Guido is not following things as closely as normal so forgive him if none of this is news. The wireless mobile connection out here in the sticks from France Telecom is a painfully slow EDGE rather than G3 connection, they charge by the hour rather than by the megabyte, so the worse the service the more expensive it is – French rationalism for you.
Bad Al Campbell is kicking the blogging habit for the summer holidays, Paul Waugh is as well, Iain Dale told Guido he was too – yet he seems as prolific as ever.
Guido has been amused and irritated by these articles:
The Guardian amused with Take the Profit Motive Out of News. They managed to do that long ago, now the the rest of the “quality” vanity publisher broadsheets are following suit. See a small flaw with this business model?
Apparently the Tories are telling lobbyists to back off. So Conservative Party conference won’t be packed to the gills with expense card flashing drinks buying lobbyists? How many Tory PPCs are or were lobbyists? How many Tory MPs have links to lobbying firms. How many Tory HQ staffers are being poached by lobbyists? Backing off? More like backing up a truck…
Malloch-Brown changing tack on helicopters for Afghanistan infuriated Guido. If you are for or against the occupation of Afghanistan, in fact whatever your view on the strategy (Guido asks what is the exit strategy?), we should all be agreed that they should be given whatever resources they require. The spin from Downing Street is nauseating. They care more about covering their arses politically than protecting the boys in Helmand. Fox is right the retraction was a “pathetic spectacle“.
Am very much enjoying revelations about Berlusconi’s sexual shenanigans (he is 72 after all) and the best story of the silly season so far: the lesbian music mistress and the teenager at City of London School for Girls. Very St Trinians…
Incidentally to those complaining that their comments are in the moderation queue. They will probably stay there until late August. Haven’t you got something better to do than monging on a moribund blog when the sun is out?
