban London is a nightmare, if he ever bothered to venture out of zone 1 he might realise. Boris on the other hand, has visited Bexley and Bromley more times in the last 8 months than Livingstone has in the last 8 years.

And because he has listened to commuters on those visits, he has come up with a proposal to help people move around outer London without having to rely on their cars. By linking major outer London town centers with a fast bus service, people will be able go from Bexley to Bromley or from Bromley to Croydon without having to fight their way into central London.

There is more to transport policy than taxing cars!

Man of letters

Livingstone loves his open letters of support and it seems that the press love reporting on them.

The latest is a letter from 100 "leading figures" representing a broad base of support from some Labour MPs and left wing think tank members on the one hand to members of Labour's executive and trade union leaders on the other. It must be comforting for Livingstone to have the support of such a wide and representative body.

I hope they do a picture of me one day

Have a look at these two portraits.

Boris has acquired a Stallone style granite jaw line and Livingstone looks, well . . . . . . younger!


If they ever do a picture of me I hope they shave a few pounds off.

These images were in an article about the Mayoral election in the Wall Street Journal. It is well worth a read if only to see how the American's see this contest.

Here is how the two are described in print.

Known simply as Boris, the 43-year-old Mr. Johnson is famous here for his elite education at Eton College and Oxford University, for his slovenly appearance and for his wit.

Labour incumbent Ken Livingstone, nicknamed "Red Ken" for his leftist views. Despite a long record of outlandish comments -- Mr. Livingstone once publicly called George W. Bush "the greatest threat to life on this planet" -- the working-class Mr. Livingstone is widely regarded as a disciplined and hard-working mayor.

"Disciplined and hard-working"?????????

Conservative policy on Northern Rock

There has been some criticism from the media and the wider political world that the Conservatives have not put forward a clear and crisp alternative to the Government’s actions on Northern Rock.

Why is this? Before I answer, I would like to discuss a situation.

Imagine you discover that a jerry can of petrol has fallen over and spilled its contents over the floor of you basement. You mop up the spill with old newspapers and rags that have accumulated down there over the years.

When you have finished you sit amongst the rags and paper and light up a cigarette to relax. Somehow, the petrol impregnated paper catches fire and before you know it, the whole cellar is ablaze.

You run upstairs to the front door and just as you are about to make your escape you remember the signed photo of Arthur Scargill that you keep in the attic, you don’t want to lose that to the fire.

So you run up the stairs to save the picture, but in doing so you let the fire engulf the stairs. You climb through the attic window onto the roof and watch the flames fill the attic behind you.

What do you do next?

1. Jump from the roof to your almost certain death?
2. Sit on the roof and wait for the flames to engulf you?
3. None of the above because you wouldn’t have been so stupid as to get into that situation in the first place?

The reason that the Conservatives can’t put forward an easy “get out of jail” plan for Northern Rock is because Brown and Darling have screwed things up so royally up until this point. They are the ones who have painted every tax payer in the country into a corner and it is a joke for them to point to the Conservatives and say, “now get out of that”.

The Conservatives do not need and indeed should not be sucked into speculative policy making with regard to Northern Rock. We should exclusively focus on making sure a debacle like this cannot happen on our watch.

Labour started this fire let them work out how to extinguish it.

Brown like asking the questions

I have just watched today's PMQs, Gordon loves to ask questions of David Cameron rather than answering the ones put to him.

It is clear that he feels much more comfortable in the role of opposition leader rather than Prime Minister, if he had called that election in the Autumn of 2007 he could now ask David Cameron six questions every week.

Police will not investigate Lee Jasper

According to the Press Association, the police are not going to investigate Lee Jasper. No great surprise there, if I rang the police and asked them to pop round to my house just to check if I'd been robbed I suspect they would say no to me too.

As there is no investigation, I take it that Mr Jasper will be reinstated, and can appear before the Assembly meeting in March as planned.

Now what made me think of this?

Melchett: (after a few sounds of self-satisfaction) How do I look, Darling?

Darling: Girl-bait, sir. Pure bloody girl-bait.

Melchett: Moustache? Bushy enough?

Darling: Like a private hedge, sir.

Melchett: Good, because I want to catch a particularly beautiful creature in this bush tonight.

Darling: You'll have her coming out of your moustache for a week, sir.

Melchett: God, it's a spankingly beautiful world and tonight's my night. I know what I'll say to her. 'Darling...'

Darling: (mistaken that the general's addressing him) Yes sir?

Melchett: What?

Darling: Um, I don't know, sir.

Melchett: Well don't butt in! (exhales) 'I want to make you happy, darling'.

Darling: Well, that's very kind of you sir.

Melchett: Will you kindly stop interrupting? If you don't listen, how can you tell me what you think? (continues) 'I want to make you happy, darling. I want to build a nest for your ten tiny toes. I want to cover every inch of your gorgeous body in pepper and sneeze all over you.'

Darling: I really think I must protest!

Melchett: What is the matter with you, Darling?

Darling: Well, it's all so sudden, I mean the nest bit's fine, but the pepper business is definitely out!

Melchett: How dare you tell me how I may or may not treat my beloved Georgina?

Darling: Georgina?

Melchett: Yes, I'm working on what to say to her this evening.

Darling: Oh yes. Of course. Thank God.

Melchett: Alright?

Darling: Yes, I'm listening, sir.

Melchett: Honestly Darling, you really are the most graceless, dim-witted pumpkin I ever met.

Darling: I don't think you should say that to her.

Is this Gordon Brown's Clause 4 moment?

The Labour government has nationalised Northern Rock, after a long, long period of dithering.

They have gone on about Black Wednesday for over a decade, this has cost the British people ten times more than Black Wednesday. We need to see a government that looks credible and confident, this one looks weak and indecisive.

There are no easy answers to the current situation but never forget, it was Gordon Brown that got us where we are now.

This lot really are a waste of rations!

Language exams to drop the oral

And in other news:

Driving test to drop the driving element, Private Pilot's Licence to drop the flying, 100m sprint final to drop the running and the Turner prize to drop the painting.

Oh wait a second ....... scrap that last one.

Gordon Brown blamed for soldier's death

The father of Capt. James Philippson has pointed the finger of blame squarely at Gordon Brown saying, "They were outgunned by a bunch of terrorists. I do hold the Ministry of Defence (MoD) responsible for James's death but it is not just the MoD - it goes much deeper than that.

"The Treasury and the then chancellor, Gordon Brown, will be really to blame for what happened.

Mr Philippson was responding to the damning report of Deputy Oxfordshire Coroner Mr Walker. The coroner highlighted equipment shortages as a major factor in Capt. Philippson's death, saying that to send troops into combat without basic kit was "unforgivable and inexcusable" and "a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them".

Is Lee Jasper confessing to a crime?

There are people in this world with some real brass necks. Lee Jasper and Ken Livingstone must be near the top of that list.

The King of Spin is trying to paint the suspension of Lee Jasper as a positive, a chance for Jasper to clear his name. The truth is that Livingstone can see the writing on the wall and wants Lee Jasper out of the way until after the elections on the 1st of May.

This suspension must not prevent the London Assembly scrutinising Jasper, the meeting to do so is in the diary for the 5th of March and Jasper must be made to attend. The Assembly exists to perform scrutiny and now Livingstone and Jasper are trying to avoid it.

Livingstone must answer some simple questions.

1. What has changed from last week when you claimed to have full confidence in Mr Jasper?
2. Will Lee Jasper be attending the Assembly hearing on the 5th of March?
3. Is Lee Jasper personally under police investigation?

This is dirty politics and shows complete contempt, not just for the London Assembly, but for all Londoners.

Boris released crime and policing plans

Crime is the top concern on most people's lists (and as my survey is showing). Boris Johnson has rightly put it to the top of his list too.

This morning he launched his manifesto on crime. I strongly recommend you read it, there are a number of simple to implement plans that will put criminals on the back foot and retake the streets of London for law abiding people.

Here are the key elements:

• Boris to chair the Metropolitan Police Authority. Direct leadership to make sure that there is less red tape and needless form-filling. Getting more police out on the streets.
• Less money on TFL press officers and more money on police officers to increase their presence on buses, trains and station platforms.
• Introducing 'Payback London', (which I wrote about here), a scheme that will require under 18s who abuse their right to free bus travel to earn it back through community service projects.
• Tackle knife and gun crimes. Make sure they a given the top priority by the police and equipping them with handheld weapon scanners. Also tackling the problem at source by funding community groups, sports schemes that help keep youngster on the straight and narrow.
• Helping the ignored victims of sexual violence by providing long-term funding for new Rape Crisis Centres.
• Making police accountable to local communities by providing crime maps which show the true crime levels in every neighbourhood, these can be used to ensure Borough Commanders are held to account at monthly open public meetings.
  

You can read the full details here.

Certainty and confidence

I don’t imagine many business people will oppose the Alistair Darling’s final positions on Capital Gains Tax and the taxation of Non-Domiciles but why do we all have to sit through the torturous will they/won’t they process?

Business people need to plan, and they do their financial planning within the legal and fiscal framework set by the Government. This constant toing and froing make effective planning almost impossible.

It also puts a big question mark over the competence of the Chancellor. With tough economic times predicted, the dithering, thinking aloud, policy on the hoof, announcing and then U turning of Alistair Darling doesn’t inspire confidence.

Punishment and rehabilitiation

The supporters of Livingstone who are hopping and shouting about Boris' Oyster Card proposals are missing the point.

"But Oyster cards can already be taken off misbehaving young people" they cry. The simple fact is that while violent, antisocial and intimidating behaviour has become commonplace on buses yet hardly any free travel passes have been revoked. If the current plan is working, I wouldn't hear complaints about "out of control youngster on the buses" almost every time I ask about people's concerns.

Boris' plan is to take a much firmer line on bad behaviour but then give the young people a chance to earn their cards back again. I like this plan, it reinforces the idea that the card is a privilege, not a right and it introduces the notion of social responsibility.

He has also called for CCTV on the worst routes and a greater uniformed presence on the buses, Livingstone has not only failed to match that commitment but we see his supporters attacking the plans because of all things, cost!

They claim that the extra cost of conductors would put the ticket price up. Perhaps we could just cut some of the £100 million a year that TFL pays to consultants. "Fewer Consultants - More Conductors", sounds like a good election slogan.

Boris visits Bromley College

Boris Johnson visited Bromley College and spoke to the Principle, Peter Jones, and staff about the college, their courses and their links with industry.

The college has a strong portfolio of vocational courses for ages ranging from 16 year olds to adults. Boris said, "Once again I have been inspired by my visit to one of London's outer boroughs. Bromley College is a terrific example of how an educational institution can work with the local businesses to provide the skills that the economy needs".

After visiting the college he went on to meet with commuters at Bromley South station.

You don't need the brains of an Arch Bishop

Dr Rohan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is "shocked" by the reaction to his comments about Sharia law inevitably becoming parallel to British law. I am shocked that he is shocked.

I had always assumed that you had to be fairly bright to be an Archbishop. Apparently not!

This isn't about religion; it is about how laws work. Would anyone seriously accept an American carrying a gun around London just because it is legal to do so in America? Or a Parisian smoking in a cafe just because it is legal in France?

National laws are just that and people who live within the borders of a nation must accept the laws of that nation.

Simple.

Do you want PR or not?

Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scotish Conservatives, has won a number of major consessions in return for supporting the SNP's budget. Do I feel 100% comfortable with a unionist party (us) siding with a seperatist party (SNP)? Not particularly, but it has meant that our plans for extra police, a national drug strategy and a cut in business taxation have gone through.

The thing which strikes me is the Lib Dem reaction to these negotiations. They are calling it "back room dealings" and seem genuinely upset that a minority party (us) are negotiating with the government (SNP).

Well that is how PR government works! If you don't like it, stop calling for it.

Is Brian Paddick using the Lib Dems?

I have seen a number of things recently written about Brian Paddick which have got my mind racing. Not the usual political brickbats from opponents, which I always recommend people ignore, but things written by people sympathetic to Paddick and who might even want to see him succeed. On their own they look insignificant but taken together they are rather illuminating.

The first is that Brian Paddick had talks with the Conservatives about running as our candidate in May. It seems that both Francis Maude and Paddick felt that it wouldn't work out, but for someone who later described himself as a long term "undercover" Lib Dem it seems strange even to entertain the idea of running under the Conservative banner.

It has also been reported that Paddick met Livingstone at the Pride march in the summer of last year and assured him that he would not stand against him, he also said that he could work with Sir Ian Blair despite the fall out from the Stockwell shootings. A short time later he announced his intention to stand for Mayor and said that Sir Ian Blair’s' "position is unsustainable. I think he should resign."

Sam Coates at the Times seems to feel that this is flip-flopping by Paddick. He could be right, if he is we should really put a big question mark over someone so unwilling to keep his word or so unable to make up his mind.

I think that Paddick is a bit brighter and sharper than that. He clearly knows that he has little (zero) chance of actually becoming Mayor and had turned down a New Statesman offer of a regular column because it “seemed too much after all the hassle I’d had.” Standing for Mayor isn't the action of a man trying to avoid "hassle" in retirement, so, why stand?

This was the question that kept on bugging me, and then I saw the post on Lib Dem Voice announcing the imminent release of Paddick's autobiography. Now it makes sense, how much easier to get onto the best sellers list as a mayoral candidate than as an ex-copper with a book out.

If I were a Lib Dem I would be asking myself “I am being used?”

Is the Low Emmission Zone just a pre-election gimmick?

Hands up who wants worse air quality in London!

Not many hands would go up, I doubt there would be a single one amongst London Conservatives.

Livingstone promotes the new Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) with scare stories about the 1,000 Londoners who might be at risk of premature death because of air quality. But how effective is this?

Transport for London concedes, "The proposed LEZ is not expected to have a major impact on the levels of ozone." and "It is not anticipated that the proposed LEZ would have a significant impact on CO2 emissions." It does expect a reduction in particulate emissions (PM10) but admits that it was going to happen anyway and the LEZ would only speed it up a little, "Given the overall decline in air pollution [that is occurring anyway], the LEZ would effectively bring forward air quality standards, by up to three or four years."

Small businesses, already feeling the pinch from Brown's incompetent handling of the economy, may well find the cost of compliance is the straw that breaks their backs. So if the LEZ is going to have a minimal affect on air quality, as TFL says, is unlikely to save anyone from the "risk of premature death" and will push some firms out of business, why bring it in?

Ooooooooh, there is an election coming soon!

Hat tip to Phil Taylor for the details

Choices

“Coffee please”.

Try saying that in any café, restaurant, branded coffee shop or private home. You would probably get a funny look and then be bombarded with a series of choices. Latté, cappuccino, Americano, macchiato? Skimmed milk, semi skimmed or whole, fair trade, decaf, semi decaf, flavoured syrups, drink in or take away? The list seems almost endless.

Try getting your children into a school. Even if you are in a position to pay for their education don’t think that you are holding all the aces, assessment days and waiting lists will greet even the most affluent of parents.

If you don’t have the money for private education the choices are even more limited. Pray that your local state school has a good track record, some parents they just pray that it doesn’t have a drug or crime problem. Even then you may well find that school heavily oversubscribed and the council allocate your child a place on the other side of the borough, or the borough next door.

You could move to a house next door to the best local school, but that will come at a premium, you could try to get into the local church school but you might need to pretend to be religious.
You have many options but not much choice.

How have we come this? How is it that even mediocre schools pick and choose which children they take in and parents have to take what they can get?

It’s a sellers’ market, that’s why.

Definition:
A market which has more buyers than sellers. High prices result from this excess of demand over supply.

Education vouchers may well prove to be part of the solution but there will not be change throughout the market until there is a massive increase in the supply of education. Indeed there needs to be a surplus of supply, otherwise the parents with sharp elbows will get the choices and the meek will once again get what they’re given.

It would be wrong for the public sector to run service provision at surplus capacity, I don’t want to pay tax to fund half empty schools. This means that there must be a massive expansion in the private and charity run sector. Then education vouchers would make sense because all parents, irrespective of geography or wealth, would be able to send their child to a good school.

Poorly performing schools would whither and others would fill the gaps if they close down. Good schools would flourish and if they reach capacity the surplus demand would be taken up by a new school in the area.

“School please”.

In the future, you will get a funny look and a list of choices. Girls only, boys only, co-educational, academic or vocational? Arts specialisation, languages, sports, science, technology or business? Religious, secular, etc. etc. etc.

Video of Question Time Extra

I don't know how long this video will be available, but here it is if you missed it.