"Stand Aside Goldsmith" Petition Is Live

Do you feel strongly about having an independent judiciary?

Make your voice heard here and tell your friends.

Describe Yourself In Five Words

Travelling back to the UK to help out with the elections. Can't tell you where I'm going for tactical reasons. In the meantime, describe yourself in five words. I'll have a think on the plane.

Exceptionally Gloomy European Prognosis

Background

Reforming the EU so that we increase its accountability and legitimacy and reduce its corruption and intrusiveness is a major way that we can improve the lives of the British public. The EU as it stands is bad government and that is very damaging.

Yesterday, on St George's day, the Conservative Party Board voted in some disgraceful proposals for 2009 MEP selection that simultanaeously protected incumbency, reduced the field for new talent and struck at party democracy.

As a party we are committed to moving from being a small fish in a federalist grouping (EPP) to becoming a big fish in an EU reform grouping (MER)*. In this new world we need leaders, visionaries, networkers and reformers. This involves serious change. The proposals look like a dog's breakfast. Let's take a look.

* - If you think that this website looks threadbare, you'd be right. A telling example of our party's failure to plan for 2009.

Protecting Incumbency

Fact - Members will have no direct say in the reselection of incumbents. Incumbents will be ranked higher than any other candidates.

Response - I can't think of a time when measures to protect incumbency have been so inappropriate. The only reason I did not oppose the decision to form a new grouping in 2009 (rather than immediately) was that it was clear to me by their actions that the current Conservative delegation of MEPs was, as a group, not fit for purpose. Dead wood needs to go. Incumbents who are unable or unwilling to make a full contribution to a new EU Reform agenda are an obstacle to our future success in Europe.

Reducing The Field For New Talent

Fact - Should a vacancies arise in any region, women will take the highest non-incumbent slot.

Response - First of all this measure may even be illegal under EU law (see Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty). Putting that to one side, new blood is probably required for the new team that is being formed. The protection of incumbents (see above) severely limits our opportunities for this and is likely to discourage good candidates from presenting themselves. The fact that only women can take the top non-incumbent spot in each region chokes off further talent. A constituency chairman informs me that less than 10% of applications in 2004 in his region were from women. As someone who has worked in international business, this does not surprise me. Deliberately reducing the field of talent by about 90% is negligent and highly disrespectful to the important role that MEPs will have. For consistency, next time Cameron reshuffles, I want to see 10 women on the Tory front bench (I don't mean this by the way).

A Blow To Party Democracy

Fact - Members will have no direct say in the reselection of incumbents. Where high-placed slots exist, it will generally be the case that the candidates will have been pre-selected (all women).

Response - This is not democracy. It is nowhere near it. I will fight for democratic representation within my party.

A Personal View

Based in Prague as I am, I hear the voices of politicians and politicos in Czech Republic, Slovakia and the wider region. They describe to me how things look from their side of the fence, taking a leap in the dark to join the Conservatives in an untested grouping. They describe their deep misgivings about our Europhile Conservatives in Brussels and report to me how within their own ranks they are fighting people who are keen to keep the trappings of their EPP status. I've been telling them that things would change due to our party democracy and that we have the people to provide the real leadership that the new reform grouping requires. These proposals change all that and make me look like an idiot. In my personal life, I don't invite friends to a party that is going to be crap and I'm not going to do it in my political life.

Prognosis

A new grouping needs parties from five member states. To attract new partners the Conservative leadership needs

- to organise its partners and MEPs to work as a team
- a politically coherent vision
- the political courage to approach potential partners with unfashionable views (e.g. Poles in favour of the death penalty)

That's phase one. In order to be an effective voice and deliver on the reform agenda, we will need a visionary and energetic grouping. The Movement For European Reform was an ambitious project. These proposals condemn it to failure. They need to be strongly opposed by democrats and reformers within the Conservative Party.

Praguetory's Sister Kicks The London Marathon

Praguetory's sister is already known in the blogosphere for her card and memory skills. See here. But that's not her only talent.

The little sister ran the London marathon in 3 hours 53 minutes at the weekend placing her just outside the top 1000 female runners and 208th for her age group. Her and her husband were particularly delighted to beat Gordon Ramsey.

They managed to raise a four-figure sum for this charity. They said it was a great day, but terribly hot. I have been informed that the happy couple have run their last marathon.

My First 10 Downing Street Petition

When the police passed their files to the CPS on Friday containing allegations thought to relate to the 1925 Honours Act and perverting the course of justice, sensible commentators called for Lord Goldsmith to stand aside due to his numerous conflicts of interest. Blogged here and here. Over the weekend, Lord Goldsmith made it clear he has no intention to do so.



I have presented the above petition (click to enlarge) to the number 10 team for approval and will let you know if/when this goes live. It will be called the seentobedone petition as justice must be seen to be done. Other ideas to force the government's hand are of course welcomed. Go to comments box with your suggestions.

George & The Dragon

George is England's patron saint. Happy St Georges Day to all English readers. George slaying the dragon is a famous myth. Hence, the Old Town Square pub in Prague called George & The Dragon (don't go there - too busy, too expensive)

Who Or What Is The Dragon in 2007?

The dragon facing modern day Georges in England are those opposed to real democracy. The dragon is embodied in quangos, Labour leadership and to my deep shame Conservatives. Off the cuff, here are my top 10 (!) examples of anti-democratic action at home over the LAST MONTH.

1. State funding for political party proposals - Hayden Phillips proposals.
2. Removal of democratic choice re EU constitution - Tony Blair wriggles out of EU referendum promise
3. High level disrepect for legal institutions - Lord Goldsmith refuses to stand aside in the cash for peerages case
4. Removing members' say - Conservative Party tables anti-democratic proposals for MEP selections*
5. Enshrining secrecy - David McLean (Conservative MP!) tries to obtain exemptions for MPs from the freedom of information act
6. Taxpayer funding of incumbent MPs - Labour Party votes in £6m+ bung for sitting MPs
7. Electoral roll inaccuracies - Electoral Commission polling estimates at least 1 million and up to 3.5 million "ghost voters" on the election rolls.
8. Disrespect for democratic outcomes - Labour Party ignores wishes of its members.
9. Crony appointments 1 - Postal vote counting contract goes to Labour party supplier.
10. Crony appointments 2 - Gordon Brown's pollster under investigation.

* - Decision today.

Have you ever felt under siege? If you count yourself to be a democrat, you ought to. There is a big opportunity to be the party that trusts people and champions democracy. If the Conservative Party leadership blows this chance, the UK is in big trouble.

The Beeb Reports On First Round Of The French Elections

Nicolas Sarkozy storms into the second round of the French presidential elections with a significant advantage over Segolene Royale. Despite the fact that of the top four contenders, Royal is the most left-wing and Sarko is not the most right-wing, the Beeb manages to attack them both - from the left.

Both are controversial figures who have divided the French.

Mr Sarkozy is hated by the left as a reformer who many fear would change the French way of life by making the nation work harder and longer and by cutting back on its generous welfare state.

Ms Royal is also regarded with suspicion, seen as too authoritarian and conservative by some Socialists.

Source

Nice to see a high turnout of 85%.

The Kicking & Screaming Theory

There is a theory in certain circles that despite his assurances, Blair will not voluntarily leave office. I'm not persuaded, but as a bit of fun, you might want to vote in my poll. The boys in blue are starting to edge out the men in grey suits as the most likely heroes.

Stand Aside Lord Goldsmith

One aspect of government that all its citizens are subject to are the laws of the land enforced by the criminal justice system. If there is a lack of public confidence in the fairness of this system, respect for the bodies supposed to be managing law and order is lost and law and order itself may be undermined.

A conflict of interest is when someone in a position of trust has competing professional and/or personal interests. In the case of the legal system, where it is the public's confidence that is at risk, a perceived conflict of interest is just as important as an actual conflict of interest. This underlies the maxim that not only must justice be done but it must be seen to be done. This principle applies at all levels of the legal system. It is why the juror who mentions any connection with the defendant will probably be asked to stand down at a criminal trial.

This is all pretty standard stuff, so WHY THE HELL DOES IT NEED SPELLING OUT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL LORD GOLDSMITH THAT HE SHOULD STAND ASIDE?

Please feel free to add to this list of his conflicts of interest on the "Loans for Peerages" case passed to the CPS.

1. Goldsmith was appointed by Tony Blair who has been questioned in respect of this case.
2. Goldsmith has donated to the Labour Party. The case passed to the CPS is likely to have significant financial ramifications on that organisation.
3. The case passed to the CPS relates to entrance to an elite club of which Goldsmith is a member (The House Of Lords).
4. Said lordship was handed to Goldsmith by Tony Blair.
5. The Grauniad reported that Blair has influenced Goldsmith in the past.

Convinced yet? Some might say that his personal indiscretions and professional prevarications make Goldsmith generally unsuitable for his current role. Hat tip Iain Dale.

Note - the US Attorney Genera, Alberto Gonzales is coming under far greater pressure to go.

NHS Rant

Dr Rant gathers the views of a team of doctors at his site. He and his team have prepared a manifesto-style post on what should be done with the NHS. As someone who is interested in how taxpayer's money is spent, I was particularly interested in the things that Dr Rant says the NHS should stop. I don't know whether the list is in any order, but it's worth reviewing.

-Patsy Hewitt
-Tony Blair
-Gordon Brown
-Andy Burnham
-Liam Bryne
-Lord Hunt
-Sir Liam Donaldson
-Spin doctors being preferred to medical doctors.
-Wasting money on PFI
-Wasting money on management consultants
-Wasting money on managers
-Wasting money on redisorganisations
-Wasting money on computer projects
-Wasting money on useless wheezes such as walk in centres, "">independent sector treatment centres
-Wasting money on stillborn administrative idiocies
such as practice based commissioning and payment by results (which are arcane concepts, even to their authors.)
-Wasting money on useless ideas such as “choice” and “choose and book”
-Wasting money on NHS direct
-Wasting money pandering to the “worried well” rather than those who are sick
-Wasting money on clinical governance
-Wasting money on arm’s length QUANGOS such as NICE and NPSA and the modernisation agency
-Wasting money on unused and unwanted “guidelines”
-Wasting money paying out negligence claims
-Wasting money and peoples’ lives in useless schemes such as MMC and MTAS
-Wasting money training midwives and physiotherapists for no jobs at the end of their courses
-Wasting money on non jobs such as “five a day eating co-ordinators”
-Wasting time on meetings that reduce hours to minutes, and their participants to tears.
-Listening to people who pretend to know something about healthcare but actually don't
-specifically Alan Maynard, Julian Le Grande, Paul Corrigan, Simon Stevens, Alan Milburn, Lord Warner, and the false expertise of spinmeister management consultants.
-Pretending that it can deliver all healthcare to all people
-Pretending that patients can have whatever they want
-Pretending that the NHS is in any way "patient centred" or "patient focused" (It isn’t, never will be, and never should be for reasons I’ll demonstrate in a future rant)
-Dealing with well people.

The rest of the post is also worth a read. When you look at the problems in the NHS/Rant's manifesto it's hard to know where to start.