Home News & the International Story of the Day

On the Oscott front our esteemed local Councilllor Keith Linnecor has launched a campaign to save local shops, I wish him all the best it would be a real shame to see our part of Birmingham become a wasteland like some parts of South Birmingham where all the little independent shops closed a long time ago. One of my greatest complaints about the UK is the dire state of independent retail, we must value our little shops as they are what give our towns and cities their character.

Away from Home (in France to be precise) comes the news that Ségolène Royal will run for the leadership of the Socialist Party. For those not well versed in the ways of French politics the story so far runs a little like this. Ms Royal's former partner and father of her children, Francois Hollande is the current leader of the Socialists he is standing down, Ms Royal stood as the Presidential candidate and lost to Sarkozy, she blamed those inside her own party for not supporting her, M. Hollande wanted the gay mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë to be the next leader, it was speculated that rather than stand herself Royal would support a weak third-party candidate, but now it appears she wants to do a Sarkozy and have the party to herself. (Thanks to French Politics for most of the info)

The EU Audit

I've always considered Iain Dale to be a reasonably responsible blogger. but today he seems to have got his wires crossed. The BBC had widely reported that for the first time in 14 years the EU accounts have been passed by the annual Audit . Regardless of your feelings towards the European Union this must be viewed as a step in the right direction, however Mr Dale sees it differently.

Hmmm...

Go Mose Go

Another win for Moseley RFC as they continue their fight for mid-table safety. This time the Black & Reds travlled to Sedgley Park (its between Bury & Manchester) and coming away with a 17-44 win. Good news, I am sure you will agree. But with the visit of Doncaster to Billesley next Saturday Mose are heading for a much tougher test.

It's just a shame Villa coundn't show the same kind of steel as they surcumbed to the mighty Middlesborough 2-1 at Villa Park. Lame.

Glenrothes - What it all means

There is no way to argue that this result was anything other than a slam dunk victory for the Labour Party. The SNP will try to claim that a slightly increased vote share is a positive result. it isn't, not by a long way. The most interesting aspect of this election is that Labour got more votes than it did at the last election, the party's base therefore remains strong (in Fife at least)

3 things we learn from this result.

1 - The Lib Dems are F**ked
2 - This result will have very little to do with anything that may happen in England at the next election
3 - Salmond and Independence have very little traction in Scotland as a whole.

I will ponder over the weekend if i can describe myself as a Unionist... I have always assumed I was not but maybe its time to consider my position properly.

Can this week get any better?

Holy Crap..... Labour holds Glenrothes by nearly 7,000 votes. Labour actually increased its share of the vote. This is an outstanding result and one which illustrates that Salmond is a busted flush.

Congratulations to all involved especially Lindsay Roy MP!

More thoughts later..

A great day

No words can really describe the feeling you get on a day like today. It was a wonderful night and the United States has a president it's people can be proud of. Rather than go into a long diatribe about why this result is important, i'm pretty sure you can all read newspapers and other blogs for that sort of thing, I just thought I would give my highlights of the night.

10 - Watching Simon Shachma go toe-to-toe with John Bolton on the BBC
9 - Florida going Blue
8 - Wolf Blitzer on CNN - what a name!
7 - Hillary Clinton trying to look happy as she cast her vote
6 - A Million people crowded into Chicago's Grant Park
5 - Al Franken battling to become a Senator in Minnesota
4- Elizabeth Dole losing
3 - Ohio
2 - Jesse Jackson crying like a baby as California declared
1 - Obama and his family stepping on the stage, the moment it became reality rather than fantasy

So there we have it a true moment of history, i just hope our US cousins enjoy it.. It is their May 1st 1997.

US Election

To all my US readers... make sure you vote and for all that in holy and good in the world vote Obama. Not just because he is a Liberal, very intelligent, surrounded by wise counsel and will symbolise the victory of decent America but also to stop nut bags Palin getting anywhere near the White House.

As for me i shall be staying up late, eating chili and not going to bed like i did in 2000 thinking the Dems had one only to be horribly shocked at 7 in the morning by the news of idiot boy Bush's win in Florida. It still hurts.