Recently in Politics Category

The hypocrisy of the two main political parties over the culling of the post offices network is staggering.
Both Labour and the Conservatives privately accept that the existing number of outlets is unsustainable in an age when more and more business is being transacted over the internet. How could they think anything else? The facts speak for themselves and as the years roll by the staple diet of post offices - paying pensions, car tax and welfare benefits - will be routinely conducted on-line through bank accounts, even by older people who are becoming far more computer-literate than was the case even three or four years ago.

Apparently Tom Watson, the West Brom MP who helped get rid of Tony Blair, has "shifted allegiance" to David Miliband.

This is the claim of PR Week, which has produced a chart showing the people our Foreign Secretary intends to give top jobs to once he ousts the great leader from Downing Street.

If this was true, it would suggest that Brown really was in trouble. Mr Watson (Lab West Bromwich East) helped organise the "curry house plot" which saw Mr Blair forced to quit sooner than he wanted after MPs wrote a letter demanding he set a date for his resignation.

At the time, it was widely believed he'd been acting with, at least, the tacit approval of Mr Brown, although he insists they never discussed it.

But there's more to the Watson/Brown relationship than that. He's a regular visitor to Downing Street, and not just in his role as a Cabinet Office Minister. Most junior ministers don't have much direct contact with the Prime Minister.

In other words, he's a mate. If Watson really had decided to abandon HMS Brown, it would suggest the Prime Minister has no friends left.

But Mr Watson denies it. And I tend to believe him. If Brown turns out to be doomed, Mr Watson will go down with the ship.

As we reported in June, Gordon Brown pledged that post office closures could be reversed if residents set out good reasons for keeping them open in a consultation.

The results of that consultation are in, and the news is that all 56 threatened branches in the West Midlands will close their doors - except one.

By the way, I say 55 will close and I believe that's right. But Post Office Ltd would argue that only 50 are closing because five will be replaced by "outreach" services such as vans which travel to communities and deliver services at set times and days.

A van may be better than nothing, but the actual post office is going, it seems to me.

Anyway, the closures are happening. And what's more, it was announced today that 69 branches in the Black Country, Herefordshire and Worcestershire are in line for the next round of cuts - again, with 13 to be replaced by outreach services (so 56 are threatened with closure if that's how you see it).

Most Labour MPs defend the Government's position in supporting Post Office Ltd in making dramatic cuts to its network - a total of 2,500 branches across the country.

But they have opposed specific cuts in their constituencies, arguing that the wrong ones have been chosen for the axe.

John Major had his soapbox, but David Cameron has his webcam.

The Tory leader is reviving the traditional public meeting with an appearance in Worcester, where 200 members of the public will have the chance to ask him questions. Anyone can apply for a ticket, the Tories say.

You might expect politicians to do this regularly, but it occurred to me that I couldn't remember the last time a Labour or Conservative leader actually let the public quiz them in this manner, unless it was in a debate organised for television.

Tony Blair held a series of consultations with "ordinary people", which Labour called the Big Conversation, but they took place behind closed doors.

The nearest thing I can remember is John Major getting on his soapbox in the 1992 and 1997 General Elections and facing down hecklers.

For today's Tory Party, a soapbox would never do. The Worcester event, on August 29, has been branded "Cameron Direct" by the Conservatives, and the whole thing will be broadcast live on the internet.

But the 200 people gathered in Worcester's historic Guildhall will be far more important than the internet viewers. They will undoubtedly form an opinion of Mr Cameron, good, bad or bemused, and tell their friends and family.

Even in the internet age, no form of communication counts for more than word of mouth.

One story I haven't written this week is the intervention by Birmingham MP Liam Byrne into the debate about Labour's future.

Mr Byrne is the most high-profile in Birmingham, as a Minister in both the Treasury and the Home Office as well as the Minister for the West Midlands.

He is also part of the Miliband-Purnell gang, which means anything he has to say should provide rich copy.

But his article for The Spectator about Labour's future path - championing "fraternity", apparently - carefully avoided controversy.

He did namecheck a Miliband, but it was brother Ed rather than the troublesome David, the Foreign Secretary who did journalists a favour in the silly-season by appearing to set out his stall for the Labour leadership.

Of course, we do report on serious debates as well as mischief, but this particular article just wasn't newsworthy. I don't think he'll mind me saying that. I suspect that, in the current circumstances, he'll be pleased.

But hopefully, Mr Byrne's upcoming pamphlet for think-tank Demos will provide more ammunition for people hoping to stir up trouble (political reporters).

Well who would have believed our Tuesday story about Birmingham City Council accidently printing a picture of Birmingham Alabama on its recycling leaflet could have recieved so much attention.

News of the blunder, first discovered by Kings Heath resident Jon Cooper who contacted The Birmingham Post about it, has appeared on national news and is zooming across the blogosphere.

Here is just a taste of what people have said:

Initial reaction at Westminster to the prospect of yet another by-election is that this could finally do Brown in.
John MacDougall, whose death was announced a few hours ago, represented Glenrothes, a constituency neighbouring Gordon Brown's own seat of Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath.

Losing here, when Labour gained a 10,000 majority in 2005, would make it very clear to members of the governing party that none of their seats are safe.

But Brown is planning to put off the day of judgment for as long as possible - and there will be no election until after the Labour conference, in late September. (It is possible to move the writ for a by-election even when Parliament is not sitting when an MP dies).

This gives him time to begin to turn things around. Mr Brown's best hope of ending leadership speculation is to deliver a cracking speech to conference, reassert his authority by reshuffling his Cabinet and make a success of his Cabinet meeting in Birmingham, which will be presented nationally as part of his efforts to listen to and understand the concerns of ordinary people.

Things could change before the by-election takes place. Still, people are wondering whether he could survive another by-election loss.

China's embrace of the spin machine could be seen as further evidence that it has moved further into the 21st century.

Not only were some of the fireworks for the opening ceremony computer generated, but one of the child singers was actually miming - because the girl with the singing voice wasn't deemed pretty enough to appear on the world's television screens.

Sadly, we Brits are in no position to mock, following the revelations about fakery in various television programmes. The Chinese are just doing it on an even bigger scale.

But it reinforces the idea that we shouldn't try to compete with China when our own Olympics come around in 2012.

Let's not worry so much about the glitz and just do it in our traditional under-stated manner. It may not impress the world quite as much, but it's what we're good at.

Citizens of Birmingham Alabama we thank you.

It seems you have been integral to Birmingham UK reaching its 2007/08 recycling targets.

I've just been writng about Tory plans for their party conference, in Birmingham next month.

Instead of sticking to the conference venue as usual, they're planning to get out and about with public debates which anyone can take part in. Members of the Shadow Cabinet will also get stuck into a bit of DIY, rennovating community facilities in Edgbaston.

Now word reaches me of plans to raise some extra cash for the project - called We Love Welsh House Farm - with a sponsored relay bicycle ride from London.

The relay part means shadow ministers will take it in turns to do a leg each, but they can hardly be faulted for that. Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is the man behind the bike idea.