Thursday, 11 December 2008
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Tell Preston Council where to go.
Tory Bear was rather ironically left speechless when he
Why don't all PPCs do this?
Excellent idea from
Leading the way in the viral campaigns...
One goal - to bring down a government.
Shush.
The Devil has a warning for all those out there who were planning on doing the obvious trip to Lush once again for those last minute Christmas presents for the ladies...
Dammit - TB is a big fan of their "Prince" triple orange blossom shaving cream.
Quote of the century...
Gordon just said that he "saved the world" at PMQs.
Cue two solid minutes of laughter. The speaker was ignored and Brown mocked.
Keep taking the medication Gordo...
Update - As requested:
Comment Policy - a quick reminder.
TB would like to quickly draw your attention back to his comment moderation policy. Needlessly insulting (unless funny,) or slanderous comments will not be published. Or will any comments that refer to Tory Bear's alter ego.
For the record though Tory Bear is not jealous of Lily Kember, her class, education or relative "success". He also doesn't spend his life hanging out with basement bound right-wingers and as for ugly... well that's just not very nice is it.
TB would rather not have the hassle of moderating comments but that is in your hands...
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Boris saves Christmas but...
Iain Dale tonight has the
Late notice...
Word is reaching Tory Bear from Birmingham that Caroline Spelman has today pulled out of an event at the city branch, with just three days notice. What could be the problem?
RC dust settles...
Offcially the creation of the new Regional Coordinators is a landmark in "the development of Conservative Future, which will deliver a far more responsive structure for all CF members.
We are Conservatives and localism is a key part of our ideology. The appointment of Regional Chairmen is key to this change. These people will work to improve the organisation in their regions, focusing on local branches and local activities."
However it seems this email shows just how difficult this interim period of introducing the RC's nationwide will be. It came late last night from a member who wishes to remain anonymous:
"I may have slipped into a coma at some point, but what exactly are these regional coordinators going to do differently to what was in place before? I'd get the odd hurried message from the area chairman (Chairperson?) organising at the last minute a canvasing day through Facebook on the opposite side of the county and watch as he got narked that noone turned up. Will this new system be any different? Have we found the silver bullet?
I'm also rather surprised as to it being one person's job to coordinate activities over such a geographically vast area like the North West, North East, North Wales (which I grew up in), and South Wales. Transport at county level in quite an ordeal over this way (it takes twice as long for example to go from Holyhead to Aberystwyth than it does from Holyhead to Chester, and that's assuming you go by car, don't whatever you do mention trains). Will the general membership be expected to pay for these new RCs to travel from one end of their areas to another to coordinate us? Or will the RCs be expected to pay for it themselves?
I suspect in the end that the whole thing will end up as a Facebook group, with some hastily arranged event thrown up every now and again when one of the RCs gets picked up on for having done nothing on sites such as yours.
I don't really know what the answer is tbh, and I'm not privy to the NME thinking behind this decision. It strikes me as being another "bright idea" from London, but that could be that northern chip on my shoulder. Perhaps it would have been better to have instituted a mechanism to hold ACs and NME members to account? I know, I know, a pipe dream...
The overall impression I get is that this just gives credence to Sir Humphrey's line "politicians like activity, it's their substitute for achievement". We'll no doubt are a flurry of activity to begin with, followed by the inevitable slide back to where we are bow, carrying on as if nothing has changed.
Which I suppose it hasn't, if you think about it."
We shall see eh?
Monday, 8 December 2008
Listen to Lily...
Thanks to SkyNews you can now hear the very moment the law carried young Lily away...
You can hear the clipped accent of her
Lily Kember and EUSA Vs. Real Students
There has been wide spread outrage today in the fall out after the hippy invasion of Stansted Airport. As previously reported by Tory Bear, Edinburgh University anthropology student Lily Kember, (pictured right in her native state,) endangered lives and violated private property in a shameless and selfish act.
Having speculated earlier about the response of Edinburgh University to the arrest of one of its students, TB got in touch with the press office who said that they could not comment on individual students but stressed that they are not mummies and a daddies. Apparently they will get back to TB if anything comes of this but he was told not to be surprised if nothing happens.
Christian May the deputy chairman of Conservative Future said earlier: "The simple truth is the protesters acted recklessly, dangerously and illegally. It says a lot about Edinburgh University that they are prepared to turn a blind eye to this criminal act. Some people need to be treated like children: point out that what they did was wrong, make them apologise, and then punish them. If we don't do this, then similarly unwashed uneducated reactionaries will continue to violate the laws with impunity."
And so Tory Bear turned to the esteemed Edinburgh University Student Association, an organisation dear to his heart and received a cutting response from the President Adam Ramsay, a member of the Green Party. Clever use of the environmental thorn in the Conservatives’ side:
"Last summer, recent Edinburgh graduate Iain Thom was arrested in China at the opening ceremony for the Olympics. His protest led to headlines reminding people around the world of China's appalling human rights record. Many students said they were proud of Iain Thom's bravery. I'm sure many will be proud of Lily Kember - the Edinburgh student arrested at Stansted today.
Lily follows in the footsteps of the leaders of most religious groups in Scotland (including the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland), many members of the Scottish government, and a substantial number of Edinburgh students and staff - all of whom have been arrested attempting to blockade Faslane Nuclear Weapons Base.
Earlier this year, potential Tory candidate and advisor to David Cameron, Zac Goldsmith, spoke in defence of Greenpeace activists charged with criminal assault at Kingsnorth Power Station.
He said: 'If a crime is intended to prevent much larger crimes, I think many people would regard that as justified.' The jury agreed with Zac Goldsmith, and the Greenpeace activists were let off.
Students around the world have a proud history of leading progressive change, and, sometimes, of putting their bodies on the line in doing so. BAA and the pro-flying lobby have near unprecedented access to this government. The communities affected by airport expansion are left out in the cold. This peaceful protest has helped to open up the debate. The number of people who had their flights delayed is minimal compared to the potential damage resulting from expanding Stansted. I think many students will concur with Zac Goldsmith - as an attempt to prevent a much larger crime, this protest is justified. Edinburgh students should be proud of Lily Kember."
Well this Edinburgh student is most certainly not proud of the behaviour of Lily and her hippy chums, and nor is TB alone: Alice Paisley a 4th year history student said “this was totally irresponsible, rash and certainly won’t help her cause.” 4th Year chemist Thomas MacThomas, asked by Tory Bear outside the library today what he thought simply added “what a pillock, has she never flown anywhere?”
Nick Ward, a leading figure in the University Labour Club said to TB: "Although I have nothing against the people doing it themselves I do believe they are misguided and possibly selfish. Politics is about winning people over to your cause and in a democracy that is best done through argument and debate not through acts of vandalism endangering people’s lives and inconveniencing hundreds of families. This is the equivalent of a huff by a 4 year old not the mature rational discussion of adults which might actually bring people around to your cause rather than alienating a great many." Ed Kozak Vice-Chairman of Edinburgh University Conservatives added: “The idea that Edinburgh University would let this completely unwarranted attack on property stand is worrying at best and darn right offensive at worst.”
Donal Blaney, the Chief Executive of the Young Britons’ Foundation had some helpful advice for the likes of Lily Kember - "if only left-wing students spent half as much time on their degrees as they do on puerile gesture politics and unlawful protests then perhaps they'd get decent jobs when they graduated"
Regional Coordinators published:
TB is in out and about more on this later but here we go:
London – Clare Hilley
Eastern – Sonia Chohan
West Midlands – Jimmy McLoughlin
East Midlands – Hamish Stewart
North West England – Richard Lowe
North East England – Emma Carr
Yorkshire and the Humber – Philip Smith
South West England – James Morton
South East England – Ranil Jayawardena
North Wales – Paul Rogers
South Wales – Michael J Foreman
Caption Contest:
Can someone please fill TB in on what the hell is going on here:
Lily Kember should face the music.
Reading the news this morning of yet another lot of hippies embarrassing themselves under the Plane Stupid banner, this time at Stansted, TB was in too much of a hurry to really give it much thought. It's only now that he has learnt that a fellow Edinburgh University student was at the forefront of this madness has his blood started to boil.Now don't get me wrong, Edinburgh has its weaknesses but on the whole you would expect a someone who attends the university to be of a decent intellectual standing and have a good education under their belt. Why then would fellow anthropology student
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Back to the Future...
It seems it wasn't just TB who had a busy weekend of working hard and playing hard. After the carnage of the Exeter Ball on Friday night it was straight back to work for the great and good of Conservative Future. After weeks of bashing out the selections for Regional Coordinators the list is set to be announced tomorrow. Seems the security around the final names is very tight though word from the South East is that the speculation about Ranil Jayawardena being chosen will be confirmed.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Friday, 5 December 2008
Here we go again...
There's a storm brewing...
Apologies for the lack of blogging today, TB has had a busy week and is taking it easy...
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Tax Bombshell
It's well worth a watch:
Incidentally does anyone know how to turn off the irritating search feature YouTube seem to have put on their videos overnight? Ever since the Google takeover annoying changes have been slowly implemented like the tracking of what you watch and how you find videos on YouTube.
Why can't they just leave something that worked alone?
TB podcast
Here is another chance to listen to TB interviewed last night on Edinburgh radio, he played some political tunes and generally had a rant about Labour and a wide ranging chat about politics and music. TB really enjoyed himself.
Download the podcast and have a listen.
Would anyone listen if TB did a weekly broadcast?
What happened Mr Brown?
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
And the right wing blogosphere retaliates...
Brilliant retaliation just emailed to TB by UrbanAntichrist
Why... WHY?
Why must Gordon Brown ruin everything Tory Bear loves?
FreshAir - live blog
18.03 - in the studio and on air...
20 mix then Tory Bear
18.05 - Webcams aren't working but you can email editor@torybear.com with questions and banter... Tune in
18.18 - not allowed to swear apparently :S
18.21
18.26 - first track - maggies last party by vim
18.38 - slight technical difficulties but back on track now... Labour has done it again going out live.
18.48 - McCain is on.. still having some problems with the cd decks but getting there...
19.06 - ranting about Labour - appropriate tune now - N0 Government...
19.22 - anyone listening? TB is having fun.. talking about literally everything.. kind of moved away from the original topics but just layed into the SNP.
19.26 - Plugging Jamie De Rooy
19.38 - Eveeeerryboodysss frreeeeee
19.44 - that's it folks... will get the podcast up asap.
All we hear is radio ga ga...
You can even watch it on a webcam
Will try get a podcast up later if you can't tune in live.
Send your questions in to TB in the studio - editor@torybear.com
How to deal with the police. Lesson one:
TB had an interesting conversation with his flatmate (TBFM) while watching the Speaker squirm.
TB: Say the police turned up at this flat and said is XXXXX XXXX here please?
TBFM: Errr why?
TB: Well we are here to arrest him, can we come in?
TBFM: Do you have a warrant?
TB: Errrh no.
TBFM: Then piss off.
The Speaker must resign for failing to ask even the most simple of questions.
Foulkes talks nonsense...
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Green search footage released:
Things are warming up. Tory backbench heavyweights are all over the news today an will no doubt dominate the evening news and Newsnight. Michael Howard just gave a very precise and composed perfomance on Sky. The footage of the search of Green's office has been revealed and no doubt there is something very special planned for tomorrow...
Lets just say David Davis wouldn't put up with this.
Exclusive: News from the regions.
The announcement of the new Conservative Future regional coordinators has been delayed and the executive won't give anyone a squeak about who is on the exclusive list. However that doesn't seem to have stopped the whispers at the grassroots of who has been approached reaching TBHQ. Although there has been no official confirmation from any one on the NME or the Chairman, there is nothing like a sniff of a promotion to put the cat amongst the pigeons at a grass root level. People do love to gossip don't they...
So far Tory Bear has heard that the following candidates have been approached and apparently have accepted their new role as RC's:
James Morton for Devon and Cornwall. As previously reported after he was overheard talking about it.
Clare Hilley for London. Great news.
Jimmy McCloughlin for West Midlands. Will the chief whips son put a bit of stick about CF?
Paul Rogers for Wales. Is there anyone else?
There are also rumours around yet to be confirmed about Sonia Chohan being approached to take on Eastern England. Apparently former NME member (under Clarke,) Ranil Jayawardena is in line to take the South East.
Dammit that was the region TB wanted.
Did Hatty do the right thing?
Did she have a crisis of conscious and deliberately let the Tories know what Smith and Brown were planning, knowing full well Dave and co would go mental?
TB would like to think so.
See no evil, hear no evil, say nothing.
"Sir Gus jokes with investigative journalists at parties that it is his job to frustrate their inquiries; the Civil Service sees its role as to block any important requests, which means that only trivia (such as the guest lists for dinners at Chequers or the amount of money MPs claim on expenses) is revealed. “Most ministers think that the Freedom of Information Act is a joke and a waste of taxpayers' money,” says one government member. “It's killing the system.”"
Apparently government departments are in chaos trying to deal with FOI requests - “The whole thing has become a nightmare,” says one permanent secretary. “It is starting to hamper the way in which Government works.”
Well to TB that proves one very clear fact. If the state can't even keep track of what it is doing then it is too big. It's out of control - different arms not in communication with one another, burying deeper and deeper into our lives, rights and freedom. When anti-terrorist officers have access to MPs love letters, private property or opposition offices then the state has come to far. It is an overbearing beast that must be slain. If a government department has to spend hours working out what is going on in it's own office then that office is clearly out of control.
FOI is a blessing and should not be treated with such disgusting contempt by this morally bankrupt and corrupt Labour government.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Green Team...
You will have noticed the massive green ribbon on the right hand side this website. Following the trend set by the
Billy's back?
Check out
William Hague Campaign
Registrant's address:
William Hague Campaign
House Of Commons
LONDON
SW1A 0AA
GB
Well well well, what's all this about?
Hat-Tip - Total Politics
Blue rosettes and DJ sets II
Tory Bear will be going on Edinburgh radio this Wednesday evening to discuss dance music and its relationship with politics. He will put the link up to listen in live and try get a podcast of the interview. Although he has lots to say on the subject he is a little stuck on ideas of which tracks to choose.
Apart from this epic track, what other songs could/should he play?
A fashion must have it seems...
Today's Daily Express gossip column Hickey (not online,) describes parliamentary researchers sporting TB's must have Free Damian Green t-shirts:
Have you got yoursPain in the RC..
It seems the sceduled announcement of the new Regional Coordinators will not be happening today.
Shame.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Tread on them.
I was struck how, during the recent by-elections, the SNP wandered around shopping centres, stood at street corners handing out the Saltire as if they owned the flag, as if it was their exclusive property, as if they had a monopoly on the Saltire and it was their symbol.
Well let me say this loud and clear: The Saltire is our national flag of Scotland - not the SNP nationalist flag. It is a symbol of patriotism, not partition. It is the property of us all, not the campaigning prop of one party.”
Ugh.
He doesn't sleep, he waits.
Over the last few days there has been one backbencher who has excelled even his Shadow Cabinet seniors in articulating the outrage felt in the Conservatives, the Commons and the wider world at the shameful arrest and detention of a Member of Parliament.
More inbox amusement...
Catching up on a few days worth of emails sent to TB. Someone sent in the keenest CFer Tory Bear has probably ever seen:
19 year old PPC
ConHome is
Congratulations to Nick.
Tonight Matthew ...TB is going to be...
Michael Rock...
That's right kids, for one night only Tory Bear was the Chairman of Conservative Future. Well sort of. It was that time of year again, the winter closing in, the north wind blowing and essays due - it could mean only one thing - a random trek across Scotland for the Conservative Future Scotland conference. Luckily this year it was in the slightly closer and genteel surrounding of St Andrews. A fine array of MSPs and PPCs turned up and so did CFUK national campaigns coordinator Patrick Sullivan. However after a slight glitch in getting a video message sent up from London it fell to Tory Bear to fill in for the big man and what a power trip it was...
Michael Bear officially announced the closing down of CFS and merging it with the CFUK. A complete withdrawal from the NUS and installed himself as chairman for life.
TB was very tempted! No in fact the question and answer session generated some interesting points that he will be sending on to Michael, especially about the NUS which, as ever, got people talking.
Patrick Sullivan entertained with accounts of by-elections, Boris and an insight into the Student Life tours and continued where TB had left off about strengthening the relationship between the two CFs.
All in all it was a good day, a marked improvement on last year and an increase in the numbers...
Friday, 28 November 2008
New t-shirt...
Lefties have always had cooler t-shirts but now it's our turn to protest something.
Freedom isn't Free
TB is still fairly gobsmacked by the Damian Green arrest so will leave it to DC with his greatest quote yet...
Ouch
The Guardian have
"Here are four words you probably never thought you'd see in the same sentence: "George Osborne trance remix".
Yes, that's George, Osborne, trance and remix.
And it really does mean what it says on the tin: this video features the shadow chancellor's response to the pre-budget report overlaid with a bangin' dance soundtrack.
This deeply strange true blue mash-up comes courtesy of the Tory Bear blog.
Big shout out to the Tory massive."
Indeed.