Taking Out The Trash

Staggering

Sad news from the New Statesman where political editor Martin Bright is leaving. Although it seems that John Pilger is staying contrary to Guardian reports.
What on earth is going on there what with that its incredible decision to recognise the NUJ? It may be that because Bright didn't get the editor's job he felt he had to move on.
At the Tribune Christmas party before Christmas there was optimism that the latest financial crisis might be resolved when the new owner takes over.
But as Dave Osler writes there is a wider issue about making left-wing publications attractive. There are some interesting comments following Dave's piece before it gets into a very boring and debate about angels and pinheads.
My two-penneth? Left-wing/progressive magazines don't pay and because I need to eat I need to look elsewhere. I'd love to submit to them lots of stories which would make readers sit up and take notice but I should be reimbursed for my labour.
Therefore the pool of available writers are restricted to those who don't rely on payment - a very limiting pool.
Red Pepper are among the worst on this as if writing for them is some kind of privilege or they are nurturing new talent. Tribune is at least apologetic and the New Statesman makes an effort.
My left-wing mag of choice? The Nation. You can have crap design in a print edition and still be a must read.

And it's goodbye from him

Settling down to watch Mr Obama yesterday and there was a sight which sent a chill down my spine.
Dick Cheney in a wheelchair. That man's pacemaker was only an electrical stimulus away from the presidency.
Apparently he hurt his back lifting boxes.
But, viewing the clip below, I think we know exactly what he's been up to. He's been making sure there's no mine shaft gap.

Back

Now that's what I call a Christmas break.
Blogging to resume shortly...in the meantime a great post on left wing mags here.

Life's a riot with spy vs spy

Great post over on Wired's Danger Room and a cautionary tale for any hack who thinks that playing around with spooks can ever be a beneficial experience.

How local democracy works

Truely I have achieved a certain something when one of my postings can be included in an Iain Dale Daily Dozen.

It was on the Total Politics blog so the enormous volume of traffic suddenly heading towards it failed to upset this host.

But below is the post (you'll have to go to the original to find a couple of helpful comments left by readers). I can offer this extra tidbit though. The Lady in question is Lady King, wife of former Tory MP Tom King.

So you’re on the parish council and you are bombarded by complaints from residents because a combination of crap SatNav, poor signage and a company which doesn’t care means HGVs are churning up your village.

You complain to the company (they refuse to take your calls).
You complain to your district councillor (he doesn’t respond and hasn’t been seen in months)
You complain to the district council planners (they take months to respond and then decide there is nothing they can do)
You complain to the highways authority (they can help but it’s going to take time and it’s a bit complicated)
You complain to your county councillor (she’s sympathetic, nothing is done)
You complain to the police (oh, sorry are you still on hold?)

Alternative scenario.

You are a Lady and your husband is a Lord and you live on a route which these HGVs use and you are not at all happy about these dirty great vehicles crashing round the roads at all hours.
You complain directly to the leader of the county council who you know and a meeting involving the police, highways officials and the company responsible for these HGVs is arranged at a week’s notice.

From this evidence do I understand that the feudal system in rural areas is still with us or merely that all the people who should take responsibility only jump when the biggest foot connects with their 'no though route'?

Perhaps recruiting some landed gentry on to the parish council is the answer; but it seems a touch regressive.

 

Tribune future secure?

It seems reports of the death of Tribune magazine have been exaggerated.

I understand that on Tuesday night a sale was agreed between the unions and as yet un-named Labour activist. Nothing's been signed but it sounds like all parties want the deal to go through.

There's a comment on the situation from Tribune here.

The Needle and the Damage Done

Got 5 minutes of fame on Radio 5Live this morning talking to Victoria Derbyshire about the songs you sing to lull your babies to sleep.
Apparently there is some new study showing parents are more likely to play Guns n Roses than Baa Baa Black Sheep.
As I explained to Victoria, my favourite is singing Neil Young's The Needle and the Damage Done. Yes the lyrics aren't too appropriate but frankly I don't think 12-month-olds read too much into them anyhow - it's just a beautiful song.
As you can see below.

Paper candidates

Infrequent blogging due to sudden fury of work (and consequently lots of me putting things off which I should really be getting on with).

Even missed a deadline for Total Politics (hangs head in shame) but did file this:

At a recent Green Party election training event members were exhorted to find people who could stand as paper candidates in the forthcoming local authority elections.

The rationale behind paper candidates is clear: better exposure, promotes your agenda, has knock on effect in other areas etc etc.

For small parties such tactics are a necessary part of the game in a first past the post system.

It was clear, though, that some Green Party members didn't feel happy with the idea. In some way they felt it was defrauding the electorate. If you're not making any effort to win votes then you're being hypocrical - and their party should be above that.

Funnily enough I shared a long journey to work with the local Lib Dem agent the other week and we were discussing who their candidate might be in the new unitary elections. Their present district member has been invisible for two years and only turns up for meetings to avoid being struck off for six months of no shows. It's likely the Lib Dems will need a paper candidate simply because if no-one is on the ballot their vote might collapse and take a long time to recover.

Are paper candidates hoodwinking the electorate if you don't make it clear what you are doing? Or does that assume people are naive about how parties operate to get elected?

PS: When asking people to be paper candidates a common concern is that people don't want to 'accidentally' get elected and they cite some Conservative councillor this happened to. Is this an urban myth or has a paper candidate ever been forced to make good on his or her commitment?

You can't do that, I'm one of you

Iain Dale writes with regard to the arrest of Damien Green: "We don't yet live in a Police State, but one be forgiven on nights like this from wondering if we are headed that way."

Marvellous how the Tories get so worked up when they find themselves on the wrong end of the police.

Trade union members who get involved any significant disputes suffer this all the time and have done for decades. I remember my stepfather going on strike when he was at BT. He was one of the local organisers. Since he worked for the phone company he knew taps were placed on the phones of union activists. The strike threatened to shut the city of London exchange and so had to be undermined.

The low level harassment of union members going about their lawful business is common - but you never hear much from the Tories about police state and civil liberties then.

Does that mean I think Green should have been arrested? Absolutely not, and if government ministers were involved it shows gob smacking stupidity and arrogance.

Do I think Green is some civil liberties martyr? Definitely not. He gets the luxury of TV crews recording his release, many others do not.

PS: Hopi Sen has some measured words on this (particularly comparing it to the cash for honours arrests). Tom Harris similarly has put some perspective on it.

I don't think journalists should be arrested for getting leaks so why should Green be nicked? The cops must have known how this would play... it feels like we're missing a part of the puzzle.

Clear blue water

Forget the transatlantic differences...read the following report on how Obama spent Thanksgiving and imagine, if David Cameron ever got in to power, how would he handle it?
I believe his glib PR comments would be shown to be woefully inadquate.
This isn't natural territory for Brown either as he obviously feels uncomfortable with such displays.
Yet, I think Cameron's almost genetic inability to empathise with people at the sharp end would be clear.
So, can we have a few more human moments in our political pantomime please? It's where the clear blue water lies.