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Another Ashfield by-election - what a delightful thought. With Hoon 9th on the Portillo list, the Tories need only a 12.15% swing in their favour to take the seat. A foregone conclusion?

More immediately, how about a bit more questioning of Kelly and whether she plans to step down as an MP or just plans not to turn up and take the salary until the general election? Being top of the Portillo list, with a 2.55% swing enough to give the Tories the seat, you'd think that's lost anyway.

If Hoon wants the post, then it's difficult to see how he could be denied - he knows where all the bodies are buried!

Michael, are you(we) surprised that Hoon sees his future in Europe. Rats and Sinking ships come to mind.

I keep coming back to the theme that long before Brown, the financial crisis, you name it the media would jump on it, Ruth kelly the latest, is that the Electorate had already decided on a "change" (a la Obama).

Peter Riddell in today's Times anticipates what I as a Labor party member, has been thinking (and blogging) for months. The fight for the Party will start when labour is out of Office with Jon Cruddas being tipped to lead it and a return to "Old Labour" and its links with the Unions. I liked his "Mp's wre booed and hissed like common criminals" after the loss in 1979. We may see a return to that.

Brown will hang on until next May when the Party may lose a lot of good hard working local Labour Cllrs. Then watch the back-lash.
In the meantime we few still fight on as one activist who bucked the trend and got a Labour local election gain.

As you media pundits know anything can happen in politics to change things. Brown's conference exit tune should have been "I believe in miracles". We need one!!

"a long history of voters punishing parties when MPs resign from the Commons to take better-paid jobs elsewhere" - based on one example?

What about Mandelson and Kinnock going to Europe? Labour won both subsequent by-elections comfortably.

www.antimetrix.org/
www.cynefinywerin.org.uk

Who would give that man Hoon a responsible position when he has messed up big time and responsible for the death of our service people and untold numbers of Iraqis.
Why are all the parties supporting this crazy Hoon idea to privatise military training?? We are campaigning to oppose the St Athan privatised military academy - biggest PFI/PPP ever, with arms dealers Raytheon Serco, school for mercenaries! Mike Hayle, chief exec Metrix consortium 'Our aim is that by 2013 if you travelled anywhere in the world and talked about military training, people would say that St Athan was the only place to go. 'It will genuinely be on the world map. People will come from Australia, the Middle East and other parts of the world to train." Help! Yes, those from any regime or private military company that can fork out the ready cash.


This crazy deal has had a lot of coverage in private eye! The MOD own report is worried that the new training setup may be detrimental to the well being of our service personnel and is basically unaffordable. The land deals - the bases which were to close prior to amalgamation have fallen in value with credit crunch and no one wants to buy even when dressed up as 'eco' towns! An announcement is due on Oct 9 in the house - but the latest leak promises that it will go ahead? Why...save new labour face in wales ...jobs in wales...friends in EDS? Any suggestions?
See leaked info
0D

Is it true that, for some doubtlessly unaccountable reason, Mr Hoon has the Parliamentary nickname of "Buff" - as in "Buff Hoon"?