Regardless of what party you are in you will have a view of whom should be deputy PM. True that only Labour party members get to vote for them but they will be the deputy leader of our country. Lets presume that GB gets the PM position...
Who should get it? My vote (If i had one) would be cast for JohnCruddas. I say this not because i necessarily agree with his politics but because i appreciate that he has criticised the leadership constructively at times other than when the PM has announced he is stepping down. Most of the candidates are now criticising aspects of Blairs legacy and politics but they didn't dare when their career depending on it. Now it's open season on American relationship etc. At least Cruddas stood up for what he believed in before the end game looked near.
Whats your view? And no saying 'None of them or they would all be as rubbish'
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Sunday 13 May 2007
In praise of...
The Norfolk and Norwich festival. It is such a amazing time of the year where they have some genuinely great shows from across the world. Maltheus met with friends earlier who had been to a labyrinth in a old warehouse where they went around, solved riddles and pursued clue quiz's. It sounded great fun. I know there are a wide selection of acts including some fire dances, play, dances etc.
It's great when these acts come together and is something that Norwich and Norfolk can be proud of.
It's great when these acts come together and is something that Norwich and Norfolk can be proud of.
Paying for the costs of crime
Maltheus reads in the EDP that nowadays if you want to find out what happens to your nicked car then you have to pay...talk about privatising the NHS, Schools etc. Are the Police next....?
Wednesday 9 May 2007
Interesting letter
With the local elections over they're are a large proportion of new councillors of all parties now in office. Maltheus wishes them all the best.
A letter to the Evening News today was from Paul Scruton of the electorally successful party 'Norwich Over the Water Party'. In it he advocates that all councillors should be trained by the electoral commission to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be able to stand up to the un-elected council officials which actually rule the councils. Maltheus isn't quite sure of this, there's the sitcom of political officiados with Sir Humphrey Appleby that portrays politicians as the figureheads but civil servants as the powerhouses. Is this true of local government?
Having been in a elected position himself Maltheus is aware of the influence some unelected officials can have on the position of an organisation. However, Maltheus believes that ultimately a civil servant can't change a vote and it is up to the conviction of the voter to set their views forward firmly.
But training can't hurt, can it?
A letter to the Evening News today was from Paul Scruton of the electorally successful party 'Norwich Over the Water Party'. In it he advocates that all councillors should be trained by the electoral commission to equip them with the knowledge and skills to be able to stand up to the un-elected council officials which actually rule the councils. Maltheus isn't quite sure of this, there's the sitcom of political officiados with Sir Humphrey Appleby that portrays politicians as the figureheads but civil servants as the powerhouses. Is this true of local government?
Having been in a elected position himself Maltheus is aware of the influence some unelected officials can have on the position of an organisation. However, Maltheus believes that ultimately a civil servant can't change a vote and it is up to the conviction of the voter to set their views forward firmly.
But training can't hurt, can it?
Sunday 6 May 2007
John Reid to set down
The Politics Show is on BBC at the moment and John Sopel is interviewing John Reid. Reid just said that he is going to step down in July from the cabinet. Interesting....obviously declaring to work 24/7 for the Home Office, demoralising the staff by declaring it 'unfit for purpose' and splitting it up is too much and he intends to step down. Maltheus quite likes John Reid, he's quite personable and a street fighter BUT he needs to stay on and sort out the mess which is the Home Office. Although me thinks it might be a case of jumping ship before pushed..
Saturday 5 May 2007
Election losers and winners and spin
The results are now mostly in for the local elections. Maltheus isn't going to do a minute analysis as there's far better critiques on the BBC and Guardian websites.
The Tories seem to be the winners at the moment with gains of 800+ seats across the country and some inroads into those eleusive towns. Labour has lost about 400 odd seats and the Lib Dems have made an overall loss of a couple o hundred seats despite making some notable progress in some areas.
Locally, the Greens lost by one vote in one ward to prevent them coming the largest opposition party in Norwich. Bet Ramsays secretly fuming behind his calm exterior. The Tories have become three and Morphew managed to just abut hold his ranks with a 300+ majority and maintaining the largest grouping on the council.
In South Norfolk, the Tories managed to win big and overturn the council there. They were one of the first groups to set up a innovative e-approach to the elections with blogs, downloads and Youtube ad's. Maybe this had a influence?
In North Norfolk, the Tories gained a few off of Independents but the Lib Dems consolidated and strengthened their grip. It's going to be reallit is iy hard for any candidate up there to lodge Norman Lamb away from his seat now. This used to be a uber-vulnerabloe seat but the Lib Dems won't be easy to unlodge by any party.
Maltheus's final comment is to vent his frustration at the election spin from the parties HQ's. Yes, it is inevitable but irritating nonetheless. Tony Blair claims that the loss of so many seats is a good steeping stone to success! How?! Cameron skirts around the issues of the major Northern cities with no Tories and Ming (Probably the most honest) claims a mixed bag - yes, they did have some successes but the net number of councillors was dramatically down!
The Tories seem to be the winners at the moment with gains of 800+ seats across the country and some inroads into those eleusive towns. Labour has lost about 400 odd seats and the Lib Dems have made an overall loss of a couple o hundred seats despite making some notable progress in some areas.
Locally, the Greens lost by one vote in one ward to prevent them coming the largest opposition party in Norwich. Bet Ramsays secretly fuming behind his calm exterior. The Tories have become three and Morphew managed to just abut hold his ranks with a 300+ majority and maintaining the largest grouping on the council.
In South Norfolk, the Tories managed to win big and overturn the council there. They were one of the first groups to set up a innovative e-approach to the elections with blogs, downloads and Youtube ad's. Maybe this had a influence?
In North Norfolk, the Tories gained a few off of Independents but the Lib Dems consolidated and strengthened their grip. It's going to be reallit is iy hard for any candidate up there to lodge Norman Lamb away from his seat now. This used to be a uber-vulnerabloe seat but the Lib Dems won't be easy to unlodge by any party.
Maltheus's final comment is to vent his frustration at the election spin from the parties HQ's. Yes, it is inevitable but irritating nonetheless. Tony Blair claims that the loss of so many seats is a good steeping stone to success! How?! Cameron skirts around the issues of the major Northern cities with no Tories and Ming (Probably the most honest) claims a mixed bag - yes, they did have some successes but the net number of councillors was dramatically down!
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