Purcell Leaves Rehab

TB got a fair bit of flack for his alluding to exactly why Steven Purcell quit as leader of Glasgow Council. The

usual hysterics

came from the usual places last night to suggest that TB was wrong. Well the BBC are now

confirming

that Purcell this morning left a drug rehabilitation clinic south of Edinburgh.

TB wishes no ill toward Mr Purcell but sees no reason why he even bothered trying to cover it up by retaining a man who claims to be "Scotland's Max Clifford" to handle the crisis. It's always the lying that makes the story...

Obama Caught Lip-Syncing

Brilliant.

Sniffing Around the Purcell Story

Further to the post below, TB understands that former Scottish Labour rising star Steven Purcell was as happy as larry on Friday morning yet mysteriously cleared his diary by the afternoon and went into crisis meetings before bringing out the "stress" press release and resigning last night. Could this be a little white lie?

What could have made him react so suddenly? What story did someone discover and put to him?

Sniff sniff.

Purcell Intrigue

TB's nose started to twitch as soon as he heard the news breaking last night that up-and-coming Scottish Labour star Steven Purcell was quitting.  After an apparent breakdown he has walked away from his role in charge of Glasgow Council. But there's more to the story than that...

He narrowly missed out being an MP in last years Glasgow by-election and many wondered why he wasn't selected as the Labour candidate. If Purcell really did want to get away from politics for a while why then has he retained PR man Jack Irvine from the 

Media House

 PR firm?

Mr Irving is a crisis manager, but TB hears perhaps Mr Purcell better find a relationship councillor too.


UPDATE: Seems Purcell needs more than just relationship help. Developing...

What Does Robbo Know?

Intriguing headline for a

story

that contained no reference to polling day. What was he planning on writing?

I Want Gets

CCHQ just sent out a good little release:

May 2007
David Cameron first backed a TV debate between the party leaders:

‘I hope in the next few days Gordon Brown will make clear that once he's actually the Labour leader and Prime Minister he'll take part in proper TV debates that could really help bring politics to life.’ (BBC News Online, 19 May 2007)

6 September 2007
David Cameron called for a televised debate:

‘Any time, anywhere. I will even pay for the taxi to take him to the studio. In fact, I'll even drive the cab!’ (David Cameron, The Sun, 6 September 2007)

27 February 2008
David Cameron used Prime Minister’s Questions to call once again for televised debates:
‘I want to put to the Prime Minister one other point that could help to restore some invigoration in our politics. It is this: there is no doubt that one of the reasons why the American elections have caught people’s imagination is that night after night the contenders debate in live television debates. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the time for such live television debates at general election times has now come? Will he agree to hold television debates with the leaders of the main political parties so that people can see us discuss the issues, the policies and the challenges for the future of this country?’ (David Cameron, Hansard, 27 February 2008, column 1084)

26 April 2009
David Cameron repeated the call for televised debates in an interview with The Sunday Times:

‘Let’s have one. Let’s have several…Any time, any place, anywhere.’ (The Sunday Times, 26 April 2009)

19 July 2009
David Cameron reiterated his support for the debates:

“On the issue of a TV debate, I am in favour of it and the interesting thing is I’ve been in favour of it whether I'm ahead in the polls, behind in the polls, whether it’s just after being made leader of the Conservative Party or whether it’s right now. I think our democracy would benefit from elections where the party leaders debated against each other and I really hope that this time, because I'm in favour of it and want to have it and frankly, will sign up to any reasonable set of rules about how many debates and where and who with and all the rest of it, I really want this to happen, it would be good for our democracy, good for elections, good to help get people fired up and enthused in politics, and also we should test out these ideas through the modern media which for many people is television. So I hope that we can do it this time, but the Prime Minister seems to think that half an hour in the House of Commons every now and again is enough. It just isn’t.” (Adam Boulton Show, Sky News, 19 July 2009)

29 July 2009
David Cameron wrote to Gordon Brown asking him to clarify his position on holding a televised leaders’ debate:

‘Five months ago, when I challenged you at Prime Minister’s Questions to a televised studio debate, you refused. This morning, Lord Mandelson said you were open to the idea. But within an hour, a Downing Street spokesperson back-tracked, saying this was not the case.

‘The Government seems to have a number of positions on this. I’ve only ever had one: a prime time televised debate is just what our political system needs.’ (Conservative Party Press Release, 29 July 2009)

4 October 2009
ANDREW MARR: Well okay. Gordon Brown has said apparently that he is prepared to go head to head in television debates, but they'd like those debates to start now. In effect the great conversation, the great national argument is happening now and he'd like to get on with it. Will you pick up that challenge?

DAVID CAMERON: Yes, I'd be delighted. I mean I'm in favour … I asked Gordon Brown first I think back in, I think it was May 2007, over two years ago, challenged him to TV debates. I think they're a good idea. I think they will help enliven interest in our politics. So, yes, I'd be delighted to take part in television debates. Obviously we've got to get some of the rules straight and also we've got to have them during the election. And I do …

ANDREW MARR: But now now, not now?

DAVID CAMERON: Oh both, I'm happy. (Andrew Marr Show, BBC)

10 January 2010
ANDREW MARR: Let's come onto the next few months of election campaigning. How important are these debates going to be to you?

DAVID CAMERON: I think they'll be very important. I mean I'm delighted they're happening because I mean there is a danger right now that if all this election is about is the sort of production of competitive dossiers, we're going to bore the public to tears, and we've got to get across …

ANDREW MARR: Can the debates be interesting?

DAVID CAMERON: I hope so. And the main thing I'd say is the politicians have got to recognise this is not our campaign, this is not our election. This is the public's election, this is your election, and we have got to open it up. And we're going to try all sorts of ways, including using lots of innovative stuff on the Internet, of getting people involved and making sure it's their priorities. (Andrew Marr Show, BBC)

Brown is apparently "relishing the opportunity." Yeeesss...

Mann Down

There is no denying that Nicolas Winterton is an idiot who the Tories can't be rid of soon enough. However TB was sure there was something wiffy about the attacks from Labour rent-a-thug John Mann. He said "second class seats are just as good as first class seats". "It is total nonsense that MPs, particularly in a recession, should regard themselves as a different kind of species,"

he told the BBC.

"MPs need to get out of this mindset that, somehow, we are above the general public, that we are special. Travelling second class keeps you in touch with the general public. It seems to me actually it helps MPs doing their job better." Fair enough.

However John Mann's constituency is Bassetlaw. The London connection is Gainsborough. A standard class return ticket from London, booked a day in advance, costs £127. So why do Mann's

expenses

show repeated claims for train fares between £230 and £260?

An open first class return costs £230.

A Weekend at the Seaside

When the news of the two point lead in the polls broke on Saturday evening, it was to a Brighton hotel full of people drunk on Azerbaijani hospitality. No one could quite believe it, pondered it, and then went back to the drinking. By the time TB surfaced today the chat had moved on to what was expected, and turned out, to be some vintage Dave. Polls always close as the election gets closer, but this is getting tight.

As ever when Cameron is on the ropes he is at his best. A lot of chatter has been how once again he pulled a blinder out of the bag without notes or autocue, and while yes this is extremely effective, the content of the speech was also top notch. Nice to hear the sharpening of that axe is still on message. The four question structure dealing with the who where what why of Cameron's conservatives should be a constant referal point for those who ask what Project Dave stands for.

Spring forum is no conference, the energy and buzz that builds up to a leaders speech after a few days wasn't quite the same and there were lots of faces missing. Especially given that any PPC with a good crack at being an MP in matter of weeks didn't want to lose 48 hours of delivering and door-knocking and rightly so. Not much in the way of gossip, so far, but it was nice to be back at the seaside though.

Much is made of the atmosphere and tension at these sort of things. It was nice of Sky News to choose such representative geriatrics to interview about the speeches. More than the odd grumble about direction and polls was an overwhelming senses of exhaustion at the weird state of electoral limbo everyone is in. The problem with the last few months has been everything is dressed up and ready to go, just there's no barn dance yet. There was more talk about fixed term Parliaments in the last two days than TB has ever heard before.

Talking of polls and strategy though, it was certainly interesting to see Lynton Crosby pressing the flesh. Hannan's Tea Party on Saturday afternoon was a good bash, the overfill room was overspilling and a great performance from the main man.

TB spent the train journey home just a couple of seats from Andy Coulson which was certainly an exprience. Ever a man of discretion, there were no incidents when the ticket inspector came round and the only thing TB managed to overhear was a phonecall ending "well done."

Can't think who that might have been with, and well deserved.

Farage Blows the Doors Off

Anyone For Tea?

Join Dan Hannnan and friends at the Brighton Tea Party at 5.30 p.m. this Saturday 27 February at the Best Western Hotel, 143-145 King's Road, Brighton BN1 2PQ

Actual tea optional.

TB better go get a hotel sorted...

Two Chairman

Once upon a time this blog used to write regularly about the Conservative Future. After realising it was much more fun to take the mick out of the Lib Dems and writing a dissertation about political youth, TB aimed his sites elsewhere. This special war-room briefing from Pickles and Michael Rock, CF Chairman is worth a peek though.

More info

:



Disappointed Rock didn't use the word chum though.

LBC Tonight at 8pm

Though you've probably given up on TB blogging this week, if you are near a radio or a computer, or even a Sky box, you can hear him on LBC Radio tonight at 8pm. He will be chatting about this miserable week for Labour with Chuka Umunna Labour's PPC for Streatham. Will be interesting to put a name to a face given a couple of pieces TB has written in the past.

Hope you can

tune in

at 8 and once again apologies for the shocking lack of blogging.

McBride Wouldn't Put Up With This

TB has been busy with other more bill-paying projects, though he has been quiet, he was blown away by the last two days. There is a big difference between the smack of firm leadership and sustained bouts of aggressive bullying. What has been consistent for many years  now is the similarity of the allegations and rumours coming out of Number10. It had to go mainstream at some point...

As the dust settles on the last forty-eight hours that have been dominated by discussions of bullying, complaints, allegations, counter attacks and smears it is important to make sure things are kept in perspective. The reason Downing St would have been so angry with the Pratt angle to the story was the excuse it gave the Monday papers go, no holds barred, into an full on scattergun attack on the PM. Her actions unravelled pretty quickly and although she has now gone to Max Clifford saying she has evidence, it is safe to say when that leech is involved you have damaged yourself. But in reality that is a mere side-story.

Whether or not it was appropriate for Ms Pratt to wade in with her angle, her story was just too tempting for the press. It doesn't matter that it fell apart, the damage was done. On Sunday and Monday the papers were plastered with anti-Brown headlines giving a glimpse into the world of the "Prime Monster". The subsequent attacks and fall of Pratt were too late, a million front pages and breakfast bulletins and headlines had been read. Though a thug, it is clear that Damian McBride was Brown's best operator, you can bet a pretty penny that he would have shut down this story for his raging boss, but then again that was part of the problem. Either way, whoever is running the bunker had a bad day yesterday. It is also clear that Mandy is way, way past his peak at dealing with this sort of storm.

Despite their best efforts drag Ms Pratt down with them, Labour have taken a big hit on this one and they know it. Of course we need firm leadership, but not an unstable, out of control centre piece of a whole culture of aggression and attack. Brown is running out of time, just get in the car and go to the Palace.

Prezza Loses It Live

Last night's Newsnight was something special. The full Rawsnley/Prescott/Paxman/Fink/Hattersely dingdong is well worth a

catch up

but the moment of John Prescott losing it was the stuff of legend:



Well done to

TP

for getting the recording.

Pressing Buttons

Skip 16 mins into this vid from CPAC for a gem of a speech from YBF's Matthew Richardson:



The crowd reaction to buzzwords is hilarious. As is the fact taking the piss out of Kerry McCarthy has gone global.

Whose Idea Was This?

Gordon Brown just arrived to his wake to this tune:



Face palm.

Libreal Consparacy

At least Etonians can

spell

.

A Message to Purnell

Something is up, Purnell didn't even tell his staff he was quitting. A damning indictment of the Labour Party and their electoral chances. If whatever job he is expecting doesn't fall into place TB has

a suggestion

:

A job at the DWP would be fine by TB.

CCHQ Deploy Secret Weapon

Sorry for another video but a busy bear:



Was sceptical but he's actually remarkably astute.

Thanks DEFRA!