I demand an Inquiry!

Ah, Ed Miliband....is there a bandwagon you can resist? And there's only one thing you like more than leaping on any passing bandwagon...it's calling for an independant public inquiry while you're at it. You wanted an inquiry into phonehacking by News International (Never mind that your mates in the left leaning rags have been at it too), one on faulty impants, another last month, two already this month and now you've asked for an independant inquiry into Saville, the Beeb, the NHS, Broadmoor, God, the Universe and everything. Aren't you worried that people won't take you seriously? Don't forget what happened to the boy who cried wolf. After a while people ignored him.


But you couldn't stop yourself, could you? Not when there was a sliver of political capital to be gained...even if it came on the back of a paedophile's systemic history of abuse. I hope you're proud of yourself.


But what's next? Will you demanding an inquiry into CatGate as Larry and Freya's tumultuous relationship came to a head....I wouldn't put it past you. Anyways...this video's for you.

Thick of It meltdown.

The Thick of it just gets better, the addition of the LibDems has been good, making them the biggest unprincipled bastards of the lot has been a masterstroke.

And now an inquiry into spin? How's Malc going to get out of this one> Has he got any dirt on the judge?

Cameron's Speech

 He stood behind a lectern, he used notes, but how did it fare and what  did it contain?

The speech itself started slowly and I was wondering when it was going to get going but as he revved it up he proceeded to demolish Miliband's vacuous rebranding attempt from last week.

Content-wise was a good speech and spoke to what most conservatives (and most of the country) believe in...making the most of your opportunities in life for yourself, your family and the country at large.But almost as important as the content was the manner and the gravity in which he delivered it.

He took on the attacks on his upbringing which Labour love to use. What is so shameful about being the son of a stockbroker whose parents decided to pay to send him to the most renowned  public school in the country? It's not as if he had a say in the matter anyway so it's a daft attack. He didn't pretend he didn't have a privileged upbringing but instead aspired that every child should recieve as high a quality education. He rightly backed Michael Gove's reform to the hilt and gave tacit approval for Gove to step on the accelerator. He also lauded IDS's work on welfare reform. Most importantly he reaffirmed his commitment to dealing with the deficit, not from a wish to slash the state or break the public sector but instead to free up the private sector. He was also unapologetically beating the drum for our exports in a changing world (We're all Bucanneers together!) and highlighted the drastic growth we're seeing in exports to the BRIC countries and other developing nations.

Some people would have liked more on Europe, me included but with the changes coming in the EU a referendum is all but inevitable so it's pointless throwing your toys out of the pram about it. In fact, the public strength for a referendum does strengthen the UK's hand when it comes to clawing back powers and loosening our ties with the continent. It's Britain's trump card, to be used at the right moment.

On balance he did well, he reminded the audience in the hall why they liked him in the first place and spoke to the television viewer (or internet browser) in a manner that was candid, positive and straightforward...and not at all like a Policy Wonk (Miliband's greatest failing). I'm not  sure about the 'Aspiration-Nation' tag though...sounds a bit like the Thick of It. But a lot of what he was saying will chime with the public and it progressed into an upbeat blueprint for the country with a dash of Churchillian bulldog in the message to fight through and work hard to achieve. It wasn't the best speech he's ever made (His 2005 pitch to become Tory Leader was) but it was pretty damn close.

All three Leader's speeches were viewed as successes by the media but of the three it's Cameron who is still streets ahead as a leader. And in light of recent events across the pond can you see Cam freezing in the headlights of a TV debate? I can't...but Miliband? I'm not so sure.

BBC iplayer - A gift for understatement

Being out last night and having forgot to set my Sky+ planner to it I today went on the iplayer website to download the latest episode of The Thick Of It' only to be confronted with this screen :-

The Beeb clearly have a gift for understatement....either that or their iplayer staff used to work fo ronseal.