Have a seat!
You're possibly fired
A momentous day. The first time I have worn shorts and sandals and sunglasses in 2006. Also, there were council elections across England. There are 4,361 council seats up for grabs (nearly a quarter of those in England), in 176 authorities, but what it really means is a litmus test of the country's feelings about Labour. If they only lose 200 councillors, that will be a result. Even 300 would be considered a lucky break after the rumpo-and-foreign-criminal-linked trouble they're currently in. Anyway, my council is Reigate & Banstead, Tory-controlled probably since time began. I walked, in the pleasant late-afternoon sun, in my shorts and sandals and sunglasses, to St Mark's Church, and put my cross in the box. Even though this is an independent blog, I think, as a BBC presenter, I am unable to express a preference. What I will say is that it doesn't really matter who you vote for in Reigate. Unlike a General Election, I don't feel compelled to stay up all night watching Dimbleby and that fabulously unsmiling Canadian bloke from Essex University who does the statistics. We'll see in the morning. We're getting our new kitten tomorrow - that's far more important.
Incidentally, does it strike anyone else as unfair that these foreign criminals that are causing Charles Clarke so much grief should apparently be deported after they've done their time in prison? I don't mind taking it on a case by case basis, but they're not all rapists and murderers - why should they be automatically shipped off on release from chokey? Did I mention we're picking up our kitten?
posted by Andrew Collins @ 10:33 PM
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14 Comments:
Sorry, me again.
Who knew that when Tony Blair talked about "the causes of crime" he actually meant foreign criminals who've served their time? Ever get the feeling you've been had, etc. I'm sad to say that for the first time ever I stayed at home today and it was that very "initiative" that was the final straw. I know it's not a referendum on the goverment, but it is really, isn't it?
Love to the kitten.
Why do I feel a little unnerved when you mention shorts and sandles?
Delighted to hear about the arrival of the new kitten. Details please.
Shorts: those long ones that stop at calf level; sandals: worn without socks. What could possibly be the problem?
And I'll do a kitten entry when he arrives later today and I've taken some pictures.
It seems that Labour have lost about 250 seats, mostly to the Tories, with hardly any movement for the Lib Dems. The landscape, as Depeche Mode once sang, is changing. Bad news about the BNP getting a more secure foothold in places like Barking, despite Billy Bragg's efforts to see them off. (If only he'd stand.)
we also marked the day with an early evening walk to our polling station. Again, despite the relative futility of voting for anyone but the tory candidate as we live in a rural Suffolk area - I think our tory councillors actually own most of the area. But the walk was nice.
Why aren't foreign criminals deported before we (society) have paid thousands to feed them in prison for a few months / years?
BNP-wise am still waiting for the Bradford results. They had three councillors last time, and have put up a BNP candidate where I ued to live, which is rather depressing.
As a Camden resident, I feel for once that my voting made some sort of impact in that Labour lost their hold on it which they've had for something like 30 years. Unfortunately, their loss was the Conservatives' gain, and I didn't vote for them. It is now one of many NOC Councils.
I am in a big quandry with viting at the moment. My local MP is Frank Dobson, and I like him. However, I'm tentative about voting Labour, and cannot see myself EVER voting conservative. That leaves the Lib Dems and the Greens (two of whom got in in Highgate! Yay!)
Hmm. You probably didn't all want a rundown on the composition of Camden Council. Sorry!
Andrew - good luck with the kitten, look forward to the pictures!
Surely you can tell people who you voted for? You're not a news presenter after all, and this is an independent blog.
Go on, I dare you.
As long as you remember "Andrew Collins' views are not necessarily those of the BBC".
Charles Clarke has gone. Ha!!
I very much enjoyed Andrew's use of the word 'chokey' - very Ronnie Biggs
I actually truly think that deep in my contract it states that I cannot be party political in public, which includes this blog. I'm pretty sure I can have opinions about political issues and ethical issues (and Lost), but not express any allegience. My guess is that those who follow my thoughts will know who I would have voted for if they had a candidate in my area, but since they didn't, I voted for another party. Read Nick Robinson's blog if you want to see how to negotiate this minefield.
Interesting, Jem has just reposted the BBC staff blog guidelines: http://commonusers.blogspot.com/2006/05/new-bbc-staff-blog-guidelines.html
The bit at the bottom mentions political parties. Not sure if you count as 'news or current affairs' staff...
But yeah, I guess we can kinda follow your political thoughts!
Cheers,
Frankie
I feel a little sorry for big old brow-beaten Chas Clarke - he clearly had too much work to do and probably, allegedly, more than a few halfwits under him.
Do you think Blair fired him Sugar-style, with the 'randy old sod' by his side?
Sorry Andrew but as soon as I hear shorts and sandles I have this awful vision of shorts (old man type shorts) that come out with socks and shoes. But working here at Oxford Uni. you see this all the time in the summer - so grim but typically English.......
I remember on the Today programme a long time ago a Conservative minister saying to Brian Redhead (obviously these quotes are filtered through my memory): "Well, I think we all know which party you voted for, Mr Redhead!" The reply was: "Actually I voted Conservative at the last two general elections." That's not to say I think you should reveal whom you voted for, but it did shut the minister up.
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