Hunter and Shooter

Still here, but getting Conservatives elected to H'gey Council comes before blogging!

2009-12-01T13:09:00.005Z

Hunter hasn't been blogging for a while - energies have, instead, been put into May's local (and national?) elections. Tottenham Conservatives have found some really excellent candidates to fight Labour hard in every ward (see some of our newly-selected candidates, above).

Money is pouring in the form of small donations from local residents.

Blogging costs time. From now until May, blogging will be lite.

Labour in Haringey, though, is still in chaos. Further defections from Lab-to-Cons are likely before May.

Hunter has never been so upbeat about Tory chances in Haringey....

Labour rebels challenge Goldberg and Kober's authority

2009-10-01T15:30:00.006Z

As Hunter has previously reported, two Labour councillors - one senior and another who has just been re-adopted - are in talks with the Lib Dems about defecting. This is a serious challenge to the authority of the Labour Chief Whip and Council Leader.

If Hunter were Labour's Chief Whip, I'd be demanding to know from all my Labour colleagues answers to the following questions:

1. Are you talking to other parties about defecting?

2. Are you committed to the Labour Party and its values?

3. Will you remain a Labour Member until May 2010?

4. Why, in your words, would the Lib Dems be bad for Haringey?

And, preferably, get these answers in writing. Failure to adequately reply to all four should mean the Whip being removed.

Hunter, when thinking of Kober and Goldberg, is reminded of Blair's verdict of John Major in the dying days: "I lead my Party. You follow yours!"

Do they have the courage to take action and reassert their authority?

Excitement last night, after all?

2009-09-23T13:08:00.005Z

Hunter has just learnt that Reg Rice ( he who has been selected for Tottenham Hale, and 'chair' of the CLP) and George Meehan (of Baby P fame) tried to get the selection list for White Hart Lane re-opened to throw controversial and unpopular councillor Ray Dodds another political lifeline.

Meanwhile, the Hornsey BLP, on the other side of the railway tracks, have suspended their selection process. Not sure what the reasons are -- yet.

Last night

2009-09-23T10:30:00.003Z

Hunter's phone went off at 21:17 with news of the White Hart Lane BLP's selection outcome. Unfortunately, wasn't able to blog it then and there as I was at a meeting, which went on very late (followed by dinner and bed!).

Nothing terribly exciting happened in this ward. Charles and Gideon, aka 'Bert and Ernie', got back in. The 'new girl' is from Newham (ex councillor?) and her partner/husband is the Labour candidate for Bruce Grove. Should they both be elected, their household’s income will go up by £20k - excluding SRBs. Nice work if you can get it!

Breaking news...

2009-09-21T20:07:00.004Z

Cllrs. Hayley AND Harris have been de-selected in St. Ann's Ward.

The winners of this dirty selection battle? Zena Brabazon and Chris Brown, a new arrival to Haringey.

Hunter predicted Brian's de-selection, but didn't see it happening to Bob...

Racism in St. Ann's BLP?

2009-09-19T08:10:00.006Z

The dirtiest selection battle taking place in Tottenham is in St. Ann's Ward, where the brothers and sisters have shortlisted FOURTEEN comrades.

Hunter is reliably informed that the white-dominated Branch Labour Party (BLP) has removed the names of up to TWENTY black members from the membership list. Why? Not because they have done anything wrong or that they have allowed their membership to lapse, but their crime was to have been signed up by somebody who later defected to the local Conservatives.

Membership stands at just over 40 people now in a ward that has been, previously, rock-solid Labour and the sole black Labour councillor there is expected to be replaced by a white woman who shall remain nameless given that, she claims, she isn’t a "public figure".

Hunter, always pleased to give good advice, has urged the victims to ask Labour's Regional Committee to investigate their claims which, if proved, could spell the end of Labour's misrule here in Haringey.

It could not have happened to a nicer person

2009-09-19T07:54:00.004Z

Fitness coach (stop the sniggers, please!) and Bruce Grove councillor Ray Dodds said the following on Ward's Corner at THE planning meeting (where dopey Labour councillors voted to wreck a thriving community):

"Ward's Corner was a dump, is a dump and will always be a dump".

Hunter is pleased to announce that Doddsie has himself now been DUMPED. Ironically, his replacement is thought to be very sympathetic to the WCC's restoration plans (see previous post).

Hunter still hasn't forgiven the brute for shopping him for 'dumping rubbish' on his, private, estate.

In and Out (so far)

2009-09-19T07:32:00.005Z

Out go Cllrs. Thompson and Patel (another councillor, too, whom will feature in Hunter's next post), both hard-working and popular.

In come recycled reject Reg Rice (T'nam Hale), Stuart McNamara (Bruce Grove) and Richard Watson (T'nam Green). Hunter understands that Stuart and Richard are both very sympathetic to the Ward's Corner Coalition and their restoration plans. Sheila won't be a happy woman.

Those at serious risk of being dropped are Cllrs. Hayley and Griffith. Their selections will take place next week. Brian, arguably, is the only articulate member of the Labour Group.

Hunter could understand if 'new blood' was being brought in –smart, educated people who are local and committed to Tottenham. Instead, many of the de-selected members have been replaced by tired old faces that have had their day.

Ellie Levenson sums it up

2009-09-03T16:12:00.004Z

Ellie is a member of the Tottenham Green Branch of the Tottenham Labour Party. Here are her 'Tweets' from the past 24 hours on last night's meeting to shortlist candidates for Tottenham Green Ward - makes interesting reading!

Re Labour party ward selection. Now I know why guns not legal in this country. Not sure whether I would shoot Chair or shoot self.about 20 hours ago from Tweetie

I think we should ask central committee to impose candidates. The Great Tottenham Green Putsch of 2009.

Am in hell, also known as the Tottenham Green Ward Labour Party shortlisting meeting.about 21 hours ago from Tweetie

Chaos, mayhem and back-stabbings at last night's shortlistings

2009-09-03T15:22:00.005Z

FOURTEEN comrades have been shortlisted for St. Ann's Ward, including the Brabazon woman.

Recycled councillor Reg Rice was shortlisted for Tottenham Hale (Brabazon didn't apply - maybe she had done a deal with Cllr. Reith?). Rice now the biggest threat to hard-working and popular (but very eccentric) Cllr. Sheik Thompson.

Lazy councillor Ray Dodds (a Peacock apologist) is in serious trouble in Bruce Grove. Front runners there include, Stuart McNamara (having previously stood - and lost - in Alexandra Ward) and Richard Watson, a former 'adviser' to Cllr. Santry (she of Baby P fame)

Cllr. Kaushika Amin is trying to escape Northumberland Park (or could that be a certain other councillor with initials SP?) and applied for White Hart Lane. Not sure if she was successful or not.

Anne, mother of Tim, Waters shortlisted for WHL. A mole tells Hunter that she's even 'posher' than Santry and also hails from the west of the borough. Will White Hart Lane Labour ever learn? Brabazon's and Dodds' applications were soundly rejected here, despite the Dodds' household being signed up to Labour to cast votes at last night's meeting (there is a three-month rule, apparently, which stuffed them!)

A former Newham councillor and wife (or vice-versa?) are hawking around, as is a woman from Tottenham Green whose name I can't pronounce .

More soon!

Update on Labour's local woes

2009-08-26T11:11:00.006Z

Cllr. Jayanti Patel, a hard-working councillor for Woodside since 2002, has been ditched by Labour. Four more face the boot.

Nasty personal and homophobic website created by Labour to attack local Conservatives set up, but now closed following police investigation. Current and former Labour councillors allegedly involved with it.

Two FoI requests been put into the Council by a Labour councillor in an attempt to embarrass and smear a fellow Labour councillor.

A certain Seven Sisters councillor has been humiliated in his attempt to introduce an Eruv in the Ward by secular and Muslim colleagues.

Noel Park Labour members furious to discover that of the three of their 'local' council candidates, one works in Clacton-on-Sea and another is trying to become the MP for England's most northern constituency, Berwick.

The lifting of the ban of animals performing in Haringey circuses has been condemned by residents across Haringey. Several Labour members are reported to be willing to quit the Party if the Labour-run Council endorses the Cabinet’s plans at Full Council.

Cllr. Denise Headley (Edmonton Green Ward in next-door Enfield) has joined the Conservatives after being de-selected by outsiders, led by Cllr. George Meehan of Baby P fame.

Haringey Labour been condemned for de-selecting BME councillors by OBV.

Universal outrage as Lammy calls for more money... for, er, himself!

Labour Time Table - when the fun and games begin and end

2009-08-07T14:16:00.005Z

All Tottenham wards except Harringay, which has already selected, (and also Horney & Stroud Green wards on the other side of the railway) will meet to shortlist on the evening at which they would usually hold their standard September Branch meeting - that is, on Wednesday 2 September, in the evening. The quorum, by decision of the Local Government Committee, shall be eight.

Following shortlisting, branch secretaries shall notify those persons shortlisted, who shall be able, on delivery to the CLP Secretary of a cheque for £5 per ward made payable to "Tottenham Constituency Labour Party", to have a copy of the membership list for any wards they have been shortlisted in.

Selection meetings will then be held in evenings according to the following timetable:

Wednesday 2 September
Shortlisting meetings in the following Branches:
Bruce Grove, Hornsey, Northumberland Park, Seven Sisters, St Ann's, Stroud Green, Tottenham Green, Tottenham Hale, West Green, White Hart Lane.

Thursday 10 September
Selection meeting for Northumberland Park Branch

Monday 14 September
Selection meeting for Bruce Grove Branch

Tuesday 15 September
Selection meeting for Tottenham Hale Branch

Wednesday 16 September
Selection meeting for Tottenham Green Branch

Thursday 17 September
Selection meeting for West Green Branch

Monday 21 September
Selection meeting for St Ann's and Seven Sisters Branches (shared venue, St Ann's first)

Tuesday 22 September
Selection meeting for White Hart Lane Branch

Tottenham Labour In Meltdown

2009-08-07T13:47:00.005Z

Hunter has been told that several Tottenham councillors WILL be de-selected as tonnes of 'NuLab' types are coming down from the N10 Hill to stand here. Why? Because they have almost zero chance of ejecting the Lib Dems in their home turf and see Tottenham as a 'stepping stone' to bigger and better things.

Those on the Approved Labour List include Cllr. Goldberg's wife, Julie Davies' son, Tim Waters' mother and Zena Brabazon, common-law wife of Cllr. Stanton!

Councillors who face de-selection (timetable in following post) are ready to defect to other parties (of all colours) or stand as Independents and, in the process, bring this discredited Labour-run Council down.

Hunter is also reliably told that a row has broken out in the St. Ann's Ward branch of the Tottenham Labour Party. Critics claim that whilst they welcome BME members, they will only do so if they 'know their place'. Anyone who dares to challenge the white ruling elite there is cast into outer darkness and smeared.

Meanwhile, in Northumberland Park relations between Cllrs. Bevan and Peacock have deteriorated so much that they are no-longer on speaking terms. Cllr. Bevan accuses Cllr. Peacock of not being a 'team player' (she is refusing to mention him, allegedly, in all official publications) and they are trying to get one another de-seleceted.

More on these shenanigans to come!

As Hunter has previously said, Jonah Goldberg’s arrival has cursed the Tottenham Labour Party.

Jonah Goldberg curses Labour and everything he touches

2009-07-17T15:12:00.008Z

Guido Fawkes calls Gordon Brown 'Jonah Brown'. Why? Because, according to Guido, Brown jinxes everything that he lends support to. For example, Brown sends Andy Murray his "best wishes" then Murray is humiliated on the court; Gordon visits a car maker, then it goes bankrupt the following week. You get the picture.

Hunter thinks Jonah Goldberg's arrival on the scene in Haringey has cursed the local Labour Party, and everything he touches. Here's four examples:

1. Jonah Goldberg turns one of Labour's safest wards in Haringey into their most marginal (over the Conservatives)

2. Jonah Goldberg becomes Chief Whip of the Labour Group and, for the first time in Haringey Labour's history, loses a councillor to the Conservatives.

3. Jonah Goldberg states during Seven Sisters by-election that, unlike the majority of his Labour colleagues, he supports the Ward's Corner Coalition over developer Grainger. Not only did the WCC lose at Planning, they also lost their first attempt in the Royal Courts of Justice to overturn that decision.

4. Jonah Goldberg (pictured) visits West Witney Community Hospital, in Oxfordshire, as David Cameron's Labour opponent. That hospital is now under threat of cuts in vital services.

Dare I now hope that David Lammy will now appoint Cllr. Goldberg to be his Campaign Manager for the General Election? He is a curse on everything he touches.

Eight questions Labour (and their LD chums) can't answer

2009-07-09T18:39:00.006Z

Hunter has been really shocked by some of the nasty and personal postings that bitter Labour and jealous Lib Dems have been leaving on various sites (never, of course, using their real names - although one suspect is former Labour councillor Ian Willmore).

If Alan was 'after money' when his Mayoralty ended, why did he turn down a position on O&S (£15,000pa)?

If Alan really is thick, why did they want him to serve on O&S? Do they only allow 'thick' people to scrutinise the Council?

If Alan really is 'thick', why have they allowed him to be a councillor for 18 years? Do they only allow 'thick' people to sit on the Council?

If Alan really is 'thick', why did allow him to become Mayor not only once, but twice? Do they only allow 'thick' people to become the Borough's First Citizen?

If Alan really is 'thick', why did they put into the Cabinet and make him Chief Whip? Do they only put 'thick' people into the Cabinet and make them Chief Whip?

The Fib Dems say that they would not have welcomed Alan, yet their Leader heaped praise on Alan's Mayoralty. Will he remind us what he said only a fe month ago?

The Fib Dems claimed they would not have welcomed Alan (staggering when you consider they took Aitken, Floyd and Oakes in) - so why Did Cllr. Oakes (aka Old Tin Leg) email Alan today to ask why he did not join them?

Why did a senior Labour councillor today email Alan to beg him to return to the Labour benches?

Haringey voters can rightly conclude two things from all of this:

1. Alan has balls and is a man of integrity

2. There are two nasty parties in Haringey - Labour and their LD allies!

That resignation in full. Ouch!

2009-07-09T18:25:00.002Z

Dear Claire,

Further to our recent meeting, I am now writing today to inform you that with immediate effect that I have resigned from the Labour Party and therefore the Labour whip on Haringey Council.

I will sit as a Conservative Councillor until the Council elections next May.

For you and many others, this will come as a shock and no doubt many will be upset and angry at my decision.

This has been no easy decision, but I believe that urgent change and a fresh start is needed, both for Haringey and Britain. We need at national level a Government that has a sense of purpose and will speak up for the ordinary person, something which Labour seems to have forgotten in recent years.

As a I mentioned to you, I am proud of a lot of what Labour has achieved both locally and nationally, but the recent months has shown how out of touch Labour is – to busy worrying about what positions people will hold and how much to get for it.

I also feel that now in local government that there is no real accountability. “Cabinet local governance” is a sham of 9-10 councillors deciding on what will happen and the majority group follow like sheep. Councillors have lost the chance to properly hold officers and lead members to account but expected to be there mainly as voting fodder, even at the expense of being able to represent one’s own ward.

For many months now I have felt uncomfortable and not at ease in being a Labour Councillor, but let me be clear, although the Liberal Democrats are currently the main opposition on the council to Labour, they do not offer a real alternative to Labour. Their councillors are mainly a coalition of anti-Labour at any cost. Let me assure you, as a Conservative Councillor I will vote against Labour in the Council Chamber when it is right, not because I am no longer Labour.

You must believe me when I tell you that this is the hardest political decision of my life. I have been proud to be a Labour activist with 27 years unbroken membership, but like almost everyone else seeing Labour MPs trying to make stupid expense claims has left me ashamed as power and corruption seems to have gone to the heads of too many Labour MPs who ought to know better.

I want to make clear, on a personal level I have no dispute with the vast majority of my former Labour colleagues and under your leadership wish them well. However, the run-up to the recent group annual meeting and being asked by some to go for different positions to ensure that I would get extra money left me disgusted. I sincerely hope that people do not think that I am a Councillor for the money, because this is an insult to my integrity and all that I stand for.

As I have said in a letter to local party members, to those who have campaigned for me and voted for me over the years as a Labour candidate and Councillor, I am truly sorry if you feel that I have betrayed your trust. As I have said, this has not been an easy decision, but I want a better way for Haringey and Britain and the Conservatives, under David Cameron’s leadership has changed and recognised its past mistakes and I want to be part of that progressive Conservative alliance that will help the residents of Noel Park and the country that I am not ashamed to say that I love.

Finally, I will continue to serve as a Councillor for Noel Park until next May and put the needs of Noel Park first, be that local residents, residents associations, community and voluntary groups and local businesses, whilst ensuring that the thousands of Conservative voters in Haringey now have a voice on the council.

I hope wherever possible to work with the other two Noel Park Councillors and I will not attempt to put party politics ahead of getting what is best for Noel Park. I may no longer be Labour, but my passion for Noel Park remains as strong today as it ever was.

From the bottom of my heart, thank-you for giving me the chance to serve as a Councillor, as a Labour Councillor, for the friendship and support which has meant so much to me over the years and hopefully when the dust has settled you will come to understand why I have left Labour for the Conservatives today.

With all good wishes,

Councillor Alan Dobbie,
Councillor for Noel Park ward.

Negative comments are welcome, but people have to use their real names with a tracable IP address. If you're not willing to 'play ball', don't waste your time. Hunter.

Facebook is two-faced, hypocritical, inconsistent and anti-Anglican, according to His Grace

2009-07-07T09:37:00.003Z

These exchanges of emails are priceless. Even Dr. James, a devout atheist and secularist, thinks His Grace got the 'upper hand' of Facebook.

What do they have to hide?

2009-06-29T14:14:00.005Z

The Liberal Democrats would like us to believe that they are the party of "open government" and "freedom of information". Strange, then, that the only Members of Haringey Council not to publish their declarations on-line in the Register of Members' Interests are all, er, Lib Dem (Aitken, for it is Him, again, Mughal and Reid)!

Makes you wonder what they have to hide? If, as Hunter suspects, Lib Dem spinners say the answer is "nothing", then why not publish the information on-line so we can all judge for ourselves?

Rat joins sinking ship

2009-06-29T14:07:00.004Z

More here.

General Election Countdown

2009-06-14T19:20:00.001Z

Cllr. Goldberg has no shame

2009-05-27T13:47:00.007Z

Seven Sisters' Cllr. 'Joe' Goldberg knows no bounds. This is a man who shamelessly uses his religion to gain kudos with the Jewish community in his ward (majority 63 over Isaac Revah's Conservatives!)

Goldberg shamelessly wears his Yarmulke when he's in the area and at Full Council (where two Jews can see him from the public gallery) and then promptly takes it off when he's safely out of sight. Can you imagine a Christian removing his Crucifix when leaving a Church? Rumour now has it that Goldberg is shamelessly going to grow a beard to look more Heimisher.

Cllr. Goldberg, if you took your religion seriously you would keep Kosher,and would wear your Yarmulke all year round - not just at election and civic times! It's all fercockt!

The Heimisher community are not fools.

Is Neil "The Humourless Bitch" Williams having a dig at Ron?

2009-05-09T12:39:00.004Z

An extraordinary post has appeared on Cllr. Williams' website, called "Defectors: I'm not an enthusiast".

He thunders on: "Based on my own experience, I'm not keen. Genuine political conversions do of course happen, but they’re not common" Meow!

Hunter suspects this was a dig at fellow 'Lib Dem' councillor, Ron Aitken. Ron, as you will recall from a previous post, started life as a Conservative. Then he joined the Scottish National Party, went back to being a Conservative, left again and stood as an Independent (for Archway ward, which now, ironically, makes up most of Cllr. Williams' own Highgate ward!), acted as the Agent for the Pro-Life Alliance in the Croydon North West by-election, rejoined the Conservatives, got a job at the House working for an Ulster MP, joined the Orange Order and the UUP (it could have been the DUP, I forget) and then, in 2001 opportunistically joined the Lib Dems. It can't be long, statically, before Ron starts applying to join the Green or, even, New Labour.

Cllr. Williams is, though, right. Defections are rarely based on policy.

Labour people - then and now

2009-05-05T11:06:00.006Z

Hunter has been poorly (a nasty chest infection, coupled with an asthma attack) and so spent most of the Bank Holiday Weekend laid up in front of the telly watching coverage of the '79 General Election. Saturday, May 4th being the 30th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher entering Downing Street as PM.

I was particularly struck (and, it would seem, many other bloggers were too!) by how decent a man Jim Callaghan was. He stepped into Harold Wilson's shoes (1976) when everything was already going down the pan and was doing a fair job of stabilising things until his old mates in the trade union movement (especially Moss Evans of of the transport workers) stabbed him in the back by inflicting the Winter of Discontent upon the country and thus making Labour unelectable for a generation.

It's a shame that Callaghan's name is forever associated with that, rather than the blame being laid 4-square at the door of the union dinosaurs. Still, Mrs T understood who was to blame, didn't she? And so had the nation's support when she went on a slash-and-burn rampage over the nasty Spanish practices and privileges of the unions over the years that followed. But, much as I love and admire her, Margaret didn't have the personal warmth or charm of Callaghan, did she? If it hadn't been for the 'Winter of Discontent', Callaghan, affectionately known as "Sunny Jim" would almost certainly have won the '79 election.

Hunter has always thought that there are decent people in the Labour Party. But they're a dieing breed. Locally, Hunter can think of Alan Dobbie (the Mayor), former MP Barbra Roche and the late Fred Knight as good guys. Joanne McCartney, our 'LAM', is pretty decent too. David Lammy, in contrast, is ghastly, truly terrible: an arrogant, often ignorant, lazy, ill-mannered lobby-whore. (Hey! No-one ever accused me of pulling my punches!) He is the worst politician, of any party, Hunter has ever had the misfortune to meet. For me, opposition to Lammy is personal--and this is a feeling that is fast-becoming the norm in Tottenham amongst his constituents.

Callaghan and his old general secretary of the Labour Party (whom we also saw interviewed in the 79 election coverage) would both have been truly shocked, saddened and disgusted with those McBride emails. And people, I suspect, would have believed him. But nobody believes that bitter buffoon squatting in Downing Street and calling himself 'Prime Minister' thirty years on.

Big brother is watching you

2009-04-27T16:34:00.003Z

For a party that purports to believe in democracy and liberalism and, as such, be against New Labour's 'surveillance state', Hunter brings you news of some strange antics of Haringey Lib Dems.

Richard Merrin, the energetic Conservative candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green, set up a street stall in Muswell Hill to meet the voters. Nothing odd about that, I hear you say. Quite! But along came 3 Lib Dem councillors taking pictures of the stall, of Richard and his supporters.

Do the Lib Dems really think they own Muswell Hill and that no other party should dare to campaign there? Where they acting on behalf of the state? All very strange and a little creepy (not to mention Stalinist), dontcha think?

Has Aitken been dropped from Crouch End?

2009-04-27T16:24:00.003Z

That's the rumour doing the rounds on Hunter's return from Oman. Apparently, he has been deselected and moved to Bounds Green, a ward the Lib Dems are set to lose. Can anyone confirm this rumour?

According to my little yellow bird, the Lib Dems can't get anymore "millage" from his Conservative-Lib Dem defection and that they are embarrassed by his bizarre contributions at Full Council.

If true, fellow Lib Dem Dave Winskill, also Crouch End, must be over the moon!

By God, they've done something sensible for a change...

2009-03-07T23:08:00.003Z

The Lib Dems now support faith schools, according to Aunty. Hunter needs to lie down.

It's Sean - real tough barrister chosen to take on Lammy in Tottenham

2009-03-07T23:03:00.002Z

Tottenham Conservatives have selected Sean Sullivan as their candidate to stand against David Lammy at the next general election. Forty people applied, but Sean was chosen by an overwhelming majority of members who attended the selection meeting.

Sean is a barrister specialising in criminal law, and sees every day in London's courts the devastating impact of rising crime in our city. Sean also has extensive experience of local government having served as a councillor in his hometown.

Following his selection, held in Tottenham High Road last Sunday, Sean said:

"Everyone knows that this Labour government is on its last legs. Tottenham, like the rest of the country, is just waiting for the chance to kick them out of power for all our sakes. The swing against Labour here in Tottenham will be greater than in most places because local voters know that David Lammy is a particularly useless MP. And with the Liberal Democrats increasingly irrelevant locally, as was seen by their disastrous showing in Seven Sisters recently, it is clear that Conservatives are the only credible choice to form the next Government".

"Crime, education and the lack of employment opportunities are all issues that residents have raised with me. And with the economic crisis getting worse every day, Tottenham needs a representative who will put these issues at the forefront of the next Government".

Local constituency Chairman, Justin Hinchcliffe added:

"We had a strong field of applicants, but Sean stood out as the strongest. We believe that he will be an outstanding candidate and future MP in this area, something Tottenham needs".

Sean is 28 and was educated St. Edmund Hall, Oxford University, and graduated with a degree in Law. He has a track record of campaigning in Tottenham he was Campaign Manager in the recent Seven Sisters by-election (where Conservatives came within 64 votes of winning) and has given free legal advice to the local community group, the Wards Corner Coalition. He now plans to join other campaigning groups, such as the Tottenham Civic Society, and become a local school governor. He has worked also worked closely with a number of senior MPs, including Chris Grayling, the Shadow Home Secretary, on crime-reduction issues. Outside of politics, his interests include sport (cricket and rugby), cooking and travelling.

ENDS.

Opps!

2009-03-01T20:04:00.006Z

Here's one story from the Independent that Mark Pack did NOT, strangely, post on Lib Dem Voice:

Lib Dems suspend Nazi fancy dress councillor

By Antony Stone, Press Association

Friday, 27 February 2009

A Liberal Democrat councillor who dressed as a Nazi storm-trooper for a fancy dress bash has been suspended by red faced party chiefs.

Labour boost but gains for all in by-elections Sean Aspey posed for pictures dressed as a storm-trooper and later posted them on his Facebook site.

His antics stirred up controversy on the small Conservative-controlled Porthcawl Town Council in south Wales, of which he is a member.

Now he is facing calls to resign and is accused of bringing the 19 member council into disrepute.

Local Lib Dem party chiefs suspended him temporarily while an internal inquiry into the affair is carried out.

Mr Aspey was at work and unavailable for comment today and all images of him appeared to have been removed from the website.

But the photographs, showing a grinning Nazi-uniformed Mr Aspey wearing a monocle, had already appeared in a number of newspapers.

The images were taken at a Porthcawl pub in March last year where Mr Aspey celebrated his 40th birthday with an 'Allo 'Allo-themed party.

The event took place two months before he was elected as a Liberal Democratic councillor.

Conservative council member David Deere said today: "I just feel that he needs to consider his position on Porthcawl Town Council.

"This is totally inappropriate behaviour and very offensive."

He said council members in general were "all quite appalled".

He added: "This is not the standard you expect of someone who holds public office. I think that the general feeling is that he has brought the council into disrepute."

Mike Clarke, chairman of the Bridgend branch of the Liberal Democrats, said: "We have taken the action of temporarily suspending Mr Aspey from the party pending an internal inquiry.

"We take any allegations of impropriety very seriously and the local party will be looking in greater detail at the situation and coming to a decision on Mr Aspey's future within the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

"Of course, we have to act in as fair a manner as possible and within the terms of our own constitution."

For David Cameron on the loss of Ivan

2009-02-25T14:41:00.003Z

This song is for David Cameron. May God pay special attention to the Camerons at this sad time and take good care of the little one. RIP, Ivan.

For the Haringey Featherweight Boxing title: Little Miss Elocution battles it out with Mini-Ming

2009-02-25T13:42:00.006Z

Hunter has finally made time to view the 'State of the Borough' debate at Haringey Full Council (held Feb 10). Not much of a debate at all: standard-issue yah-boo politics, so disliked by smug do-good lefties, was the order of the day.

Disgraced former Council Leader George Meehan had a very strong Irish accent, which, coupled with his nasal, mumbling delivery made him almost impossible to understand. New leader Claire Kober is a veritable 'Little Miss Elocution' in comparison. But did she say anything to raise our spirits? Bah! In classic New Labour style, she read off a list of Labour 'achievements', repeated previous announcements, and promised lots of jam tomorrow.

Cllr. Robert Gorrie, for the so-called Opposition, trotted out all the negatives: Baby P, Icelandic banks etc. It is all very well for an Opposition to oppose, but if they want to be taken seriously the public expect them to come up with credible alternative policies. Cllr. Gorrie--fondly dubbed 'Mini Ming' by many--failed in this respect. The Lib Dems offer Haringey people no solutions to the havoc caused by forty years of Labour misrule.

From the mediocre to the peculiar: Lib Dem Cllr. Aitken responded by talking about a book written by LibDem colleague Cllr. Bloch about spies and lies (could it be based on the LD manifesto?). What that had to do with the price of eggs is anyone's guess. Seems like Ron is in a bad way again.

From the peculiar back to the mediocre: Cllr. Lyn Weber rose to give such a dreary and long-winded Lib Dem party political broadcast that the whole chamber seemed to fall asleep. Hunter has already forgotten what is was about--and expects Weber has too.

We were all woken up again when newly-elected Cllr Goldberg made his maiden speech. Goldberg is a one-gear public speaker--he is always in rant mode. But Cllr Goldberg is a hypocrite: he attacked Cllr. Aitken for holding an advice surgery in a pub and attacked the decision to place one of the Seven Sisters ward polling stations in a church--on the grounds that this would tend to exclude people whose religious beliefs would prevent them from entering a place where alcohol is served or religious services (of another faith) are held. Yet Goldberg is now proposing to hold his own advice surgery in the local Shul (synagogue)! He then had the chutzpah to end his speech with a cheesy bit of Old Labour class war: telling Lib Dem members to 'go back to Highgate' for high tea! But where does Goldberg himself live? Not amongst his Seven Sisters constituents in Tottenham, that's for sure! No, Goldberg lives in leafy Muswell Hill, (next to Highgate ward) a neighbour to all those Lib Dem councillors he professes to despise!

Note: In the wake of the Baby P scandal, the Great British Public were under the impression that both George Meehan and Liz Santry had retired from public life. Why did none of the useless journalists at that infamous press conference in the Haringey Council chamber actually follow up or clarify the issue? They let Meehan and Santry off the hook--they remain as Haringey councillors, collecting their generous allowances, and Haringey Labour were left in peace to reshuffle the same bunch of discredited nonentities. Talk about rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!

Never a dull moment in Haringey politics

2009-02-22T11:49:00.007Z

News reaches Hunter that the embattled Lib Dems are desperately trying to persuade two off their councillors to 'hang on' until the May 2010 elections. Cllr. Rainger (Muswell Hill) is, apparently, never seen at the Civic Centre these days whilst Cllr. Reid (Hornsey) is, allegedly, off work from Hackney Council suffering from 'stress'.

Meanwhile, Labour's Cllr. Khan (West Green) is touting for votes to become the borough's Mayor after, and if, Cllr. Vanier (Tottenham Green) ends her term.

And some disturbing news reaches Hunter from a Lib Dem councillor (whom Hunter met for drinks in a Crouch End bar the other day and, no, it wasn't Aitken!), that control freakery in Haringey Lib Dems has reached new heights. Rumour has it that Lynne Featherstone *has* to submit all of her blogs post to the Pack man and he even insists on viewing her Facebook and Twitter messages. Can this be true? If so, Lynne should jolly well stand up to these bully boys in her own party! After all, she has more balls than most men...

Selecting a candidate for Tottenham

2009-02-11T00:34:00.005Z

Tottenham Conservatives are in the process of selecting a parliamentary candidate. We had forty applicants, of all backgrounds and nationalities. Six have been chosen for interviews and, on Saturday, that number will drop to three. The final meeting, which will be held soon afterwards, will be open to all paid-up members.

Contrast this to the local Lib Dems - they advertised Tottenham in Liberal Democrat News, their members' newspaper, and only got one applicant! News reaches Hunter that their PPC, David Schmitz, is on the verge on quitting. Who could blame him, approaching his sixtieth birthday and being a father to a two year-old? In addition, he is, according to one Lib Dem-supporting poster, also kept busy feeding David Lammy's cat (I'm not making this up!)

Why 'Doing Nothing' is better than...

2009-02-06T12:39:00.003Z

... selling our gold reserves at Primark prices

... stealing other people's money and, in so doing, destroying our pension funds and the culture of investing for old age

... introducing hundreds of new stealth taxes

... smuggling the professionals in the public sector with endless paperwork

... clobbering small businesses with ‘ealth and safety laws

... treating Parliament with contempt

... misleading the country over the Iraq war

... politicising the Civil Service

... employing three mangers per bed in the NHS

... allowing asylum numbers to spiral out of control

... presiding over a gap increase between rich and poor

... starving councils, mainly in the south, of cash, leading to nasty cuts in frontline services AND massive Council Tax increases

Can you think of any more?

What is the point of Haringey Lib Dems?

2009-02-04T13:25:00.005Z

Haringey's Lib Dem councillors claim to add value to the various committees that run Haringey Council. But their latest intervention on the Planning Committee, by Cllr Richard Wilson, is simply laughable. He opposed the erection of new homes behind Tottenham Town Hall. Not for one of the many good reasons that he could have cited, like the fact that Haringey Council have shown themselves determined in recent years to build on every postage stamp of open space in our part of the borough; nor because, as usual, Haringey was making no allowance for the extra burden this would place upon the local infrastructure (GP and dental practices, local schools etc). No. His objection was that the Victoria tube Line could not "cope" with an extra 100 people and that it would make it harder for Crouch Enders and Muswell Hillites to get a seat boarding a tube at Finsbury Park.

Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Firstly, an extra 100 people (Cllr. Wilson's stated figure, not mine) would make no impact on the Victoria Line which provides for 174m journeys yearly. Are they all likely to be travelling by the same route at the same time anyway? Apart from the absurdity of the objection it also highlights, yet again, that the Lib Dems care nothing for the people of Tottenham: we suffer the worst abuses of Haringey Council and see our area despoiled by hideous over-development year after year because a far greater proportion of our residents are poor, have English as a second language and do not have the media clout of the wealthy articulate Nimbies in the west of the borough.

The Lib Dems in Haringey have built themselves a reputation as an effective election fighting machine (although they seem to be losing their 'magic touch' given their drubbing by both Labour and the Conservatives in the most recent Haringey by-election). But, as councillors they are a laughing stock. Labour members run rings around them and they shoot themselves in the foot when they make these bizarre comments. Haringey needs a strong opposition, but the Lib Dems repeatedly show themselves to be unfit for that purpose.

An open letter to local Lib Dem David Schmitz

2009-01-29T11:43:00.005Z

Dear David,

During the recent Seven Sisters Ward by-election, you circulated an enormous amount of literature, some of which actually concerned Haringey Council. However, you did not cover Foreign Affairs.

I am enclosing a copy of a leaflet which your political colleagues in Redbridge are circulating. Interestingly it does cover foreign affairs, although Redbridge Council, like that in Haringey, does not have a foreign policy. It refers to Gaza, speaks of worldwide protest and then later refers to the Conservative leader of Redbridge by name (Cllr Alan Weinberg).

All 3 main parties in the Seven Sisters by-election were represented by members of the Jewish community. As one of those candidates and as a Liberal Democrat, do you support such literature being distributed by your Lib Dem colleagues? Do you believe that such literature promotes community cohesion in a neighbourhood where Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Sikh and Christian live side by side? Can you give a reason for naming Cllr Weinberg, when no other councillor of any other party is mentioned by name - other than that your party is a) courting the Muslim vote and b)Cllr Weinberg has a surname which many will recognise as Jewish? Why does your party introduce foreign affairs into a local election in Redbridge but not in Haringey, Enfield or Bexley - where there have also been local by-elections in the past few weeks? Do you believe that foreign affairs is a relevant issue for a local authority by election?

I have circulated this request to the press and look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

JUSTIN HINCHCLIFFE

Back.... kind of

2009-01-07T09:38:00.004Z

Hunter's back (sort of) after a very long and sometimes depressing 2008 (course there was the odd moment of joy and excitement!)

Hunter's been in Canada (had a fab time - pic of me in the restaurant at the top of the CN Tower), mourning the loss of his grandfather (86 - not a bad age, eh?, working in a bar (what hard work!), running the Tottenham Association (now ticking over just nicely, thank you very much) and fighting a by-election in Seven Sisters Ward, following the sad death of Cllr. Fred Knight.

Those of you who are close to me will know of the 'other' problem that I've had to try and face up to. It's not been easy, and it continues to depress me... thank goodness for the by-election, which takes my mind of things (for a bit, at least)

Baby P's avoidable and horrific death shocked Hunter. Baby P lived less than half a mile away. Tragic. Awful. It's not often Hunter is lost for words. Haringey Council: what a bunch of useless, incompetent and evil wankers!

Is Labour set to ditch popular former Mayor?

2008-09-29T09:33:00.008Z

Rumours are circulating around the borough that Labour is set to de-select Cllr. Sheik Thomson, the jovial Member for Tottenham Hale, for either Zena Brabazon (for it is her!) or Reg Rice, that old has-been.

Given the alternatives, Hunter is considering setting up a Save the Sheik campaign...

Meanwhile, a certain NUT rep is going after Cllr Brian Haley in St. Ann's Ward. More soon.

Lib Dem councillor charged with sex offences with minor

2008-09-24T14:14:00.003Z

Strangely, Mark Pack hasn't mentioned it on Lib Dem "We Hate Councillors" Voice. More here.

When the tough gets going, the Lib Dems get nasty and personal...

2008-09-18T12:49:00.012Z

Previous Lib Dem leaders, e.g. the likable Charles Kennedy, tried, even when their members didn't, to keep personal attacks on their opponents out of the political arena.

So it was rather sad to hear Nick Clegg spending most of his conference speech making nasty personal attacks on David Cameron.

Hunter wonders if, after these ill-advised attacks, the Lib Dems poll position (12% in a poll out today) will drop even further...

PS. Based on today's poll, the Conservatives would win Hornsey and Wood Green and Islington South and Finsbury...

Message to the Electoral commission: study Canada's voting system

2008-09-18T12:49:00.011Z

Hunter has become a huge fan of CHUMFM, a Canadian radio station.

Canadians will vote in their general election on the 14th of October (Hunter will be there to learn from the Conservatives), when PM Stephen Harper (Con) is expected to be elected with a working majority.

CHUMFM has been carrying ads, on behalf of the government of Ontario, reminding people to vote in the election - and highlighting that they need TWO forms of ID (including proof of residency) to vote. Here, we don't even need a poll card to vote!

Britain's Electoral Commission (EC) is a toothless, spineless and incompetent body.

It would seem at time sthat its only task is to record donations, but, even then, it does little, if anything, to punish parties who provide late or dodgy donations (think of the £2m given to the Lib Dems from crook Michael Brown).

It is high time the EC recommends tightening up the voting rules. Nobody should be allowed to vote without, at least, two forms of ID - Canadian style. Unlikely to happen though; the EC lacks the courage to recommend real changes to root out abuses and the Labour government is, usually, the main benefactors of illegal and multiple voting. Think Bradford and Tower Hamlets...

Answers? Hunter's not saying a mumbling word...

2008-09-14T20:24:00.002Z

Guess which councillor... (part three)

2008-09-14T20:14:00.004Z

Guess which Haringey Lib Dem councillor is rumoured to be briefing against a councillor colleague for "being in the pockets of estate agents and developers"?

How long have the Lib Dem 'high command' known about this and what do they propose to do about it now they know?

Guess which councillor... (part two)

2008-09-14T20:06:00.002Z

Guess which Haringey Liberal Democrat councillor is rumoured to be under an investigation for possibly breaking electoral law, including being falsely registered at two addresses?

How long have the Lib Dem 'high command' known about this and what do they propose to do about it now they know?

Guess which councillor... (part one)

2008-09-14T20:01:00.005Z

Guess which Haringey Lib Dem councillor is rumoured to be in debt to Haringey Council with his rent (one figure is £10,000)?

How long have the Lib Dem 'high command' known about this and what do they propose to do about it now they know?

Why it has to be McCain-Palin in '08 - and other thoughts on the US contest

2008-09-14T18:53:00.008Z

Following on from the last post, Hunter has decided - not that he has a vote or is remotely influential - to support John McCain and Sarah Palin in the US election.

Like the Log Cabin Republicans (the gay group in the GOP), Hunter's decision came after some deliberations. The Republicans are still the party of small government and low taxation (even if George W. Bush often forgot). And John McCain has the necessary EXPERIENCE to lead America in a dangerous and unpredictable world. He's also a maverick and is unafraid to stand up to special interest groups and, even, fellow Republicans.

His choice of Sarah Palin was a masterstroke! Hunter dares sceptical readers to watch Sarah Palin's acceptance speech and not to be impressed by her warmth, intelligence and integrity.

What on earth was Barak Obama thinking of when he chose Joe Biden as his running mate? Their equivalents here, Hunter thinks, are David Lammy - big on rhetoric and small on substance - running with Neil Kinnock as his deputy. Scary thought, isn't it?

All the Left - both in America and in Europe - can do to attack their opponents is to use ageist and sexist language.

Why is the Guardian mocking John McCain's age (he's 72) and Sarah Palin's "lack of experience" but not Obama's record of running 'Jack shit'? And why have lefties, like the fragrant Lynne Featherstone, co-incidentally her party's Equalities 'spokesperson', not welcomed Palin as a breakthrough for American women?

John McCain will win - for all the right reasons. Obama will NOT win, not least because Jonah cursed him…

Butler and Lammy - would they be supporting Obama is he was white?

2008-09-14T18:26:00.005Z

Iain Dale is reporting how Dawn Butler, the over-promoted Labour MP for Brent South, is endorsing Barak Obama. She is now a government whip. There has been a long-standing traditional that our government of the day remains neutral in foreign elections.

David Lammy, Hunter's own MP, has also shamelessly endorsed Obama.

Would they be doing so if Obama was white?

Hunter believes that the best man - or woman - should win based on their experience. Butler and Lammy, if would seem, disagree because the fact is that Barak Obama has NO experience, so what's left...

Can you imagine - quite rightly - the outcry if a white person appeared to be voting for John McCain because he happens to be white?

Hunter sees double standards here. And it stinks!

Bad news for Hunter's LD trolls: leave your name or troll off!

2008-09-14T18:17:00.004Z

Hunter has, very reluctantly, decided to ban anonymous comments on this blog. Hunter can take criticism, but is not prepared to enter into discussions with anonymous cowards. Like the headlines says, leave your name or troll off!

Hunter will also be blogging more frequently as of day. Posts, though, will be shorter and to the point.

The three main candidates in Alex

2008-09-08T15:06:00.003Z

Hunter understands that the following people have been picked for the Alexandra Ward by-election:

Joanna Christophides - Labour - local resident

David Douglas - Conservative - local resident

Nigel Scott - Lib Dem - Woodside resident

Does anyone know if there's going to be other parties contesting this by?

Ding dong, Wayne's finally gone!

2008-08-21T13:48:00.004Z

Hunter revealed some time back that Cllr. Wayne Hoban (LD, Alexandra Ward) had moved out of Haringey and predicted a by-election, despite assurances in the local press from the Haringey Lib Dems that Wayne was "committed" to Haringey. Had the by-election coincided with the GLA elections on May 1, it would have saved the hard-pressed tax-payer thousands of pounds in savings. What is it with Lib Dems getting the runs? Should Hunter send all the Lib Dem councillors in Haringey a complimentary packet of Loperamide?

Fortismere Vs. Gladesmore schools

2008-08-21T12:37:00.005Z

Thanks to Matt Davies, Hunter has been looking at the borough's GCSE results with interest.

The one school that stands out is Gladesmore in South Tottenham. Not so long ago, they were not only at the bottom of the borough's league table, but also at the bottom of the London-wide league tables. With a relatively new Head in Tony Hartney CBE and a committed team of staff and governors, it is only a matter of time before Gladesmore equals or even overtakes Fortismere in Muswell Hill.

Fortismere is GBHS (Good By Haringey Standards). It's GCSE A-C results are in the low 70s. Considering the school has an unofficial catchment area (covering some of the most affluent wards in the country) and a very high number of students benefiting form private home tuition, is 72% really that good?

Gladesmore, which boarders Hackney, now has an A-C pass rate of 44% (growing to 46% for A*). Their results are getting better, year by year. Bearing in mind, that the school takes in children from some of Tottenham's most deprived wards, a large number of students have English as a second language and that parents simply can't afford home tuition and music classes, Gladesmore’s doing incredibly well.

Joan Mcvittie, the two year-old Head of Woodside High, was on the Today programme this morning being grilled by John Humphries. Only 28 of her pupils passed at A-C grade. The government, in the form of Lord Adonis, says that a minimum of 30% is required or the school is labelled a failure and eventually closed. Ms. Mcvittie was very franks about her school's challenges and pointed out that since her appointment the results have been getting better. Hunter feels that the school needs more time to improve and that government threats and labelling are futile.

Hunter would like to congratulate ALL Haringey students who did well and commiserate with those that didn't.

The "Humourless Bitch" starts to blog!

2008-08-21T12:15:00.004Z

Well, well, well! Neil Williams, aka the "Humourless Bitch", now has his own blog.

The Highgate councillor proudly stresses that HE was Lynne Featherstone's Agent in the 1997, 2001& 2005 general elections. Is this a 'bitch slap' to Mark Pack who claims to all and sundry that it was HIS efforts that won Lynne the seat?

Whilst they handbag each other, Hunter reluctantly welcomes the Dour One to the blogsphere...

What would you like the next Conservative government to do?

2008-08-20T10:45:00.010Z

Regardless of if you're a Conservative or not (many of you are not), what would you like the next Conservative government to do for you, your family and your community?

And, if you're from a deprived area like Tottenham, how could Conservatives -- working in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors -- reduce crime, address inequalities, support businesses, create jobs and provide educational opportunities to name just a few?

Here's Hunter's shopping list, sorry, top five suggestions:

1. Support voluntary organisations like the London Boxing Academy, which is based here in Tottenham. It provides for young adults who do not prosper in conventional educational settings. It teaches Maths and English as well allowing people, mainly young black boys, with sporting opportunities in the form of boxing. The LBA receives little, if any, government funding for the excellent work that they do.

2. Stressing the importance of education to children as young as 5 in our infant schools. Teaching respect in the classroom. Engaging with both parents, where they both exist (as Lynne F has suggested!) Supporting integration through proper funding of ESOL (English as a second language). And, most importantly, giving schools independence by allowing them to teach by ability and exclude disruptive pupils.

3. Bridging the health inequality gaps that exist. Hunter doesn't like 'nannying', so it would be good to empower people by setting up food co-operatives where people can buy fresh and healthy foods at affordable prices. David Cameron has already given his support for this idea, and we have our first food co-operative here on Broadwater Farm. Reducing pollution (Tottenham has one of the highest asthma rates anywhere in London) and encourage exercising. We should make healthy living opportunities by making them affordable, even free, such as swimming (one good Labour idea that has now, so it would seem, been binned). This, in the long-term, will save the NHS money. It is a scandal that a person in Muswell Hill will outlast his counterpart in Northumberland Park by up to 8.2 years.

4. Supporting local GPs. Oppose the closure of local surgeries for four new super-sized 'polyclinics'. The patient-doctor relationship is important and allowing patients, especially the elderly and disabled, to be able to easily reach their GP is equally important. Labour's plans to replace Haringey's 64 GPs with four polyclinics in totally unacceptable.

5. Reduce police bureaucracy and allow the police to spend more time out on patrol. Introduce tough sentencing for those caught carry knives and guns and, at the same time, support literacy, numeracy and rehabilitation programmes in the prisons. End the 'gym culture' that exists in so many of our prisons, where officials would rather invest in weights than Windows.

Now, over to you. Hunter politely requests that you leave constructive posts. Is that asking for too much?

Eleven wasted years

2008-08-11T18:43:00.004Z

Hunter wanted to do a general letter to the locals on Labour's 11 wasted years. In the end, the letter was far too long an non-local for them to even consider publishing it, so here it is - as my latest blog entery. Feel free to say whether or not you agree with my analysis. Here goes:

In 1997, people from across Haringey, indeed the country, were rejoicing in Labour’s historic landslide. People, rightly, had high expectations of their new government.

Their first acts were to loot people’s pension funds and sell off our gold reserves, but people didn’t seem to care. They were new. They would make mistakes. They needed more time. That’s what people said.

Then Blair, aided by Gordon Brown, introduced stealth taxes. The tax burden went up and new policies were introduced to make the economy less flexible. Borrowing, too, went up leading Brown to be dubbed “the credit card chancellor”.

Record amounts of money went into our unreformed public services, especially the NHS, yet waiting lists remained high and clinical outcomes static. There were endless re-organisations of the NHS – leading staff demoralised.

The gap between rich and poor grew. In certain parts of Glasgow, age expectancy is just 54 – below those of the Gaza Strip and Angola. Locally, you can expect to live for an extra seven years if you are lucky enough to reside in Muswell Hill than Northumberland Park.

Educationally, we have slipped back in the world league tables. More and more students are leaving school unable to read or write, without a single GCSE. Meanwhile, Labour’s only two ideas on education were to scrap student grants and swamp teachers with paperwork. Ditto the police, whilst crime got out of control. Gun and violent crimes have doubled.

Now the economy is spiralling out of control. Prices for everyday essentials – bread, butter, and milk – are on the up. And petrol prices are at a record high. A bus journey for a single stop now stands at £2.

House prices are set to crash and mortgage take-ups are the lowest for three decades. If you’re lucky enough to have a home, the council tax has gone through the roof under Labour.

Did I mention that immigration is out of control (althoughless so than the Daily Mail would have you believe)?

People have been let down by Labour. They could have spent the last eleven years improving and reforming our public services, keeping money aside for 'rainy days' and fighting poverty through empowering the voluntary and charity sectors.

People want their government to be honest about the challenges that we all face. To not flinch from making difficult – but necessary – decisions.

People want Gordon Brown to call that General Election and be able to hit them where it hurts most: in the ballot box.

It appears Stephen Tall hates Mark Pack...

2008-08-07T13:51:00.006Z

In a Q&A with TotalPoltics, Stephen Tall, a Lib Dem blogger and Liberal Democrat Voice contributor, was asked: "Who is your political hate figure?" Tall replied: "Any politician who is cheap, negative and tribal"

Mark Pack, that whiter-than-white bitch, aside, he could be talking about any of his Lib Dem colleagues...

Who speaks for the Lib Dems - Featherstone or Fenwick? And which one is Miss Muddle?

2008-08-05T12:34:00.006Z

Hunter has just stumbled across another example where two senior Lib Dems appear not to be singing from the same hymn sheet.

Lynne Featherstone, quite rightly, suggests that Haringey's councillors should meet in different parts of the borough. Says Lynne in her blog, "Councillors could meet in Bernie Grant Centre or there's a dilapidated council chamber still at Hornsey Town Hall or any one of a number of meeting places in the borough. It would be great anyway - and symbolic - if the councillors came out of a building and held their Full Council meeting in various parts of the borough".

When poor old Gordon suggests that the Cabinet should meet in different parts of the country, Rob Fenwick, of Lib Dem Voice, says: "It’s easy to dismiss it as mere tokenism. But, then, a surprising amount of tokenism ends up in the mainstream. It’s undoubtedly true that much of what passes these days for the establishment is London-obsessed..."

Apart from asking 'who speaks for the Lib Dems?', Hunter thinks this is a bit of a 'bitch-slap' for dear Lynne.

If you like H&S, vote for it!

2008-07-30T12:35:00.002Z

Yup, it's that time of the year again!

The deadline for votes is Friday, 15 August Top. Email your Top Ten (ranked from 1 to 10) to toptenblogs@totalpolitics.com.

The rules are much stricter this year, and I guess that will go against me, as well the responses Iain gets:

1. Please only vote once.

2. Only blogs based in the UK, run by UK residents are eligible or based on UK politics are eligible.

3. Votes must be cast before Friday 15 August.

4. Blogs chosen must be listed in the Total Politics Blog Directory.

5. You must send a list of TEN blogs, ranked. Any entry containing fewer than ten blogs will not count.

6. Anonymous votes left in the comments will not count. You must give a name.

Guess who has egg on his face today?

2008-07-25T08:51:00.003Z

Yes, it's over very own Comical Matt! Matty Boy warned us a few weeks back not to "write off" the Lib Dems in Glasgow East and that "they'll be working hard towards another great result"

Yesterday's result saw the Lib Dems' candidate fall from third to fourth place (behind the Conservatives) with just 915 votes (3.5% of all votes cast) and a lost deposit.

After four by-election disasters, Labour MPs won't be the only people wondering if a change of leader would improve their fortunes...

Lib Dem supporter claims God will judge Haringey in two years time

2008-07-23T19:50:00.005Z

That's according to "M. Allende" of N17 in tomorrow's Journal.

Moving Leftwards?

2008-07-15T20:58:00.004Z

Hunter has just been browsing the latest Early Day Motions (EDMs) in Parliament. One motion, EDM1948, heaps praise on the merger of two unions and on Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley, the left-wing leaders of the Unite union. Who wrote is? George Galloway? John McDonnell? Diane Abbot? Jeremy Corbyn? No, step forward Bob Spink, the Conservative-to-UKIP member for Castle Point. Hunter wonders if Spink is another Alan Amos in the making...

A few weeks off from politics

2008-07-15T11:45:00.009Z

Boo! Hunter's back! Took two, almost three, weeks off from politics to visit friends -- David, Fiona, Alice, Ben, Grace and Lydia -- in Sheffield. It's always a pleasure, if a little exhausting, staying with them in a smart part of the city. Apart from Sheffield itself, Hunter visited the Devonshires' pad, Chatsworth House, Bakewell and Sherwood Forest (see picture above - Hunter standing next to an 800 y-o tree!). Returned to London to watch Boris leading the Gay Pride celebrations, where he was given a warm reception, and spent the following day at Legoland in Windsor (the heavens opened from start to finish and Hunter was a little Hung-over). Spent the last two days at garden parties in Fortis Green and Southgate Village (both Tory fund-raising ‘dos’ but I’m not sure if they would count as political as such?).

I'm back now to offer you my thoughts and share juicy gossip - stay tuned!

Lynne came into my bedroom and made me laugh out loud

2008-06-23T14:38:00.004Z

At around 22:20 last night (Sunday), Lynne's voice came booming into my bedroom (where Hunter was about to catch up on some beauty sleep - no jokes!). Asked by the "Westminster Hour's Carolyn Quinn what should be done about the terrible situation in Zimbabwe, Lynne said something like, 'Well, Nick Clegg is going to make a speech on it (Zimbabwe) tomorrow at Chatham House...'

Bet the evil Mugabe is quaking in his boots! Or maybe Lynne, a big Huhne fan, was taking the piss?

A busy few weeks

2008-06-23T13:41:00.004Z

Hunter hasn't been able to blog much of late because I've been doing 'constituency business' (are non-MPs allowed to use that term?)

Met, along with the delightful Elizabeth Berridge from the Conservative Christian Fellowship, the leaders of some of Tottenham's black-led churches. Told them about Lammy's support for abortion at 24 weeks etc., etc. As a result, Hunter is now involved in setting up the Conservative African Forum - a body to promote the Party in the African communities here in the UK and to brief the Shadow Cabinet and the Party generally on African affairs.

Took a small delegation from the Ward's Corner Coalition to City Hall to meet Mayor Johnson's deputy, Cllr. Richard Barnes, to discuss Labour's plans to flog the building to Grainger PLC. The meeting went VERY well.

Prepared a leaflet for our stall at the Tottenham Carnival. Thankfully, it didn't rain and young Sam erected our gazebo, despite me having lost the instructions during last year's monsoon. Lots of positive responses - the only negative comments came from white middle-class incomers (overspill from the 'white heartlands' of Crouch End and Muswell Hill) who are far too grand too vote Tory - so they vote Lib Dem insread. At election times, they lord it over us by displaying Lib Dem posters in their period houses (mainly on the Harringay Ladder). This is, basically, telling the world 'Look at us! We're middle-class, read the Guardian and aren't we smug about it!' Pass me the sickbag, Alice!

Attended the 'Summer Sizzler' -- a night of fun, fun, fun -- to celebrate the campaign to save Ward's Corner. Saw lots of old and new friends there. Took David Allen, the new Chairman of Hornsey and Wood Green Conservatives, and Jason, a local mate/supporter from Northumberland Park. Hunter's legs were FUBAR after trying to whine to Buster Poindexter's 'Hot, Hot, Hot'.

Now selling Tory raffle tickets @ £1 per ticket (75p is returned to Tottenham Conservatives!). Any more takers?

For sale: Northern Ireland - £2

2008-06-11T20:06:00.005Z

Dan Hannan, not somebody Hunter noramally views in a high regard, is reporting in his Telegraph blog that the DUP sold their nine votes (over 42 days) for £200m.

Hunter strongly suggests that the next Conservative government sells Northern Ireland to the Republic for £2. Northern Ireland is a backward and bankrupt province that will never prosper whilst the DUP is in charge - and there's no sign of that changing.

Ding dong, Ali's gone - and Hunter is proved right!

2008-06-10T13:41:00.005Z

Cllr. Ali Demirci is the latest councillor to cross the floor on Haringey Council from the Dim Lebs to Labour. Why? Because the Lib Dems don't have anything positive to offer the people of Haringey. At the recent elections, they lost two out of the three contests in Hornsey and Wood Green and, worse still, were a poor fourth in Tottenham - behind the Greens. The Conservatives locally and nationally are resurgent under David Cameron's leadership. In Haringey, like everywhere else in the country, people will have a choice between a Labour government under Gordon Brown or a new, progressive and listening one under David Cameron. The Lib Dem are increasingly irrelevant and Ali's defection to one of the bigger parties is evidence of this fact.

And Hunter takes great delight in being proved right!

A big 'thank you' to Anon, who gave me the idea for the above title in the previous thread.

Stop press: More Lib Dem trouble - will update within the next 24 hours.

The question Lynne can't answer

2008-05-28T08:55:00.004Z

Regular readers know that I have a bit of a soft spot for Hornsey & Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone, despite my general and staunch aversion to the Lib Dems per se. So I trust that Pack, Williams and all the other troglodyte LibDem spinmeisters don't do their dreary usual thing and take this post as a "spiteful personal attack"!

Sometimes difficult questions must be asked!

Hunter has asked Lynne to comment on her Cowley Street HQ ousting popular local councillor Sue Cooper as the Henley Lib Dems' by-election candidate only to replace her with a non-local, middle-aged, white male.

Hunter thought
a) that the Lib Dems wanted more women in Parliament (especially on 'their' benches) and
b) favoured local democracy

So why the stitch up?

It seems that Lynne has not been allowed to publish the question on her blog, let alone answer it. Given that Lynne is the Lib Dems spokeswoman on Equality, who else can Sue Cooper turn to for some justice in her party if not to Lynne?

Sorry, Lynne. But if you can't make a stand on this issue, what is the point of you holding the Equality brief at all?

Congratulations Alan, down with Oakes!

2008-05-22T13:53:00.008Z

Hunter's good friend Alan Dobbie was elected as Haringey's new Mayor at Monday night's Annual Meeting of the Council. Hunter was pleased to be able to sit in the Council Chamber and watch the vote and ceremony. Normally, Hunter would support demands that the post occasionally goes to a member of the opposition, i.e. a Lib Dem. Not this time: Alan was an excellent choice and will serve the borough well. The Lib Dems put forward the one-legged John Oakes - a truly nasty individual who would prosper in a certain other minority party. This could, perhaps, explain why FOUR of his colleagues failed to support him by not turning up. What a cheek of the Lib Dems to ask Labour councillors to support their nominee when some of their own councillors were not prepared to do the same!

But of course, greedy Lib Dem councillors turned up at Alan's party (held at the Irish Centre in Tottenham) to help themselves to free nosh. Alan's chosen charity is Different Strokes, a charity set up by young stroke survivors for young stroke survivors. To Hunter's knowledge, every councillor from across the political divide bought raffle tickets to support the Mayor's charity - except one. Hobble forward, Cllr. Oakes! Once again, this tight-fisted LD reminded us why he was so comprehensively rejected by Haringey councillors.

More trouble for Haringey Lib Dems

2008-05-15T21:20:00.003Z

Hunter has just been given two juicy pieces of gossip.

Apparently, Cllr. Susan Oatway has also moved out of the borough. Only one out the three Alexandra ward councillors -- the hapless Cllr. David Beacham -- now lives in the borough. This, if true, is a major blow for them as Cllr. Oatway is widely seen as one of the better LD members on the Council. Hoban sold up and moved out months ago.

And that at least one of the Lib Dems' BME councillors is in talks with Haringey Labour about switching sides. He claims that the LD Front Bench on the Council is "too middle class and white". Too true!

All this come just days after it was revealed that the LDs lost two out of the three votes in Hornsey and Wood Green and slumped into third and fourth place in Tottenham.

It couldn't happen to a nicer party!

Haringey returns to two-party politics as Lib Dem vote slumps

2008-05-14T13:58:00.005Z

Just as the Fib Dems gather to celebrate 10 years of 'success' here in Haringey, new figures published in the last twenty-four hours have revealed the Lib Dems slumped into THIRD and FOURTH place in Tottenham (Hunter's home turf) in the May 1 London elections.

Electoral bigwigs have released the votes for London Mayor, GLA Constituency Member and London Top-Up List broken out by local authority ward. They make interesting reading.

Conservatives and Labour also beat them in *two out of three elections in Lynne's Hornsey and Wood Green Constituency. Yes, that's right THIRD. Labour actually topped the poll for the London List contest - staggering given Labour's poor organisation locally and unpopularity nationally. If the council elections been on the same day as the London elections, Conservatives would have taken all three seats in Highgate, whilst Labour would have gained Bounds Green, Crouch End, Harringay, Hornsey, Noel Park and Stroud Green from the Yellow Peril!

*when you take into account of postal votes.

Sisterly love – or maybe not!

2008-05-14T13:37:00.004Z

A reader has contacted me to request that I play a little song for the Twisted Sisters of Hornsey & Wood Green Constituency Labour Party: 'Burn in Hell'

Thanks to our Deep Labour Throat of Wood Green for the inside gen on Karen Jennings' shoddy treatment at the hands of the uncomradely sisters of the local CLP. Was it really all down to political rivalry as 'anonymous' claims? Or were there profound disagreements of principle? Perhaps Karen wasn't sound enough on the Iraq war/ ID cards/ SATS/ MMR/ Abortion limits/ Public breast-feeding/ Greenham Common? Whatever, it has never taken much to set middle-class, dangly-earringed Labour wimmin off on an orgy of holier-than-thou backstabbing......Karen is better off out of it.

Gossip round-up

2008-05-08T13:52:00.005Z

* A well-known Brother from the Haringey Soviet Council emailed Hunter to suggest that it was no accident that Ken launched his mayoral bid in Hornsey and Wood Green and that the CLP there have invited Ken's close pal Brother Skinner to woo back anti-war folk who deserted them for Lynne Featherstone.

* LD Matt Davies, for it is him again, has been ousted from the O&S committee by Ron Aitken (of all people!!!) That'll teach him for - well, you know what...

* LD Wayne Hoban, their man in Alex, has now officially abandoned his constituents for a life and job outside of London. Just when will he do the decent thing and resign his seat?

More soon...

Exclusive: Sensational news from the Haringey Soviet!

2008-05-06T15:56:00.006Z

Red Ken, turfed out by Boris last week, may be seeking greener pastures in Hornsey & Wood Green according to local Labour sources!

How come?

Well, it's no surprise that Haringey Labour activists are furious with their selected candidate, Karen Jennings, who has completely failed to make any impact on the electorate. Perhaps she's too busy with her union work, but it's still pretty shameful that she hasn't updated her website since July 2007!

Apparently, Karen is to be quietly invited to step aside to allow Ken to make a comeback--representing at least a part of London back in parliament.

If anyone could unseat Lynne Featherstone and win H&WG back for Labour, it's Ken Livingstone. No matter how many of her millions poor Lynne chucks at the seat, Ken would be a shoe-in for them.

I can see this working well: Ken gets 12-18 months off to write his memoirs, launches them in a blaze of media activity, then 3-6 months' later he is standing at the General Election.

At the age of 62, Ken still has a lot of life in him. True, he couldn't be handed a safe Labour seat in the face of competition from a bunch of young Labour hopefuls. But the rationale of him standing against Lynne, with her 'comfortable' majority and winning it back for Labour would be quite a coup for him, and a great 'final race' of his career.

He could then retire at 68/ 69, having spent 4 or 5 years as a grand old Labour statesman in the Commons, harrying the new Conservative government of Cameron--and having seen off nearly all the hateful New Labour types, who will of course have lost their parliamentary seats in 2009/ 2010, just as ken was making his comeback!

Go for it, Ken! Go for it H&WG CLP!

'We have smashed them!', yeah right, Matty boy

2008-05-06T13:05:00.007Z

Sorry, dear readers! I have been neglecting you, I know. I have not blogged for ages, although at times it has been very tempting. But all my energy has been invested in fighting the good fight for the Conservatives in London, culminating in the elections last week. Most of the other bloggers have got in well before me with their comments on the outcome of the elections--and what a bizarre take some of them have on the results!

I had to laugh at Matt Davies' efforts. This guy would have been snapped up as a Baath party press officer by Saddam, if he was still with us. But Iraq's loss is Fortis Green's gain. What fibs! What shameless spinning! According to him, it was a "bad night for the Conservatives across the country". OK, let's look at the facts:

How did the Conservatives do?

* Conservatives win London Mayoralty - the biggest prize of all!
* 300 new councillors - we weren't just piling them up in our heartlands, many were elected in northern town and cities like Bury and Sunderland
* Welsh Conservatives control the same number of councillors as Labour (for the first time in history)
* Two additional members of the London Assembly
* By-election wins across the country, especially in London
* Out-polling Labour and the Lib Dems in Crewe and Nantwich, ahead of the May 22 by-election

How did the Fib Dums do?

* Lib Dems Mayoral candidate sees his vote halve
* Lib Dems only just make a net gain of councillors, despite Labour's record-low results
* Conservatives now have more councillors than the Lib Dems in the north, middle and south of England
* No progress in Wales
* Two members down on the London Assembly, including incumbent Geoff Pope
* Losing council by-elections, e.g. in Bow, Tower Hamlets, a seat held by them for yonks
* Only polling a miserable 19% in Crewe and Nantwich, boding very badly for the May 22 by-election

The usual suspects in the broadcast media have tried to pretend this is solely an anti-Labour phenomenon, and doesn't mean people like the Conservatives any more than they did. But, in that case, why is it that Labour's losses were not more evenly distributed between Conservatives and LibDems? In fact, we Cs were picking up more than 10 of those Labour seats for every one picked up by 'Nick Clegg's Fib Dums'.

And what a damp squib Clegg has turned out to be for the Fibs!? He made absolutely no impression at all during the campaign, did he? If I were Lynne Featherstone, I'd be pleading with Chris Huhne to give it another shot.

Meanwhile, Matt's chum, a pocket-Mandelson Mark Pack,tries to make capital out of the fact that Edward Timpson, the Conservatives' local choice for Crewe and Nantwich, isn't local because... err... he ran the New York marathon and went to university in another place.

All in all, absolutely pathetic and sour stuff from the dustbin party that's heading for the scrapheap!

Homo-erotic, or what?

2008-04-21T13:59:00.004Z

Boxers Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins. Cute!

UPDATE: The ever-alert blogger Croydonian has just sent me this amusing film on the subject, Wrestling with Manhood. Well worth a look - just get the tissues ready...

Another set of elections, another set of Lib Dem lies

2008-04-17T22:33:00.006Z

Passing through Hornsey the other day on the top of a number 144 bus, Hunter noticed a poster in Lynne Featherstone's office window. It read something like, 'Brian Paddick: a Policeman, not a Politician'. Having been, admittedly on and off, a paid up Lib Dem member for over a decade and is now their mayoral candidate, Paddick is most definitely a politician.

He is not, though, a Policeman. He retired from the Met over two years ago. Unlike a doctor, he cannot claim to still be copper once he's out.

But when was the truth ever allowed to get in the way of Lib Dem campaigning?

Another apt song for Leavingsoon: Show me the to go home (I'm tired and I want to go to bed)

2008-04-14T12:42:00.007Z

Show me the way to go home

Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it went right to my head
Where ever I may roam
On land or sea or foam
You will always hear me singing this song
Show me the way to go home

Indicate the way to my abode
I'm fatigued and I want to retire
I had a spot of beverage sixty minutes ago
And it went right to my cerebellum
Where ever I may perambulate
On land, or sea or atmospheric vapor
You can always hear me crooning the melody
Indicate the way to my abode

Apt songs for London's main Mayoral candidates

2008-04-14T12:18:00.004Z

Courtesy of Queen:

Don't stop me now - Boris.

Killer Queen - Paddick.

Under Pressure - Leavingsoon.

Now there are two

2008-04-11T09:52:00.002Z

Hunter has not seen any Labour posters up here in Tottenham - until today. One "Vote Labour" post has appeared in a shabby-looking house and the other is in the front of a chaotic-looking Somali shop, which also has a poster up to advertise a book on how to 'get the right marks' for British Citizenship. Looks like Leavingsoon's promise to give illegal immigrants free travel on London transport is paying off in some quarters.

China, China, China - Out! Out! Out! Free Tibet!

2008-04-07T11:52:00.002Z

Hunter braved the snow and headed into central London yesterday, along with a Tory chum from Hornsey & Wood Green, to register my protest at recent events in Tibet and the human rights situation generally in China.

I appreciate that China won the right to hold the Olympics fair and square, but weren't we all told back then that this would lead to an improvement in Chinese human rights and China evolving to adopt the sort of standards that prevail in western, liberal democratic countries? I can't see much evidence of that having happened! In fact, the reverse seems to be true: if their recent behaviours in Tibet, over Darfur etc. are anything to go by, they just seem to have become even more arrogant and set in their repressive ways.

I sympathise with the argument of the athletes: if every British business is bending over backwards to trade with China (and we're all now wearing socks 'Made in China'), then why should sport be the only area to make a sacrifice? I'm not arguing for non-participation in the Olympics, but it was a step too far to allow a triumphalist parade through the streets of London. (I understand that this particular Olympic tradition was actually the brainchild of one A. Hitler, devised to promote his Nazi regime at the time of the 1936 Berlin Olympics).

What made matters even worse, and what clinched it for me to head into central London for this protest, was the sight of British sporting heroes being 'guarded' by a bunch of Chinese State security goons! If the torch parade had to proceed, couldn't the torch-bearer have been flanked by British sportsclub members or British bobbies? To allow the frontline security for this event on London's streets to be handed over to these sinister-looking 'heavies' supplied by a repressive foreign power was a grotesque decision! Were they flown in specially for the occasion? I wonder what their last 'assignment' was? Beating people up on the streets of Lhasa in Tibet perhaps?

Who allowed this to happen? Was it the ever-useless Commissioner Blair? Or our low-rent 'Home Secretary' Jaqui Smith? They should both be fired immediately for having brought this country and British policing into disrepute.

The icing on the cake, when I got home, was to see that Gordon's Gang were just too gormless to have seen this PR disaster unfolding all day, and actually allowed these Chinese security 'guards' to enter Downing Street, push people around in front of the TV cameras and organise the photo shoot! How weak! How pathetic! Gordon isn't even master of his own doorstep, let alone the country! That's one video clip I hope gets repeated endlessly......

What Gordon really meant...

2008-04-01T15:37:00.004Z

Our Supreme Leader has told Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, who is attempting to steal the latest presidential election, that "The Eyes of the world are watching you".

Mugabe, who has been Zimbabwe's President for 28 years, can at least claim that some people have voted for him to occupy his current position. Gordon Brown, in contrast, was not elected Supreme Leader by a single British voter.

Given that Labour is looking to rig, sorry 'modernise', the UK voting system, Hunter suspects Gordon actually meant, "The demon eyes of the Nu-Labour machine is watching Zanu-PF..."

So, what has Europe ever done for us? Apart from...

2008-03-26T22:38:00.004Z

1. The end of war between European nations

While rows between England, France and Germany have been a feature of EU summits, war between Europe's major powers is now unthinkable. The fact that the two world wars that shaped the last century now seem so remote is, in itself, tribute to a visionary project that has permanently changed the landscape. As the EU celebrates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome it is clear that while the detailed topography will always be difficult to agree, it is an extraordinary achievement that we are standing on common ground.

2. Democracy is flourishing in 27 countries

Spain, Portugal, Greece, and the EU's 10 ex-Communist countries are parliamentary democracies. None of these nations were truly free in the decades following the Second World War. Each is now a democracy anchored within the EU and is unlikely to change course.

3. Once poor countries like Ireland, Greece and Portugal prospering

EU subsidies well spent have been crucial to the lift-off of the Irish economy. Once firmly in Britain's economic shadow, the Celtic tiger has emerged. Gross domestic product per capita in Ireland in 2005 was 137.1 per cent of the EU average, compared to 116.8 per cent in the UK.

4. The creation of the world's largest internal trading market

The 27-nation EU now around 500m people making it the world's largest economic trading bloc. By comparison the US has a population of around 300m. The old EU 25 had 19.2 per cent of the World's exports as compared with 14.4 per cent from the US. This gap is set to grow following the last enlargement in January to 27 member states.

5. Shopping without frontiers has given consumers more power

European consumers can buy goods for their own use in whichever EU country they choose - in person, on the internet, over the telephone, or by mail order - without paying additional taxes. This competition is driving down prices and increasing quality

6. Co-operation on continent-wide immigration policy

Though EU countries set immigration levels the EU is increasingly active in the fight against illegal migration and in trying to match the labour needs of European countries to the supply of migrants. On the downside, the EU is increasingly an impregnable fortress and many lose their lives trying to get here by boat from Africa

7. Crime-busting co-operation, through Europol

This provides a clearing house for EU police forces. The police in EU member states can now use an EU arrest warrant to get suspects moved from one country to another where they will face serious charges without lengthy extradition procedures.

8. Laws which make it easier for British people to buy property in Europe

It may not be good for the environment but access to second homes a short-haul flight away has fulfilled the dreams of millions of Britons. Retirement or regular holidays from the south of Spain to the east of Bulgaria has become a reality for many and a legally safeguarded one at that.

9. Cleaner beaches and rivers throughout Europe

EU law and peer pressure - including annual reports - have forced the UK to clean up its act, for example bringing the once-dirty waters off Blackpool beach up to standard. The first EU legislation was passed in 1976 with two more pieces in 2002 and 2006. Now you can monitor the quality of bathing water by checking on a website.

10. Four weeks statutory paid holiday a year for workers in Europe

The EU Working Time Directive ensures that all Europeans get at least four weeks of paid holiday per year. In the US many workers get a fortnight. The same directive provides for 11 hours rest in every 24 and one day of rest per week plus a rest break if the working day is longer than six hours. Minimum standards are set for paid maternity and paternity leave.

11. No death penalty (incompatible with EU membership)

No EU member state has the death penalty and reintroduction of capital punishment would not be compatible with EU membership. Even countries outside the EU are having to review their policies if they want to be considered for membership of the club, most notably Turkey.

12. Competition means cheaper phone calls

Since the liberalisation of telecommunications in the 1980s loosened the grip of the monopolies, prices have plummeted. The European Commission says the cost of international calls in the EU has fallen by 80 per cent since 1984.

13. Small EU bureaucracy (24,000 employees, fewer than the BBC)

Despite the eurosceptic claims, the number of EU officials is surprisingly small. After the scandal of 1999 when the Brussels based European Commission resigned, strict new rules were imposed on spending.

14. Making the French eat British beef again

When the BSE crisis subsided and British meat was judged safe, the European Court of Justice ordered France to resume imports. France contested the ruling but had no alternative in the end. By contrast, the US retains an embargo.

15. Minority languages, like Irish, Welsh and Catalan recognised and protected

Minority languages are gaining recognition. Be it Irish, Welsh or Catalan, minority languages are getting a greater role thanks to the EU which even has a Commissioner for Multilingualism. Irish became an official language of the EU this year. Catalans have lesser language rights because their tongue is official only in one part of Spain, their member states. The EU - with 23 official languages - is doing more to keep lesser tongues alive than some individual member states.

16. Europe is helping to save the planet with regulatory cuts in CO2

The EU has announced the most ambitious targets for curbing carbon emissions, promising a cut of at least one-fifth on 1990 levels by 2020. Other parts of the world are being challenged to follow suit. The EU also has blazed a trail with its carbon emissions trading system which, despite teething troubles, is still a model for other parts of the world.

17. One currency from Bantry to Berlin (but not Britain)

The Euro is now the only real alternative to the dollar on the international stage. You can travel throughout 13 countries and use one currency. Slovenia became the 13th and latest nation to join the single currency this year. Several more nations have yet to meet the necessary criteria.

18. Europe wide bans on tyrants like Robert Mugabe

Smart sanctions on the Zimbabwean President and his cronies have been negotiated through the EU and prevent those on a list from visiting all 27 nations. Though countries differ in the way they believe the EU should treat the government in Harare, they all agreed to renew the sanctions for another year.

19. The EU gives twice as much aid to developing countries as the US

The European Union and its member states paid out more than €43bn in 2005 in public aid to developing countries. This is the equivalent of 0.34 per cent of GNP of the 25member states, and is higher than the per capita aid levels of the United States at around 0.2 per cent. More than €7bn is channelled through the EU.

20. Strict safety standards for aircraft

Airlines deemed to be unsafe are now banned from travelling into any EU country. Recently some of Pakistan's national carrier were barred because of safety fears.

21. Free medical help for tourists

Any citizen of a European country is entitled to free medical treatment if he or she is taken ill or suffers an accident in another member state. So long as you carry the correct form from your national health service, no questions will be asked.

22. EU peace-keepers operate throughout the world

The EU is building its crisis intervention force and has taken over operations in Bosnia from Nato. EU forces have also been in action in Africa helping avert humanitarian crises. In addition the EU has a big policing project.

23. easyJet and Ryanair can fly anywhere without national rules protecting high cost flag carriers due to liberalisation of air travel

EasyJet and Ryanair can fly anywhere without the national rules protecting high-cost flag carriers due to liberalisation of air travel. Any airlines granted a licence in an EU country - meeting safety standards and other conditions - can operate services anywhere within the EU. Between 1992 and 2000 prices at the cheaper end of the market fell by 40 per cent.

24. Introduction of pet passports

Since 2004 travelling across borders with pets has been easier. In addition to pet passports with a vaccination certificate pets require permanent identification which can be either a tattooed code on the skin or a microchip which can be read by a special machine. In the future the microchip is likely to be obligatory.

25. It will soon take only two hours from London to Paris by Eurostar

The Channel Tunnel, and high-speed lines in France and now Britain are not, properly speaking, EU projects. However, the tunnel was built partly as a means of reducing the mental barriers between Britain and the Continent. With the opening of the final section of Britain's fast line to St Pancras this year, trains will travel to Paris in two hours.

26. Prospect of EU membership has forced modernisation on Turkey

The presence of an affluent and stable bloc to its west has given the modernisers in Turkey the ally they needed to create a democratic constituency for change. That change has been pushed through with the promise of a European future.

27. Unparalleled rights for European consumers

Any consumer can send back a product if it breaks down within two years of purchase. Manufacturers often claim that they offer only a 12 month guarantee, but EU law states otherwise and consumers are demanding their rights.

28. Study programmes and cheap travel means greater mobility for Europe's youth

Through the Erasmus programme, in the 2003-4 academic year, 7,500 UK students spent between three and 12 months at a university in one of the other member states.

29. Food labelling is much clearer

All ingredients used in food products must be listed. Any GM ingredients must be mentioned as must colouring, preservatives and other chemical additives.

30. End of the road for border crossings (apart from in the UK)

Frontier posts have been abandoned between the 15 countries that have implemented the Schengen accords. This agreement means that EU nationals crossing most borders in continental western Europe do not need to show passports. The newer nations plan to join in soon.

31. Compensation for air delays

Passengers must get immediate help if their flight is delayed by more than a few hours, cancelled without notice or if they are denied boarding because the plane is overbooked. The carrier must make alternative travel arrangements unless the passenger asks for their money back instead. Depending on the length of the delay they must provide food and refreshments and accommodation if necessary.

32. Strict ban on animal testing for the cosmetic industry

Since November 2004 the EU has banned animal testing on finished cosmetic products entirely. Remaining safety testing on animals of ingredients for cosmetics will be ended.

33. Greater protection for Europe's wildlife

Tough European laws protect birds, flora and fauna, although the EU bird directive is widely flouted in southern Europe, particularly in Malta where 2m migratory birds are shot each year, including 80 protected species which are shot or trapped by hunters.

34. Regional development fund has aided the deprived parts of Britain

Some of the UK's poorest regions have benefited from massive handouts from the EU which has been used to regenerate some of the country's most run-down areas. Scotland's Highland and Islands have benefited enormously as have the Welsh mining valleys, Cornwall and deprived inner cities like Liverpool.

35. European driving licences recognised

Driving licences issued in one EU country are valid in any other, providing they are modern, EU-standard, ones with a photo identity. This means that the old days of having to gain translations for a UK permit to drive in Italy are over.

36. Britons now feel a lot less insular

A famous newspaper headline (perhaps apocryphal) once read "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off". Remember the 1960s, when Ostend seemed like an exotic destination? EU membership has not dried up the English Channel but is has helped to remove the psychological barriers between Britain and the continent.

37. Europe's bananas remain bent, despite sceptics' fears

The suggestion that the EU wanted to impose straight bananas, or blue bananas, or ban all but Caribbean bananas, is one of the oldest of Euro-myths. Obsessive euro-harmonisation of rules is a thing of the past.

38. Strong economic growth - greater than the US last year

The EU's ambition to overtake America economically by 2010 has been ridiculed. The German economy has picked up with the UK and Nordic nations are performing strongly. Even Italy, thought to be in dire straits last year, is clocking up reasonable growth. The European Commission said it expects the economy of the 27-nation European Union to grow 2.7 per cent this year, ahead of the US's estimated 2.5 per cent

39. Single market has brought the best continental footballers to Britain

The Bosman ruling, based on European law, and other decisions, have freed up football transfers. From Eric Cantona to Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo, British fans have been enjoying watching Europe's finest talent for the past 15 years.

40. Human rights legislation has protected the rights of the individual

The introduction of the Human Rights Acts has provided a legal framework to prevent abuses of power.

41. European parliament provides democratic checks on all EU laws

The European Parliament, directly elected since 1979, has been given increased powers over the years. The parliament has made a significant impact in areas ranging from the environment to animal rights.

42. EU gives more, not less, sovereignty to nation states

Switzerland and Norway, two independent countries have little or no negotiating leverage when they deal with the EU. In fact they have less sovereignty than member states who decide the policy. Britons are more able to control their own destiny - in areas from international trade, to environmental protection, to consumer rights - because they are part of a 27 nation, democratic bloc. Real sovereignty, rather than theoretical sovereignty, is enhanced by EU membership.

43. Maturing EU is a proper counterweight to the power of US and China

As it develops common foreign and defence policies, the EU is finding its voice. Europe's interests and those of America and the emerging powers, such as China and India, will sometimes coincide, sometimes conflict. Could Britain's interests be protected if we stood alone or if we became a junior partner of the US?

44. European immigration has boosted the British economy

Hundreds of thousands of Poles commute between Poland and Britain. More surprisingly the economies of both countries are booming. The UK economy has benefited from a surge of well-qualified, highly motivated workers.

45. EU common research programme

Job opportunities and Europe-wide access to education mean there really are Europeans now who see the need to speak at least three modern languages.

46. Europe has set Britain an example how properly to fund a national health service

Some continental countries have health funding problems but several, the Dutch in particular, provide quality care while keeping down costs. It took the EU to rule that British patients had a right to seek care abroad.

47. British restaurants now much more cosmopolitan because of European influences

Britain has become - let us admit it - a more continental country in the last 34 years. We now care about what we eat. Nowhere has this been more marked than in the quality and variety of food being offered in our restaurants.

48. Mobility for career professionals throughout Europe

Professionals from doctors to architects now have a right to have their national qualifications recognised across the EU. Language and cultural barriers will always remain a problem for professionals but there are can no longer be purely protectionist obstacles to a career in another EU country.

49. Europe has revolutionised British attitudes to food and cooking

Despite major drawbacks, the bloated Common Agricultural Policy has enabled small family farmers to flourish in Europe. Its support has led to the birth of the Slow Food movement and arrival in British towns of farmers markets, growing with quality organics produce. Bon appetit!

50. Lists like this drive Eurosceptics mad

In the Daily Mail-Sun universe, the EU can never do any good. Brussels is an insane bureaucracy, which secretly plots to have all donkeys painted blue (with yellow stars). The 50th birthday of the European project is a time to celebrate the many positive things which the EU has brought us.

Brought to you courtesy of the Independent ( Wednesday, 21 March 2007)

Congratulations, Richard

2008-03-24T12:54:00.006Z

David Cameron has made our -- Tottenham Conservatives' - President Richard Balfe his personal envoy to the trades unions and co-operative movements. Apparently, and music of Hunter's ears, 30% of trades unionists vote Conservative. People of all classes and professions have been let down by Labour. The Conservative tent is getting bigger and better. Unlike the NuLabour tent circa 1997, this one isn't going to fall apart after we win the election. We're committed to building a Britain which is economically prosperous, has world-class public services, where people are happy and healthy and where we can stand tall and proud on the world stage. Richard has a platform here on ConservativeHome Good luck, Richard!

Stop press: Conservatives have just released these figures…

Since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister the cost of...

... Butter is up by 37%

... Dozen eggs is up by 34%

... Loaf of bread is up by 28%

... Flour is up by 22%

... Pint of milk up by 17%

... Cheese up ny 17%

... Sack of potatoes up by 11%

... Gas and fuel up by 10%

... Petrol up by 8%

Hunter thinks a majority of trades unionists could well vote Conservative at the next general election - hardworking families and individuals can no-longer afford this Labour government.

Bizarre titles and positions in Labour Newham

2008-03-18T21:52:00.008Z

Hunter is having a 'Newham Day' - both of today's stories are in relation to the east London borough (Lyn "Give 'Em Minimum Wage" Brown is one of Newham's MPs, see story below).

Hunter has just viewed the Newham Council website and came across some comical titles for the Council's Executive/Lead members.

Here are some examples:

Cllr. Christine Bowden - Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Human Resources and Industrial Relations (WTF?)

Cllr. James Butler - Deputy Community Executive Adviser, Community Forums (Knowledge) (WTF?)

Cllr. Ian Corbett - Executive Member *for* Anti-Social Behaviour (shurely shome mishtake?)
?)

Cllr. Unmesh Desai - Executive Member for Community Intelligence (WTF?)

Cllr. David Griffin - Executive Member for Electoral Engagement (why?)

Cllr. June Leitch - Executive Member for Public Realm (WTF?)

Cllr. Amarjit Singh - Executive Member for Trade Unions and Schools (WTF?)

Anyone or any Council able to beat that?

Labour's Lyn "Give 'Em Minimum Wage" Brown

2008-03-18T15:32:00.004Z

Ken Leaving-soon raised the minimum wage for London to £7.20 - to reflect the fact that, under his Mayoralty, London is the most expensive city in the world. It would appear the West Ham's Labour MP Lyn Brown appears to have taken things a bit too literally: she's looking for a minion to staff her office and is offering the paltry sum of, er, £7.20 an hour. What a meanie!

Haringey Labour and Lib Dems in bed with each other - literally!

2008-03-12T18:37:00.007Z

News reaches Hunter that a staffer in the Haringey Labour Group Office at Haringey Council is shagging a senior Haringey Lib Dem councillor! Now, I wonder what they discuss in bed? The size of their majorities or Gordon Brown's ever-deeper black hole?

Some great news

2008-03-10T15:19:00.004Z

"Hurrah!" is how local MP Lynne Featherstone greeted the opening of the Big Green Bookshop, Wood Green's newest and only bookshop. Congratulations to both Simon and Tim, the owners. As Lynne also said, they are local heroes - having opened the shop after Waterstone's shamefully left us high and dry by shutting their doors late last year.

We should all use the Big Green Bookshop at every opportunity. Haringey Council can help, too, by buying books for our schools and libraries from this little independent gem, rather than the big stores.

If they don't have the book you want, they can order it in within 24 hours. That's what I call service!

Lib Dems hold Highgate

2008-03-10T12:26:00.004Z

The result of the Highgate by-election is in - and it's a Lib Dem hold. Although the Conservative vote actually fell, it was only by 1.5% - not bad considering how many forests (excuse the pun!) the Lib Dems cut down to paper the ward. It was a truly dreadful night for Labour; they scored their worst by-election result anywhere in Haringey in the history of Haringey (9%). Good! Mr. Crisp, the formidable Independent, must have been gutted to see his vote halve. It's high time he joined either us Conservatives or the Lib Dems. The Green vote was down, a trend seen in by-elections across London.

It would be churlish of Hunter not to offer my sincere congratulations to the winner, Rachael Allison - even if she does sell dodgy cold sore remedies.

RESULT IN FULL:

LD - 1,339
Con (Peter Forrest) - 725
Lab - 241
Ind - 190
Green - 138

Emma goes for Europe

2008-03-03T23:23:00.003Z

Hunter's favourite little eco-warrior is in the process of wooing Labour members to become a London Euro-MP. Cllr. Emma Jones, the 25 year-old Member for Bruce Grove, may well succeed according to Make My Votes Count, a cross-party pressure group which campaigns for "electoral reform". As all three London Labour MEPs are seeking re-election, little Emma is expecting to come fourth - meaning if, in the unlikely event, Labour gains another member, she will be in. Equally, if one retires, enters the House or Commons or dies, Emma will 'move up' one. She won't, of course, be eating any Belgium chocolate if she lands a job in Brussels: she's a vegan!

Hunter wishes her well.

Just fancy that!

2008-03-02T23:08:00.004Z

Local Conservatives (Hunter) report Haringey Council to the Information Commissioner over the dumped files, containing local residents' confidential details, on 18/02/08

Lib Dems report Haringey Council over the same story to Information Commissioners on 27/02/08

The Lib Dems may well be the official opposition in Haringey, but they're certainly not the effective opposition...

Campaigning beats blogging in time battle

2008-02-26T19:16:00.004Z

Blogging is going to be a light (or should that be lite?) at the mo - Hunter is busy in Highgate and running the Tottenham GLA campaign. Anyone wishing to assist should email justinhinchcliffe@hotmail.com - wine and nibbles always follow...

Meanwhile, our local GLA candidate, Cllr. Matthew Laban, has a revamped website containing his latest news and views.

Cllr. Hoban - it's time to come clean

2008-02-20T21:38:00.005Z

Hunter is 80% certain that the Lib Dems' Cllr. Wayne Hoban (Alexandra) will quit the Council and cause a by-election to coincide with May's London elections on May 1.

A little yellow bird tipped Hunter off a few months ago. Hoban's website has not been renewed and the Lib Dems are flooding the ward with their 'Focus' newsletters - two dead give-away signs.

Two questions for Cllr. Hoban: are you going to quit the Council - yes or no? Assuming the answer is "yes", why won't you hand in your notice before the Highgate by-election?

It's time for Cllr. Hoban and the Haringey Lib Dems to come clean. What are they running scared of?

Lib Dem Euro rebel - what should Clegg do?

2008-02-17T20:45:00.004Z

This is the question been posed by Norfolk Blogger. David Heath, a Euro-sceptic, some might say opportunist, MP for the highly marginal Lib Dem-Con (and Euro-sceptic)seat of Somerset and Frome has broken ranks with the party leadership to call for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Ming said a referendum would be held on the Constitution but Clegg claims that the Treaty is different, so they are not breaking their manifesto commitment, which called for a vote. Heath strongly disagrees.

Hunter actually agrees with Clegg! Heath should probably be sacked. If you're in the shadow cabinet or, in their case, on the front bench, you should abide by collective responsibility. If you cannot do that, then you should resign and speak from the bank benches.

What do YOU think? Should Clegg keep or sack Heath? Vote in Norfolk Blogger's on-line poll.

Two more councillors join Cameron's Conservatives

2008-02-17T20:31:00.003Z

A big 'welcome' to Sakina Bradbury, a councillor in Surrey, has become the third Liberal Democrat to defect to the Conservative Party in the last four months.

That welcome also applies to Ahmed Hussain, a councillor in Tower Hamlets, who has become the first ever Respect councillor to join the Conservatives. This makes the Conservatives the second biggest grouping on the Council with eight members.

Again, Hunter notes that these defections were not noted on Lib Dem Voice (-:

Amusing note sent to Hunter - Lib Dem Highgate campaign under fire from Derek Faye!

2008-02-17T19:49:00.008Z

Dear Hunter,

I am writing to you now because I have received no satisfaction from Mr Neil Williams regarding my complaint. Last week, I was canvassed for this Highgate by-election by a Liberal Democrat representative. Looking down at his electoral roll, he asked if they could have my support and I said 'well yes, dear, I've always been one for the Lib Dems.' Then he said 'I see you live here with a Mr Leonard Mincing, can I assume...?' Assume! Ever since mother passed on, God rest her soul, and my friend Leonard moved in from Herons Lea over the way to give me a bit of company, people will assume! Well, I said to him: 'How very dare you!' He then said he was only asking if he could assume Leonard was one for the Lib Dems too, but I know what he meant. I ask you, just because I haven't met the right girl yet and share a flat and a Franklin Mint Collection with a man who has a different surname, people think we're living in HarinGAY not Highgate! If you ask me, the whole Lib Dem operation here in Haringey reeks of impertinence!

Yours sincerely, dear,

Mr Derek Faye

High Sheldon

Highgate, N6.

Meow! Now, Hunter knows perfectly well that Derek Faye in a camp character, created by Catherine Tate, who denies his sexuality. Nevertheless, it's an amusing letter (unknown author) which may even bring a small smile to the Humourless Bitch!

Hunter relies on local information and gossip to keep this blog the most-read political blog in Haringey, if not north London. Got a story? Email justinhinchcliffe@hotmail.com - all communicants' details will be kept confidential. A big 'thank you' to all who contribute to this blog, especially Hunter's little yellow birds and red roses!

Lib Dems fall for candidate's quack remedy

2008-02-05T17:17:00.000Z

Hunter notes with considerable interest that the local Lib Dems are boasting that Rachel Allison, their Crouch End-based candidate in the current Highgate by-election, has recently created a cold sore remedy. This 'discovery' has yet to make it into The Lancet or, for that matter, any other respected medical journal. Having done a Google search, Hunter discovered the website for her product, Mya Balm, contains no information as to what's in it - just gushing testimonials from 'customers'.

Hunter suspects that, like homeopaths and acupuncturists, she has NO hard evidence to prove it does any good. Apparently 'trials are being carried out ' (so we are told). This begs the question why she appears to be selling the balm when it has not yet been given the all clear or shown to be clinically effective?

According to Google, not a single independent expert of a scientific background has endorsed her product. Why would the LibDems want to be associated with someone who is flogging what appears to be a quack remedy online?

Perhaps because, like voting for Lib Dems, the balm may have a short-lasting placebo effect, with bugger all long-term effect!

PS. Hunter suggests that, if she hasn't done so already, Ms. Allison gets in touch with the MHRA, the government body which grants marketing approval for the sale of products making medicinal claims or she might fall foul of the law. A quick email to alexis.edwards@mhra.gsi.gov.uk should help to clear matters up - quicker than you can say 'Mya Balm'!

Hunter's very poorly - but am I bovvered?

2008-01-29T17:09:00.000Z

Hunter is suffering from a bad bout of 'flu and has been signed off from work for a week. New Covent Garden soups, Copella fruit juices, Californian grapes and a couple of DVDs (preferably starring Catherine Tate!) wouldn't go amiss...

And now there are two

2008-01-29T16:58:00.000Z

Hackney Lib Dem councillor Joseph Stauber has defected to Labour - leaving just two Lib Dems on the Council (vs. 1 Green, 9 Conservative and 45 for Labour). This story wasn't mentioned on Lib Dem Voice. Mark Pack is so obsessed with defections, he normally lists them (even when a councillor crosses the floor on parish council!).

Quote of the year (so far)

2008-01-29T16:38:00.000Z

From the Guardian's Comment is Free (CIF)

"It must be irony day at CIF - first Alistair Campbell on media ethics, now Keith Best on financial probity for MPs. Something preachy from Blunkett and Mandelson surely can't be far behind" - 'Downsman'

Blair and Brown dithered. Cameron acted.

2008-01-29T16:09:00.000Z

Full marks to David Cameron for removing the Whip from David Conway, the now disgraced MP for Bexley and Old Sidcup. Conway was caught red-handed. He then tried to gain sympathy by apologising to his family. He then apologised to his constituents, Parliament and to the Conservative Party. The normally-sane Roger Gale, MP, was on the Today programme trying to do the impossible: defend Conway's behaviour. Roger Gale said that Conway is "innocent until proven guilty". Well, Roger, Conway has already admitted to the main charge and has apologised - would he have done that if he had been innocent? No, of course not. Ironically, Conway was a leading player in the downfall of IDS - accusing Betsy Duncan-Smith of claiming cash from the public purse for working for her husband on constituency matters, when she infact did not (this later turned out to be a totally false allegation). Hunter not only views Conway as a thief but a hypocrite, too.

It's just a shame that Blair and Brown dithered on taking firm action against those Labour MPs and ministers in the wrong.

The importance of being consistent at Home and Abroad

2008-01-29T15:21:00.000Z

Hunter has just learnt of some extremely disturbing news. ConservativeHome is reporting that William Hague, he of the disastrous "Save the Pound" campaign, is in talks with the homophobic Law and Justice Party - formerly led by the crazy Kaczyński twins - to join British Conservative MEPs in the European Reform group.

Since David Cameron's election as Leader of the Conservative Party, much has changed - and for the better. After the next general election, we are set to have more BME and gay MPs than, probably, Labour and the Lib Dems combined. And they were selected on merit, not by using politically-correct and patronising systems. Despite their rhetoric, Labour and the Lib Dems talk about representing modern Britain but they don't. Conservatives do.

By Conservative MEPs jumping into bed with unknown travellers and others with repugnant views, like Poland's Law and Justice Party, we risk undermining all the good work that has been done to brand ourselves as a compassionate and inclusive party. It's important that we're consistent - at home and abroad. For that reason, David Cameron must keep our MEPs in the main centre-right grouping, the European People's Party. It's not too late.

Why are so many Socialists ugly?

2008-01-23T07:47:00.000Z

By pure co-incidence, Hunter came across Cllr. Terry Kelly's website. Kelly is a "Socialist" (aka New Labour) councillor on Renfrewshire Council, Scotland. He may be a really nice guy. Oil painting he is not. This lead Hunter to wonder, 'just why are so many Socialists as ugly as sin?’ Nationally, think Margaret Beckett, George Howarth and Ken Livingstone. Locally, think Cllr. Bob Harris, Karen Jennings and Keith Flett. Hunter cannot think of a single beautiful Socialist - can you?

Sure, all the parties have their share of uglies. Why, though, do Socialists have far more of them than the other parties, possibly, put together?