Is Number Ten Lining Up a Chipmunk Cull?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Is Number Ten Lining Up a Chipmunk Cull?

Iain Dale 12:25 PM

Last week hazel Blears wrote an article which made laid bare her views on how Gordon Brown is running his government. Immediately, Number Ten swung into action and started trashing her. I then wrote a post saying that wounded chipmunks can be very dangerous animals and suggesting that Ms Blears should indulge in a bit of "war gaming" before an inevitable post Euro election reshuffle.

Since then Blears has copped much of the flak in the expenses row for the fact that she had three different second homes within a year. Fair dos. However, the flak she has been taking has been totally disproportionate to the relatively mild criticism of Alistair Darling and Geoff Hoon's whose manipulation of the "flipping" system is far worse. Why is this?

There is a simple explanation. The Number Ten spin machine is urging journalists to concentrate on Hazel Blears as a deflecting tactic. She is expendable. They are briefing journalists that's she's toast in a June reshuffle and any hint of weakness or failure is being highlighted. The capital gains tax issue is the latest excuse for them to batter her. This is not just me concocting a conspiracy theory, I know that her friends believe this happening too.

This is going to get nasty, but Hazel Blears needs to work out a clever strategy if she is to survive.

The True Home of Mr Margaret Moran

Iain Dale 10:20 AM

If you live in the East of England watch the Politics Show today and you will be treated to Luton South MP Margaret Moran defending charging the cost of her home in Southampton the the tax payer. She wails about needing a family life and having a home in Southampton because her "partner lives there" and "he has worked in the city for 20 years."

FACT

1) According to Companies House, Michael Booker (DoB 14.11.1956)
Director of - E-QUALITY NETWORKS LIMITED,
claims he lives at 109, Alexandra Ave., Luton on and/or since 19.10.2006)

2) See also the 192 Search results (http://www.192.com/search/search.cfm) for: Michael Booker, Luton:

Electoral Roll 2009
Full Details MICHAEL BOOKER XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX LUTON XXX XXX
Age guide: 50-54 (?), other occupants MARGARET MORAN
---------------------------
Electoral Roll 2002 - 2008
Full Details MICHAEL BOOKER XXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX LUTON XXX XXX
Age guide: 50-54 (?), other occupants MARGARET MORAN

So, if he lives in Southampton, why would he appear on the electoral roll in Luton? No doubt purely because his partner needs his vote. And why has he given the Luton address to Companies House if it is not his main address? Ms Moran's story is unravelling by the day.

)

Saturday, May 09, 2009

James Gray MP Should Have the Whip Withdrawn

Iain Dale 11:04 PM

James Gray is a class one copper bottomed shit. Many of his constituents worked that out long ago. But for those who remained doubtful, all they need to do is read tomorrow's News of the World. The wretched man not only had the audacity to claim £60 for the cost of Remembrance Day wreaths, he then registered a formal complaint to the Commons authorities when he was told it wouldn't be allowed. He even whined that he had "got away with it before".

He brings disgrace on himself. He brings disgrace on the Conservative Party, and he brings politics as a whole into disrepute.

ConservativeHome has already called for him to leave politics at the next election. I'll go one step further and urge David Cameron to withdraw the whip from him. I feel sick to the stomach that an MP from the party I support could even contemplate claiming money for a wreath, let alone actually going ahead and doing it.

Margaret Moran Heaps Further Embarrassment on Labour (And Herself)

Iain Dale 10:06 PM

Margaret Moran has just signed her own political death warrant. In an interview on BBC News she says she can justify her second home in Southampton because her "partner lives there" and he has worked in the city for 20 years. She says it is the only way she can have a family life. Clearly, he doesn't like going to Luton...

Even if that was some sort of defence - and it is not - it would only stand up if she had claimed the allowance from the moment she was elected. But she did not. She only changed it to the Southampton home a few days before claiming £22,000 for eliminating dry rot. Funny that.

She reckons what the Telegraph has printed is "actionable". LOL.

The woman is a disgrace.

Kitty Ussher is also under fire for claiming to renovate her Victorian home in Brixton.

The Telegraph also says that Tory MP John Gummer has claimed for moles to be removed from his lawn. I shall have more to say on this when I have seen the details!