Result

"Sometimes you eat the bar and sometimes... well, he eats you"

A big thanks to all those who helped me out.

Still Alive

For the few comrades who read this blog and wondered whether I had disappeared - I say to you that I am still alive but I am busy fighting the good fight. So there.

511

Lib Dems chose a leader yesterday. Less of their members turned out to vote than they did in the previous leadership election. Could it be because they didn't have much to vote for? In any case they chose the calamity over the other one.

Calamity

The Lib Dems are quickly losing their middle of the road 'nice party' image as the leadership contest between two essentially identical candidates came to life when one of them called the other one a 'calamity'. However - given that the two candidates are almost exactly the same no one is sure which one said it about the other. All very confusing, but the Lib Dems drift into irrelevance continues apace.

Fraternal Greetings

The campaign momentum builds with planned action coming up. I have also been busy enlisting the help of neighbouring branches and this has been quite successful so far. I think the success is due to them looking over their shoulder at the opposition in the next ward.

Feeling good - getting ready to start the attack.

Empaneled - time to start the telephone calling

I have been told that I have be empaneled as a candidate and so I can now start working on the branch to get the nomination. All is on track so far.

In other news I have takers for the phone bank and activity is starting to build.

The program begins. Time to ready ourselves for the coming battle.

Ming's departure - bigger than you think

It all happened a bit quickly last night - after a two part squeeze in the poll (but mainly a Tory squeeze) Ming Campbell resigned as leader of the Lib Dems. The leadership campaign and the subsequent direction of the Lib Dems could be a minor yet decisive decider of the next General Election.. Do they go right and fight the Tory ground or go they go far left of centre and fight against Labour. Interesting times - can the Lib Dems fight and expand or will they go back to the pre-1997 level of MPs?

The Moral Argument

I love the cinema and I love films - especially the films that remind you why you're into politics and why you fight for a better world. I saw Amazing Grace which is a truly inspiring story about the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire led by William Wilberforce and the fearless abolitionists who fought against the vested interests of the time to win one of the most famous parliamentary victories of the progressive movement.

I also like going to church to recalibrate the old moral compass and this last weekend I heard about the modern slave trade which is entirely monstrous and needs to be put to an end. A movement called Stop The Traffik is attempting to bring the issue to the United Nations as only a global response can bring this to an end. I would urge any readers to use the link below and sign up. The moral argument is undeniable. Slavery must end within our lifetime and for good.

http://www.stopthetraffik.org/

Train Treats

I went out with my brother last night in his part of the county and I took the late train home back to my little town. On the way the train past through the seat I stood in last year and a number of this town's residents were on the train.

It was a Monday night and while I'd had a little drink with my brother before we went to see a show these people were kaylied. I looked at them and the thing is I remember some of them from school. I wondered what had become of some of the people I had grown up with.

There is a big job to do to turn this town round as how do you reverse such decline - the young people who need to change the place have either left or are still in the old town and are slowly wasting their lives.

A very big challenge. A lot to do.

To Go, Or Not To Go ....

The question of a snap General Election troubles me as I cannot see the necessity. I think the party machine in my neck of the woods will mobilise and we'll campaign by numbers - but do we really need to go to the country? It is a bit cold .....

But maybe it comes down to breaking the back of the Cameron phenomenon and throw the opposition into utter confusion. Maybe it is worth it.

To go, or not to go .... I wouldn't. But I am ready if the call comes.