Tweeting is overtaking blogging as politicians' best channel for contacting press and public. Press releases are finished. I send about one every six months. Today I had press inquiries about four of the following tweets. I will reprint any press stories arising from them. Tweets are in heavy type.
MPs asked to contribute to Queen's gift starting at £50. Will donations be published to reveal links with those with or seeking honours?
In any list of charitable causes, this will be the last choice of any rational MP. My habit of giving is one I recommended in my book ‘Commons Knowledge’. Put all excess earnings above your parliamentary salary into a separate account that is outside of your control. It should then be used for anonymous giving in carefully chosen causes. This is not one of them.
On Monday, Tories will promote dangerous youth boxing which, BMA warns, inflicts cumulative brain damage with repeated blows to the head
Boxing tragedies are soon forgotten as this dying ‘sport’ strives to gain new support. Few parents would choose the risks of brain damage when many other less dangerous sports are available and provide the benefits of exercise and competition.
1996 forgotten? Blair wanted only shadow cabinet members to stand for re-election. I was first awkward MP who stood. I got 61 votes.'
'Rebels' votes 96 Shadow election Ann Clwyd 94 Lynne Jones 66 Chris Mullin 66 Paul Flynn 61Tony Banks 47 Dennis Canavan 42 Jeremy Corbyn 37
No press reports I saw today connected Ed Miliband’s idea with Blair’s move in 1996. Could this be part of Blair’s urging Ed to ape ‘New' Labour?
Croeso to Carwyn Jones' planned links with Brittany. French have not understood importance of minority languages since demise of Jack Lang.
This could be a very fruitful development. There are links of language and blood between Wales and Brittany. It’s easy to cull a fire on an old hearth.
Sun, Mail, Express hail Cameron as anti-crime demi-god for squashing Ken Clarke and backing policies that have failed abjectly for 40 years
This is hideous news that proves that Cameron is already addicted to a fix of adulation every day from the tabloid press. Ken had the courage to challenge the lowest common denominator of tabloid prejudice. Ministers caught in possession of intelligent ideas have brief political lives.
"Keep taking the tablets and don't panic' is the inevitable advice after proof that death likelihood goes from 7% to 20%. Panic is rational.
One of these drugs is Seroxat. I railed against it at length ten years ago. The lives of many elderly people end in confusion and misery prematurely because of the incontinent prescribing of medicinal drugs.
Would you believe it?
After decades spouting the conventional foolishness on drugs remedies, the South Wales Argus tonight said:
"But while that is a necessary part of the fight and one which has to take on an evolving and efficient global trade, we should perhaps also be asking why in the UK we appear to have a propensity for addiction, which is not matched by our European neighbours.
And that might mean politicians have to consider the difficult question of decriminalising at least some drugs and whether this would bring a measure of control."
Something I said?
I do fear that Ed Miliband has pandered to this in his rush to gain political advantage. Instead of moving to support the sensible reforms which Ken Clarke put forward he rushed to confirm the authoritarian populism of successive Labour Home Secretaries from Straw onwards. Expedient I call it and indeed quite stupid politically because it's this sort of issue that will both drive wedges into the coalition and convince genuine Lib Dems that Labour's instincts are right.
Posted by: Richard Thomas | June 25, 2011 at 09:56 AM