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Steven Adams
Chesham, Buckinghamshire
28 year old graphic designer and county councillor
Interests: Anything made by Apple, political affairs and ideologies, education, rugby, skiing, tennis...
Recent Activity
Why must it be pedestrian? That's your assumption, not mine. Why must it be one term? That's your assumption, not mine. Why must it be one term? That's your assumption, not mine.
Whatever mandate Cameron gets, he will act. He will act to reverse areas of social and moral decline with a focus on social responsibility. He will act to reverse our economic decline with a focus on the budget deficit and the competitiveness of Britain abroad.
However, these focal points will not be painless and the stronger his mandate the easier it will be for him. If the mandate is weaker, he will just have to work harder.
The difference here is that Labour (though not Brown) has a strong mandate currently (in Parliamentary terms ... the Conservative Party has dominated the popular vote since 2005). Now THAT has been a wasted and pedestrian term.
Tories 12% ahead in YouGov poll
The Tory lead was 9% last Sunday according to YouGov. An Angus-Reid poll yesterday had the Tories 16% ahead. The People's Nigel Nelson tweets that the poll for his paper has the Tories on 40%, Labour on 28% and the LibDems on just 18%. Tim Montgomerie
Are you asking me if I want one or expect one? After the rotten, torrid job that Brown has done as Chancellor and then PM, combined with the aimless and meandering rantings of his soon-to-be-jobless Cabinet, I would prefer a landslide so that Cameron has a stronger mandate to govern radically.
However, I don't think this will happen. One reason it won't happen is that there are still voters out there who are unable to vote Conservative because the Labour Party can't extract itself from gutter, class-based, politics.
Tories 12% ahead in YouGov poll
The Tory lead was 9% last Sunday according to YouGov. An Angus-Reid poll yesterday had the Tories 16% ahead. The People's Nigel Nelson tweets that the poll for his paper has the Tories on 40%, Labour on 28% and the LibDems on just 18%. Tim Montgomerie
It's positive that for more than a year the Conservatives have been steady on 40%. It's also positive that Labour have struggled to get into the thirties in that period. It's even more positive that the LibDems have singularly failed to make an impact over that very same period.
This isn't going to change going into an election, excepting game-changing incidents. The secret is two-fold: maximise the Conservative GOTV/marginal campaign and demoralise Labour activists with visible, positive and effective campaigning right from January 1st. The 'positive' element of this is important for a number of reasons, but not least because negative campaigning quite often rallies the opposition troops!
If the campaign is effective in these areas, sending Labour down one or two points and Conservatives up one or two points, then we're talking about a pretty decent election result.
Tories 12% ahead in YouGov poll
The Tory lead was 9% last Sunday according to YouGov. An Angus-Reid poll yesterday had the Tories 16% ahead. The People's Nigel Nelson tweets that the poll for his paper has the Tories on 40%, Labour on 28% and the LibDems on just 18%. Tim Montgomerie
This whole affair is rather hilarious. For such a confident, attacking and partisan post to be so easily and widely discredited so quickly is ... well, just laughable.
New Statesman political correspondent's account of Tory bloggers lunch is "work of fiction"
James Macintyre is a political correspondent for the New Statesman. In the recent past he accused the Tories of being "institutionally racist". The article had to be removed from the New Statesman website. He has a history of writing very partisan pieces that have been subsequently rubbished. ...
Actually that's just not true. Indeed, John Lipsky the Dep MD of the IMF has classed both the dollar and euro as overvalued simultaneously in November this year.
The word from Germany - thanks to Brown, Britain is now an economic "mini-power"
The big talk amongst London's foreign journalist community today is this remarkable article in Der Spiegel, on the PBR, entitled "Britain shrinks to a mini-power". Our disastrous Prime Minister is now used to receiving withering incoming fire from German governments of all stripes. But the pie...
The Euro MAY be over-valued, that's not my point. I'm just saying that one does not necessarily equal the other (which, to be fair, you did say when you said "...Germany is losing manufacturing jobs to the States because of the low dollar. Another way of looking at that would be that those jobs are relocating because of the over-valued euro.")
The word from Germany - thanks to Brown, Britain is now an economic "mini-power"
The big talk amongst London's foreign journalist community today is this remarkable article in Der Spiegel, on the PBR, entitled "Britain shrinks to a mini-power". Our disastrous Prime Minister is now used to receiving withering incoming fire from German governments of all stripes. But the pie...
Actually no. By the figures above, the bulk was borrowed before the recession, despite over-inflated growth helped along by loose credit and government spending.
The word from Germany - thanks to Brown, Britain is now an economic "mini-power"
The big talk amongst London's foreign journalist community today is this remarkable article in Der Spiegel, on the PBR, entitled "Britain shrinks to a mini-power". Our disastrous Prime Minister is now used to receiving withering incoming fire from German governments of all stripes. But the pie...
I say this without any judgement of your argument or conclusions, but a "low dollar" does not necessarily equal an "over-valued euro". The Dollar's value can be lower than historic levels whilst the Euro can still be accurately valued ...
The word from Germany - thanks to Brown, Britain is now an economic "mini-power"
The big talk amongst London's foreign journalist community today is this remarkable article in Der Spiegel, on the PBR, entitled "Britain shrinks to a mini-power". Our disastrous Prime Minister is now used to receiving withering incoming fire from German governments of all stripes. But the pie...
One thing that irritates me about articles such as this is that it makes no attempt to offer any sort of solution. The benefit dependency culture in the UK is undeniable, but what is the author's prescription for cure? Cutting the benefit for this family? Sterilisation after one child? Gradated benefits? Public flogging?
Don't mistake this post for a defence of the current system – it's indefensible – but I admit I am tired of the same old criticism being wheeled out to rapturous applause with little new thought or added value.
Work doesn't pay under Labour
"Take the example of a typical man on benefit, who receives £96 a week via jobseekers’ allowance, housing benefit and smaller add-ons. If he found a part-time job for, say, five hours a week, paying £6 an hour, his income would increase by just £5 to £101 – because although he will earn £30, he...
Actually, that's precisely not what I said. I said I was working all day and when I thought of one of our illustrious PM's many failings, I tweeted it. The fact that he has so many is not my failing, it is his.
The bitterness that has poured forth from Labour luvvies today has been amusing. I suspect #saysorrybrown hurts so much because so many of the tweets are so damn true.
Frankly, whether or not twitter adds any value at all, whether it's a valuable communications tool or whether it is just a bunch of like-minded people having fun on a Sunday from their mobile is just irrelevant ... the fact of the matter is that this hashtag solicited thousands of tweets, just as the online petition at Number10.gov.uk calling for Brown's resignation also solicited thousands of signatures.
Grow up Mr Baker ... don't take everything so seriously, just accept that this PM is torrid and that today's #saysorrybrown recognises that.
Twenty of the best of #SaySorryBrown
Earlier today I started the #SaySorryBrown hashtag on Twitter and it has been trending as a worldwide top ten topic for over five hours. Our PM is quick - like many lefties - at apologising for other people's sins but rubbish at apologising for his own. I doubt many minds have been changed but ...
P.s. glad to have made it into the twenty ... :)
Twenty of the best of #SaySorryBrown
Earlier today I started the #SaySorryBrown hashtag on Twitter and it has been trending as a worldwide top ten topic for over five hours. Our PM is quick - like many lefties - at apologising for other people's sins but rubbish at apologising for his own. I doubt many minds have been changed but ...
Well done Tim – the important thing about this hashtag is that it has solicited such a rich depth of responses. John Prescott has attempted to derail it but as with all people who don't understand Twitter, derailing attempts merely serve to strengthen the micro-brand.
I have spent the day working on my laptop, switching windows to tweet everytime I've thought of a #saysorrybrown ... and have hardly got a thing done!
Twenty of the best of #SaySorryBrown
Earlier today I started the #SaySorryBrown hashtag on Twitter and it has been trending as a worldwide top ten topic for over five hours. Our PM is quick - like many lefties - at apologising for other people's sins but rubbish at apologising for his own. I doubt many minds have been changed but ...
Joan,
I'm sorry but your analysis is just a bit silly.
1. The authors never claim to be seeking utopia – merely that conservatism and progressivism are not distinct and opposing.
2. You ask 'what actions...what ends'. Clearly this is a short article about the concepts of conservatism and progressivism; this is not SUPPOSED to be a detailed manifesto! Examples of actions and ends to illustrate the progressivism/conservatism point are given (schooling etc), but you seem to want the authors to give detailed actions and ends for every potential policy area. That is not their role nor intent – which is merely to illustrate the conservative policymakers can think in progressive terms without betraying conservatism.
3. You say 'the ends don't justify the means'... the authors don't claim that they do! What part of the article are you getting at here?
4. What is this about 'controlling people'? Nobody ever prescribes that 'controlling' is desirable (other than socialists, perhaps). The article talks explicitly about individual freedom and choice and distrusting change for change's sake...
Too many responders hear have read the word progressive and cut'n'pasted their favourite objections to Labour manifestos into this comment thread.
Jonty Olliff-Cooper & Max Wind-Cowie: There is nothing incompatible about progressive ends and conservative means
Jonty Olliff-Cooper & Max Wind-Cowie of The Progressive Conservatism Project at the think tank Demos argue that conservatives make the best progressives, and vice versa. Politics is about actions and about ends – not one or the other in isolation. In his thought-provoking recebt piece for Con...
dangerous for all three main parties... don't be under any misapprehension that the libdems aren't guilty here...
Wham! Leah Fraser takes out full page advertisement to slam Angela Eagle MP on expenses
This advertisement from Conservative candidate for Wallasey Leah Fraser is, I think, the most feisty attempt yet by a candidate to hold an MP accountable for their (mis)use of expenses. The advert appears in full colour in the latest edition of the Wirral Globe. Click on the image to enlarge. ...
Moreover, you are immediately tarring this candidate with the wrongs of other MPs from all parties... this lady is saying "your MP has done wrong and to contrast myself with her here are my pledges". This is a tactic likely to be employed by any non-sitting candidate across the UK... including yourself!!!!!
The STUPIDITY of you to say this lady is wrong for employing a campaign tactic that you then go and brag about using yourself!!!
Wham! Leah Fraser takes out full page advertisement to slam Angela Eagle MP on expenses
This advertisement from Conservative candidate for Wallasey Leah Fraser is, I think, the most feisty attempt yet by a candidate to hold an MP accountable for their (mis)use of expenses. The advert appears in full colour in the latest edition of the Wirral Globe. Click on the image to enlarge. ...
The problem I have with this is that what is proposed to replace it? A raft of interest groupings with diverse needs, that government can deftly trade off against each other? Or no voice with which to speak to government at all?
The LGA cannot be perfect because of the diversity of local council priorities, but it can be united for local government to central government, and that I believe is a real strength and of importance during this economic climate. This govt will use locgovt as a financial whipping boy over the next cycle given half a chance and one voice with which to apply public pressure I believe is crucial.
Doncaster pulls out of the LGA
The Mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies has announced that his Council is pulling out of such "talking shops" as the Local Government Association and the Local Government Information Unit to achieve savings of £200,000 a year. He is also looking at selling the £32 million Keepmoat Stadium - which th...
I'm sorry... "worst performing" by which measure? Are you comparing white working class males to black working class males, women, white working class women, elderly middle class males... what are you parameters here, and what indicators are you applying?
Livingstone's pernicious "equality" agenda is still in place at City Hall
I have great admiration for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on every level - personal, political, journalistic, cultural, aesthetic. I also tend to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty in terms of his achievements - after just one year they have been impressive. However, one...
I'd be interested to know which communities you believe to be inherently less able "on average" than other communities...? And why should there be differences in a desire to go into politics – and what should that matter anyway? Shouldn't politicians still work for the good of everybody?
And, incidentally, reread my post and you'll see I don't advocate positive discrimination which I believe engenders resentment. But there are plenty of other options available whilst retaining a meritocracy, such as affirmative recruitment policies.
Livingstone's pernicious "equality" agenda is still in place at City Hall
I have great admiration for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on every level - personal, political, journalistic, cultural, aesthetic. I also tend to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty in terms of his achievements - after just one year they have been impressive. However, one...
Actually, I regret this article.
Of course I accept that meritocracy must take precedence during any appointment, however I believe that it's a little niaive to assume that merely expressing this desire will suffice in an organisation of any significant size - especially where it hasn't sufficed in the past.
Furthermore, Harry highlights some phrases as questionable which I cannot see objection to. For example, what is wrong with tackling "unwitting prejudice"? Prejudice, witting or otherwise, should be defeated, no? If the best candidate is male, female, young, old, black, white or otherwise, surely it is right to ensure that this candidate isn't "unwitting[ly]" judged for anything other than ability?
He also questions the rigour with which the principle of "responsible procurement" has been scrutinised; why? Surely "responsible procurement" is a good in and of itself, no? Surely sensible procurement strategies that benefit the organisation, the taxpayer, communities and strategies are utterly desirable? Why even raise the phrase?
He also questions the desire for the LA to reflect the diversity of its communities? Why? Why should it not be assumed that if we are blind to colour, gender, creed, age and so on, that the LA will naturally reflect diverse communities? To suggest otherwise makes the suggestion that one or some of these communities are in come way less able than the other...?
He suggests that socio-economic references are more beneficial than BAME references. Well, I'd suggest they are linked. The purpose of targeting BAME communities is because of the historical inequity of their standing socio-economically. It is one factor... not THE factor, just ONE factor that is important to study to ensure that the LA has the self-awareness to know whether its line-managers, recruiters, budget-holders etc are not being "unwittingly prejudicial".
I agree that arbitrary targets are not helpful; positive discrimination is not helpful; racial separatism is not helpful. Sensible policies to ensure that the London Assembly is fair, meritocratic and perceived as such ARE helpful however, and I fear that all too often ConHome threads characterises any E&D initiative as merely Labour rubbish. No... equality is a Conservative principle. It says that we are equal, judged on our ability and rewarded on our ability. Let's not allow the media an excuse to characterise the Conservatives as unconcerned in this area, as this is OUR area.
Livingstone's pernicious "equality" agenda is still in place at City Hall
I have great admiration for the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on every level - personal, political, journalistic, cultural, aesthetic. I also tend to look at the glass as half full rather than half empty in terms of his achievements - after just one year they have been impressive. However, one...
No, it's the re-weighting in pollsters methodology recently... since then, you'll have noticed a 4-6pt boost, I think.
New Ipsos-Mori poll puts Tory lead at 14%
A new poll just published by Ipsos-Mori - which was commissioned by the trade union, Unison - puts the parties on the following standings: Con - 39% (-1) Lab - 25% (+6) LD - 19% (+1) These figures are based on those questioned who are absolutely certain to vote; comparisons are with the last Ips...
The issue here isn't that the charity is seeking examples of initiatives that negatively impact our transport infrastructure, but that they only want negative examples of Conservative initiatives.
A damned disgrace.
"Charity" seeks to gather attacks on Tory Councils
Some readers will already have spotted the craven nature of the Charity Commission towards groups that abuse their charitable status to engage in left wing lobbying. Christian Aid are among the worst offenders. They use donations from well meaning people hoping their money will be used for pract...
What a ridiculous post from the TPA. The info is all readily available to anybody who has their council's telephone number ... or google. They are trying to sensationalise the fact that the LGA won't do their work for them in making the comparisons and doing the math! Ludicrous!
Mark Wallace: The Local Government Association's efforts to keep council allowances secret show that some have learnt nothing from Michael Martin's demise
By Mark Wallace of The TaxPayers' Alliance. As Harry reported on this blog on Thursday, it is the time of year when the Local Government Association publish their annual survey of the scale of the allowances dished out to councillors at every local authority in England. And lo, it came to pass...
What a bunch of crap. Why not just admit you're all racist supremacists and stop *trying* to dress it up as if it's some plain logic everyone's missed.
Very bad results for the BNP
Naturally all decent Lancastrians will be dismayed that the neo-Nazi British National Party has won a council seat in their county. The result will distract the media from the famous Conservative victory in the county. But the BNP will have just one out of 84 in Lancashire. They have also won a ...
You neglect to mention the OUTCOMES of these meetings...
Councillors aged over 60 are "past it"
Cllr Rene Kinzett, the leader of the Conservative Group on Swansea Council, is being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman after declaring that "most of the people on the council are in their 60s and, quite frankly, past it." Not quite clear if he was saying that anyone over 60 is too o...
Just to add balance: as a 28 year old cty cllr (daytime meetings), my attendance is in the 80-90% range. Most of the 'missed' meetings are due to diary clashes! I have a fire authority meeting that clashes with every instance of a scrutiny committee I'm on, so one is always missed, for example.
I'm a governor of two schools and a trustee of four outside bodies (connexions etc). This doesn't take into account the range of parish, resident assocs, community assocs, etc.
This is all important, but it's worthless if I'm an idiot with no ability. I'd love to read less about individual ages and more about required skills.
Incidentally, my understanding of why the attendance allowance went us because it somehow became illegal (no idea where/why/how)...
Councillors aged over 60 are "past it"
Cllr Rene Kinzett, the leader of the Conservative Group on Swansea Council, is being investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman after declaring that "most of the people on the council are in their 60s and, quite frankly, past it." Not quite clear if he was saying that anyone over 60 is too o...
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