Why Not Abolish The Home Office?

That would seem a reasonable conclusion from the findings of REFORM latest report which labels the UK's centralised justice system as expensive and ineffective. Violent crime has increased from 8 per cent of all recorded crime in 1997 to 20 per cent in 2007/08 and British people are more worried about crime and violence with 43 percent reporting it as one of their greatest concerns compared to 21 percent in Germany and 27 percent in the US.

A Slight Return

Arriving Back From Planet Zog

Spending a week in the nether regions of darkest Slovakia put me in a media black hole, so getting up to date with news events is a bit like arriving back from planet Zog. My worthwhile decision to take a summer break from blogging heightens the sense of catch up. Despite being in recess the Labour government naturally continues to lurch from crisis to crisis to crisis – as I’ve been saying since Blair was PM, it seems that Labour’s strategic line of argument is ‘Yes, we’re crap, but so are all politicians’ - presumably banking on tagging the Tories with the (insert epithet) label at election time as usual. With their characteristic lack of self-awareness, Liberal Conspiracists are accusing right-wingers of being negative campaigners – apparently we are scum of the Earth who should be copied!

KP - Born Winner

Unfortunately, Labour’s pessimistic views seem to have infected other areas of British public life. I have never been a great fan of Michael Vaughan especially as a one day player, so it’s been instructive to see the difference that Kevin Pietersen’s captaincy has already made. Simply put, Kevin Pietersen is a born winner and the little extra he has got out of the team in the 1st ODI created all sorts of pressures on the South African opposition. If a top-class sportsman had succumbed in a similar style to South Africa in the second match, some would be calling it a nervous breakdown.

Uniquely Poorly Placed

Re economic trends, local and globally, it’s all getting more than a bit embarrassing for Labour and those whose credibility as economic commentators depends on Labour success (hat tip Anatole Kaletsky). Thanks to his profligate spending and catastrophic disaster management, George W Bush has done little for the wider conservative cause during his reign, but it still caused me some delight to see the BBC World News reporter choking on news of robust economic growth in the US economy. Back in the UK, the debate the Chancellor started a few months ago about whether the country is ‘uniquely well placed’ as we head into an economic downturn is becoming increasingly one-sided – Darling himself seems to have swapped teams. The risible Leftie argument that states are powerless in the face of increased globalism is turned on its head when major sources of employment and tax revenues haemorrhage to business friendly neighbouring countries.

Annihilating The Labour Party

The silver lining for British conservatives is that the increasingly sharp and violent rebukes globalisation delivers to ‘hands-on’ government/economic protectionism may be the catalyst for the annihilation of the Labour Party (New or Old) whose adherents subscribe to an archaic philosophy wholly unsuited to the 21st century. I still hear an attachment to the idea that large majorities lead to poor government, but I find that I am generally succeeding in running that out of fellow Conservatives – with the possible exception of Frank Field every unseated Labour MP is axiomatically progress.

Blinded By The Light

I’m particularly happy with John McCain’s choice of running mate and the predictably disgusting Left-wing reaction. It seems that Barack does not have the capacity to rein in Democrat attack dogs – in terms of counter-productive viciousness, the Left is at its worst when faced with an opponent who doesn’t conform to their stereotypes (here in the UK a certain attractive nurse raised on a Liverpool council estate can take a bow). Sarah Palin’s stratospheric approval levels show that social and economic Conservatives can be wildly popular without compromising their core beliefs.

In Defence Of Corruption

Sticking with international affairs, but at the other end of the evolutionary scale political spectrum, the crypto-Communist idiot who is also the Slovakian head of state is endorsing state corruption and in doing so is following a sad and predictable path. Which brings me to Georgia – a state that has in recent years shown great progress in terms of democracy and economic freedom - the sort of state we should be supporting. The neglected credo of ‘peace through strength’ has never been more relevant. Having vetoed Georgia’s membership of NATO and exposed Western weakness the sight of Sarkozy shuttling to and from Moscow sticks in the throat.

2008 Party Conference

Wherever I look, parables are being played out that support my world view and reveal the desperation and bankruptcy of the so-called alternatives to freedom and capitalism. Did I mention that I shall be at Conservative Party conference this year? – after all I live just around the corner. In fact, the turret in Praguetory Towers is a perfect sniper position (joke). At my last conference in Bournemouth I attended back-to-back Fringe events, but I intend to be a bit more of a social butterfly this time, so I may be lighter on political analysis but I should have some good photos and stories. In the meantime, I’ll be limbering up with the occasional blogpost.

Blog's Out For Summer

Having noted that none of my upcoming political projects need me to spend time blogging, I have decided to take a six week Summer holiday - I've just left something for any Labour members passing. Enjoy my sidebar links. They're excellent.

Going Back To The Roots

Years away from the next local or General Elections there is a danger of relaxing. No chance of that. Every one of the last 6 days that I have been in Birmingham I have been at well-attended Conservative Party events. Amongst these was a local candidate's thank you party. Of the 60 or so attendees, just a handful were under the age of 50. Personally, I enjoy listening to the old 'uns, as they always have something interesting to say. One chap described his anger when attending a private party that was mainly full of Socialists where Clare Short called Margaret Thatcher 'treacherous'. Another bloke who was an RAF veteran described how written complaints had been made about the new Labour Lord Mayor for failing to observe protocol at a recent Veteran's Day parade.

But the focus of my party work going forward is a mixture of recruitment and ensuring new young members get actively involved. The graphic below taken from a very recent edition of the Economist shows that as well as these activities are a case of making hay whilst the sun shines.



Birmingham University Conservative Future have invited me to take a local officer role so I plan on spending some of this Summer building their links with the local party and helping plan next academic year especially the opening recruitment drive. Another key objective supported by our regional team in Coleshill is to involve younger members. For those who have embarked on a career this might mean an introduction to the City Branch Committee. In my area, there's also a lot of new members in the 17 to 25 range who are full of enthusiasm. I'm currently organising an ice-breaker event for these guys so that they can get their membership of the party off to a flying start.

If you or will be living, working or studying in Birmingham and want to get involved with the most successful Conservative Party organisation in any of the core cities you can drop me a note on praguetory@googlemail.com and I will help.

Stephen Newton - Idiot Labour PR Man Sniffing Around The Blog

In comments to a blogpost, Stephen Newton asked me to republish some old posts. I thought he already had them all, based on the entry below.

First Published 16 July 2007

Look at an extract from my site visits today. The unintentionally anonymous PR man and labour supporter Stephen Newton MCIPR has been trying to find out a bit more about me as evidenced by this screenshot.

• 16 - He begins with a little search with a query about my work life
• 17 - Looks like he might have found what he was looking for
• 18 - Something for the archive, sir?

Come on Stephen, out with it. What's on your Dominic Fisher - Praguetory file? What glowing testimony to my talents can I expect?

Haltemprice & Howden

Got soaked in Haltemprice & Howden today. As well as the man himself, I met fellow bloggers Andrew Allison, Sam Tarran and Donal Blaney for the first time which was a pleasure.

Not much sign of any other party making a breakthrough, but turnout will be a problem if the weather stays like this. I'd say that if DD gets 20,000 this Thursday he will have done magnificently.

What About Khalid Mahmood?

You need front to be a Labour politician and throw stones at Tory politicians for sleaze. Recess Monkey has little else. He's been trawling through the recently introduced register of Family Members Employed and Remunerated through the Staffing Allowance and taken a pop at Laurence Robertson for his full disclosure. Source.

Misleadingly titled 'mistress on the state' it got me thinking about a certain Labour MP. Khalid Mahmood (MP for Birmingham Perry Barr) is indeed a most surprising omission from the register. As the latest (as at 20 May 2008) official register shows he employs Elaina Cohen in Parliament. Below are extracts from a 2005 interview with them both...

...In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mercury the couple spoke for the first time about their 'tempestuous' three-year affair. Jewish Elaina Cohen revealed how she still adored England's first Muslim MP despite being constantly briefed against him by his back-stabbing New Labour colleagues...

"They tried to use my emotions to make me hit out at Khalid. They thought I knew things about Khalid that could embarrass him so they wanted to manipulate me into hurting him publicly."

The tangled love life of the Birmingham Perry Barr MP has infuriated some Labour figures. And he has incensed staunch Muslims after abandoning two Muslim wives, both of whom had a child by him.

But Mrs Cohen was keen to show her support for the politician she first met in Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2001. "We have a lot of issues to work through but we still adore each other," she insisted. "This is a journey, not the end." The mother-of-two is still renting the plush Birmingham city centre flat they shared for two years. Mr Mahmood is currently 'staying with friends'.

The unlikely couple are vague about the exact reasons for their split. But Mrs Cohen, who was in public relations and journalism before she became her lover's £20,000-a-year parliamentary assistant, insists no-one else was involved. "I've been on dates with a few people since we split, but nothing more," she said.

Sitting across the table from her in a city centre bar, Mr Mahmood was slightly more coy. "I've met women friends for dinner but you couldn't say they were dates," he said...

"It's been a very hard time for me. I went through a difficult divorce, which only came through last week. The hardest thing was leaving my children and making sure they've been OK throughout all of this. "When Khalid and I split, certain people within the Labour Party would constantly put the knife in.

"It's a wonder we've stayed close but we're only here together today because we talk all the time and we know who's been saying what." Mrs Cohen switched from Tory to Labour after getting together with Mr Mahmood."I would have converted to Islam if we'd got married," she added.

"When you love someone you want to commit to them completely." Mrs Cohen says she is now 'entrenched' in New Labour, thanks to her ex-partner."I ran his last election campaign and I'm a member of the local Labour Party," she said proudly.

She left her husband and kids to be with Khalid (God know why - the man's a schmuck) so why isn't this relationship on the register? And could the cynics who say that this relationship is only on ice/hidden to appease the Muslim electorate in his Perry Barr be right?

Are You A Left-Winger Or A Right-Winger?

Look at the facts objectively to understand the reality of the situation. Consider whether a policy response is appropriate. Critically appraise proposed government legislation. Turn that into an engaging and provocative article. That's what Tim Worstall did re gender pay equality.

If you've ever questioned whether you're naturally right-wing or left-wing, I'd suggest which camp you come down on in the debate in the lively comments thread would be a decent indicator. If this is your reaction, then I am afraid it's terminal. You're destined to a happy existence working towards the North Korean model. Personally, I've always been in favour of as little government intervention in the labour market as possible (think UAE).

Update

And if you're a left-winger, you'll probably get a bit twitchy about this sensible article.

Hash Browns

'Don't say you weren't warned' I said shortly before Brown was crowned a year ago today. I need say little more. I was right. A year on and I am in a minority. Unlike 85% of people Gordon has met my expectations.



Blair and Brown will not go down as good PMs, but I do think their task has been herculean. The real problem is the Labour Party and especially the PLP. Since about 2003, neither Blair nor Brown has really been able to lead their party and have been led by the nose by a bunch of no-mark MPs. I've got a new line that seems to strike a chord with people when they moan about this government. We (the country not me personally) voted in a bunch of teachers, trade unionists and lawyers so it's obvious that we should have a bossy, socialist government that thinks that they can solve any and every problem with legislation. Do you like it? I find this argument works well with uncommitted voters. Try it.

Don't Miss Tory Conference

Discounted tickets available for a limited time. Not only will this event be in my hometown, but it will be in my home constituency. See you there.