Monthly Archives: September 2009
Tory co-treasurer finances Libertas
Today’s Irish Times has this: Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan yesterday described as “disturbing” a report that Libertas had received £3,000 in cash and non- cash donations of £13,964 from Crispin Odey, a London hedge fund manager. Now factor in … Continue reading
Filed under Britain, Conservative Party policy., EU referendum, Irish Times, Tories.
Call ‘em out!
Malcolm found Gordon Brown’s extended peroration not only effective but also illustrative of the Anglo-American cross-pollination. The American Democrats, fighting back against the GOP’s health scares, are employing an instant response. As today’s email round-robin from Jen O’Malley Dillon of … Continue reading
Filed under Britain, Democratic Party, Gordon Brown, Tories.
In a glass darkly
The mere mention of breeds of dogs causes an uptick in the hits Malcolm Refellow’s Home Service receives. For some reason Rottweilers seem the most effective. [Oh, goodness me! It's happening again!] Produce the most close-analysed piece: zero recognition. A … Continue reading
Filed under Dublin., Irish Times, pubs, reading, Trinity College Dublin, Uncategorized
Déjà vu all over again?
Try this pseudo-syllogism: Western capitalism is in terminal crisis. Former capitalist political parties have turned to social democracy. The electors now favour the erstwhile Right. It seems to work. In Germany, Angela Merkel has got her centre-Right government, mainly because: … Continue reading
Filed under banking, Britain, British Left, Labour Party, leftist politics., Tories.
Up hill for dumb Dale?
Mocking Iain Dale could be — perhaps should be — a national sport. So here’s another chance to join the fun: Let’s note Dale twittering late this afternoon: # RT @tobyhelm Just met friend frm Ireland who sd Irish referend … Continue reading
Filed under Iain Dale, Ireland, Irish politics
PoliticsHome? or away with the fairies?
Yesterday’s local blogosphere and today’s dead-tree press both seemed to raise more than a wry eyebrow that “Lord” Ashcroft, the Tory’s favourite sugar-daddy, had bought a commanding state in both ConservativeHome and PoliticsHome. Now, to be honest, Malcolm had always … Continue reading
Filed under blogging, Conservative Party policy., Guardian, Iain Dale, prejudice, Shakespeare, sleaze., Times, Tories.
A Paine in the … Brecklands
Tom Paine that is. Here’s today’s Times about the local “currency” which may, or may not have been used in the town of Lewes: One year, and 45,000 banknotes later, the Lewes Pound has been embraced by one group above … Continue reading
Filed under London, Norfolk, pubs, Republicanism, Times, Uncategorized
Reading the runes
Sometime back, as Malcolm recalls, The Daily Mail or suchlike worked up a froth that Job Centres were advertising lap-dancing jobs. It gave Theresa May an … err … open goal in Parliament: The Leader of the House recently asked … Continue reading
Filed under Britain, censorship, Conservative family values, economy, Gender, reading, sleaze.
Ed balls talks some sense?
Education “cuts”? Never! That’s a valid knee-jerk reaction. Even so, one bit of Ed Ball’s case pulled Malcolm’s chain: Education spending could be cut by £2bn by axing thousands of senior staff and “discipline” over pay, the schools secretary for … Continue reading
Filed under economy, education, Labour Party
Traipsing on: barking dogs
Another day at and around the buildingfest. It wouldn’t have occurred had the Lady-in-Malcolm’s-life not mislaid an aged jacket (inevitably, that was Malcolm’s fault). So a retread to the last two points of yesterday’s visitations. It’s no go my honey … Continue reading
Filed under Boris Johnson, Literature, London, Sunday Times, Tories.
