Cesspool on the Potomac

NY Times breaks Clinton scandal

Hillary Clinton's got to be sitting around thinking, "Bill hasn't screwed me for years, and now he's done it twice in a week!" After the ex-President's fierce attacks on Barack Obama sabotaged Hillary's chances in the South Carolina primary, today the New York Times reports that in 2005 (a) Bill… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 31 Jan 2008 3:54 PM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Is the O-mentum back?

On the Democratic side, a raft of new polls from Super Tuesday primary states came out yesterday, and they indicate that Barack Obama may be narrowing the gap on Hillary Clinton in some key Feb 5 contests. This set of polls — the first to be taken after Obama's landslide… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 31 Jan 2008 10:00 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Who won the GOP debate?

At long last, primary debate season in America is drawing to a close. Tonight, the remaining Democrats have their first and only mano-a-womano debate, but last night saw the final scheduled Republican debate held, naturally, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Westmonster can tell you that… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 31 Jan 2008 9:05 AM. Permalink

Department for Tax and Spend

Help help, here comes the IFS

As if poised to prove our point about sleaze, this morning sees the the publication of the annual green paper from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, and ohmygod does it have some worrying stuff in it for Alistair Darling. The overall gist: the economy is slowing, the deficit is growing,… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 31 Jan 2008 8:58 AM. Permalink

Ministry For Feral Media

Caesar's wife? Puh-leeze

There's a cracking piece in the Speccie this morning about how the Conway affair is really, really, really bad for the Tories and their soft lead. It finishes with this reference to Andy Coulson: In a briefing to the Tory front bench in December, Andy Coulson, Mr Cameron’s excellent communications… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 31 Jan 2008 8:42 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Which way will Edwards' support flow?

Westmonster can't even seem to go out to lunch these days without another candidate dropping out of the U.S. Presidential race. Today, news comes that John Edwards is calling it quits, in a move that could have major consequences for the Democratic nomination contest. Edwards, who's been polling around 15… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 30 Jan 2008 3:26 PM. Permalink

Department for Diffrunt People

No cribbing, Mr Cameron

Call us cynical (actually, call us love gods, but cynical love gods), but isn't it a little odd that Cammers gives an interview to the Sun this morning recommending more stop-and-search powers, on the day that Jacqui Smith is likely to do the same, and a day after Ronnie Flanagan… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 30 Jan 2008 10:48 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Arrivederci, Rudy

Rudy Giuliani, who had staked his entire campaign on pulling off an unlikely victory in the state, emerged the big loser in the Florida primary — finishing in a distant third place behind John McCain and Mitt Romney. Giuliani is now expected to drop out of the race in advance… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 30 Jan 2008 10:28 AM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

What's the deal with McCain?

News flash: John McCain pulled out a narrow victory over Mitt Romney in the bitterly contested Florida Republican primary last night, the most recent "biggest primary of primary season," and the one that pundits (and candidates) were saying would likely determine the eventual GOP nominee. You'd expect McCain to gloat,… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 30 Jan 2008 9:44 AM. There are 4 comments so far. Permalink

Department for the Tyburn Jig

Canary in the goldmine?

We've always had a soft spot for the Chief Inspector of Prisons. Not necessarily the current incumbent, Anne Owers (although she may be red hot, we don't know), but for the office itself. And mainly because the office seems to be a lightning rod for government criticism, and a pretty… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 30 Jan 2008 9:12 AM. Permalink

News from the Carlton Club

Derek Conway: 1.5 million to you, sir

You've got to hand it to the Mail. They've taken the Derek Conway story and battered it into submission, a process which has handed Labour a massive gift and made the Tories look two-faced and shabby. And this from the Tory wives' inhouse paper. This morning they've itemised all the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 30 Jan 2008 8:48 AM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Local Policies for Local People

Squeamish on Jasper

The FT's Westminster blog ponders this morning on why the mainstream press aren't pursuing Lee Jasper with quite the - ahem - glee of the Standard: A growing number of pundits are wondering why the mainstream press aren't writing much - if anything - about Lee Jasper. The London mayor's… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 30 Jan 2008 8:30 AM. Permalink

News from the Carlton Club

Blond, bouncy, one for the boys

Our thanks to the Mail for taking the Derek Conway story into new, unexpected and glorious places: Son Freddie celebrated his 21st birthday on the Commons terrace. His brother Henry, like him an Old Harrovian, is now a fashion writer who was pictured leaving a nightclub with actress and singer… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 29 Jan 2008 2:14 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Inducing Daily Mail Apoplexy

"Bleak future" for beloved curry

Westmonster never realised that making a curry required a skilled chef — we've always used the drunken logic that what's eaten whilst pissed was prepared whilst pissed. But pity the poor punters of Northampton, where, according to Lib Dem councillor Sadik Chaudhury, restrictive UK immigration laws have led to 10… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 29 Jan 2008 1:03 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Department for Tax and Spend

Bye bye Rupert

Has Labour finally turned its back on Rupert Murdoch? It looks that way with this morning's announcement that BSkyB has been told to reduce its share in ITV to 7.5% by John Hutton. The sale is expected to end up costing Sky £250 million, thanks to the decline in ITV's… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 29 Jan 2008 9:21 AM. Permalink

Department for Diffrunt People

Spare a shekel for a judicial review, sir?

Multi-millionaire Stuart Wheeler (that's his daughter pictured, since you ask) has got his cap out by proxy in the Telegraph this morning, with John Gouriet asking for money to fund Wheeler's attempt to have the Lisbon Treaty made the subject of a judicial review. Gouriet, in Grand Constitutional Words Written… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 29 Jan 2008 9:15 AM. There are 3 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Florida's two-ring circus

It seems to Westmonster all the big news has been coming out of the Democratic camp lately, following Obama's big win in South Carolina and the Bill Clinton backlash that followed. But today in Florida — home of 2000's hanging chads — there's a contest that's meaningless among Democrats, but… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 29 Jan 2008 8:51 AM. Permalink

News from the Carlton Club

Putting sleaze into perspective

The Telegraph is claiming that Tory MP for Eastbourne Nigel Waterson was arrested on Sunday night for 'assaulting his children'. Not being reported anywhere else, as far as we can see.… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 29 Jan 2008 8:46 AM. Permalink

Department of Doublespeak

You say sleazy, I say sleazy

The blue-bloods are up in arms! Tim Montgomerie's blue-and-blue army at ConservativeHome are enraged by the failure to kick Derek Conway out of the Commons and remove the whip, and their fury is only going to be enriched by the revelation that Conway may have given another 32 grand to… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 29 Jan 2008 8:43 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

US election primer latest

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 5:58 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Local Policies for Local People

Galloway seeking housemates

Thanks to Harry's Place for this gem from George No-mates Galloway: an open letter appealing for people to join his platform, Respect Renewal: There is a crisis of representation for trade unionist, ethnic minorities, those in poverty and on low wages, those facing racism and other forms of discrimination, sex… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 3:55 PM. Permalink

MPs: Working Hard... For YOU!

SDP or Tory?

We've received an email alleging that Robert Wilson, current Tory MP for Reading East and Shadow Minister for Higher Education, actually stood as an SDP candidate in Redlands ward in Reading in the the late 1980s. Which would make his denial to have ever been in the same party as… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 3:13 PM. Permalink

Ministry for the Tin Ear

Want fries with that degree?

Imagine you're a party of government. You've made education a key priority, and even appointed one of your most talented ministers to take on the education portfolio. The opposition, however, has recently been on the offensive over education — making it the centrepiece of their new agenda, and gaining ground… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 28 Jan 2008 10:19 AM. Permalink

Department for David Beckham Studies

What would Maurice think?

This is somewhat off-topic, but Westmonster's alma mater Peterhouse has made the news in surprising fashion thanks to a study which shows that promiscuity leads to academic failure. The gist of the study is that students at poorly performing Cambridge University colleges had the most sexual partners. More sex =… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 9:32 AM. Permalink

News From The Big Tent

President Blair opposed by PM Brown?

There's a delicious piece of troublemaking in the Telegraph this morning, speculating that El Gordo and his allies may sullenly resist a Blair EU presidency because it would be bad for the Labour Party in a general election: A Brown ally said: "Imagine what a field day the British media… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 9:13 AM. Permalink

Bag carrying

Admins = accidents waiting to happen

We at Westmonster don't want to add to the media frenzy around party funding, added to over the weekend by revelations about Alan Johnson. All we will say on the matter is that this is a result of the law of unintended consequences, and the best thing for all concerned… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 28 Jan 2008 9:06 AM. There are 3 comments so far. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Guido a Conservative? Gosh!

Hey, did you know Guido Fawkes favoured the right over the left? Gosh, neither did we. Amazing, isn't it? It certainly seems to have surprised the Telegraph's Three Line Whip. Although we didn't realise it was quite as blatant as this, which appeared in the footer of an email the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 25 Jan 2008 12:04 PM. Permalink

News From The Big Tent

Weirdos in government

Remember all the John Redwood Vulcan gags back in the mid-1990s? They accompanied the last days of John Major's administration, and they represented a moment when the British press finally lost its last vestiges of respect for the governing fraternity, egged on by a strengthening Opposition that saw a useful… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 25 Jan 2008 8:28 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Anti-Clinton backlash begins

Since Hillary Clinton's "surprise" New Hampshire win, the story in the U.S. Democratic presidential race has been Bill & Hill's two-headed, four-fisted attack machine and its success in slowing down Barack Obama. Today, there's evidence that the story is changing, and that a media backlash against the Clintons may be… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 24 Jan 2008 10:33 AM. Permalink

Ministry for making Alistair Campbell roll his eyes

Welcome to Fat Fighters™

Sigh. We at Westmonster are growing weary of writing stories about the political tone-deafness of this government. Whilst the Tories take control of the political agenda, sound ever more sensible by the day, and feature a leader who's making transparent appeals to specific (and powerful) voting constituencies, Gordon Brown's government… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 24 Jan 2008 9:57 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Local Policies for Local People

Ken live on BBC London

Welcome to our live coverage of Ken Livingstone's appearance on BBC Radio London. Given the last few days it should be quite - ahem - interesting. Click on "Read More" to read the whole thing. Gordon Brown gave Ken his full support for Ken in PMQs today, saying a "Labour… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 6:02 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Department for David Beckham Studies

Gove's sharp elbows

Good post by the Indy's John Rentoul on Cameron's interview in the Times this morning, when he seemed to condone such middle class sharp practice as pretending you're a God-botherer in order to get Jemima and Sebastian into a decent church-run state school. Cameron said this: “I think it’s good… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 3:27 PM. Permalink

Department for Ctrl-Alt-Delete

Gordon Brown, Iain Dale reject

We love this: Iain Dale claims Gordon Brown has sent him four separate friend requests on Facebook. So, assuming El Gordo doesn't use Facebook himself, someone must be doing it for him. So why would that someone assume Iain Dale would ever accept a request from El Gordo? And why… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 11:13 AM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Local Policies for Local People

There goes another one

While BoJo tries to smooth over past transgressions, it's getting worse and worse for Ken. This morning, the deputy to his under-fire advisor Lee Jasper has quit, after flagrantly lying to the Beeb over an expenses-paid trip to Nigeria. It's the first high-level resignation among Livingstone's team during the current… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 11:02 AM. Permalink

Department of Doublespeak

Show us your papers

ID cards. The policy that no-one seems to want but which keeps coming back. Today, it's the news that internal Home Office papers show the full scheme has been put back at least two years. There's no way of knowing yet if this is an official leak, buttering us up… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 10:52 AM. Permalink

All change please

Cameron nearing 1992 levels?

Polls are la-la and mood music in the papers is pointless. When we want to know which way political sentiment is running, we turn to Mike Smithson's Political Betting, and today he's got a doozy. He reckons the predicted number of Tory seats in an election, according to Sporting Index,… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 23 Jan 2008 10:36 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge

Vaizey: Just happy to see you

Westmonster doesn't mind hitting below the belt, as it were, especially when the subject makes it so easy. We have to say we got excited, very excited — so excited — when news came over the wire that Cameron buddy Ed Vaizey popped an "herbal" Viagra substitute with Matthew Wright… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 23 Jan 2008 9:52 AM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Anatole hearts Gordon. Not.

What the hell has Gordon Brown ever done to Anatole Kaletsky? The esteemed economic commentator went nuclear on El Gordo this morning, arguing that the Northern Rock plan - convert the debt into government bonds, then sell the thing off - represents a government cock-up on the scale of the… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 22 Jan 2008 12:37 PM. Permalink

Department for Expanding the British Museum

What would Dave do?

Reading through the Hansard transcript of last night's EU Treaty debate on TheyWorkForYou, a few things become clear. Firstly, the boy Miliband did a good job, on paper, of laying out what the Treaty is for and why it's different to the constitution. He even admitted (after nudging by Ken… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 22 Jan 2008 9:23 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Obama: Bill's cool, but can he dance?

Was Bill Clinton, as Toni Morrison famously said, America's first black president? Barack Obama, speaking in last night's Congressional Black Caucus debate amongst candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, ain't so sure: "I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities … and some of this other… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 22 Jan 2008 9:13 AM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Where was Auntie?

Call us Daily Mail-reading pinko-crunching moaners, but isn't it rather odd that the BBC's Ten O'Clock News - just finished - made no mention of the accusations levelled at Ken Livingstone on the other side 90 minutes beforehand? And wasn't it even more bizarre that BBC London News made no… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 10:38 PM. Permalink

All change please

Did you stay up for Ken?

Well, we missed the first broadcast because we were having dinner, but thanks to Channel 4 +1 we were able to catch Martin Bright's Dispatches programme on Ken Livingstone. The chargesheet, in summary: Ken likes a drink He keeps some bizarre company Some of London Development Agency's money has gone… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 10:16 PM. Permalink

Department for Tax and Spend

Energy smash-and-grab?

It's perhaps a little surprising that the power companies are doing their very best impression of Messrs Scrooge at the moment, given that their regulator, Ofgem, has alerted the government to the possibility of a nine billion quid windfall tax. It's complicated, but bear with us. The European carbon trading… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 1:47 PM. Permalink

Department for Kite Flying

El Gordo's Get Out of Jail card?

Does El Gordo have a constitutional get out of jail card, and is it called PR? They may just be kite-flying, but the Indy this morning has a speculative piece saying that Jack Straw's Ministry of Justice will this week set out options for replacing Westminster's first-past-the-post system. No other… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 9:36 AM. Permalink

getting down wiv da kidz Dept.

Political commercials

Two types of political commercial this morning: 1. El Gordo promoting the UK Politics channel on the American-owned YouTube. It's a classic 10 Downing Street-era Brown perfomance - a weird combination of fake smiles interspersed with terrifying gloom. And the sound of a door slamming somewhere. Google, the owner of… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 9:19 AM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Portrait artist selection process

So, you're the most successful Labour leader in living memory. You've had a decade as the Top Dog in British politics. You fancy getting your portrait done. Should your portrait painter: Be the son of a senior Tory MP? Have a series of right wing icons (Prince Philip, George Bush… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 21 Jan 2008 8:50 AM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Department of Doublespeak

Trade humbug

The Brown trip to China has been a rum old thing - it certainly isn't operatic material. One thing that's notable is the absence of the usual umm-ing and ah-ing over China's human rights record, or rather lack of it. Nick Robinson has a bit of a whinge about how… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 18 Jan 2008 1:37 PM. Permalink

News From The Big Tent

Open season on Ken

It looks like the London Mayoral election could get interesting, and not just because of Richard Barnbrook's amazing background. No, what's setting it alight is the apparent readiness of the, shall we say, progressive media to have a pop at Ken Livingstone. The catalyst is Martin Bright's documentary Dispatches, which… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 18 Jan 2008 9:22 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Department for Diffrunt People

From the postbag: the BNP

We get all sorts of mail here at Westmonster. Penis extensions, Viagra, Nigerian cashflow scams, a recent flurry around the Flying Lion saga (of which maybe more another day). But fine was the day when we received a note from that august body, the British National Party, purveyors of rancid… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 17 Jan 2008 4:19 PM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

News from the Carlton Club

Selection irony

Some irony on the Telegraph's shiny new web politics show (embedded below): Ann Widdecombe berates Tory HQ for imposing candidates on local selection committees, followed by a frankly terrifying Alas Smith and Jones-style head-to-head between Iain Dale and Simon Heffer. Yes, that Iain Dale. The one who didn't make it… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 17 Jan 2008 11:36 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Department for David Beckham Studies

Education education education

A question: has any British government ever won, or lost, an election because of its education policy? We ask because there are signs this morning that this government's "policy" - more choice for parents in selecting schools, more independence for the best-performing schools, combined with a shedload of extra cash… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 17 Jan 2008 9:20 AM. Permalink

Good Vibrations Dept.

What makes Britain great

A snapshot of Britain in 2007: Leslie Ash, actress, is awarded £5 million by the NHS Litigation Authority (without going to court, apparently), after contracting a form of MRSA at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Meanwhile on the other side of the social fence, several hundred soldiers have been awarded around… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 17 Jan 2008 8:50 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Not Holding One's Breath

Is Gord crazy enough to…

…join the Euro? Chris White at the EU Reporter suggests you "put money on it, but don't fix a date.". "There is absolutely no solid evidence to suggest it but this publication predicts that by the end of the month of January Britain will have announced that it intends to… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 16 Jan 2008 9:11 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Fear of com-Mitt-ment

Michigan voters put their mitts on their ballots last night, with mildly surprising results on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the race. For the Republicans, Mitt Romney, left for dead a week ago after humiliating losses in Iowa and New Hampshire, had a convincing victory over (this week's)… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 16 Jan 2008 8:22 AM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

There's a primary in Michigan…

…that Westmonster has largely ignored. The Republicans have the only contest in this one, and it's neck-and-neck between Mitt Romney, who's trying to rescue his flagging campaign, and John McCain, who's trying to secure the national frontrunner spot. Via Kop Lob Pob A Job, we've stumbled across this Romney-related video… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 15 Jan 2008 3:36 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Madness

Nad warns on inbreeding

"Who am I?" asks our old friend Nadine Dorries, in an (even for Nad) unbelieveably obtuse and rambling post on the Human Tissue & Embryology Bill, currently before the Lords. "Unfortunately, the argument and debate around the creation of human hybrids, cybrids, and fatherless children, flies over the top of… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 15 Jan 2008 2:36 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Throwing People Under The Bus

Top 5 clues Peter Hain should go

Westmonster has thus far stayed largely above the fray in the Peter Hain saga. But when Iain Dale starts quoting Alastair Campbell, we get the hint. At this point, Hain is shooting himself and the government in the foot by hanging around, but doesn't seem to be getting the hint… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 15 Jan 2008 1:09 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Madness

Brown doppelganger sought

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it seems nobody wants to flatter the Prime Minister. Word reaches Westmonster via our sister title, Glitterditch, that famed photographer Alison Jackson and Esquire are launching an open casting call to find a lookalike for El Gordo after a fruitless six-year search:… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 14 Jan 2008 4:21 PM. Permalink

Department for Tax and Spend

ConHome offers George bad advice

ConservativeHome, as part of its Agenda 2008 programme, has called on the Shadow Chancellor not to renew the opposition's pledge to match the government's spending proposals through 2010/2011. They write: Last September George Osborne signed up to Labour's spending plans until 2010/11. That decision is unpopular amongst Tory members. Our… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 14 Jan 2008 2:50 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

A Hain in Gord's arse

The story that won't go away continues to embarrass the government, as Cameron warns Peter Hain he has some 'splaining to do. El Gordo offers his full support to Hain, except, well, not. But wait! Boy George has some 'splaining to do too. Westmonster is flummoxed — who knew… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 14 Jan 2008 9:20 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Blithering Idiots

Gordon Brown: Organ harvester

The Prime Minister is plummeting in the polls. The government is seen as encroaching on civil liberties. So, two weeks into a new year "relaunch" seeking to revive his political fortunes, how does Gordon Brown want you to start out your Sunday morning? Naturally, by reading an op-ed in today's… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 13 Jan 2008 8:00 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Re-Runs

Best of the Week 7-11 Jan 2008

At Westmonster, we've celebrated our biggest week ever, and we'd like to welcome all of our new readers. Whether you've been following along or not, here's some of the best Westmonster's had to offer this week: Conservatives are setting the agenda these days, and we asked where the differences are… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 12 Jan 2008 11:34 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Grandstanding

Balls to Davy: Party like it’s 1918

Ed Balls emerges from his dungeon in today's Telegraph, challenging Cameron and the Tories to vote for increasing the school leaving age to 18 on Monday. Balls writes: "As things stand, the Tories have set themselves on a collision course to oppose the first Bill to raise the education age… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 11 Jan 2008 11:32 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Road Rage

The traffic's a bitch in Baghdad

At Westmonster, we're not exactly known for keeping our cool behind the wheel — we spout our share of expletives and even engage in the occasional drag race. Hey, what can we say? The traffic in London gets us down. But in Baghdad, some have resorted to more extreme measures.… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 11 Jan 2008 10:08 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Pissing In The Wind

We, the undersigned…

Westmonster needed some cheering up on a Thursday afternoon, and where better to go for a few laughs than the 10 Downing St. e-petitions list. We didn't have to navigate past the first 2 pages to feel better. Some of our favourites are listed below, with the number of signatories… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 10 Jan 2008 5:12 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Loving Thine Enemy

Osborne hearts Blunkett

Westmonster has recently noted the narrowing of the policy gap between Labour and the Tories — it's all starting to seem like the contents of the two bags are largely the same, just that one's red and the other blue. Today, the lovefest continues with Shadow Chancellor George Osborne's David-Blunkett-fawn-a-thon… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 10 Jan 2008 10:54 AM. There are 2 comments so far. Permalink

Ministry for Witty Rejoinders

Zinger of the week: Hoggart

Much ado about Clegg's choice of seat at yesterday's PMQs, away from the traditional spot by the gangway. Simon Hoggart recounts this comment from a colleague: "When the prime minister wakes up in the morning, he worries about what to do. When the leader of the opposition gets up, he… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 10 Jan 2008 9:17 AM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

More cash for Tony

Apparently peace in the Middle East is not enough of a challenge for Tony Blair. In his spare time, the Tonemeister is taking an over-£500,000 consulting job with U.S. investment bank JP Morgan. What effect the new job will have on his videotaping schedule for White House videos, Westmonster… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 10 Jan 2008 7:35 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Paper Waving

Little Nicky whiffs at PMQs

All eyes were on today's PMQs to see how Cleggers would perform in his first session as LibDem leader, and by Westmonster's reckoning, Nicky accomplished the admirable feat of making Ming Campbell seem exciting by comparison. Perhaps we were distracted because he followed the PM and Cameron having spittle-laced exchanges… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 2:50 PM. Permalink

Ministry for the Margin of Error

Caucuses, Primaries, Media & Money

Westmonster's as confounded as anybody else by the dissonance between last night's Clinton victory and the pre-election polls showing Obama with a double-digit lead. Was it the tears? Was it the piling on? Was it the women? Was it cocky Obama supporters not turning out to vote? We may never… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 10:40 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Moules Frites

The MEP for Alabama, West Midlands

Click on the image at left, and look closely at the mighty Birmingham skyline. Look familiar? Well, you must spend a lot more time in the southern United States than does Westmonster. That's right, the Tory MEPs for West Midlands have been in Brussels (Belgium) and Strasbourg (France) so… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 9:25 AM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Those wacky Americans…

All the dailies lead with Clinton's stunning win in New Hampshire, which Westmonster called before the AP and the networks. Read about it here, here, here, here, and here. And for those of you keeping score, Westmonster stayed up late last night to cover the election whilst Iain Dale… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 9:05 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Beginning to look a lot like Clinton

105 minutes is a long time in politics. What looks like an aberration at 1am (GMT) begins to look a lot like a trend by 2:45am. And at 2:45am, Hillary Clinton is up by 3% over Barack Obama in New Hampshire. The lead hasn't moved significantly all night, and it… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 2:53 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

NH: First returns in

With roughly 10% of voting precincts reporting, Hillary Clinton leads Barack Obama in New Hampshire by 2 points, and McCain is ahead of Romney by 9 points. These are first returns and totals will likely change significantly, but encouraging news for the Clinton campaign at this point of the evening.… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 2:15 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

It's McCain

The U.S. networks have projected Senator John McCain of Arizona as the winner of the Republican primary in New Hampshire.… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 1:14 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

McCain vs. Obama 2006 Smackdown!

We at Westmonster had completely forgotten about this, but the wonderful MSNBC First Read takes this opportunity to reprint a series of letters between U.S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama dating to February 2006, and focusing on efforts to push lobbying reform through the Senate. The exchange began with… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 12:45 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Blithering Idiots

The Dale Primary

Westmonster is almost flush with regret over this post, in which we spoke out on behalf of the British blogosphere bloviating on the U.S. presidential election in the face of Guido's criticism. Case in point: Iain Dale has opened a comment thread asking readers to predict the outcome of tonight's… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 9 Jan 2008 12:23 AM. Permalink

Westmonster Deathmatches

Gordon Brown vs. Bovril

It's time for another round of Westmonster Deathmatches. Today we pit salty, once-popular Prime Minister Gordon Brown against Bovril, a salty beef extract rumoured to be popular. El GordoBovril… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 8 Jan 2008 3:44 PM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Here we go ag-Hain

Thought we'd found out about all of the undeclared Labour donations? Computer says no. Seems Mr. Hain failed to declare several donations from labour and business during his run for the deputy Labour leadership. So much for changing the subject. Davy sets the agenda again with a "tough" new… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 8 Jan 2008 8:55 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Turn Your Head and Cough

Where are the differences on NHS?

Fuelled by a quadruple espresso and a six pack of Red Bull, Westmonster set out to carefully read through the past week's NHS speeches by both the Prime Minister and the Right Hon. Leader of the Opposition. It's been hard to follow the narratives between cat naps, but as best… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 7 Jan 2008 4:45 PM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Drudge: Hillary contemplating exit

Take this for what you will, given the source, but the Drudge Report is… erm… reporting that Hillary's team is contemplating giving up the campaign. "Facing a double-digit defeat in New Hampshire, a sudden collapse in national polls and an expected fund-raising drought, Senator Hillary Clinton is preparing for a… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 7 Jan 2008 4:08 PM. Permalink

News from the Carlton Club

And he's off

BoJo has roused himself! He has shaken his blonde locks and prepared for battle! Like Ray Winstone in Beowulf! Or perhaps Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast..... Anyway, he's got a new website, packed to the virtual rafters with crime-fightin', immigrant-bashin', bendy-bus-bollockin' goodness. Included in the package: A full-page ad from… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 7 Jan 2008 3:36 PM. Permalink

Ministry for the Man Behind the Curtain

Bad news for Barack

If Westmonster worked for the Obama campaign, we'd be sweating bullets: perennial loser Bob Shrum has weighed in on the Democratic race, and is calling Hillary Clinton's campaign toast. "There could still be a Clinton miracle, but by tomorrow night she is more likely to be the KOd Kid… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 7 Jan 2008 2:27 PM. Permalink

Ministry for Local Policies for Local People

Guido: "British Posts for British Pundits"

With an air of righteous indignation, Guido informs us he's sticking to coverage of Westminster, and would be rather satisfied if the rest of the UK blogosphere did too: Does the British Commentariat really know what it is talking about? They seem awfully ready to provide analysis of the local… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 7 Jan 2008 1:26 PM. There are 1 comments so far. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Hey El Gordo, where ya been?

Guess who's crawled out from under the (Northern?) rock. Why, it's the Prime Minister! Yesterday he stopped in with Andrew. Today he's got an extended interview in The Guardian. Tomorrow, Westmonster expects to see him in New Hampshire moderating a debate. And what's Gordon on about in his new… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 7 Jan 2008 7:03 AM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Obama on race

Further to the discussion regarding Dizzy's post on Obama and race, a Newsweek profile on Obama includes the following statement from the Illinois senator: Obama, who generally shies away from questions about how "historic" it would be for him to win the White House, nevertheless acknowledged that Iowa was, in… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 6 Jan 2008 3:04 PM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Dizzy, Obama, and race

Westmonster can't just leave well enough alone, which is why we return to Dizzy's aforementioned piece on the race factor in the U.S. election, and the impact Obama's campaign might have on perception of America internationally. Unlike Dizzy's "American friend," we don't think he's calling out America as inherently racist.… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 4 Jan 2008 11:13 AM. There are 3 comments so far. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

'O' has the mo'

Westmonster turns its head toward America today, as the big political story has Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee taking the Iowa Presidential Selection Caucuses on the Democratic and Republican sides, respectively. Democratic Senators Joe Biden (Delaware) and Christopher Dodd (Connecticut) dropped out of the… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 4 Jan 2008 7:54 AM. Permalink

Points, In Order

Doom, gloom, shake the room

Uh-oh, tighten those belts. The Bank of England says it's going to be choppy in 2008 thanks to global mortgage-lending buffoons. Presumably the Tories are now well ensconced in the "any bad news is good news for us" zone, so Happy New Year, Davey! Cleggers is investing in social mobility,… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 3 Jan 2008 4:56 PM. Permalink

Meedja on the Insanity Pills

Who dear? Me dear? Prig dear?

Some vintage Nadine Dorries for your New Year delectation. She's in a right two-and-eight about the Catherine Tate Christmas Special: Having watched endless episodes of The Vicar of Dibley, Father Ted, Blackadder, and Red Dwarf; timed my pud to coincide with the Christmas special of To the Manor Born; and… read more…

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 3 Jan 2008 12:27 PM. Permalink

Cesspool on the Potomac

Hitch bitches about Iowa

Newly minted American citizen Christopher Hitchens was an arrogant blowhard long before he won his Green Card. Yet, occasionally Westmonster finds some valid points mixed in amongst the bombast. Here on the first real day of the 2008 American presidential selection process, he weighs in with some about how "undemocratic"… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 3 Jan 2008 10:50 AM. Permalink

While You Were Sleeping

Well, that's data loss solved…

MPs, in the wake of discgate, are calling for criminal sanctions for those who mishandle personal information. Westmonster is confident that the lack of a law is the real problem, not that "Gary" at HMRC is taking his laptop home to play Second Life. The Independent publishes poll averages,… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 3 Jan 2008 8:56 AM. Permalink

Ministry for Not Holding One's Breath

Dale: Let's all hold hands

Iain Dale latches on to a commenter Paddy Briggs' plea for civility today and asks his commenters to "be much politer (sic) to each other" in the new year. "Surely a golden rule is that we wouldn't put in a Comment what we wouldn't say to someone's face or in… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 2 Jan 2008 2:53 PM. Permalink

Our American Cousins

Westmonster predicts Bush ouster

Westmonster is finally prepared to go out on a limb and make the prediction: George Bush will be ousted as President of the United States before January 21, 2009. Westmonster's crystal ball isn't clear enough to say whether he'll be ousted as a result of the forthcoming U.S. election or… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 2 Jan 2008 11:15 AM. Permalink

While You Were Slacking

Bottler bottles bottle reform

No rush to drink up as the government slams the brakes on reversing 24-hour licensing, according to The Times. Apparently the Gord prefers you reflect on his recent "successes" whilst inebriated. The average council tax bill will reach £1,380 this year, with a corresponding increase in services while funding… read more…

Written by Andrew Levy on 2 Jan 2008 10:45 AM. Permalink

January 2008 Archives