Gordon Brown - More faces than Big Ben.

Click to enlarge. (Yes I know the bell is Big Ben)

Tom Harris MP bans anyone from calling Gordon Brown a liar.

Tom Harris is banning anyone from calling Gordon Brown a liar on his blog. Truly effing pathetic:

JOHN Rentoul makes a good point about the Tories’/Spectator’s latest childish tactic of calling everyone they disagree with a liar. "Vulgar abuse", John calls it, and he’s right.

I’ve been adopting far too liberal an approach to comment approval, even where the Tory liar line has been used, so I’m announcing a review. All existing comments which accuse anyone of lying will be deleted, and no future comments which do the same will be approved.

Use parliamentary protocol, people – there are ways of getting your point across without resort to childish name-calling.

Feckin’ eejits.

Here is my comment on this:

The dishonesty tag is working because it is true. And it hurts. Is there any point coming back here? What else will you ban? Is any criticism of Brown to be banned next? the government after that? then any criticism of the Labour party?

This is Labour all over, if you don’t like it you ban it, change the law, or just have those involved arrested on trumped up charges if all else fails.

You don’t get it, and that’s why you are going to lose, and BAD.

Labour: if they don't like it, or if the truth causes embarrassment, they ban it. Tom, you just don't get blogging do you?

Update: If you think that I'm jumping to conclusions about Tom banning the word liar from his blog, then please read the comments on this post for my explanation.

The Liar tag is sticking to Gordon Brown and Labour do not like it. When people think of Gordon Brown, the word Liar now springs to mind. Labour will move heaven and earth to change that. Here's a top tip for Labour MPs/members/supporters: Get Gordon to stop lying.

Gordon Brown, wanted for Financial Incompetence.

You can make your own poster HERE.

Gordon Brown's spending lies - video.

I'm not dead, just trying to decide if I want to carry on blogging. (good title for a film).

Gordon Brown's spending lies are not fooling voters.

I wrote yesterday that Gordon Brown was totally and utterly delusional if he thought that we would believe his "Tory cuts" lies. I also wrote that his legacy would be one of being a bloody liar.

Well it looks like I was right to believe that the people would not fall for Labour's lies this time. As soon as Brown came out with his false statement about increased Labour spending at PMQs last week, the blogosphere and the MSM were all over him. Yet still the fool has continued to spew out the same rubbish during the last week.

PoliticsHome has carried out a nationwide survey asking those taking part to name the party they feel are most honest about their tax and spending plans.

From PoliticsHome:

Labour failed to score an overall majority even with their own supporters; only forty eight per cent of Labour party supporters believe they are the party that is most honest about their spending and tax intentions. In contrast, the Tories and Lib Dems were both backed by eighty two per cent of their supporters.

The government's rhetoric on tax and spending has failed to convince independent voters. Only six per cent feel they are most honest, whereas thirty three per cent chose the Conservatives and twenty three per cent the Liberal Democrats.

I think that these results are pretty conclusive. Lets hope Brown keeps up the lies - they are obviously doing Labour more damage than the Tories.

Unison withdraw financial support for Labour.

Sky are reporting that Unison are suspending payments to 64 constituency Labour parties. Unison give the labour party about £2m each year. This is a major blow to the Labour party and it could be just the first of many. The Union say they are angry over MPs expenses and the part privatisation of Royal Mail. General Secretary Dave Prentis said his union was "tired of feeding the hand that bites it".

Of course as a Conservative member I'm not unhappy to hear this bit of news. However, I am more concerned that this Union is using it's money to try to influence government policy. What will Brown do? Lose the Labour party £2m/year, or become Unison's bitch?

General Election Poster - We will not forget you!

The inspiration for the slogan:

Even The Mirror turns against Gordon Brown.

Gordon Brown has achieved something I thought he was incapable of. He has managed to alienate the one newspaper that has shown blind (and mindless) loyalty to him and his Government - The Mirror.

The straw that broke the camel's back for The Mirror, looks to be yesterday's announcement of a sham enquiry into the Iraq war.

The Mirror's Jason Beattie wrote:

Gordon Brown sparked furious claims of a whitewash yesterday after ruling the inquiry into the Iraq War would be held in private.

The long-awaited probe will be conducted by hand-picked grandees and will not report until after the next election.

And amazingly, Downing St admitted the toothless investigation would not even demand witnesses give evidence by law, and that its aim was not to "apportion blame".

The probe provoked fury among relatives of 179 troops who died and cries of "fix" from the opposition.

Even the the ridiculously pro-labour "Voice of the Mirror" has a go at Brown:

To hold the inquiry into the Iraq war in secret is another spectacular own goal by the Prime Minister.

Gordon Brown has missed a valuable opportunity to begin the slow and painful process of rebuilding public confidence in politics.

We were cajoled and coerced into the most controversial of conflicts on what was at best reckless disinformation, at worst a blatant lie.

This war triggered the biggest demonstrations in recent history. So to handpick four knights and a baroness to peruse documents behind closed doors is an insult, a charade to inflame contempt instead of healing wounds.

Faith in politicians was eroded by the Iraq invasion, and fell off a cliff over MPs' expenses. Mr Brown yesterday fuelled the cynicism.

We are still waiting for that full public inquiry into the Iraq war.

Is this the first sign of a split between Brown and The Mirror? Have they finally had enough of Brown's outrageous lies and deceit?

Climate change - You couldn't make it up!

Earlier this month there was a Local Government Climate Change Leadership Summit held in Copenhagen. According to the EEA (European Environment Agency) website, the Summit was a: "Unique opportunity for cities, municipalities, and regions worldwide to demonstrate to the climate community what they have done in the field of climate." Nice.

You have to laugh at the stupidity of these people: Apparently 1,500 mayors, local politicians and senior administration officials from around 160 countries attended the Summit. It gets worse, the EEA website goes on to boast that: "Furthermore, representatives from national governments and embassies, international organizations and press will be present in Copenhagen."

So lets get this straight - Thousands of people from all over the world have flown to Copenhagen to talk about Climate Change. I'm damn sure that I'm not the only one who sees the idiocy of this summit? I'm a man made climate change sceptic, but I'm pretty sure that if it does indeed exist, then these morons are not exactly helping.

And how much has this cost the taxpayer?

Gordon Brown's legacy - The bloody liar.

I think I've worked out what Gordon Brown's legacy will be. He's always been a spinner who has surrounded himself with back stabbers, but he's upped his game recently. He's gone from the nasty bit of spin and smear to full blown lies and deceit. So I'm going to remember him not as a loser, or a ditherer, or back stabber, or a spinner, or a smear spreader, or a bottler, or as an incompetent arse - no, I will remember Gordon Brown as a bloody liar.

He accuses the Conservatives of making cuts to spending when he himself must do the same. He has announced an enquiry into the Iraq war, only for us to find out that it is to be held behind closed doors, and the results will not be published until after the General Election. And this latest sick attempt by his government to tie the Conservatives to the BNP is shameful. How far is this man willing to stoop? I will warn any Labour supporters who may be reading this: Gordon Brown is going to destroy your party for a very long time.

Gordon Brown just doesn't get the Internet. He doesn't realise that there are sharks constantly circling him waiting for him to slip up - waiting for his lies. Gone are the days when a politician can blatantly lie to the people and get away with it. The sharks are waiting, and the truth will come out in the feeding frenzy. Brown thinks that his lies are helping, but they are only making the situation worse for Labour. It won't be long before the papers refuse to publish his rubbish - I suspect that some already are. You can almost feel the anger coming from the journalist at his press conferences.

Gordon the liar has got his back to the wall. He thinks that he can win by fighting dirty, but he is only deceiving himself.

More lies from Gordon Brown. Sunday Mirror.

Gordon Brown knows no shame. I'm also starting to believe that the man is an idiot. I don't like Brown, but I always thought he had a brain - now that is in doubt. When he lied about government spending last Wednesday at PMQs, he was quickly exposed by the blogosphere and the MSM. So why he thinks he can get away with the same lies today is beyond me.

He's repeated his claims that the Tories will cut spending by 10% while his government will increase spending. It's such a big lie, that only the pathetically loyal Sunday Mirror have the neck to print it. This is just stupid of Brown as the Blogs and the papers will take great pleasure in pointing out that he is lying again.

Brown's usual ploy of repeating lie so often that the people will believe it isn't going to work this time. Instead he is building himself a reputation as a liar. Surely the Cabinet cannot have backed this article? They all can't be that stupid surely? This is Brown shooting himself in the foot - again.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Trust John Prescott to pour petrol on the fire - Miliband.

You have to laugh when John Prescott decides to share his wisdom with us. I can hear Mandelson's (Lord Mandelson of Foy in the county of Herefordshire and Hartlepool in the county of Durham, first secretary of state, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills and Lord President of the Council) hand slapping his forehead in despair all the way from Westminster to here on the south coast.

We've had hints of more trouble for Gordon Brown this morning in the papers. Miliband seems to be saying that he almost didn't support Brown when Purnell quit last week, and Mandelson is warning that the PM faces further rebel attacks. This is without doubt bad news for Brown, but it is not unexpected and it would have died down in a couple of days.

Then in steps John Prescott with his size twelves. He's calling for unity after Miliband's article, but in doing so he is making matters far worse (shocker). What were just hints in the papers this morning are now, thanks to John, full blown plots involving senior Labour party figures - nice one John. He writes (I'm not joking):

Can you believe it?

We've had the most disastrous results affected by the recession, allowances scandals and ministerial resignations, including Cabinet members walking out the day before the election and as soon as the polls closed. All for maximum publicity.

Then came the PLP debate where Charles Clarke's demand for GB to go were overwhelmingly rejected. Instead we all backed calls for unity and getting on with Government.

So imagine my surprise when I was walking through Portcullis House in the House of Commons on Thursday and stumbled upon a meeting held by Charles Clarke, John Reid, Alan Milburn and a few others, huddled together in intense discussion.

I went over and offered to be the secretary for their little club. With nervous laughter, my offer was turned down.

I later saw David Miliband and Milburn in a similar intense discussion. My suspicions were now heightened.

These may not be connected but now I read today that Charles Clarke is once again calling for another challenge against Gordon at the next party conference.

Well done John, that will calm things down - not.

Gordon Brown's planned spending cuts.

* Schools: Brown is planning to take £3.6 billion out of education spending, the equivalent of losing 30,891 teachers, and 24,140 teaching assistants and school support staff.

• Police: Brown is planning to take £650 million out of the Home Office. Cutting police funding by the same 7 per cent as the rest of the Home office could see the loss of 10,500 police officers - exactly the number of extra police officers delivered from Labour’s record investment since 1997. That’s nearly 21 off the beat in every constituency across England.

• University places: Brown is planning 7 per cent across the board cuts for public spending. That could mean cutting the number of places available each year by 22,400.

• Defence: Brown is planning to cut 7 per cent from the defence budget - the equivalent of cutting 7,000 soldiers, and a further 5,600 members of the armed forces from the Navy and Airforce. That’s almost double the number of troops the UK has in Afghanistan.

Hat Tip: Fraser Nelson.

Greg Pope to stand down at General Election.

From the BBC:

Mr Pope, who has a majority of 5,587, said serving his constituents had been a "privilege" and described his pride at being a Labour member.

His resignation announcement did not mention recent rows over expenses and the party leadership, but did detail his pride in serving in "Tony Blair's government" following the 1997 election victory.

Question time - Peter Hain gets blasted by LDV.

All I will say about Question time this week is to quote one of the audience (LDV employee) who was speaking to Peter Hain:

"You may have forgotten us, but come the next Election, we will not forget you!"

When it becomes available, I will post the link to tonight's programme.



Hat tip The Crown

Another Brown lie: Mail privatisation 'to go ahead'

Ooops! From the BBC: Mail privatisation 'to go ahead' What's that I hear hitting the fan?


Just how angry would you be now, if you were one of those Labour MPs giving Gordon Brown another chance?

General Election Poster - Gordon Brown.

Following Gordon Brown's blatant lies about spending cuts at PMQs yesterday, I've knocked up a new General Election poster:

Tory cuts or Labour taxes? - take your pick.

Yesterday at PMQs Gordon Brown took great pleasure in crowing about Conservative spending cuts for 2011 onwards. He was jubilant when he pointed out that Andrew Lansley had let "the cat out of the bag" by announcing that the Conservatives would cut spending across most departments by 10% to protect spending on Health. What Brown failed to point out is that these are Labours spending plans adjusted by the Conservatives in favour of Health.

The Government's own figures show that they will be cutting spending across all departments (including health) by 7%. Fraser Nelson gives the details. What Brown did in PMQs yesterday was lie to the house and the nation. By claiming that a Labour Government would increase spending was a blatant lie. Either he knows full well the he is lying to us all, or he is indeed completely delusional. The press have already jumped upon Brown's lies and it looks like he is causing the Labour party further embarrassment.

However, there could be some truth to Brown's claims on spending (shocked?). They may not be cutting spending after all (even though their budget says they are). Cabinet Minister Liam Byrne told BBC Radio 4's programme:

"Between now and 2013/14, public spending will rise by £86bn but if we make a series of very difficult choices on, for example, tax and, for example, on efficiencies, we can halve the budget deficit over the course of five years."

So there you have it. Not only are they going to cut spending (according to their own budget figures), they are also going to increase our taxes to repay the massive amount of debt that they have piled upon the nation. And don't be fooled by the "spending will rise by £86bn" that does not include inflation or interest payment on debts (that's were the 7% cut figure comes from).

So in what form are these Labour tax increases likely to appear? I think we should be told the truth before we are expected to vote in the General Election.

What should David Cameron say at PMQs tomorrow?

Tomorrow's PMQs has all the makings of a classic for Cameron. Gordon Brown will not be looking forward to it. With that in mind I was wondering if you could come up with any lines for David to use.

Here's my attempt:

Mr speaker I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister for fighting off such a sustained attack on his position. He has shown great character to stand up to his MANY critics after a series of CRUSHING set backs. I would also like to assure the Prime Minister that everyone on this side of the house has had their fingers crossed for him.

Gordon Brown's five knuckle reshuffle.

Gordon Brown's new Cabinet meets this morning. Well, when I say "Gordon Brown's Cabinet" - that's not strictly true is it? Those who remain in the Cabinet were bought off by Mandelson, and most of those new to the Cabinet are unelected Peers. How very democratic?

Gordon is now a puppet Prime Minister who is heading government, but is no longer in charge. He's is being allowed to stay in office as long as he promises to be a good boy and plays nice. The real power sits with Mandelson and a few Ministers capable of overthrowing Brown. Brown can no longer claim to be taking the "tough decisions on the economy" since he was unable to remove Alistair Darling. Darling now controls the country's purse strings and Brown has to keep his sticky fingers out of it.

Alan Johnson must be wondering what could have been when he looks around the Cabinet table. The one poll that could have seen him backed to be PM came out too late to have any impact on the PLP meeting last night. Had those MPs attending the meeting known that a poll was about to be published that showed a lot of them could keep their seats by ditching Brown for Johnson, would the meeting have gone Brown's way? We will never know.

Then we have Shahid Malik, apparently cleared of all wrongdoing? What he has been cleared of is breaking the rules. He has not been cleared of milking the bloody system. It makes me sick to see him re-appointed after Labour MPs have spent the last 48 hours bleating that the expenses scandal was to blame for their crushing defeat in Europe (which is just more spin). It's not that they don't get it - they get it OK - they just don't bloody care what we think.

And then there is Peter Hain - Peter Hain?

24 hours of Labour AND Conservative lies.

I've spent most of the last 24 hours feeling both sick (I have some bloody bug that's doing the rounds) and angry.

I've been angry at the amount of lies that politicians have been spewing out on our TV screens. Unfortunately it's not just Labour, my party has also been at it. "What's new?" you may ask - "don't they always lie?". Well what has got me so miffed is the scale of the lies.

The Labour party are willing to put heir pathetic results down to being greedy pigs rather than the truth which is that people are fed up of Gordon Brown, their policies, the failure to give us a referendum, incompetence, poor leadership..... the list goes on. No - it's much better to blame it all on expenses. At first the story was that "the people were angry with politicians for the expenses fiasco". When it became clear that the Tories were holding their share of the vote, the story changed to "we are getting more than our fair share of the blame".

Labour MPs also tried to blame the recession for their poor performance - until it became clear that the leading parties in other European countries were doing well - that line was soon dropped.

Now to the Tories: We did well in the European elections, but the media were able to say that we did not do as well as expected. Why was this? Not one Conservative or UKIP MP/MEP would speak the truth last night. The truth is that the Conservatives lost a massive amount of votes to UKIP. The Conservative MPs did not want to explain why so many Tories voted UKIP and UKIP did not want to admit that their results were being artificially pumped up by unhappy Tories.

It's all down to David Cameron being unable to promise a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty after it gets ratified. I guarantee that had David promised that referendum then the Conservative vote would have shot up and UKIP's would have collapsed.

And that is the inconvenient truth for the Conservative party.

It's the Expenses stupid! - Labour's big fat lie.

We are, by all accounts (including some Labour MPs) going to see some truly disastrous European election results for Labour tonight. I've outlined HERE how they are going to be able to use the UKIP protest vote to wriggle out of blaming themselves and Brown for their poor performance. The line being used (already) is that they are taking more than their fair share of the blame for the expenses scandal.

This is of course a massive deception. The polls have shown that Labour are just as far behind the Conservatives now, as they were before the expenses scandal broke. The truth is that the Conservatives have fared slightly better because of Cameron's swift and decisive action (when compared to Brown's usual dithering). The gap between Labour and the Conservatives in the Local elections last Friday mirrors what the polls have been saying for months.

What could make Labour's result even worse for them in the European elections tonight is their position on Europe - it has bugger all to do with expenses. Labour (Brown) refused to give us the referendum they promised in their manifesto and the people quite rightly are not going to vote for them. The only silver lining for Brown is that UKIP are likely to pull in some of the Tory vote.

We will be told that "it's the expenses stupid" tonight. But Brown and the rest of Labour are the stupid ones if they think the people will fall for such an incredible lie.

UPDATE: @1812: Labour MEP on BBC saying that "it's the expenses stupid". Get ready for this to be repeated all night.

Conservative voters about to save Gordon Brown's neck?

Gordon Brown has hung on to power with what can only be described as pathetic desperation. The flood of people deserting the sinking ship has been incredible to see. The Local election results have been disastrous, totally wiping out Labour across the entire country. And yet Gordon Brown hangs on - shamelessly leading his party to a crushing defeat that could be avoided if he could put his party before himself.

It's quite obvious that those Cabinet ministers that haven't resigned have been bought off by Brown. It's sickening to think that our country is being governed by such shallow men and women. We now have a Chancellor that the Prime Minister doesn't want, but is too weak to remove.

However, there is another chance for the Labour party to get rid of Brown. Sunday's European Election results are likely to be very bad for Brown and Labour. If the results are as bad as expected, then Labour backbenchers may be spurred to send around their email asking MPs to back a leadership election. It could be the only chance for some of those backbench MPs to save their seats.

But there is a problem - Conservative voters could be about to throw Brown a lifeline. It looks likely that many of those who would normally vote Conservative, have in fact voted UKIP to protest against David Cameron's reluctance to promise a Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty after ratification. So while Labour are very likely to get hammered in the European Elections, Brown may be in the position to use the Conservative's poor results as a get out of jail free card. Brown will be able to claim that the expenses fiasco has damaged all the major parties and that the poor result cannot be pinned on him.

Could the Conservatives be about to save Gordon?

Sir Alan Sugar fires Gordon Brown - video.

From the Crown Blog

From the Guardian - Patrick Blower's Brownfall video

From the Guardian - Patrick Blower's Brownfall video:

53% of Labour members want Tony Blair back.

Channel 4 News has carried out a poll of Labour members asking for their opinion of Gordon Brown and his team (the word team is used very loosely):

Labour party members no longer have confidence in Gordon Brown's leadership - according to an exclusive poll carried out by Channel 4 News.

In a damning verdict on the prime minister - a majority think he should step down before the next election - and more than one in five think he should go now.

Two thirds believe Mr Brown isn't able to communicate his ideas effectively to the public - and almost half think he is weak and indecisive.

The survey also reveals the impact of the expenses crisis - Mr Brown's approval rating has plummeted from 77 per cent in February to just 54 per cent today.

That gives him the worst performance ratings in Cabinet - the only ministers with lower scores were James Purnell and Jacqui Smith - and both of them have now resigned. But there is good news for the man widely tipped as the next Labour leader - Alan Johnson - comes top - with an approval rating of 75 per cent.

Labour members are not impressed with the way Mr Brown has dealt with the expenses crisis either. In the survey - just one in four think he is done better than his rival party leaders - David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

And in common with the wider electorate - the scandal has put them off politicians in general - with half of party members saying none of the leaders has handled it well.

There is no comfort for the prime minister when it comes to his leadership qualities.

Most of the members think he should have sacked Jacqui Smith and Hazel Blears over their expenses earlier - before they took matters into their own hands and resigned.

And less than half think reshuffling the Cabinet will do anything to strengthen the Government.

In fact - 53 per cent think the party would be better off if Tony Blair was still leader.

When it comes to a potential successor - Alan Johnson comes top of the poll - with 35 per cent - well ahead of the second choice - David Miliband, on just 12 per cent.

But just a handful of party members believe either man could lead Labour to victory in the next general election: although slightly more believe it's possible, although unlikely, for Labour to win under Mr Johnson.

And although Alistair Darling is still seen as a better Chancellor than Ed Balls - almost half of Labour members do not know - or want a different chancellor altogether. YouGov contacted some 800 Labour party members around the country for the poll - which was carried out in the wake of Thursday's local and European elections.

Caroline Flint has accused Brown of treating her as window dressing.

I don't know what Caroline is talking about - do you?

Caroline Flint has just stepped down.

I can't think of anything to write . things are happening so fast.

Shit! I'm losing track - who is resigning?

Can anyone tell me who is staying in the Labour Cabinet and who is resigning? It's an hour by hour thing. Total and utter frigging meltdown. Who's in charge here?

Gordon Brown - 5/4 to go by Saturday.

From William Hill:

Following the departure of James Purnell, William Hill have slashed the odds that Gordon Brown will be out of power before the end of next Saturday (June 13th) from 4/1 to 5/4 and Alan Johnson has been cut from 6/4 to Even money favourite to succeed him. Hills also make Brown 11/10 to be gone before the General Election.

"Although James Purnell may well have paved the way for the departure of Gordon Brown, we don't think he is likely to become Leader as a result and have lengthened his odds from 14/1 to 20/1 while Alan Johnson remains red-hot favourite at Even money", said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.

William Hill Odds:
Gordon Brown to go on or before Saturday June 13th: 5/4 Yes, 4/7 No,
To Go Before General Election: 11/10 Yes, 4/6 No.
To Be Next Leader of Labour Party: Evens Alan Johnson, 7/1 Harriet Harman, 8/1 David Miliband, 9/1 Jon Cruddas, 10/1 Ed Balls, 10/1 Ed Miliband, 12/1Jack Straw, 16/1 John Denham, 20/1 James Purnell.

Bottler Brown strikes yet again. Darling says NO.

Gordon Brown looks to have bottled it again. I think it was a poorly kept secret that he wanted to replace Darling with his mate Balls. Well it looks like Darling, one of the mildest men in Government has told Brown where he can stick it and Brown has backed down. Pathetic. Is that the man running our country? He's having to bribe people to save his political neck.

James Purnell has shown great courage to stand up to Gordon Brown. He obviously has the Labour party's best interests at heart. All the other Ministers seem quite happy to back useless Brown as long as the are getting paid. We are hearing some real crap coming from Labour MPs on the TV this morning about "what's best for the people". I absolutely hate Labour MPs telling me what I want. The polls speak for themselves - we want rid of Labour and Brown - we want an election now - we have lost all faith in the Prime Minister - and those are facts.

I have never seen so many lying, self serving arseholes in my life. They all know that Brown is crap and that he his leading them to a crushing defeat, but they are willing to lie to the cameras just to save their jobs for a few more months.

Well sod them. I wanted rid of Brown because I felt that he deserved to be kicked out for his incompetence. Now I'm glad these idiots are rallying around Brown because he is the Conservative Party's guarantee of a General Election win - more so now because he has been damaged beyond repair.

The bloody fools deserve each other and what they have coming.

James Purnell resigns - Says Gordon Brown must go.

James Purnell has just resigned and asked Gordon Brown to step down for the good of the Labour party. Good lad. He has stepped down not to run himself, but to clear the way for a new leader - Allan Johnson anyone? Apparently his team is fully in place.

From the Times:

“We both love the Labour Party. I have worked for it for 20 years and you for far longer. We know we owe it everything and it owes us nothing. I owe it to our party to say what I believe no matter how hard that may be. I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more not less likely.

“The Party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it.

“We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future. I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning.

“My actions are my own considered view, nothing more. If the consensus is that you should continue, then I will support the Government loyally from the backbenches. But I do believe that this question now needs to be put.”

UPDATE: It's now 06:35 and I've been following the situation all night at work. I should be going to bed, but I'm staying up to watch history unfold. Not only does it look like Labour are going to suffer a crushing defeat in the local elections, but Gordon Brown is now facing a serious revolt and must re-shuffle immediately. There a few significant factors to consider this morning. Of all those coming out in support of Brown last night, we did not hear from Harman or Darling - either failing to give their support for Brown this morning will mean a definite end to Brown's premiership. Darling is likely to be unimpressed with being forced out of his job to be replaced by Brown's mate Balls. Also - where are Hoon and Mandleson?

It's going to be a very interesting morning.

Off to Vote! - Go Conservative.

I've not been up long (on nights) and I'm just about ready to go and do what many have fought and died for around the world. I'm going to use my democratic vote. I like voting, there was a long period in my life when couldn't vote in person (in the Navy). Today I will be voting Conservative. My reasons for staying loyal to the party that I'm a member of are explained HERE.

Don't forget to vote.

Euro Elections - Which Party should I vote for?

Being a Conservative party member I shouldn't have to ask myself that question. There should be no doubt in my mind that voting Tory is the right thing to do. But there is doubt.

There's a big problem facing the Tory party in the run up to the Euro Elections, and that problem's name is....... Referendum (dun dun dunnnnnn...). It's a problem that David Cameron can do little about without making life very difficult for himself if he is to lead the next government.

It's like this: If Gordon Brown was to do the entire country a favour and call an early election, then Cameron's first year in office becomes a whole lot easier. He can give the go ahead to his promised referendum before the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, the country will vote NO, and the Treaty dies on it's arse. Everybody is happy. But if Gordon decides to desperately cling on to power like we all expect him to, then Cameron has some very difficult times ahead.

If the Lisbon Treaty is already ratified when Dave strides through the big black door then he is left with two options. The first is to say "I'm sorry, but Gordon has put the country into a position that would be too difficult to remove ourselves from". The second option would be to put the UK at odds with the rest of Europe by backing out of a Treaty that we are already signed up to. Unfortunately for David Cameron, neither of the two options are great (understatement). The first will alienate a vast chunk of the party, and the second will be very damaging to European relations.

Of course if Gordon Brown had not broken yet another manifesto promise then this would be all academic.

So where does that leave me?

UKIP? The problem I have with UKIP is a simple one. Though I hate the EU, I cannot see how we can extricate ourselves from it without causing damage. But not only that, I do believe that there are some benefits to being in the EU (though I can't think of any off hand).

Labour and the LibDems? I've lumped these together because they both want further integration into the EU, and hell will freeze over before I vote for that (or them).

Libertas? Now I do like what Libertas have to say but I just can't see how they are going to achieve it, so they are a no no for now.

So that brings me back to the Conservatives. I can't blame Dave for not promising a referendum after ratification. It would be a bloody political nightmare to pull us out of the EU - because that is what it will mean. Once in place, the rest of Europe will not scrap the Treaty because the Brits don't like it.

So I've made my decision. I'm going to vote Tory. I'm voting Tory in the hope that Gordon steps down (or is pushed) before the Treaty is ratified. If that fails then I'm putting my trust in David Cameron's Tories to fight for UK interests from within the Treaty. They are the only party that are likely to do that (apart from Libertas but I can't see them getting the numbers).

So here's a message for Dave: Tell us the truth i.e. If we have a Tory government before ratification then we will have a referendum. If not, then you will do your utmost to get the best deal for the UK post treaty.

Gordon Brown - You've got mail - please go.

Sky have got hold of the email that's prepared to ask Gordon Brown to go. This comes after news that Blunkett has turned Brown down for a Cabinet position:

Dear Gordon,

Over the last 12 years in government, and before, you have made an enormous contribution to this country and to the Labour Party, and this is very widely acknowledged.

However we are writing now because we believe that in the current political situation, you can best serve the Labour Party and the country by stepping down as party leader and prime minister, and so allowing the party to choose a new leader to take us into the next general election.

Yours,

XXXX

Hazel Blears to resign from Cabinet.

Hazel Blears has just announced that she is also stepping down from the Cabinet. Good old Hazel - just in time for PMQs. I bet Brown can't wait to face Cameron - not!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Jacqui Smith - Ding Dong the Witch is politically dead.

I can't say I share Iain Dale's opinion of Jacqui Smith and I'm more than a little pleased that she stepping down as Home secretary. I'm a little fed up that she was allowed to step down when she should have been sacked a long time ago. She led he department through a number of cock-ups and cover-ups. Cover-ups which led to the arrest of Damien Green after receiving leaked documents which embarrassed Jacqui. She shit on the police by totally ignoring the pay arbitration they went through together. She pushed on forty two days detention when it was obviously an attack on civil liberties, she abused the expenses system to line her pockets (and then there's the porn). This list goes on.

Now that I think about it, I'm very pissed off that she hasn't been sacked before now.

UPDATE: Dungeekin has knocked up new lyrics to an old song HERE.

Jacqui finally pulls the plug: