October 20th, 2011

15 Ministers and Whips Are Threatening To Rebel

The list of Tory rebels welding machine guns to their jeeps and preparing to drive across the desert to Colonel Gaddavei’s compound, is going to reach 100. Guido has had an interesting tip from usually reliable sources: Word is that up to fifteen junior ministers and whips are threatening to break the three-line whip on Monday. There are some very angry voices on the inside, but emphasis is on the “threatening”…

It seems that the leadership are trying to be clever by trailing the prospect of a three-line whip to take the pressure off of voting day. Announcing it today gives time to row back over the weekend in an attempt to make Monday a damp squib. Guido isn’t sure these back-room manoeuvres will work…


198 Comments

  1. 1
    Havin' It In Ibiza says:

    The EU is a failure.

    • 3
      Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

      Democracy at Last.

      • 7
        Anonymous says:

        Not yet. No doubt a large number will put the chance of a position on the gravy train ahead of their constituents…

        • 15
          Anonymous says:

          100 is not enough and how Ian Duncan Smith and Ms May going to vote?

          • Iloathlefties says:

            UKIP is the only answer to save our democracy in this Country. The rest are all the same. Against the national interest and in favour of giving our taxes to foreign causes. EU=£13.5 billion net. Foreign Aid =£11.5 billion. So where could we save £25 billion………..dumb and dumber politicians.

          • Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

            Energy POOR pick up the cost on their bills to pay Feed in Tariffs for the RICH.
            Great that one innit.

          • Osama the Nazarene says:

            All Cam has to do is line up the votes in the Liebor party and the rebels can vote how they like.

            Liebor always puts Party before country.

        • 24
          Voter says:

          The constituents are, as it were, the shareholders in UK plc and need to exert control over the board of directors at the next general election if the Commons lets the country down by failing to support a referendum.

        • 25
          Anonymous says:

          Why do you all go on the streets and demand a vote on EU, or at least put sign on your front windows demanding a vote.

          • Anonymous says:

            William Hague is the biggest sellout, he sacrificed his first political career over issues like the EU and immigration. Now he’s going to lead Cameron’s goon squad in blocking this referendum. I suppose the world looks very different once you get on the gravy train..

        • 45
          misterned says:

          One thing is certain, ALL three main parliamentary parties have utterly and miserably failed this country.

          All three are the same on the EU (capitulation); Foreign Policy (more wars); Education (free schools); Climate (tax and restrictive controls); Defence (cuts); law and Order (weak on crime and more rights for criminals); politically correct bureaucracy (bigoted hatred of white British males), Corporatism (corrupt collusion to screw tax-payers to subsidise the corporate elite) and there is only 1% difference in tax+spend.

          You cannot vote for any of the main parliamentary parties AND make that a vote for change, for there is sod-all change between them.

          Here is my cast iron prediction. Labour will win the next general election, because Cameron is chasing real tories into supporting UKIP. They have no other choice.

          It is now impossible to vote tory to stop labour policies, because the tories are STILL mostly implementing labour polices.

          The only change can come from UKIP, although they will not win the general election, they might push the Lib Dems into fourth place.

          Although I look forward to seeing UKIP win the European Parliamentary elections in the UK. They came second last time, but tories will defect en masse to UKIP for the Euro elections.

        • 155
      • 137
        Underpaid News Hack says:

        LATEST BREAKING NEWS UPDATE Just been announced that GADDAFFI has been KILLED trying to escape from Sirte

    • 6
      Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

      Thats what happens when you let the Political Class run an economy. It was bound to break. We are next as we have handed too much control to the Polictical class Idiots.

      • 35
        Sungei Patani says:

        You do seem a very silly fellow. Whoever runs the country are the Political Class by definition.

        If we had a revolution tomorrow (heaven forbid) the people who end up running the country will be politicians, again by definition. To make sweeping statements about the “Political Classes” illustrates your inability to think rationally. The clearest example to illustrate my point is the Russian Revolution of 1917 which swept away the then “Political Classes” and subsequently replaced them by Stalin a consummate politician but the most prolific murderer ever.

        • 41
          Anonymous says:

          Trite tripe

        • 73
          Zweistein says:

          It’s usually thick plebs with chips on their shoulders who talk about “political classes”.

          • Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

            Do You not mean talking about the Greatest number of Fraudsters ever to sit in representation of the People. Is that the CHIP you are talking about?

          • Sungei Patani says:

            Agreed, but also ones who are unintelligent or have little education who are unable to understand that anyone who runs or purports to run a government are politicians by definition.

        • 73
          Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

          I will explain just how silly I really am. I stated the Political class are running the economy, Well they are ruining it not running it through their Quasi Private Companies and discredited bankrupting fiscal policy. 20% VAT one example ONLY.. Another just to put a bit more pressure on 81% Energy TAX at production. I suppose you believe Rail Track to be a Private commercial operation?
          The revolution is coming but its something that is being forced on us by the Political Thickies that have their Degree mind bending qualifications. Brain washed twonks who dont know how to fix what they have created.

        • 185
          revolutionistorysays says:

          Such knowledge suggests you take these misguided fools too seriously. The invisible hand is still at large and Adam Smith is yet to be surpassed.

    • 11
      Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

      The European Union isn’t the Failure. It is the Gravey Train Political Class through Vested interests that have Sh-t on it. The Fraud and self interest are what has destroyed the European Union, Biggest threat to the dominance of the USA and Dollar reserve currency. No wonder it had to GO.

      • 75
        Johnny says says:

        The fraud and self interest is human nature. It is what brought the USSR down and will bring the EU down and the reason why enforced socialism cannot work in the long term.

        • 90
          Rage Against the Political Elite. says:

          Its why we need to RULE OF LAW, and like the Chinese when they catch some political mandarin at it they KILL THEM. Sanctions that really Bite. Not the Resignation and full pension entitlement that Our Fraudsters get.

          • sockpuppet #4 says:

            yeah yeah right. The people who are actually in charge don’t get executed in China.

          • MI6 says:

            Last time I was in the territory. Regional Police Commander put to death for running a brothel. Now that is justice. At least the chinese know how to run a capitalist economy. The Western Democratic fraudster system has destroyed capitalism.

        • 184
          Randy Mandy - The Elder says:

          Nothing wrong with Socialism. You ask, Tony Blair, Cherie and the Kinnocks. And Lord Prescott, Lord Mandibum and The Comrades.

          Luvvly Jubbly.

      • 186
        MrBismarck says:

        I agree Mitteleuropa is still on the cards

    • 22
      Peter Grimes says:

      OT, but now that Eurozone banks are set to be bailed out by the ESFS or their own governments, will Little Georgie Osborne and Dud Dave have the balls to refuse to carry on with the Lloyds breakup, occasioned as it was by taking government support?

      After all, with the recent discovery of yet another €2 billion fraud coverup at SocGen no one is going to want to buy any part of them or the other Eurozone nationalised banks.

    • 53
      Thatchers Gusset says:

      WE WANT OUR SAY!

      • 187
        Myshavedpubes says:

        I have lived in that gusset for man years and I don’t think we have anything of value to add.

    • 127
      Underpaid News Hack says:

      BREAKING NEWS: Gaddaffi has been captured trying to escape from Sirte as it fell to NTC forces

    • 129
      Electric Arc says:

      Why have they got welding machines?

    • 197
      angelemerkelangel says:

      Oh now come on that is not true.

      For those in the Euro-zone, especially us Germans it has allowed the “internal/export” (blackwhite or Mitteleuroexport) of goods to poorer countries at a price we determined. Given our strength they borrowed at rates, we determined, to buy these goods. Without a single currency they could not have afforded our products and so we would not have been so magnanimous as at first we seemed. The silly French have just realised my revenge for the Treaty of Versailles and thus The fourth Reich is here but you don’t see it yet. We are benign but if you live in Southern Europe, democracy has already left your achaian shores.

  2. 2
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    Dave could still turn this to his credit.

    • 17
      Werritty's Right Hand says:

      Now Werritty & Fox out of work why not let them run the EURO Ref and make some extra moolah at the same time. Also NHS policy, stuff the patients and they can also make money there…and given recent breaking news that 16-year fall in crime halted by impact of cuts and rising unemployment, put Werritty in charge of that….

    • 26
      New Model Army says:

      Unlikely he has moved the debate time so he can come back in time to vote AGAINST the bill. Cameron loves the EU he’s a statist Blairite there is no way he would ever let the British people decide this it’s far too important to the elite. The EU is the future for them and they know it, anti-democratic, top down Stalinist planning, PC ineffectiveness that needs thousands of administrators and loads of jobs for ex politicos its perfect!

    • 86
      Jarndyce and Jarndyce says:

      Unlikely he has moved the debate time so he can come back in time to vote AGAINST the bill. Cameron loves the EU he’s a statist Blairite there is no way he would ever let the British people decide on membership this it’s far too important to the elite. The EU is the future for them and they know it, anti-democratic, top down Stalinist planning, PC ineffectiveness that needs thousands of administrators, loads of non-jobs for has been politicos, its perfect for them!

    • 158
      Anonymous says:

      If he blocks this any residual respect I have for him will be gone – how dare they block this. W*nkers the lot of them.

  3. 4
    sockpuppet #4 says:

    They’re buggered then.

    Who is going to provide them with metaphorical air cover in billions of pounds worth of metaphorical jet fighers.

  4. 5
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    Guido

    If Tory rebels number 100, Could Ed Resist and then score a big blow on PM and vote in favour of referendum?

    Ed has a chance to lead, as does Dave, will they for once listedn to the people and help restore trust and respect in the political class?

    • 8
      Sir William Waad says:

      Will Richard Dawkins repent and believe?

    • 19
      Anonymous says:

      Only hope for a vote on EU is Ed.

      • 37
        Phantom says:

        Get f-ing real.

        Ed Milliband, a left-wing collectivist to his very DNA wanting a referendum on the EU?

        The last thing that streak of rat’s pee wants to do is remind everyone what Brown did and didn’t do over Lisbon.

        It would be the ultimate pimp my bandwagon though…. and he is that stupid that he just might.

        • 47
          Engineer says:

          He’ll wait for the bandwagon to stop before he jumps on, though. Joining a moving bandwagon probably contravenes several EU regulations.

        • 48
          Hang The Bastards says:

          The problem is a stupid person might.

          But Ed is not a stupid person is is a fucking-total-wank-stupid-piss-brain so he will naturally miss the opportunity that a stupid person would take up !.

      • 76
        roy says:

        Ed is a Polish-Lithuanian. He doesn’t give a shit about the UK. Just using this on his CV so he can follow Kinnock to mainland Europe where he belongs.

  5. 9
    Spartacus says:

    So we may get a hearing on whether we need a vote.
    Passing it through wi . . . the building just got hit by a flock of pigs.

    Now where was I?

  6. 10
    Tired cynic says:

    ‘”but emphasis is on the “threatening”‘.

    Nothing like getting-in your excuses early Guido when it doesn’t happen. Actually you haven’t a clue what is happening but it gives you a (piss poor) story

    • 23
      jabbathecat says:

      And your contribution to the debate is…???

    • 60
      Tell it like it really is says:

      I well remeber the vote in the 70s on whether to stay in or come out of the EU. I voted OUT – I have yet to meet anyone who voted to stay in and have always been of the belief that the result was “fixed” by the then government to suit themselves.

      If we do (hope against hope) have a vote now what’s to say that the same “fixing” of the result wouldn’t occur?

      • 79
        Spartacus says:

        I am doing better than you – I found two people who voted yes. One of them was my uncle who in later life said he regretted it.
        Fixed – Agreed. At the time there was little appetite to be part of the common market. Even less now. And to think of what we gave up to join.

        • 114
          Hugh Janus says:

          I am ashamed to say that you have just found a third – to my eternal regret. How utterly stupid of me to think that, when our politicians said that it was just a trading arrangement, I actually believed them. Shortly after I came to my senses and have never, ever again trusted the bastards. Mrs T got pretty close to keeping her word and fighting our corner, but we will never see the likes of her again, or her successful hand-bagging of those greedy EU federalists.

          I listened to Call-Me-Dave’s soft words and vague promises at yesterday’s PMQs, and was soundly cuffed by Mrs J when I called him a number of very unpleasant names….

      • 163
        Sungei Patani says:

        I too voted in favour of our continuing membership of the Common Market which seemed to me, at the time, to be a very good thing. One thing influencing my thinking at the time was that Neil Kinnock was very much against it; that was of course before he and his family got their noses in the EU trough.

        I never voted in favour of an European Union which has turned out to be an expensive, undemocratic, unrepresentative bureaucracy which the United Kingdom should leave without regret as soon as possible.

      • 165
        jabbathecat says:

        I voted yes to the EEC(European Economic Community), or Common Market as it was also referred to at the time, and I have no problems with that arrangement as the free movement of goods and services within a common trading area made, and still makes sense.

        I did not, however, at any stage vote for the EU(European Union) which is a socialist federal dictatorial construct and I wholly oppose the idea of the EUSSR as the unelected EUSSR commissars are trying to shove down our throats.

  7. 12
    Praguetory says:

    Overall deficit and debt levels in the eurozone are not dissimilar to those in the US and the UK, so how come bond yields are so much higher? Could it be to do with the fact that the EU is a busted institution and that nobody has confidence that fiscal responsibility can be achieved at state level across the monetary area.

    • 16
      Sir William Waad says:

      Most of our debt does not come up for repayment, ahem, refinancing, for about eight years. This gives investors confidence that we are not going to go bust JUST YET. As for what happens in 2019, official policy is that we all hold hands in a circle and wish very, very hard.

    • 27
      sockpuppet #4 says:

      http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Bonds
      Which bond yields are you talking about here?

      Haven’t german bond yields been effectively negative at times this year?

    • 80
      roy says:

      overall. but euroland is a confederation of semi-independent states. that’s the problem.

  8. 14
    Observer says:

    We had the nonsense AV referendum, for which there was no public demand, so why can’t the Government hold one on Britain’s membership of the EU? I will no longer be voting Conservative willy nilly (to use a Cameron phrase).

  9. 18
    RtHonJon says:

    Someone should put an amendment for referendum on repatriating certain powers, with a clause that if the EU refuse or ignore it we get an automatic in/out referendum within a year.

    Dave can support that. It will be a resounding yes, and he can go to the EU with more firepower. In the long run as the EU goes for more integration, we beef up the EFTA, and split.

    • 91
      We the People says:

      Some idiot who never looks out the window of the Westminster bubble could do that, but he wouldn’t get re-elected if he he tried to con the public with a ruse like that.

  10. 20
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    So the two pettitions that went to debate:

    1: Hillsbourgh, after 22 years of waiting they will get thier answers in the next 12 months

    2:EU referendum, after 30+ years and now a modal so far from what it was meant to be, all 3 parties enforcing a 3 line whip.

    Democrcy?

  11. 21
    Anonymous says:

    It is not in the Lib Dems interests to vote for a referendum. They know such a referendum would be hugely popular with the right, and the country. It would a Tory Victory next time even more likely.

    A shift to the right, when the Lib Dems want a shift to the left.

  12. 28
    HenryV says:

    We want the same deal as Norway. France only wants us to shore up her defences. The Germans are away with the fairies.

    What I don’t understand is why the Europhiles keep banging on about trade. China (as an example) isn’t in the EU yet European companies trade with them. So why do we have to be in to trade? Would VW or PSA stop selling us their cars? Are they concerned that we will stop handing them contracts that put British jobs at risk? You would never ever see a German, French, Italian, Spanish etc. company doing to one of their companies what was done to Bombardier in Derby.

    • 56
      Engineer says:

      Agree – it’s a false argument.

      If you make a product or provide a service that people want at a cost they are happy to bear, you’ll trade.

      The argument about having to comply with EU regulations being a barrier is also false. If we want to sell something to Japan, or America, or anywhere else, we have to comply with the local regulations. If they want to sell to the UK, they have to comply with British regulations. So whether we are in or out of the EU would make not a jot of difference.

      (There’s also a gradual move to international standards for many things. Comply with those, and you’ve cracked it wherever you want to do business.)

      • 136
        sockpuppet #4 says:

        I believe that the argument used to be real. Different markets banned different things, all sorts of odd barriers to sell things through different europeyan countries. That might well have been fixed by 1993, but you still get some countries dicking about with minor things. Use of radio frequencies for some gadgets comes to mind.

        I think the current argument is that the europe wide regulations would be decided without any input from the UK.

        • 161
          HenryV says:

          Protectionism doesn’t work for nation states. Why should it work for supranational organisations?

    • 177
      Gordon's Gin says:

      You have your blinkers on Henry or you’ve only examined part of the argument (the bit that suits you). Nissan, Toyota, Honda and Tata make cars in this country because we have a skilled workforce and quite a big internal market but mainly to sell their cars into the rest of the EU market. If we were to leave the EU they would shut down their factories and move to Slovakia. Our great workforce and our not so enormous market are not enough to keep them here. The same would probably apply to numerous other companies names of which I cannot think at the moment.

      • 180
        HenryV says:

        Actually I had factored that in. Me thinks you are forgetting that the Japanese aren’t the economic super power they once were and don’t have the freedom to shut up shop and just move. You are also forgetting that a good number of the models produced here go to markets outside Europe and even back to Japan. I don’t know the last time you were on the Continent but Japanese cars aren’t much of a feature on Continental roads. Jonny Foreigner tends to be a bit nationalistic with his car buying.

  13. 29
    Telly Savalas says:

    If a picture paints a thousand words……

    Great mash!

    • 33
      Anonymous, 10 Downing St., SW1A says:

      Hmm. I look even more handsome in uniform.

    • 78
      We the People says:

      Its a good idea but the execution is poor. We need to see him dancing about in his toga on the back of a golf buggy before scurrying off into a bunker.

  14. 30
    Anonymous says:

    cameron
    hague
    osbourne

    traitors

    • 31
      Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

      Miliband
      Balls
      Brown
      Blair (rebate for CAP reform)

      Traiters

      • 39
        Hang The Bastards says:

        ADD THESE TO THE POLITICAL SUICIDE LIST !

        James Wharton (Con) Spineless Traitor

        Stuart Bell (Lab) Fucking useless French Traitor

        Tom Blenkinsop (Lab) Baby MP looking after his own carear Traitor

        • 50
          William Joist says:

          Engairland calling …..this is Engairland calling……

          Shame about that naughty Crime and Disorder Act 1998, ain’t it?

    • 40
      Phantom says:

      You forgot Quisling, Euro-Nazi and EUSSR……

      Over 50% of all voters want to remain in a Single Market, they just don’t want the federalism. That suggests a negotiated settlement to join something like EEA or EFTA.

      And UKIP manages to garner 5% of the vote?

  15. 38
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:
  16. 43
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    I wonder what Chris Huhne will do on monday ?

  17. 52
    KingHal says:

    The 25th October is St Crispin’s Day. This means the debate will be on the eve of St Crispin’s Day, the same day that Shakespeare’s Henry V gave this his great speech.

    Read it and weep you spineless appeasing MPs:

    This day is call’d the feast of Crispian.
    He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
    Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
    And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
    He that shall live this day, and see old age,
    Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
    And say, “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.”
    Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
    And say, “These wounds I had on Crispian’s day.”
    Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
    But he’ll remember with advantages
    What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
    Familiar in his mouth as household words,
    Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,
    Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
    Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.
    This story shall the good man teach his son;
    And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
    From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered,
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition;
    And gentlemen in England now a-bed
    Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

  18. 54
    Neil Kinnock says:

    I’ve done very well out of the EU. It’s alright! It’s alright!

  19. 57
    The BBC Bias Unit, headcount 14,650 and rising says:

    “UK retail sales see stronger-than-expected rise.”

    This is not important and will be relegated to the end of the running order.

    Back to our main news today: Libya, Libya, Arab Spring, Egypt, Tory Government cuts, cuts, cuts, recession, Miliband, Labour, cuts…

  20. 58

    Does Dave stand for anything?

  21. 61
    Hugh Janus says:

    “Word is that up to fifteen junior ministers and whips are threatening to break the three-line whip on Monday.”

    If only it were true. The mighty and over-blown Executive now wields so much patronage and clout that any backbencher looking for one of the 140 or so mostly ludicrous posts in government will find him/herself on Call Me Dave’s blacklist of troublemakers for a long time to come, thus severely frustrating their over-weening ambition for power and fame. Nevertheless, we can I suppose fantasise just for a moment that at least some of our Conservative career (as opposed to conviction) politicians will do the decent thing, just for once, in an historical vote to see that we either modify or abandon altogether our relationship with the corrupt, profligate and sovereignty-grabbing EU…

    On second thoughts – fat chance!

  22. 63
    Labour: The party of opportunity. Sorry, that should be The party of opportunism says:

    Despite what people say, Labour are not inconsistent or cheap opportunists. Let’s look at their record:

    In favour of tuition fee rises when in power.

    Against them in opposition.

    Introduced fuel escalator when in power.

    Against it in opposition.

    Against lobbying register when in power.

    For one in opposition.

    Did nothing about phone hacking when in power for 13 years.

    Condemn government for lack of action in 13 months.

    Like I said, completely consistent.

  23. 65
    Anonymous says:

    parliament only works for mps, not for the voters. time to kick it in to touch.

    cameron, traitor

    you will pay

    if you couldn’t win last time, you definitely wont in 2015, you’re toast

  24. 66
    Hang The Bastards says:

    UK SPRING UPRISING (EU REFERENDUM STYLE)

    If these tvvats deny 70% of the population who do get it and are not fooled anymore then all hell will break loose and for once we will get off our asses and boot this shameless lot out of government for good.

    It will be the end of the 3 as we know it.

    Bring it on you trecherous bastards !

  25. 68
    pissed off voter says:

    EU referendum? I’ll believe it when it happens. This coalition is shit. Neither party have a mandate for their policies which is a case in itself for referenda on major decisions. At least, we might get some indication of how many real tories there are in the party.

    If Millipede has got balls – noo, not that c*unt – he has been presented with a golden opportunity to ‘weed the Huntwy’. Every passing day makes it harder and harder to resist UKIP.

    • 88
      Anonymous says:

      Spot on. we’ve just ended up with the worst of both worlds. Wishy washy Cameron being held to ransom by a bunch of sandal wearing LibDem huhnes. The orange bookers should defect over to the Conservatives proper and sink the yellow peril once and for all!

  26. 71
    Anonymous says:

    cameron prefers euroland to england

  27. 92
    Anonymous says:

    censorship botz on these comments ffs Guido u fat commie fuk

  28. 93
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    Gove in it ?

    Gove is a man very much in the Fox mould – arrogant, headstrong, dismissive of advice, and incurably convinced of his own rightness. A few weeks ago he was asked questions about his handling of ‘free schools’ and academies. The questions were blocked or evaded. An FOI request was launched to extract the information, using the legal facility made available to ensure that matters within the public service were fully disclosed and accessible. The request was turned down on the grounds that it involved emails between the Secretary of State and his special advisers and Conservative Party contacts which were nothing to do with the Department or the public service. But this was not a technical dispute, as leaked emails show.

    Dominic Cummings, one of Gove’s closest advisers, told a senior cicil servant: “New Schools Network is not giving out to you, the media or anybody else any figures on ‘expressions of interest’ for PQs, FOIs or anything else. Further, NSN has not, is not, and will never answer a single FOI request made to us concerning anything at all”. Cummings is now at the centre of a row over the use of private emails by Gove’s closest advisers when conducting government business”.

    Gove is close to Cameron in a way that Fox was not. Nevertheless I predict that such is Gove’s self-willed recklessness in discarding the rules of Ministerial accountability and in throwing overboard anything that stands in his way, however idiosyncratic his demands, that he will not survive this Parliament in Ministerial office.

    • 100
      Sir William Waad says:

      I can see that you have an axe to grind. What actually is the point of condemning children to continue suffering the existing, failed state education system?

      • 124
        sockpuppet #4 says:

        If free schools are a great success, say theres 200-2000 doing well in 5 years time, you would still be condemning children to business as ususal for 90% -99% of them.

      • 143
        Tris says:

        I see.

        It’s perfectly OK for Gove to disregard the ministerial codes and refuse to submit to questioning, because you think that, in this case, the end justifies the means.

        But what about the next case when maybe you don’t think that it does. And what about all the cases when it most assuredly won’t.

        I’m in Scotland. None of the English education nonsense spouted by the House Elf is of any direct or personal interest to me. He can force kids to read Dryden and put them off books for life as long as he isn’t doing it to our kids. But if I were English I would be concerned that my tax money was going to schools where there was little democratic control over the curriculum.

        Surely the way to deal with failing schools is to ensure that teachers teach properly, or are sacked; that headmasters or rectors oversee schools properly, or are sacked, and that exam results start to reflect actual achievement rather than the idiotic market based dumbed down nonsense which presently exists where exam companied vie for business by making their exams easier and easier. That rather than handing education to the untrained and untried should be the way forward.

    • 106
      David Bellendamy says:

      If you watch a Billy for long enough, eventually it starts splitting from the head downwards and out jumps a goo-covered journalist.

      Fascinating!

    • 113
      Steve Miliband says:

      Has Billy been to school recently? His spelling has come on leaps and bounds

  29. 94
    Anonymous says:

    lose the censurship b0t on this blog guido u fat fuk

  30. 96
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:
    • 111
      genghiz the kahn says:

      So Ed tell me again about your links with Gaddaffi.

    • 116
      Stink****** says:

      Labour have never done the right thing for Britain.
      What’s new Ed?

    • 117
      Mornington Crescent says:

      Yes, of course, oh Deity, anything you say. After all, I’m only a poor citizen and taxpayer and have no right to a say on what happens to my country. I’m totally inferior to you and bow to your massive intellectual presence.

      Fuck the fuck off, you arrogant streak of piss. What the fuck do you know about anything in the real world? Never had a real job, never been outside Zone 1 of the Tube unsupervised let alone the fucking M25.

      Just fuck off, traitorous c’unt.

    • 125
      My name is Bollox says:

      And milisqueek never having used his own money to set up and run a business then fight through the EUSSR regulations is in no position to tell employers or anyone else that been in EU is the right thing.
      The only growth he gets from EU is an increase in his personal wealth at the expense of the rest of the nation.
      Horrible man!!

    • 148
      Ed Miliband says:

      “We will be putting forward proposals for a union with Israel”

      • 196
        Ed Milliband says:

        and once the union is agreed we will look to claim the wailing wall as part of Golders Green.

    • 193
      Puritanbritainisthewayahead says:

      Dear Billy,

      I see you in here a lot. I think you hit the nail well and if I can continue to find clichés I will. The tragedy is this blog is limited to the interested. If the chaps outside St Pauls had any gumption they would come here. Such a rag tag ‘n bobtail revolution has no chance.

      Lenin proved to be successful you need a committed elite not tent(s) full of well meaning liberals and slogans such as ‘housing, jobs and respect’ not some amorphous collection of slogans. Thankfully the revolutionary contingent of the the UK have not fully understood this since the civil wars of the 1640′s.

  31. 98
    Sir Pimple Timpleton says:

    There’s no fool like a fool who keeps repeating the mistakes of others. The Boil of Europe will never be lanced from the Conservative Party until there is a Referendum. Until then, the party will continue to tear itself apart.

  32. 99
    Seth the pig farmer says:

    A cleverly worded question would allow the ories to go back to the eu and get back the sort of powers that are most emotive. That would draw the sting of the eu debate and destroy the ukip vote. Having secured his right wing and kept the left onside by avoiding an in/ou vote he will walk the next GE.

  33. 104
    Dick Scratcher says:

    Col Gaddafi captured – wounded in both legs. Hope they kick the shit out of him & then string him up.

  34. 105
    Dr Liam Fox says:

    Adam Werritty finished his driving test today and the examiner,Dr Liam Fox looked down at him.

    “Well,” he breathed. “You jumped six red lights, did 60 down a thirty road and it seems that I have a dog trapped under my wheel trim!”

    “So what’s the verdict then?” Adam asked.

    “You’ve passed,” he replied, passing me a piece of tissue. “Wipe your lips before you get out.”

  35. 107
    Anonymous says:

    Dave must have been bidding on Ebay for Gaddaffi’s hat.

  36. 112

    I would be interested in the voting record on the Queens Speech Amendment on 14/11/07 asking for a in/out referendum. Where do I find the results?

    tabled by
    Dr Vincent Cable
    Mr Michael Moore
    Julia Goldsworthy
    Mr David Heath
    Simon Hughes
    Mr Paul Burstow

    ‘but humbly regret that the Gracious Speech fails to announce proposals for a referendum on the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union.’.

    As an Amendment to Dr Vincent Cable’s proposed Amendment, at end add—
    Mr William Cash

    ‘which despite a No vote arising from any such referendum would not necessitate automatic withdrawal from the European Union because such a No vote would then be on the Reform Treaty, devised and agreed in secrecy by the European elite, which undermines the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and its Parliament and its electorate and consists of all the now existing European Treaties and is, as the European Scrutiny Committee has reported, “substantially equivalent” to the original Constitutional Treaty on which a referendum was promised by the Government and any such No vote would properly lead to a new Intergovernmental Conference and the fundamental renegotiation of the existing treaties as they now stand.’.

  37. 122
    News Hack says:

    BREAKING NEWS: Gaddaffi has been captured trying to escape from Sirte by NTC forces, & reports goes on to say he is seriously wounded but in custody.

  38. 126
    Billy Bowden is the greatest umpire ever ! says:

    Choice for MPs.

    Defy your whips or defy your voters?

    Whats it going to be?

  39. 130
    Anonymous says:

    CAMERON HAGUE OSBOURNE ALL WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HESELTINE OVER THATCHER

    TRAITORS

    • 138
      Stink****** says:

      I always get the feeling that what makes Europhiles and Eurosceptics in the Conservative party is dependant on who has had the ‘arm round the shoulder’ chat by someone from Goldman Sachs and who hasn’t.

    • 142
      Anonymous says:

      Thatcher was deposed by Bilderberg lackeys.
      The current crop include; Cameron, Osborne, Clarke and Maude.

    • 168
      Desperate Dan says:

      If they’d voted for Heseltine they wouldn’t have been out of office for 18 years. They preferred unelectable leaders who the public couldn ‘t stand – like the ridiculous IDS.

  40. 132
    Jeremy Paxman says:

    Can I stick my nose in?

  41. 144
    Tris says:

    None of the ministers have the balls. They will wilt, having shown their constituents that they tried, but couldn’t risk destabilising the coalition government or some such crap. What they really mean is that if they vote against Cammy, they can look forward to life in the back benches while some other incompetent hooray, with a bit more political savvy, takes their place

  42. 146
    cheche says:

    I hear there is a march against the EU in London on Sat – can any one give me more info

    • 150
      EU President's Office says:

      This peasants march will not be allowed happen to publically show disrespect to the high command of the EUSSR Who are your unelected masters !! Now get back in line for the soup kitchen.

    • 152
      EU President's Office says:

      No as it not be allowed to happen !

      • 195
        PhiliptheBold says:

        Missive from Herr Luxembourg (him with the small feet).

        As a small but rich state at the heart of Europe we demand to exercise our role as moderator amongst such powerful neighbours. Though others such as Germany, France, Italy, UK and other have a population approaching that of the US, we (Mr and Mrs Luxembourg) demand the same rights as the aforementioned.

        And there is all that is wrong. I told you so, Philip the Bold of Burgundy (1342 – 1404)

  43. 147
    Underpaid News Hack says:

    GADDAFFI has been KILLED trying to escape from SIRTE

    • 151
      Hang The Bastards says:

      Press release from Cameron to deflect news about the EU rebels

    • 157
      nell says:

      Oh Dear, bliar and mandy will be desperately hoping that saif isn’t one of the men with him that the NTC say they have captured – otherwise here comes some unhappy truths at least for them,

  44. 154
    Foo says:

    “the European Parliament passes more decisions binding on the member states than the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union ever passed for the Soviet republics

    Vladimir Putin 15-10-11

    http://rt.com/politics/official-word/putin-interview-politics-russia-051/

  45. 159
    nell says:

    Only 100 tory mp’s prepared to vote for the electorate to have their say on the eu?

    It makes the rest look like an undemocratic, lily-livered, spineless self-serving bunch doesn’t it?

  46. 162
    Jimmy says:

    “Colonel Gaddavei”

    Needs work

  47. 164
    Samantha Minnows says:

    BREAKING NEWS CAMERON IS TO BE TRIED FOR HIGH TREASON

    http://bit.ly/pjCxsH

    • 171
      The Dishonourable Member, Handycock says:

      That takes the heat off me. Is Liam Fox going to be tried too?

      • 190
        El Cobra says:

        Surely it is a stitch up. Herr Cameroon is trying to act the statesman as the rest of Europe falls into bickering anarchy. On this issue timing is crucial and whilst I am no supporter of euro-diktat I am conscious that some game is afoot. To keep ones powder dry could be the right approach here. It seems likely that the fudge that will emerge later in the week may present greater opportunities.

        Patience is a virtue. Let us wait until the inevitable constitutional comes forth and then we can strike.

        • 191
          frightenedrodent says:

          You are a complete snake.

          • Slovakianprotestant says:

            You all have reasons to be fearful. Without agreement from the Slovaks all will fail and we will finally get revenge annexation of our land. Remember the last time you English and French abandoned us at Locarno in 1925.

  48. 167
    Desperate Dan says:

    It is the fervent wish of the Tory right that one day they’ll get a leader just like Ed. Someone who’ll ensure they return swiftly to opposition. Someone the public won’t want to vote for. Somebody who will ensure that they’ll stay out of office for 20 years. Someone whose position as leader will demonstrate to the world that Tory MPs are a bunch of morons.

  49. 176
    Alexsandr says:

    meybe readers may like to sign this petition

    http://www.peoplespledge.org/

  50. 181
    Anonymous says:

    “Oh where did you get that hat” ,where did you get that hat, Isn’t aloverly one.sing along and many others (Stanley Holloway) inc. “My word you do look Queer”

    • 188
      Myshavedpubes says:

      “You know, Old Man. Why try to put me off with your answer?”

      Mr Homer was many years before Mr Holloway both of whom I admire as most formidable comics.

      All the best, Odysseus.



Balls Calls for Deeper Cuts | Speccie
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Jon Cruddas is Not the Messier | Dan Hodges
We Should Honour Victims | Bob Blackman
Bad Al Campbell Spinning for Portland | PR Week
HuffPo’s House Jihadi | Washington Free Beacon
Osborne Gets His Soundbite | Nick Robinson
Moonbat versus Chomsky | Charles Crawford
Beecroft is “S**t” | LibDem MP
News of the World Trailed Watson’s Mistaken Mistress | Indy
Shabana Mahmood MP Saves Brum Market | ITV News
Plan a Velvet Divorce for the €uro | Gideon Rachman
Truth About Romney’s Bain “Vampire Capitalism” | Wall Street Journal
Clegg’s Revenge | Nick Wood
Cleaning Out Stables | Biased BBC

Previously Seen


Peter Botting



Iran’s military chief-of-staff, Major General Hassan Firouzabadi…

“The Iranian nation is standing for its cause and that is the full annihilation of Israel”.



The last Quango in Paris says:

Mr Bryant and Mr Watson managing to make the whole hacking affair look like a farce – the more they moan the less I care about the whole subject! So partisan it beggars belief at all costs. They cannot rise above it ! If I was to call the PM a ‘liar’ I would want to be VERY sure.



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