Does one good smear deserve another?
Bristol: Today, Peter Mandelson said that the allegations in the press about Nick Clegg were "straight out of the Tory Party dirty-tricks manual". He even suggested that the Conservative director of communications Andy Coulson had had a hand in them.
But isn't this simply a smear designed to lay blame for the smears against Nick Clegg firmly at the door of the Tories?
Lord Mandelson has not provided any evidence that Andy Coulson was involved; indeed, there are plenty of reasons to think he may well have not have been.
The Telegraph story originates from the newspaper's files of bank accounts acquired during the expenses investigation. The Mail story is sourced from a Guardian article which anyone could have found with a simple Google search. The Sun may well have had the odd chat with Mr Coulson: I'm sure they do; after all, the editor is a good friend of his.
Now there's no doubt that many Tories are in a panic about Nick Clegg's advance - nor that the Tory press are out to get him - but as yet there is no evidence that the Tory leadership were behind this morning's stories and until there is we must conclude that Lord Mandelson is trying to make a story about the Liberal Democrats into one that is damaging for David Cameron.
Update 1939: I now learn that political reporters from the Tory-backing papers were called in one by one to discuss how Team Cameron would deal with "Cleggmania" and to be offered Tory HQ's favourite titbits about the Lib Dems - much of which appears in today's papers.
The key personal allegation about payments from donors into Nick Clegg's personal
bank account came, however, from the Telegraph's expenses files. Incidentally, the party has now published details of Nick Clegg's bank statements and party accounts showing that Mr Clegg received payments totalling £19,690 from three businessmen (Neil Sherlock, Michael Young, Ian Wright) and then paid staff costs of £20,437.30 out of the same account. According to these figures, Mr Clegg actually paid £747.30 out of his own money towards staff costs.
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Comment number 1.
At 18:01 22nd Apr 2010, Ramilas1 wrote:Does one good smear deserves (?) another?
Edukation, Edyoucation, Educayshun!
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Comment number 2.
At 18:02 22nd Apr 2010, Les wrote:You know very well who is behind the smears and it isn't the Tories.
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Comment number 3.
At 18:05 22nd Apr 2010, watriler wrote:New Labour perfected the the techniques of innuendo and smear which in no small way help in their election success. Mandy should know all about it as both user and target. His concern about the treatment by the Tory press of Clegg has been carefully calculated and unconvincing.
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Comment number 4.
At 18:07 22nd Apr 2010, WhiteHorses11 wrote:Mandleson complaining about smears, dirty tricks & underhandedness??
Perhaps he was being ironic....
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Comment number 5.
At 18:08 22nd Apr 2010, AndyC555 wrote:"we must conclude that Lord Mandelson is trying to make a story about the Liberal Democrats into one that is damaging for David Cameron"
As one might expect. But hardly surprising. They're all at it. The least smeary smear is one party smearing the other by accusing them of smearing.
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Comment number 6.
At 18:09 22nd Apr 2010, stevie wrote:The Clegg popularity has thrown a big spanner in the works for the tories and their tame press. They will do anything now to clobber Clegg up to the final whistle. It is disgusting to see how the press are deliberately playing get "Cameron elected" and the stories they are misrepresenting with their conspiracy theories. No doubt tommorrow we shall see a big play on law and order following Fox's burglary, funny that, at the last election didn't Michael Howards's wife's car get stolen, we can all make up conspiracy theories!
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Comment number 7.
At 18:15 22nd Apr 2010, copperDolomite wrote:Nick
Can we have evidence-based economics now. Thanks.
#nickcleggsfault...
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Comment number 8.
At 18:16 22nd Apr 2010, Keyboard Monkey wrote:Pots and kettles and a very dark shade of grey.
If Mandleson told me that the sky was blue I think I'd have to get a second opinion.
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Comment number 9.
At 18:19 22nd Apr 2010, threnodio_II wrote:Mandelson's reaction is completely understandable in the context of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend'. For as long as the Tories are perceived as the main threat to Labour, it will be thus. How long it will take Labour to get round to a full frontal assault on the Lib Dems depends entirely on how successfully they appear to be taking the wind out of the Tory sails.
Do not expect such generosity if the Liberals start to edge significantly ahead of the Tories.
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Comment number 10.
At 18:23 22nd Apr 2010, mrnaughty2 wrote:Nick
Come on then I'll play along.
What are you testing us on?
Next Blog please!
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Comment number 11.
At 18:25 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:Fair summary Nick.
Right. Onto other business.
202. At 3:29pm on 22 Apr 2010, ashcroftmillions2010 wrote:
179 Gerry Mandering
Please leave Nicky alone. It is a free country, with a democracy and freedom of expression, although based on some of the nonsense in today's newspapers that may be a loose interpretation of the term.
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He/She is free to post what he/she thinks, no matter how barking mad it may be and once it is in the public domain, the rest of us have the freedom of expression to disagree with it, in whichever tone we wish.
I know you plastic socialists would like a state where the only permitted expression is that of the state and no dissent is brooked, but tough luck mate. You havent achieved the socialist paradise you seek just yet.
If you dish it out, you get it back. From what I remember, from initially seeing Nicky's posts, the first responses were politely disagreeing and as his/her defence got more virulent, full of more put downs and trying to belittle her percieved political opponents, so the ante was upped.
You get what you give. If you dont want your opinions held up to the light and potentially shot to bits, dont post them. Or grow a thicker skin.
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Just because you may not agree with Nicky's point of view, does not give you the right to insult her by making rude, insinuating remarks, or suggesting that she should stop contributing.
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Likewise. He/she plays nicely, the rest of us will. Not one rule for socialists and lib dem trolls and another for the rest of us. We've had that for the last 12 years thanks.
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By the tone of your insults, it sounds like you are the one in need of medical attention.
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Perhaps so, but not for my political banter.
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I thought that the moderator was supposed to filter out insults. Moderator?
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The moderators filter out what they like, when they like. There is no rhyme or reason or consistency. It all depends on which side they fell out of bed and whether they got any last night. If they've come in with the grumps and you push their buttons, you'll lose your posts. If not and they're in a good mood and letting the banter flow, then they wont. They're human like the rest of us. Simples.
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On the subject of Gerrymandering. How is Lady Porter, former Tory Council Leader these days? Has she paid back the total sum owing to Westminster Council Tax payers, following the Tory "Homes for votes" scandal? - Not the sum that was negotiated down, following her alleged hard financial times. Perhaps David Cameron should pay that outstanding sum back? About £30m. (£42m was owed, Porter paid £12m back).
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I have no idea and I care even less. Perhaps you'd like to ask Cameron about it. Either way, it was still cheaper I would venture than trying to buy off the votes of the North East of England by saving Northern Rock. Had it been Surrey Rock, based out of Godalming, Labour would have let it go to the wall. Beyond any doubt whatsoever.
The tories dont have an exclusive on being underhand, nasty and self serving. All three of the main parties are just as bad.
I take no orders from students, trolls or lefties. Or from tories for that matter.
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Comment number 12.
At 18:25 22nd Apr 2010, PoliticalCentrist wrote:Nick,
The Tory leadership do not have to be behind the smearing of Nick Clegg as they can visualise the scenario planning that is unfolding which may consign the Tory party into political oblivion for many many years to come.
Quite rightly the Tories have relied on the fact the electorate do not want another 5 years of Gordon Brown but once again their strategists have got it badly wrong as Nick Clegg could just be the liberal leader the country is seeking and bear in mind the love affair the electorate had with Tony Blair who was also a "liberal" political leader.
David Camerons problem is that he is not a natural leader, although he is a likeable person and whilst the electorate would be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, the public still distrusts the Conservative Party big-time.
If you analyse the three leaders debates, tonight is probably Clegg's strongest hand. The Lib Dems were the only party to vote against Iraq which is a vote winner; scaling back on Trident during a financial crisis strikes a chord with the electorate and they are pro-euro which the electorate warms to and is the Tories achilles heel.
The second strongest hand is probably next week where Nick has the opportunity to be humble and give Vince Cable the credit for calling it correct on the economy. Again Vince is a popular figure with the public.
It is unsurprising the Tory media are in a spin as it is starting to look this election may slip away from them and they could be heading up a blind alleyway with a Lib/Lab government which will inevitably result in the removal of Gordon Brown.
These journalists are not just fighting for the future of the Tory party but possibly also for their own future in politics. I am sure Nick Clegg understands that.
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Comment number 13.
At 18:26 22nd Apr 2010, Davesaid wrote:What a joke Mandelson accusing the Tories of dirty tricks. He is the Grand Master of dirty tricks throughout his political life. Anyone who believes the Tory machine can co-ordinate the front page editorial of at least 4 daily papers should see a shrink. If you put yourself up as whiter than white when in the public eye, you have to put up with the scrutiny that follows. Cleggs first lesson.
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Comment number 14.
At 18:28 22nd Apr 2010, One_Lars_Melvang wrote:There's simply no point in taking anything Mandelson says seriously.
He's frequenly built up by the media to be some sort of modern day Machiavelli but, while the dark tricks are there, there's no element of guile and certainly nothing ingenious.
He simply chucks great boulders while sitting in his fragile glass house.
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Comment number 15.
At 18:28 22nd Apr 2010, Indy2010 wrote:It would not be beyond Mandelson and Campbell to orchestrate this themselves, as they did against Chris Patten accusing him of being a security leak and then shifting blame for smear onto someone else.
The LibDems are being hypocritical in calling foul, did not Clegg last week grab the high ground on MP's expenses, if you set yourself help as holier than thou, then you live by the sword, die by the sword.
The Conservatives have form so anyone is going to believe they did it whether they did or not.
Take a good look at your Independent candidate this time round he or she might just represent you not the vested interests of others.
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Comment number 16.
At 18:29 22nd Apr 2010, John Frewen-Lord wrote:After the Damien McBride incidents, it's a bit rich for Labour to accuse the Tories of smear! When it comes to 'the Tories dirty tricks manual', if in fact the Tories do have one, it is probably the Labour one that some Labour minion left lying on a train somewhere.....
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Comment number 17.
At 18:30 22nd Apr 2010, Eddie wrote:Isn't it only Labour servants that have been found conclusively to have been involved in smear campaigns?
The smears, if that is what they are, are just as beneficial for Labour, who are now regularly polling in 3rd spot.
Could it be that Labour has the most to gain from this - particularly if they plant the seed that the Conservatives are up to dirty tricks?
Could Labour plant the seeds of the stories (you mention the Guardian as being one original source), so as to smear the Lib Dems, and then smear the Conservatives?
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Comment number 18.
At 18:36 22nd Apr 2010, virtualsilverlady wrote:It's beginning to look like we won't have a really serious election campaign until these debates are over.
That probably leaves us with only a few days for the young ones to get bored and the real debates to actually begin.
The brainwashing that is going on at the moment on style rather than the problems we are all facing is no reflection of the situation in the real world.
We are still here watching it all unfold and waiting for reality ro hit us once again.
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Comment number 19.
At 18:36 22nd Apr 2010, DistantTraveller wrote:All this shows is that Labour is desperate for the Lib Dems to do well, as they know that is the only way they can cling to office.
We need a change of direction, not more of Labour propped up by Clegg. To repeat myself yet again (sorry Saga):
The ship needs a new Captain, not a new Cabin Boy.
Dinghy for Cap'n Brown....
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Comment number 20.
At 18:37 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:I think Mandleson appears to have morphed into Nicky
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Comment number 21.
At 18:42 22nd Apr 2010, Its_an_Outrage wrote:I'd like to make a relevant, revealing and interesting comment. But since not a single post has been moderated since the blog appeared an hour ago, there doesn't seem to be much point.
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Comment number 22.
At 18:42 22nd Apr 2010, Phillip wrote:personally I think that labour has more to worry about and that the party of McBride, Whelan and Draper has shown itself more than willing to stoop very low to cling onto power.
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Comment number 23.
At 18:43 22nd Apr 2010, Elizabeth43 wrote:This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.
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Comment number 24.
At 18:43 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:Another response from a previous blog...
206. At 5:03pm on 22 Apr 2010, Fredalo wrote:
127. At 2:51pm on 22 Apr 2010, bryhers wrote:
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Do you imagine "The Telegraph" spent half a million on purloined discs because it was public spirited?
No - they spent the money to sell Newspapers. Worked too.
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Whats the betting that Bryhers doesnt have quite as caustic a view about HMRC spending PUBLIC money on paying a German criminal for stolen CD ROMS containing information on account holders in Lichtenstein?
Compared to the Barclays spending their OWN money to unearth something that was most definately 100% in the public interest? Not to say that tax avoidance ISNT something the public shouldnt be told about but you cannot have it both ways.
Anything else is pure political expediency and highly selective.
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Comment number 25.
At 18:46 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:Gilligan at it again.
https://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewgilligan/100035918/lib-dems-integrity-can-be-such-a-dirty-business/
Sad loss to the BBC News Department. Its never been the same since.
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Comment number 26.
At 18:52 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:I need to choose my words carefully here...
Lord Voldemort lecturing on 'the dark side' of politics, is somewhat illuminating
In fact there could be a story involving
A kettle
A pot
I think, from memory the pot is black, can't recall the rest of it
Ashcroft poster is already apoplectic that his absurd rantings and accusations get thrown out, so this could drive him over the edge
As far as the Lib Dem Posse getting all upset about the press, I think that is somewhat odd, as I have been reading anti-Conservative propaganda when I am unlucky enough to see the front cover of the Mirror for years
The Guardian and Independent tend to write from a very left wing perspective, yet are worth reading on occasions due to the quality of the writing
The same can be said of the Telegraph, which is far less to the right than it used to be, although editorially is to the right still
The Sun is the Sun, and the Daily Star is ...well
So, after less than one week of the Lib Dem balloon, they all start bleating about the unfair press
The Conservatives have had that for year after year
Don't attack the man, they cry, as Nick Clegg gets donor's money paid directly into his own bank account
Imagine the comments if it were Osborne or Cameron?
Come on guys, be reasonable
I accuse Clegg of crass stupidity over this, it just is, and is also pretty hard to defend
So far, I do not believe him to be corrupt in any way
If you want the Lib Dems to be taken seriously, then I feel as a member of the public that I had a right to know about Clegg's stupidity
Same for the duck houses, and a seemingly growing list of Labour MPs in the courts, innocent , of course, until proven guilty
So get real, and argue why the LIb Dem policies are best for the UK
Why USE is best
Why the Euro is best
Why it is good to cancel our security
Why you want to redistribute £17bn on the cusp of an economic depression
Bet you can't make a positive case without denegrading either the Conservatives or Labour
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Comment number 27.
At 18:53 22nd Apr 2010, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote:what and the Labour party never smeared anyone.
Just remember the "Leo Bliar Kidnapp Plot"
It was run by only one paper "The Sun" who's editor was friendly
with Mr Blairs Wife.
More likely out of the Labour Dirty tricks manual
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Comment number 28.
At 18:54 22nd Apr 2010, DistantTraveller wrote:Why is discussing Clegg's donations, paid into his private bank account, a 'Dirty Trick' or 'smear'?
Lib-Dems have tried to portray themselves as 'holier-than-thou', so it's entirely reasonable to ask questions.
Labour must be really desperate if they feel the need to try and rescue poor little Nick.
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Comment number 29.
At 19:02 22nd Apr 2010, clacker wrote:Smears within smears within smears!
Mandy is losing his touch - all he's achieved by this is provide yet more evidence of the massive extent to which the two main parties are out of touch with many of their own supporters, let alone the floating or undecided voters who, I would suggest, find the prospect of change far more compelling.
Bitching about fellow spin-doctors might win a few pats on the back among the political elite, but my guessis that the electorate (including many Labour supporters) will regard this kind of tit-for-tat nonsense, rightly, as the dying gasps of a political dinosaur.
Shame for Peter, have always liked and been amused by him even though I've not often agreed with him, but he has very rapidly gone from arch-manipulator to yesterday's man. A week IS a long time in politics, isn't it?!
If Malcolm Tucker was real, he'd give Mandy a serious kicking for this nonsense.
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Comment number 30.
At 19:07 22nd Apr 2010, clacker wrote:I would add, as far as my earlier post above is concerned, that the Lib-Dems have timed their rebuttal of the bile in todday's press/media coverage perfectly: straight on to the 6pm News and a couple of hours before the debate. Mandy used to be the master of that black art, but looks like an also-ran tonight with this weak effort.
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Comment number 31.
At 19:10 22nd Apr 2010, DevilsAdvocate wrote:When I first heard about the headlines I just thought the Tories were stupid, when Mandelson's name cropped up I began to wonder if they were innocent!
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Comment number 32.
At 19:10 22nd Apr 2010, fairlyopenmind wrote:It's a bit rich when Mandelson complains about potential "dirty tricks" campaigns.
Twice disgraced Minister.
Given a plum job in Brussels.
(I still don't understand why the electorate have no say in the national appointments to the EU. Would anybody have voted for Mandelson - or Baroness Ashton - to be offered control over a vast amount of cash and the rather attractive salary/expenses/pension scheme that goes with it?)
Mandelson is being paid by Brussels (which means US) to "ease him back into life outside the EU cleptocracy" despite stepping straight into a ministerial role in the ermine clad UK lobby.
Of course, Mandelson wrote the seminal book about smears based on zero-tracability "facts". Well, it may have been co-authored with Alistair Campbell.
Anybody believe that the UK Intelligence Services had any real evidence that Iraq had WMDs? If they do, could they post it to all of the UK national newspapers and TV stations, so there is no complaint that any bias is being played to.
(OK, I know. You shouldn't end a sentence that way. But Churchill did mock the grammatical exactitude with his famous quote abot "Up with this I will not put"...)
I don't like dirty politicking from whichever party's sources.
I especially don't like unelected politicians pontificating in a sneeringly autocratic manner when their track records hardly stand scrutiny for more than a few nano-seconds.
By the way, I happen to think that Mandelson is a very good operator. I wouldn't trust him to change a light bulb in my house but he has the snake-oil capacity of Blair, with a rather more practical competence.
(But then, I try to see the best in everybody!)
Bit off topic - but politically relevant I think.
Has anybody who posts on this site ever been approached to, or even knows somebody who met somebody who some time ago had been approached to, partake in the British Crime Survey?
Once upon a time, you could measure crime levels because crimes were reported to - and recorded by - the police. Most minor crimes don't even get reported nowadays. No point.
Bring on the gladiators.
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Comment number 33.
At 19:11 22nd Apr 2010, Voice_of_Reason wrote:Its not really a smear to suggest that the Tory party have a hand in what the Tory press print. We all know this is the case.
85% of the press is heavily right-wing and biased and towards the Tories. Its no surprise that when they are under pressure and Clegg outperforms Cameron that the Tory press suddenly go after Clegg like a pack of rabid dogs.
I would actually be surprised if Andy Coulson wasn't in touch with the Editors of these newspapers as he knows they support him and its an easy way for the Tory campaign to throw muck at their opponents without getting their hands dirty.
Its the same dirty sleazy Tories we remember.
The 'Nasty' party never went anywhere and Clegg is now on the receiving end of their co-ordinated bile.
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Comment number 34.
At 19:16 22nd Apr 2010, Strictly Pickled wrote:I think we passed the point where anyone can believe anything that Peter Mandelson says a long, long time ago.
Just another negative and unsubstantiated comment from the disgraced End of the Peer Show ...... yesterdays politics from yesterday's man.
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Comment number 35.
At 19:16 22nd Apr 2010, gac wrote:Mandelson is a conniving, mendacious, self and wealth seeking member of the 'what's in it for me' society which is bankrupting our country.
It is disgusting that he should levy accusations against others like this. But then he does this for effect and has done so for years without conscience and relevance to the truth.
After all - he invented the art-form.
We should all object that this snake is at the forefront of politics in the UK and is helping to shape/ruin our futures. Shame on Mr Brown for allowing it - wasn't McBride enough?
If this offends the rules then so be it. I needed to say it!
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Comment number 36.
At 19:19 22nd Apr 2010, John Frewen-Lord wrote:What's with the moderators? BOTH previous NR blogs now closed - yet not a single post here published (at #35 and 1-1/4 hours). Moderators on strike?
We are in an election campaign, there is a leaders' debate on in 45 minutes - we need our posts moderated NOW!
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Comment number 37.
At 19:21 22nd Apr 2010, The_Bongos_of_Doom wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 38.
At 19:21 22nd Apr 2010, Hyopocon wrote:Things just got a lot worse, as there's every indication that claimants and disabled people will be fall-guys for the victimisers on the right of both main parties. Some people cannot make progress themselves, without walking all over other people. The news for the Political parties is that claimants and the disabled are also people and also have a vote. We hear and are sorely hurt by the prevalent tendency to lash out and look for scape-goats for politicians to lever themselves back into public favour. Well that is the sum of heaping blame and abuse upon claimants and the mentally ill. I think we need to use our vote wisely and if that means backing hitherto-outsiders like Nick Clegg and Vince Cable - who undertake to improve funding for the mentally ill as sound economics - then Back them we Must, and Back them we will.
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Comment number 39.
At 19:22 22nd Apr 2010, CComment wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 40.
At 19:22 22nd Apr 2010, Indy2010 wrote:This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.
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Comment number 41.
At 19:36 22nd Apr 2010, load_of_bull wrote:Its more likely Murdoch is behind the smears, he must have thought the Tories had the election in the bag before last week, and once in power would shackle the BBC and anyone else who didn't agree with him.
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Comment number 42.
At 19:37 22nd Apr 2010, Gordon wrote:Why do you hacks in the media take ANY notice of this poisoned prat?
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Comment number 43.
At 19:40 22nd Apr 2010, Antho wrote:I was in two minds whether to vote Lib Dem. After this pathetic panic-induced witch hunt I'm right behind them
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Comment number 44.
At 19:40 22nd Apr 2010, Davesaid wrote:This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.
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Comment number 45.
At 19:54 22nd Apr 2010, bryhers wrote:editor is a good friend of his.
"Now there's no doubt that many Tories are in a panic about Nick Clegg's advance - nor that the Tory press are out to get him - but as yet there is no evidence that the Tory leadership were behind this morning's stories and until there is we must conclude that Lord Mandelson is trying to make a story about the Liberal Democrats into one that is damaging for David Cameron."
The conservative leadership don`t need to be behind the campaign to get Clegg,it is the shared ideology and framework of implicit understandings with the right wing press which allows this to happen and profits by it.
Mr.Robinson knows perfectly well how institutions work,put nothing in writing,keep no minutes and have a good lunch afterwards.
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Comment number 46.
At 20:02 22nd Apr 2010, ashcroftmillions2010 wrote:Have you ever read the Torygraph, or checked the credentials of its journalists, never mind some of the readers?
Current contributors include Dan Hannan MEP and Lord Tebbitt.
Hannan was a journalist at the Torygraph before he was elected to the European Parliament. He likes this new extreme ECR Political Group in the European Parliament. Members of this ECR party from other countries include holocaust deniers, and homophobic parties. TB/LNNK members from Latvia attend Waffen SS Commemoration events for example. Michael Kaminski, leader of ECR was allegedly a member of a former Neo-Nazi Group.
Lord Tebbitt's track record speaks for itself. He was well known as one of Margaret Thatcher's most right wing ministers. "On your bike"! He runs by the popular nickname of the "Chingford Skinhead"
Both of these two politicians would like the UK to withdraw from the EU.
The really interesting bit is the former BBC business correspondent journalist Jeff Randall, who works for both Sky and The Telegraph. His Sky web page has long advocated Cameron as the next PM. So what were the editors of the Sun going to speak to the Independent about, as explained by Steve Richards from the paper today on the Today programme? What were Murdoch's instructions?
An indication of how utterly deluded the Torygraph is in its presentation of the political bias included is to be gained from an article published today, which refers to its coverage of the expenses scandal.
"it is widely agreed that the disclosures by the Telegraph, which covered all parties, were not politically motivated." Whilst the details of the expenses issues published may have covered all parties, the style, presentation and timing all suited Tory political objectives.
But one example of this highly political presentation is the day that details of the expenses of Geoff Hoon and another Minister were published at the same time as Michael Howard's. The former had been taken unawares by a change in ministerial responsibility, affecting their residence and eligibility for allowances. The latter had been claiming substantial sums for gardening at his country residence in Hythe. The former amounted to about £200 each, the latter about £15K. Mr Howard pointedly refused to pay his back, the other two returned the sums immediately. The media story all day, including sadly on the BBC, alas was all about the two ministers and not Mr Howard.
I suspect that most voters would have felt more forgiving to the genuine oversights of a couple of hundred pounds than to thousands paid to have their garden tended. How many voters would like to have a second property, never mind have the state pay to have somebody do their gardening for them?
Lest nobody forget the Sun's announcement of its support for the Conservatives during last year's Labour Party conference. If that was not politically motivated, then it is hard to know what is.
The tactics employed by the Tory media should be of no surprise, though. Today's front pages were a total disgrace. Remember who DesperateDave's Director of Communications is and his track record on workplace bullying and the type of criminal evesdropping that took place when he was in charge, although he has denied the allegations of any direct involvement.
So a hatchet job on Nick Clegg on the day of the second Leaders' debate was to be expected really, based on the previous track record of the Tory Press. The Nasty Party, true blue and to form.
Lord Mandelson must have a good sense of where these stories in today's media orginated from. The circumstantial evidence is pretty strong, even if not to a standard of beyond reasonable doubt.
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Comment number 47.
At 20:07 22nd Apr 2010, Its_an_Outrage wrote:11. At 6:25pm on 22 Apr 2010, Gerry Mandering wrote:
...and lib dem trolls...
Tears of joy at that one!
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Comment number 48.
At 20:15 22nd Apr 2010, harkerboy wrote:The Right Honourable Baron Mandelson of Foy in the county of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the county of Durham, Lord President of the Council, First Secretary of State, and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Honorary Freeman of the borough of Hartlepool
is right to be so concerned about this after all he is the master of smear and nasty politics and if the Tories have done this he will be jealous.The man is a vile creature who should be put on an island with only monkies to keep him company.
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Comment number 49.
At 20:22 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:It is 8.20pm
brown is falling apart, Cameron on good form, and Clegg looking brittle
Labour will go down in the polls even more, Conservatives up a bit, Lib dems possibly down a touch
Bring it home Mr Cameron
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Comment number 50.
At 20:26 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:Brown IS falling into the trap of talking over Clegg and attacking him
Woo hoo
Clegg also looking angry when Brown doesn't say I agree with Nick
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Comment number 51.
At 20:31 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:33
85% of the press is right wing?
Would you care to enlighten us how you come to this conclusion
You wrote
The 'Nasty' party never went anywhere and Clegg is now on the receiving end of their co-ordinated bile.
Apart from the fact that the story is not a story, it is a report of FACTS
Please could you confirm that you would be happy for donations from Lord Ashcroft to be paid directly into Cameron's account?
I presume by your outrage in your post about Tory smears, that these donations from Ashcroft, hypothetical though they are, into Cameron's account would be fine
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Comment number 52.
At 20:48 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:38
Does anyone understand what this is all about?
I can't understand what you are trying to say I am afraid
Just so you are aware, if I can guess what you are trying to say, Comic Relief are funding a campaign in support of greater awareness of mental health issues in Cineworld currently
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Comment number 53.
At 20:48 22nd Apr 2010, DevilsAdvocate wrote:33. At 7:11pm on 22 Apr 2010, Voice_of_Reason wrote:
Its not really a smear to suggest that the Tory party have a hand in what the Tory press print. We all know this is the case.
===========
We do?!
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Comment number 54.
At 20:49 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:Nick Clegg has just dismissed the Telegraph story as rubbish
MM
That will not go down well with floaters
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Comment number 55.
At 20:57 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:46
Not quite sure you get it
It is not a smear, it is a fact
Clegg was stupid
The Telegraph is not run by the Conservative Party, it is a business on it's own two feet
The Duck House belonged to a Conservative
Were you aware of this ?
If the donor's money had gone into Cameron's account and not Clegg's would you feel the same way?
Do you feel Hoon's behaviour on the despatches programme was acceptable?
Are you able to answer these two questions and stick to the point?
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Comment number 56.
At 21:01 22nd Apr 2010, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote:#32 , Hope I do not know of anybody that has been approached by the British Crime Survey, been the victim of crime lots so I guess
that counts me out then. Another set of unreliable stats.
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Comment number 57.
At 21:03 22nd Apr 2010, greatHayemaker wrote:Nick,
Could you please spell out which are the "Tory backing papers" you refer to in your update.
If what you say is true, I am genuinely quite disgusted.
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Comment number 58.
At 21:19 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:57
He can't do that without being sued , so no he can't
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Comment number 59.
At 21:20 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.
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Comment number 60.
At 21:29 22nd Apr 2010, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote:#38 would that funding for the mentally ill that you talk about
would that cover those that have suffered at the hands of the family
courts, children , extended familes and fathers or would we be excluded from any means of support as is the current status qou ?
Or would you not reconginse that they are suffering ?
So if cleggie start talking along these lines then I'll vote for him
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Comment number 61.
At 21:30 22nd Apr 2010, ghostofsichuan wrote:Anything other than the issues. I wish the media would ignore all this and when brought up simply refuse to bite and ask the hard questions people want answered. If the crisis is all the media makes it than don't get sidetracked by such nonsense. Politics is the art of getting elected on vague promisies that won't be kept by people who had no intention of keeping them. Ask some questions that need answers and if they won't answer, write that. I am sure people on this page can provide a list.
Politics is dirty......what a surprise, move on to the important....survey the bankers and ask who they are suporting...the public might want to know....my guess is money for each but more to one.
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Comment number 62.
At 21:31 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:Well done to Adam Boulton, a different class to Alastair Stewart
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Comment number 63.
At 21:37 22nd Apr 2010, sevenstargreen wrote:gordonsglovepuppet #42
Well said.Spot on.Most sensible post so far.
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Comment number 64.
At 21:40 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:Well apart from the 4 times loss of sound with Nick Clegg and one loss for Cameron and the sound going down for Brown in his closing address for half the time, and the infuriating loss of the front view of Clegg when he was reaching his key point, I still felt Clegg the most natural speaker. Cameron improved a bit but was still wooden and the audience body language looked decidedly bored with Cameron. Sadly Brown to me still seemed wooden.
Clegg still connected with the audience the best and Cameron at one time he sounded remarkably like a squire talking down to his estate workers in the summing up!
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Comment number 65.
At 21:42 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:Cameron wins according to you gov
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Comment number 66.
At 21:47 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:64#
Know a lot of Squires do we Nicky? Know a lot of "estate workers"?
What year do you think it is? 1850???
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Comment number 67.
At 21:50 22nd Apr 2010, bryhers wrote:GM 24
Am quite relaxed about HMRC gaining information on tax avoiders,I think it`s unpatriotic.
Your difficulty is in thinking papers like "The Telegraph" don`t have more than one objective.They want to sell newspapers,gain advertising and they have a political agenda.
I don`t see the justice in allowing rich men to influence opinion because of their money.Democracy should be a free market in political ideas,not monopolized by capitalist interests.
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Comment number 68.
At 21:51 22nd Apr 2010, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote:#66 if brown is allowed to carry on its going to be like the 1750's
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Comment number 69.
At 21:56 22nd Apr 2010, Billythefirst wrote:How tories have the nerve to complain about media bias when their press churn out bile like this is beyond me!
Yep, the Beeb's riddled with marxists like Andrew Neil and the Daily Mail represents the pinnacle of well reasoned well reasearch and wholly balanced journalism.
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Comment number 70.
At 22:01 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:Well we have just had the thoughts from kevinbin a whole stream of conscious posts, and I fell off laughing. No wonder kevinb is a Tory and why as a Tory minister said it was known as the stupid party.
As for saying that if Northern Rock was the Surrey Rock and based in Godalming, a place I know well, it wouldb't have been saved.
You can be a bit of a silly billy at times.
NB Can you tell us EXACTLY why payments into Clegg's bank account which he transferred to the Liberal Party to pay the researcher is such a noteworthy story on the front pages, when if they had applied the journalists code of ethics they would have known it was all disclosed, declared and correctly accounted for? WHAT MORE could you want? Boy is your head full of mind numbing trivia, but YOU don't know anything about real life or business do you? Could you ask them the colour of the cheque? Want the reference number on each direct debit from his friends? I would get out more and if you can't t
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Comment number 71.
At 22:02 22nd Apr 2010, joleon1 wrote:I know this is a Tory hys aided by the able Tory Robinson...but lets have a little look at the facts...the Tories are desperate to rubbish Clegg and Brown and with their pet reporters on various papers are going all out to do that Mandelson is getting to the point and letting us all know the traditional Tory way of rubbishing people...so please Tories do not try to pass the blame..there seems to be a line of childish pranks from you all over the country...can the Tories run the country..no..no..no
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Comment number 72.
At 22:02 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:Charlie Whelan got some explaining to do about the leaflets.
Not to mention the Little Britain poster... that is going to backfire spectacularly, watch out for some serious back-pedalling...
https://www.torybear.com/2010/04/labours-new-low.html
Oh, and I dare say as well, yet another instance of copyright theft. Will they have asked the BBC for permission to use and alter images from copyrighted material? Like they did with Ashes and the Fire Up The Quattro blunder?? I somehow doubt it....
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Comment number 73.
At 22:03 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:70 (cont) try to get to tune in to more positive enlightening and creative pastimes a bit more.
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Comment number 74.
At 22:04 22nd Apr 2010, John Frewen-Lord wrote:Just watched the leaders' debate. I took notes.
Reviewing notes:
Cameron - except for the very last question on immigration, refrained totally from knocking the other leaders. Very statesmanlike. Instead, he just put forward very solid policy proposals. You may not agree with them, but everything he said was a postive 'we will do this', not a 'the others would do that'. Very encourging.
Clegg - generally quite postive, but still got in a few jibes at Brown and Cameron. Very wishy washy on the Pope issue (he said his wife is Catholic), which doesn't look very good in being able to make good decisions based on facts rather than emotions.
Brown - in general, weak. Almost everything he said was defined by a Tories would do this, the LDs would do that. Not good. Far too many 'we made the right decisions' (no you did not), or 'we did the right thing' (no you did not). His worst performance occurred on the coalition government possibility, where he talked just rubbish, especially in talking about the Cameron proposal to not increase NI as 'taking £6B out of the economy'. Not going to go over this again, but it highlighted the fact that Brown was really talking from a script, and that he had little undertstanding of what this country's about.
Overall, on a score out of 10:
Cameron - 8 (good positive answers, but fell short of delivering the killer punch)
Clegg - 6.5 - not far behind Cameron, but too weak on too many issues
Brown - 4 (spent far too much time knocking the others, and the positive answers he did give just couldn't be believed, as they were in direct contradiction to what Labour have done over the last 13 years).
I would say that the Tories have gone up a little, LDs (barely) held their own, Labour going ever downwards.
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Comment number 75.
At 22:04 22nd Apr 2010, sagamix wrote:Thanks Kevin (65), they were all better than last week, weren't they?
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Comment number 76.
At 22:04 22nd Apr 2010, Whistling Neil wrote:It shocking , an outrage, Mandelson caught telling the truth - whatever next for this election!
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Comment number 77.
At 22:04 22nd Apr 2010, sevenstargreen wrote:Of all the issues talked about tonight,Milliband (obviously at the sharp
end)has just spent hours (well it felt like it)crowing that Cameron didnt
promise to keep free eye tests and prescriptions.He only just stopped
himself from going nah nah na nah nah!
When bug eyed Balls appeared I changed channels.
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Comment number 78.
At 22:09 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:67#
So, you're happy with the government paying PUBLIC money to a known criminal to get hold of information that has been STOLEN?
But you're not best impressed with the Barclays paying money out of their company for the same?
Illegal is illegal is illegal Bryhers. Paying public money for stolen information to a known crook is beyond the pale. If you approve of that kind of action, its kinda hard to take you seriously on matters regarding the Daily Telegraph. Just more partisan one law for us, one for the tories and the little people.
I dont know why but I kind of expected better of you than that.
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Comment number 79.
At 22:09 22nd Apr 2010, Billythefirst wrote:13. At 6:26pm on 22 Apr 2010, Davesaid wrote:
"What a joke Mandelson accusing the Tories of dirty tricks. He is the Grand Master of dirty tricks throughout his political life. Anyone who believes the Tory machine can co-ordinate the front page editorial of at least 4 daily papers should see a shrink. If you put yourself up as whiter than white when in the public eye, you have to put up with the scrutiny that follows. Cleggs first lesson."
The papers are part of the tory machine.Press barons and offshore billionaires are pulling the strings behind the scenes.Money talks , unlike these influential backroom tories.
They're frightened to death of Clegg and are out to 'do a number' on him - this has nothing to do with scrutiny in the public interest.
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Comment number 80.
At 22:17 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:75
I thought Brown was a conundrum
He did do a bit better than last week, yet at the same time managed to look more desperate, not sure how, but that's what he did
Cameron clearly did a lot better, and I thought he won tonight
Clegg struggled on Trident, although overall I thought he was about the same as last week
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Comment number 81.
At 22:19 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:70
You think I am stupid?
You think the UK is like Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, so that means in the real world I am clever
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Comment number 82.
At 22:19 22nd Apr 2010, blogjt wrote:65. At 9:42pm on 22 Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:
Cameron wins according to you gov
Is it true that the you gov polling calls were taking place while Clegg was making his closing remarks? Would explain why the result is different to the other polls. If it is true it is a disgrace.
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Comment number 83.
At 22:20 22nd Apr 2010, Jamie Riden wrote:The pro-Tory papers are the Daily Mail, the Daily Express, the Telegraph (google "Torygraph" if you don't believe me) and now the Sun.
Seems the promises of a positive Tory campaign were broken pretty quickly. Nick, please elaborate on your update - I don't like the idea of any party feeding stories into any paper.
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Comment number 84.
At 22:24 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:82
I have no idea
I imagine it was the same as last week though ie instant result
As the instant result poll, I guess that's what you would expect
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Comment number 85.
At 22:26 22nd Apr 2010, Steve_M-H wrote:83#
"I don't like the idea of any party feeding stories into any paper."
Ho, ho, ho, ho.
Ever heard of Alistair Campbell??? LMAO!!!!!!
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Comment number 86.
At 22:31 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:83
So the left leaning Guardian, Mirror, and Independent are papers you have never heard of then?
Nobody forces you to buy any of them
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Comment number 87.
At 22:37 22nd Apr 2010, Peter Hood wrote:Ah yes, Lord Mendacious, past master of spin and smear, bowling a googly smear. What utterly vile creatures the so-called labour party are, and what a pity that they forgot their original constituency and thereby sparked off interest in those dangerous creatures, the BNP. Labour have been responsible for more bad than good, if one counts the thousands of dead bodies, the millions of covertly immigrated people, the unfettered impulsive spending, the destruction of NHS dentistry and the cuts to the armed forces, whose budget Gormless Broon spent on wars rather than using the emergency fund. What else to expect from someone who sold hundreds of tonnes at a knockdown price, losing us about 6bn?
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Comment number 88.
At 22:43 22nd Apr 2010, blogjt wrote:at 84 As the instant result poll, I guess that's what you would expect
What that you ask people who was the best before the end? Strange concept. How can you judge something before it has finished.
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Comment number 89.
At 22:44 22nd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:79
So you would be happy if instead of in the Clegg donor story, the money had been paid into Cameron's account?
Somehow I think not
Or even Brown's account
The papers that are part of the Tory machine....
Do they include the Mirror, the Guardian and the independent?
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Comment number 90.
At 23:23 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:70 kevinb said: "You think I am stupid?
You think the UK is like Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, so that means in the real world I am clever"
Dear oh dear! Your running commentary was inane.
You refuse to tell us why a fully documented transfer of funds from one bank account to another is important esp when the rag concerned had every opportunity to adhere to journalists code of ethivs and BROKE those and showed its contempt for its readers and treated them and the wider public like idiots.
I HAVE asked you what is so important about an interbank transfer, fully documented, fully accounted for, etc etc and the answer is NOTHING. It is trivia. NO ONE has come up with a ny reason esp as the Telegtraph chose to break professional ethics in order to SMEAR.
As for your claim I 'equate Nazi Germany and Communist Russia to the UK' calm down. I simply pointed out that you prefer a system which would give us Hitler on anything from 20% of the vote if there were 5 parties and 30% of the vote if there were 3 parties! If it had been fully adopted in Germany then Hitler would have assumed power a yr EARLIER before and not had to do the deal he did with the 2nd main party the Catholic Party in order to pass the Enabling Act.
And as for the results of tonight, apparently Clegg WON 4 out of 5 polls per Newsnight (incl the worm) Paddy Ashdown said, and no one disagreed.
Clearly as you repeat your silly claims you are wilfully trying to smear, just like the Torygraph...Typical of senior Tories and Tory papers as they always do when things get a bit hard; treat electors with contempt
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Comment number 91.
At 23:35 22nd Apr 2010, bryhers wrote:09pm on 22 Apr 2010, Gerry Mandering wrote:
67#
So, you're happy with the government paying PUBLIC money to a known criminal to get hold of information that has been STOLEN?
But you're not best impressed with the Barclays paying money out of their company for the same?
Illegal is illegal is illegal Bryhers. Paying public money for stolen information to a known crook is beyond the pale. If you approve of that kind of action, its kinda hard to take you seriously on matters regarding the Daily Telegraph. Just more partisan one law for us, one for the tories and the little people.
I dont know why but I kind of expected better of you than that.
What is unclear from your post is whether the information from the known criminal was obtained illegally? Possibly he came by it in a totally legitimate way,for example a whistle blower in the bank may have passed it on knowing the man had political contacts?
On the other hand we know that "The Telegraph" obtained their information illegally.Only sensitivities abour press freedom prevented a prosecution.
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Comment number 92.
At 23:36 22nd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:11 above GERRYMANDERING wrote:-
202. At 3:29pm on 22 Apr 2010, ashcroftmillions2010 wrote:
179 Gerry Mandering
Please leave Nicky alone. It is a free country, with a democracy and freedom of expression, although based on some of the nonsense in today's newspapers that may be a loose interpretation of the term.
------------------------------------------------------------------
He/She is free to post what he/she thinks, no matter how barking mad it may be and once it is in the public domain, the rest of us have the freedom of expression to disagree with it, in whichever tone we wish.
I know you plastic socialists would like a state where the only permitted expression is that of the state and no dissent is brooked, but tough luck mate. You havent achieved the socialist paradise you seek just yet.
If you dish it out, you get it back. From what I remember, from initially seeing Nicky's posts, the first responses were politely disagreeing and as his/her defence got more virulent, full of more put downs and trying to belittle her percieved political opponents, so the ante was upped.
You get what you give. If you dont want your opinions held up to the light and potentially shot to bits, dont post them. Or grow a thicker skin.
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Just because you may not agree with Nicky's point of view, does not give you the right to insult her by making rude, insinuating remarks, or suggesting that she should stop contributing.
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Likewise. He/she plays nicely, the rest of us will. Not one rule for socialists and lib dem trolls and another for the rest of us. We've had that for the last 12 years thanks.
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By the tone of your insults, it sounds like you are the one in need of medical attention.
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Perhaps so, but not for my political banter.
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I thought that the moderator was supposed to filter out insults. Moderator?
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The moderators filter out what they like, when they like. There is no rhyme or reason or consistency. It all depends on which side they fell out of bed and whether they got any last night. If they've come in with the grumps and you push their buttons, you'll lose your posts. If not and they're in a good mood and letting the banter flow, then they wont. They're human like the rest of us. Simples.
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On the subject of Gerrymandering. How is Lady Porter, former Tory Council Leader these days? Has she paid back the total sum owing to Westminster Council Tax payers, following the Tory "Homes for votes" scandal? - Not the sum that was negotiated down, following her alleged hard financial times. Perhaps David Cameron should pay that outstanding sum back? About £30m. (£42m was owed, Porter paid £12m back).
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I have no idea and I care even less. Perhaps you'd like to ask Cameron about it. Either way, it was still cheaper I would venture than trying to buy off the votes of the North East of England by saving Northern Rock. Had it been Surrey Rock, based out of Godalming, Labour would have let it go to the wall. Beyond any doubt whatsoever.
The tories dont have an exclusive on being underhand, nasty and self serving. All three of the main parties are just as bad.
I take no orders from students, trolls or lefties. Or from tories for that matter.
MY REPLY:
I think today's Telegraph, Mail and Sun have shown the nasty party for what it is. Nothing has changed and nothing will ever change when we have a party which concocts an apporach Hilt
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Comment number 93.
At 23:38 22nd Apr 2010, bryhers wrote:"Overall, on a score out of 10:
Cameron - 8 (good positive answers, but fell short of delivering the killer punch)
Clegg - 6.5 - not far behind Cameron, but too weak on too many issues
Brown - 4 (spent far too much time knocking the others, and the positive answers he did give just couldn't be believed, as they were in direct contradiction to what Labour have done over the last 13 years).
I would say that the Tories have gone up a little, LDs (barely) held their own, Labour going ever downwards."
Your posts are a blend of wishful thinking and nonsense. The triumph of hope over experience like your leader.
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Comment number 94.
At 00:15 23rd Apr 2010, Voice_of_Reason wrote:So we now have evidence that the Tories were behind the smears on Clegg.
Not a surprise.
A nasty combined attack from a nasty and desperate party.
They can't handle the fact that people prefer Clegg to Cameron.
The Tory press are like a rabid dog now and they will be after Brown and Clegg from now until election day.
The British press are a disgrace to the country.
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Comment number 95.
At 00:21 23rd Apr 2010, Nicky wrote:Sorry still have something going wrong with laptop:
At 11 above GERRYMANDERING wrote:
202. At 3:29pm on 22 Apr 2010, ashcroftmillions2010 wrote:
179 Gerry Mandering
Please leave Nicky alone. It is a free country, with a democracy and freedom of expression, although based on some of the nonsense in today's newspapers that may be a loose interpretation of the term.
------------------------------------------------------------------
He/She is free to post what he/she thinks, no matter how barking mad it may be and once it is in the public domain, the rest of us have the freedom of expression to disagree with it, in whichever tone we wish.
I know you plastic socialists would like a state where the only permitted expression is that of the state and no dissent is brooked, but tough luck mate. You havent achieved the socialist paradise you seek just yet.
If you dish it out, you get it back. From what I remember, from initially seeing Nicky's posts, the first responses were politely disagreeing and as his/her defence got more virulent, full of more put downs and trying to belittle her percieved political opponents, so the ante was upped.
You get what you give. If you dont want your opinions held up to the light and potentially shot to bits, dont post them. Or grow a thicker skin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Just because you may not agree with Nicky's point of view, does not give you the right to insult her by making rude, insinuating remarks, or suggesting that she should stop contributing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Likewise. He/she plays nicely, the rest of us will. Not one rule for socialists and lib dem trolls and another for the rest of us. We've had that for the last 12 years thanks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
By the tone of your insults, it sounds like you are the one in need of medical attention.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perhaps so, but not for my political banter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought that the moderator was supposed to filter out insults. Moderator?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The moderators filter out what they like, when they like. There is no rhyme or reason or consistency. It all depends on which side they fell out of bed and whether they got any last night. If they've come in with the grumps and you push their buttons, you'll lose your posts. If not and they're in a good mood and letting the banter flow, then they wont. They're human like the rest of us. Simples.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
On the subject of Gerrymandering. How is Lady Porter, former Tory Council Leader these days? Has she paid back the total sum owing to Westminster Council Tax payers, following the Tory "Homes for votes" scandal? - Not the sum that was negotiated down, following her alleged hard financial times. Perhaps David Cameron should pay that outstanding sum back? About £30m. (£42m was owed, Porter paid £12m back).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have no idea and I care even less. Perhaps you'd like to ask Cameron about it. Either way, it was still cheaper I would venture than trying to buy off the votes of the North East of England by saving Northern Rock. Had it been Surrey Rock, based out of Godalming, Labour would have let it go to the wall. Beyond any doubt whatsoever.
The tories dont have an exclusive on being underhand, nasty and self serving. All three of the main parties are just as bad.
I take no orders from students, trolls or lefties. Or from tories for that matter.
MY REPLY: The Telegraph, Sun and Mail have today shown the nasty party and thefact we now know the stories DID come from the Tories umbilical cord to certain newspaper proprietors, editors and hacks.
Gerrymandering has shown why with his chosen Freudian name he likes having unfairness and 'one rule for the rich and powerful' and another for the ordinary man, the middle class, working class or poor.
Let's face it: the Tories HATE having a fair race because then all the advantages of a 300 yr old antique electoral system, the kind Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin would have loved because it enables them to keep power on just 25 or 30% of the vote or as in the UK the past 3 elections merely on 23% of electors and 20% of the voter eligible population! Tell Mugabe and Saddam of how it works in reality and they'd say 'Wow I don't have to lose millions of actual votes or stuff ballot boxes with fake votes and still win? Wow! Let me use it!'
Tell them you can control 80%-90% of the media and you give favours to newspaper and media proprietors, and they can write rubbish and smear your opponents and they'd say 'Great!'
Tell them that they can donate anything they like to you and when you are in power or opposition raise any amount of money and via the Lord Ashcroft route, funnel as much as you like from tax havens into the UK and foreigners can influence every constituency in the country. 'Wow' again 'and all legal?' Yes you say!
I don't know what you do or did for a living but I doubt it had much to do with or require any sense of fairness, fair play or honesty and holding your head up high in your local community, knowing your word is your bond, or showing respect for those less fortunate than you.
No, "the nasty party" hasn't changed and ALMOST everyone of your and kevinb's posts sadly PROVE IT
NB Ashcroftmillions2010, thanks but don't worry. Tories always revert to type and I don't think they know much about fairness or decency because they always say they 'want to play the game' but always WANT to stack it against everyone and anyone on the sly and cheat. Yes, they love idle rich trustafarians who can get ahead by going to schools with 5-10 to a classroom to ensure continuous private tuition, then when older rip up restaurants and waste enormous sums (to most people) on alcohol and drugs, but, as GERRYMANDER says HATE middle and working class "students, trolls and Lefties"
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Comment number 96.
At 04:44 23rd Apr 2010, James wrote:Sickening attempts to 'shift the onus' from one with such a guilt and smear ridden past and with yet another 13 days to go, watch out for more of this from both our unelected PM and his unelected crony.
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Comment number 97.
At 07:41 23rd Apr 2010, Megan wrote:Given that I have a VERY low opinion of politicians as a trade, their continuous habit of bad-mouthing each other has little impact. I just don't care - I expect them to lie, cheat and steal at any and every opportunity, so if one lot says t'other lot is so doing, where's the news in that?
As far as my voting intentions are concerned, I'm still waiting for ANY local candidate to say anything at all to me. A single election leaflet has appeared, which simply gives the name & contact details of the Labour candidate. So what? The level of apathy amongst the candidates is high in Crewe & Nantwich, what do they expect of the electorate?
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Comment number 98.
At 08:01 23rd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:95
Nicky
Buy a new computer
Preferably one that doesn't have capital, or an internet connection
You demonstrate a degree of misunderstanding of ANY subject you bring up which is genuinely quite worrying
Let me try and reach out to you....
With a dose, a small dose of sanity
After gaining power, through various events which were genuinely nasty, like setting fire to the Reichstag and killing opponents, the Nazi Party didn't actually need ANY votes
So your crackpot analogy is just that
Stalin the same
He also decided to re-write history, as well as controlling the present
It would be a better use of your time to read about this, as opposed to repeating your erroneous and fictional comments on here day after day
The initial entertainment factor of such posts is wearing off
I quote
Yes, they love idle rich trustafarians who can get ahead by going to schools with 5-10 to a classroom to ensure continuous private tuition, then when older rip up restaurants and waste enormous sums (to most people) on alcohol and drugs
More bile, tripe and fiction all rolled into one
The Conservatives will win the most seats, and will probably offer the Lib Dems full PR (not AV) to destroy Labour
Labour is a passing trend, set up in 1900, way, way, way after the Whigs
As the mighty George Harrison said, All things must pass
George Brown is finished, and Nick Clegg will not be PM
So it will be Cameron, with the Labour Party descending into a civil war
The Lib Dems will have to agree to drop their Trident rhubarb, and the Conservatives will get their way on the NI
IF the COnservatives give the Lib Dems PR, another advantage is it will get rid of you
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Comment number 99.
At 08:06 23rd Apr 2010, Kevinb wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 100.
At 08:07 23rd Apr 2010, telecasterdave wrote:Mandleson thinks himself smart when he is actually stupid. Who on earth falls for the drivel he spouts. Just how many hanger ons are there in Westminster cowing to the unelected Mandleson.
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