Creating a Spink
Perhaps encouraged by last week’s tittle-tattle about UKIP members getting laid, former Tory MP Bob Spink this week joined the anti-EU party, despite apparently having previously rubbished the suggestion. He now sits as their only MP in the Commons.
Rhetorically Speaking provided a little background on the charming Bob, painting a picture which he claims is:
“…possibly not the image of moral values that would appeal to socially conservative Conservatives who had previously supported Spink as a homo-hating, hang ’em and flog ’em candidate”.
While over on EU Referendum, the news was greeted with a little more warmth. Richard North felt that he was:
“…completely within his rights to join another Party and, on balance, this is a good thing for democracy, giving UKIP a voice in parliament which it sorely needs”.
Spink’s announcement prompted tiresome paleo-socialist David Lindsay to dabble in amateur psephology. Here’s an extract:
“Add together the Tory and UKIP figures in London, the West Country, any of the three Northern regions, or either of the Midland regions, and you get a ridiculously high figure. But add half of UKIP’s figure to the Lib Dem one in the West Country or the Labour one anywhere else, and it makes perfect sense.”
Of course it does.
Sack of Gold
A couple of blogs, including Labour Outlook, picked up on the IPPR’s call for more elected Mayors across England. But the elected Mayors we already have might have want to catch up with the benefits the government is piling on the Mayor of London first.
Buried in this year’s Budget was a provision granting London’s Mayor and Assembly members tax exemption on severance pay up to £30,000. See Ken, Gordon does love you.
That’s Neat
For London Mayoral race obsessives, Opinion Tracker is a must-have in your favourite places. Trawling the web for comment on the four main candidates, it provides regular updates on all online chatter about the contenders. It reckons Brian Paddick has had a good week, while newstatesman.com’s own Sian Berry is down.
Across the Pond
Hillary Clinton’s victory in the Pennsylvania Democrat primary this week prompted a new round of “spin war,” according to Real Clear Politics. Demographics were the key to her sizable victory reckoned Wonkette, who with characteristic levity explained that:
“… old people in Pennsylvania resemble the humble sea cucumber: sessile, rooted, a prisoner of the very earth that nourishes them. Naturally, these people vote for Hillary Clinton.”
What have we learned this week
John Prescott has suffered from bulimia. NHS Blog Doctor didn’t have a great deal of sympathy, and declared: “I cannot buy into the idea that this kind of behaviour represents illness”.
Video of the Week
A treat from the archives. Via Harry’s Place, we have The Clash,performing at Rock against Racism, 30 years ago this month.
Quote of the Week
“Some American bloggers are incensed that parades that have never existed before should now be cancelled not to provoke Muslim attacks. Muslims in Bradford are saying that they don’t really care and a nice parade would be just the ticket to cheer everyone up”.
Tory Historian on St George’s Day.
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