Two Doctors: Westminster: March 2008 Archives

Cameron goes the wrong way

By

on March 22, 2008 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

As you might imagine, "Dave" Cameron's photo-op deep environmentalism is intensely annoying around these parts. Especially when he argues for nuclear power, for hunting, or calls wind turbines "giant bird blenders".

Gallingly, though, I think being caught going the wrong way up a one-way street on his bike is not going to damage him. It reminds all those people he's trying to win over (we call them Lib Dem voters) that he does cycle, and perhaps sometimes without a driver following on behind. If I was an utter cynic I'd suggest his team even tipped off the Mirror, sunbathing-celeb-style.

Most annoying, though, is the fact that it leads to headlines like this.

Mice, calamities and fences

By

James

on March 6, 2008 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anyone reading today's papers (or indeed watching Newsnight from two nights ago, I'm assured) would have picked up the utterly derisive tone that the media have adopted for coverage of the Liberals, especially over their referendum disaster. The sketches this morning were hilarious. I offer a line or two from each:

Last week the Lib Dems stormed out of the chamber in protest against a Speaker's ruling. Last night they sat on their hands. If there is one thing sillier than a petulant walk-out it's a pretentious sit-in. (Simon Hoggart in the Guardian)

Up popped little Ed Davey for the Lib Dems, whiskers trembling. He seemed a bit Billy Bunterish but in a bad way. He was aggressive, illogical, evasive and pompous. And that's the positive view. (Ann Treneman in the Times)

They huffed and they puffed but failed to blow any house down and only ended up wheezing very heavily in a large parliamentary heap. (Michael Settle in the Herald)

Anyone got others to offer?

Absence of a throng

By

James

on March 4, 2008 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A liberal-inclined source tells me a tale from Aviemore. Apparently Nick Clegg, latest owner of the poisoned chalice, had to ask a speechwriter aide what the word "throng" means. Here's a clue, Nick, it's what you didn't have at your conference, as Calum and others have noted.

Oil wars, round 2

By

James

on March 2, 2008 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Sunday Herald gave a good show to a campaign we're involved in against the massive opening up of Scotland's waters for oil and gas, threatening not just the Moray bottlenose dolphins but also 20+ other cetaceans. Thanks Rob.

Note the Labour Minister's line in the middle of it. Total spin. Still, I think this is a campaign we can win, just like ship-to-ship oil transfers. There's plenty more to come on this front, that's for sure.