Tory Outcast

The speaker has failed to meet the challenge set by Iain Dale. Mr Bercow had previously said all policy announcements must be made in the house and yet as Mr Dale points out Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham all made announcements over the weekend through various media outlets and appear to have been able to continue without reprimand.

However the Speaker is not the only one to succumb to political inaction this week. It is also prevalent in the Labour party. Mandelson is saying there wont be any new spending plans until after the next election, he is also suggesting that the Royal Mail privatisation will also be shelved until after we get our vote and telling the Bank of England to share power (as announced last week).

The questions that spring to mind are:

1. Why isn't our government doing anything? (They have no legitimacy and can't even get the budget they thought they passed in March through)
   
2. When can we have an election? (Official prediction: November)
   
3. Can Britain afford another year of this Government (Absolutely not, even the OECD have stepped in with a warning about our public spending)

However the question I am concerned with is:


Now you might say that it is a perfectly reasonable question without any justification. However I will just take a few moments to qualify it never the less.

As I mentioned a few days ago Mr Balls has been doing the job Brown was too afraid to give him and (unless I am mistaken) all of the announcements made by Lord Mandelson listed above are the remit of the Chancellor (with the possible exception of the Royal Mail plan). Between Mandy and Balls (possible sitcom title?) they seem to have the Chancellor's job covered.

However Darling need not despair (possible song title?). There is hope yet. After all he may get a chance to do his job this summer. The odd day may arise when Mr Mandelson is too busy squabbling with Ms Harman over who gets to do Mr Brown's job while he is on his holidays and Mr Balls is too busy perfecting his Cameron impression, preparing his leadership bid and chatting to his old friend Damian McBride.

On that day it is possible that little Alistair may get to step up and do his job (assuming he isn't still fighting the Bank or Purnell hasn't overthrown the entire government)

I was hoping to be making today's post with an iced Moscow mule in hand enjoying the promised heatwave. However it has yet to materialise in York. I understand it is reaching certain parts of the country and have already heard two suggestions of global warming being to blame. Aside from the fact that this theory would affect climate not week on week weather I am finding it harder and harder to believe.

I do not deny global warming. I see the sensibilities of conservationist policies, reducing the level of natural resources we consume and recycling but I am not convinced that carbon emissions are directly affecting our climate.

This piece in particular raises many doubts in my mind. Long have polar bears been the face of the case for global warming. However as this article and may before them point out this is completely ridiculous.

In my former role as Chairman of the York Tories I oversaw the search for a speaker to debate against Viscount Monckton. Monckton is one of the most notorious climate change sceptic. However we were frequently turned down with claims of it be a waste of time on account of the debate already being won. Aside from the horrific idea that this is an issue over which triumph can be proclaimed it is frankly wrong to say that it is a closed one.

This debate needs to be had. On the one hand if the theory is correct the consequences are obvious and devastating. If it is not we are already wasting billions of pounds on unecessary ventures and potentially pushing millions of people into starvation with bio-fuels projects and similar schemes.

Either way we need a proper investigation with no outcomes being ruled out (despite popular belief this is something we have not yet had). Proponents of global warming need to stop hiding behind white fluffy animals and genuinely make their case. Sceptics need to stop making excessively bold, aggressive and unsubstantiated claims that only serve to alienate them. Most importantly any investigation needs to be free of the politicisation (from both sides) that has been existent and in most cases more prominent than the actual science.

Hat tip to Ben for the Telegraph article

• Pleased to see the conspiracy theory bug is spreading. Especially when Dan Hannan is the proposer (regular readers will know Tory Outcast has a slight penchant for conspiracy theories (1,2,3) and a great deal of respect for Mr. Hannan)

• Wondering if Cameron can match Thatcher 1978 conference speech in Manchester this year. Unfortunately he doubts it...

• Surprised to see a Labour Minister being honest about cuts but less surprised upon realising it is Hilary Benn - I was very impressed with his speech and honesty in York last year (although he may not return the feeling after I shouted "when" at him following his suggestion that democracy would remove bad governments)

• Appalled by this call for further bloodshed in Iran

• Unsure of Cameron's unionist credentials following this statement.

• thinking the men in white coats are very slow these days. Brown: "we will win [at the next election]". Stranger things have happened but at this stage it's just delusion.

• Pleasantly surpised by this display of toleration by the public.

• Completely unsurprised the Mail is comparing Jackson and Diana. Pleased to see the Guardian maintaining a sense of perspective for once.
  

• Shocked at the un-professionalism of our Chancellor. The Bank of England Governor disagrees so you throw your toys out the pram and "dilute" his powers? Pathetic.

• Waiting for wonky fruit and veg

• Glad to see Grammar School uptake is still rising despite Labour's best efforts. Now if Cameron would just get the message...

• Disappointed to see the only thing our PM is leading on is spending more money we don't have on an unproven hypothesis.

• Wonders why the Clerk has not raised concerns over the numerous constitutionally questionable things this Government has done... until now.

• Hoping Ian Gibson does stand as an independent and potentially hand the Norwich North by-election to Chloe Smith.
  

and finally:

• TO is shocked at the possibility that jellied eels may be a thing of the past. What's next? Tea?

.

For those of you who don't know there is a by-election coming soon in Norwich North following the resignation of Ian Gibson, the Labour MP for the constituency. This was previously considered a fairly safe Labour seat (5,500 majority) with Gibson able to call his constituents inbred without any real drop in popularity.

However after his expenses claims forced him out it is now a much more open contest with some polls suggesting the Conservatives will snatch it. I can only hope they are right. I met the Tory Candidate Chloe Smith at a dinner last year and, although we only spoke for a few moments, the warmth and dedication she showed was clearly evident.

However it is by no means clear that she will get a chance to prove this commitment in Parliament. The Lib Dems are already playing their usual nasty electoral tactics and Labour blogers are nit picking minor issues.

I suppose it is understandable in both cases. The Lib Dems have had to resort to their third choice for candidate after Nick Clegg was turned down by his first two choices. I wonder if he is regretting not looking further affield than the neighbouring candidate April Pond now he is forced to defend the candidate before an election date has even been set. Equally concerning is Pond's hope that she can "follow the work of Ian Gibson". Hopefully she means just being an MP rather than selling an expenses paid for flat to her daughter at half market value.

Still they are doing better than Labour. At least they have a candidate. Labour still have not selected one and suspicions about how long they will delay this election are beginning to grow. There have even been suggestions that they will wait until October as if they lost the seat before party conference it might be enough to oust Gordon. I pray for their sakes this is not the case as it would demonstrate just how out of touch Labour are if they leave a constituency without an MP for 4-5 months just for their own advantage.

Any readers in Norwich North I would urge you to vote for Chloe when you get the election you need (for the sake of those of us who will have to watch the election clock on the right tick down until we get our chance to get rid of this Government).

Check out her website or this interview with Tory Outcast's "favourite" blogger if you still need convincing.

I have just returned from campaigning for my local PPC and watched today's Prime Minister's Questions. Though it pains me to say it John Bercow actually did quite a good job (as did Cameron and, unusually, Nick Clegg).

Bercow was a little to much of a personality than a speaker with statements like:

"I apologise for interrupting the Prime Minister, but there is simply far too much noise. The public do not like it, and neither do I

and:

"Mr. Fabricant, you must calm yourself. It is not good for your health"

Other than that he did a reasonable job and moved the questions on well.



On another note, it looks like David Davis is rocking the boat again on Grammar schools. Could be an interesting one to watch. I'm beginning to wonder if Mark's suggestion here isn't such a bad idea after all. Well perhaps not but Davis' comments will hopefully spark a fresh debate on this issue.

Whatever the outcome of that debate it has to be better than this policy from Labour and Tory Outcast's old favourite Ed Balls. An absolutely idiotic suggestion for the sake of some warped idea of equality when in fact it will just force even the brightest kids into mediocrity that we can scarce afford.

#DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A JOKE. IT IS SIMPLY INTENDED AS A HUMOROUS WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING ENTERTAINING OR INTERESTING COINCIDENCE(S)#


In a couple of hours John Bercow takes his seat for his first Prime Minister's Questions. He was not my first or indeed second or third choice for speaker. I think Sir George Young would have had more dignity and commanded wider respect in the house (rather than grinning like a schoolboy), Ann Widdecombe would be much more capable of reform (can a man who twice flipped his home and claims he did nothing wrong be a rallying point for reform?) and as this excellent clip shows Sir Alan Haselhurst would have been a much better and more experienced Speaker who could have cut back on the amount of theatrical nonsense that Michael Martin only managed to croak "order" at.

However he is, for better or worse, the new Speaker and should be given a chance to prove himself. My concern today is how this all came about. Don't worry readers, I have a theory (of the conspiracy variety)

As I suggested in this post David Cameron leaked the expenses to the Telegraph. However I now see how wrong I was. It was Cameron and Bercow!

Bercow has for some time been a "defection risk" from the Conservatives to Labour. He has also "had his eye on the Speaker's chair for years". He therefore hatched a plan.

Knowing that Cameron was considering leaking the expenses he offered his services to assist the leak. He also kindly agreed that he would not defect. Cameron, at this point was enjoying sitting back and watching the Labour Party support freefalling. He did not want anything to give them a surge or rallying point. A Tory MP crossing the floor could have been disastrous.

However Bercow wanted something in exchange. He wanted to be Speaker. This immediately gave the pair a time frame. Bercow would never get the job at the next election so they needed to oust Martin before then. The expenses leak killed two birds with one stone in this respect and Cameron used his party power to ensure Martin was shown the door.

However, while this did leave the chair empty it by no means meant John could sit right down. Indeed the expenses was a double edged blade as it caught Bercow out (as mentioned above). He therefore needed more support. He began a string of speeches about the need for reform thereby beginning to erase his past misdemeanours. The innocents in the house liked this while those who had been caught out saw that he still had the crimes on his record and so could not allow the punishment to be too harsh or he would bring himself down.

It was still not enough though. So once again he turned to Dave for help. His "political journey" from the right to the left of the party meant he already had friends in the Labour party. It was therefore very believable when the Tories began showing dislike for the idea of him being speaker. Cameron began to spread more rumours about his unsuitability among the party. This was made very public so the Labour MPs were aware of it.

Labour, knowing a third consecutive speaker from their party would be unacceptable, turned to what they believed was the next best thing. Seeing the Conservatives bad mouthing him they immediately began to support him.

Meanwhile Cameron supported and suggested that six other Tories ran for the job therby splitting the Conservative vote. Just to ensure Bercow got the job he made sure the most succesful Tory (except Bercow) was an old Etonian who Labour would never vote for.

So there you have it. Bercow and Cameron. Political masterminds ensuring they each get the job they wanted through a web of complex and almsost unbelievable pieces of political and public manouvering. When Cameron wins the next election their victory will be complete.

If you still have doubts then watch this clip from Newsnight. The middleman who eventually approached the Telegraph is so protective of his sources that they must be very high profile. It becomes even clearer when he refuses to even say where they work.

Thankyou for reading

Tory (slightly insane) Outcast

The Conservatives have announced their new grouping in the European Parliament. As anyone who is aware of the circumstances of Tory Outcast's expulsion will be able to guess I am very pleased to see this move (although I am confused by the oxymoronic sounding name - European Conservatives and Reformists group).

Unsurprisingly however, the stones are already flying. The main controversy surrounds the Polish Law and Justice party. Some of their members (not any of the MEPs as far as I'm aware) have offered distinctly homophobic opinions in the past. The other chief concern surrounds the Latvian MEP in the grouping. Some of his parties members have also expressed some concerning views in the past, in this case concerning the Waffen SS (read the above linked article for more details).

However there are a considerable number of excellent representatives among the grouping:

It contains a recipient of the Prize of Liberty, a Kinight of the Legion of Honour, three (out of fourteen) Vice Presidents of the Parliament, the Chairman and Vice Chair of the Parliament's environment committee and numerous other members and substitutes on a wide range of committees (particularly the one concerned with civil liberties).

It also includes Lajos Bokros (an extremely talented Economist and former finance minister and author of an Excellent austerity package that Gordon Brown might want to have a glance at) and this fine fellow.

Obviously the good doesn't mean the bad can be ignored but as Iain Dale points out here there are a few dubious characters in all groupings, not least the Lib Dem and Labour groups.

The criticisms of loosing influence and isolating the party for the sake of ideology seem entirely baseless. The Conservatives are now the leading party in a still prominent group and will (although critics seem unable to grasp this) still work very closely with the EPP and other groups on a majority of issues.

On another note: isn't it refreshing to see a politician actually delivering on what they promised?

Following the lack of lucidity in the last few posts, the compliments I received for my "Scottish Play" inspired post and the lack of action in the Hazel Blears deselection meeting last night I have decided to once again turn to the theatre for inspiration.

It is Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot which today I shall turn into a Tory Outcast adaptation inventively named Waiting for Gordo (worst pun so far?)

For those of you who do not know this play may I first recommend you get tickets to the current tour (it is a very good production). However until then (or in lieu of that) the basic plot is as follows: two elderly men (Vladimir and Estragon) who have fallen on hard times find themselves waiting for an ellusive man named Godot. During the two days for which they wait (which make up the two acts of the play) they attempt to entertain themselves, consider leaving and share stories of times past. This is a much simplified synopsis but will serve my purposes here today.

The comparison I wish to draw is between Vladimir and Estragon compared to the Labour party. Labour seem to be waiting for something. It might be an election or for someone else to challenge Brown or any number of things but until this event occurs their inaction is palpable.

Much like Vladimir and Estragon they pass the time looking back on wasted opportunity, bickering, threatening to leave, leaving then rapidly returning (Shahid Malik anyone?) and reminiscing with rose tinted glasses to better times now long past.

So much of what they say is so applicable to the current situation in the Labour party that I have had to pick just a few quotes to offer here:

"On the other hand what's the good of losing heart now, that's what I say. We should have thought of it a million years ago, in the nineties... We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late"

The good ol' days of Blair... there's something we never thought we would say.

"Suppose we repented... Oh . . . (He reflects.) We wouldn't have to go into the details."

The blacked out expenses publications seem to be summed up so perfectly by this statement

ESTRAGON:

(coldly.) There are times when I wonder if it wouldn't be better for us to part.

VLADIMIR:

You wouldn't go far.

ESTRAGON:

That would be too bad, really too bad. (Pause.) Wouldn't it, Didi, be really too bad?

The potential split in the Labour Party? Or the Union's funding withdrawal?

VLADIMIR:

Let's wait and see what he says

Let's wait till we know exactly how we stand

I'm curious to hear what he has to offer. Then we'll take it or leave it

ESTRAGON:

What exactly did we ask him for?

VLADIMIR:

Oh . . . Nothing very definite

I don't think Labour's "wait and see" attitude could be summed up any better than that. Especially when Godot/ Gordo is asking every man and his dog before he makes a decision:

VLADIMIR:

That he'd have to think it over.

ESTRAGON:

In the quiet of his home.

VLADIMIR:

Consult his family.

ESTRAGON:

His friends.

VLADIMIR:

His agents.

ESTRAGON:

His correspondents.

VLADIMIR:

His books.

ESTRAGON:

His bank account.

VLADIMIR:

Before taking a decision.

This leaves the party members, MPs and ministers in something of a bind:

ESTRAGON:

Where do we come in?

VLADIMIR:

Come in?

ESTRAGON:

Take your time.

VLADIMIR:

Come in? On our hands and knees.

ESTRAGON:

As bad as that?

VLADIMIR:

Your Worship wishes to assert his prerogatives?

ESTRAGON:

We've no rights any more?

Laugh of Vladimir, stifled as before, less the smile.

VLADIMIR:

You'd make me laugh if it wasn't prohibited.

ESTRAGON:

We've lost our rights?

VLADIMIR:

(distinctly). We got rid of them.

Not only are they powerless to stop Gordo they realise they have abandonned every basic civil liberty on which we depend?

I will stop there before this post becomes longer than the play itself but recommend once again that you see it and recommend to the Labour party that they make some positive action rather than reaction so I can remove the ticking election clock from the side of this blog.

Dave Cameron is paying back nearly a grand in expenses partially from claims he himself has revealed. Difficult to tell whether this is genuine honesty, faux honesty as a vote-grabbing tool or just fear that he will get caught in today's releases or the suggested releases at the weekend.

Whatever the motive, if he wants to be the "heir to Blair" he'll need to claim a lot more than that. Our possible European President grabbed £7,000 for a roof 2 days before he stepped down.

Even Fred "the shred" Goodwin has been hit by the repayments bug.

The Iraq war inquiry may even be out in the open.

If this carries on we may be able to trust politicians and bankers in three decades as opposed to the previously forecast five.

Shame Sir Alan can't summon up the same sort of respect or decency/ appearance of it...

Or the Judicial system...

What is the world coming to? (no there are not any more tired opening lines than that)

The newspapers make for strange reading this morning. Stories about Ministers "resigning" after twelve days in the job and strikes/ protests in Iran and Britain. Blacked out expenses are everywhere.

Gordon Brown has achieved a new public debt monthly record of £20bn and his Chancellor (Darling not Balls) is too busy squabbling with the Governor of the Bank of England to do anything about it or the free falling British Economy. In Darling's absence the EU is once more trying to muscle its way into controlling our finances and possibly (brace yourself) under the leadership of Tony Blair (unbrace).

Barrack Obama is the fly swatting incarnation of Satan and David Cameron is Stalin (having personally felt the Tory party's wrath, even on just a small scale, I shall watch that one with interest). Of course it could be a hoax which would explain why Brown is too busy to listen to Lord Butler and the British public about the Iraq war inquiry.

However I am always one to look for the positives and there are a few rays of hope poking through the otherwise depressingly overcast world.

Citizen journalism is on the rise (good for me) with bloggers and newspapers calling on members of the public to wade through the expenses. Even when anonymous bloggers are being unmasked (bad for me... well not really but still bad) there is protection even just for occasional twitterers.

If none of this cheers you up then maybe these three will:

1. The uncensored expenses will hopefully be released this weekend
2. We may finally get some statistics we can trust (really do have a look at that one, could be a really influential website if it takes off)
3. If your still feeling down then take a look back at the newspapers from 200 years ago to a time before expenses, bloggers and New Labour (or old for that matter).

A simpler time...

Unfortunately Tory Outcast has an exam tomorrow and so does not have time for a full post.

Just a few bits and pieces to chew over until tomorrow afternoon:

1. Inflation has fallen by less or is higher than expected depending on which paper you read.
   
2. Job losses are going to be lower than expected but are going to keep rising
3. David Cameron has raised eyebrows or pulled of a Basil Fawlty Gaffe again dependent on which paper you read
4. In the Labour camp: the Cabinet are also being "tested", Britain is not taking sides in Iran according to Miliband and Julie Young is all by herself...
5. John Bercow is both the favourite and deeply unpopular
6. Much to my disappointment TO's home MP has quit his second job
7. Chancellor Balls - Tory Outcast's worst nightmare seems to be coming true just when he thought it had been nipped in the bud by Brown's cowardice

Oh and Lindsay Lohan may be a thief...

Wish me luck

TO

Tory Outcast's darling mother pointed out yesterday that I had started blogging at a very good time with so much going on in the political world. While I saw her point I began to realise that this is not the case. There is nothing going on at all.

The papers are full of more political stories than they used to be certainly. The discussion in the pub is increasingly more political. Surely there is so much going on? Well no. More things are beginning but no results yet. Everything is delayed and (once again returning to talking to my mother) the "I'll do it tomorrow" mentality seems to be everywhere. What the discussion is really about is what will things be like next week, month, year and beyond.

1. Hazel Blears to be kicked out..... on Thursday.... maybe....
2. The Iranian election results are in..... but there is going to be an inquiry.... check back next week.....
3. Gordon might not be PM.... soon.... but probably will...
4. Peace in the Middle East may be on its way... possibly...
5. Public spending will be cut... after the next election...
6. Google will soon be able to offer detailed images of the inner colon of everyone you see on Streetview...
7. There will be an inquiry into the Iraq war... results to follow.... soon.... (probably also after the next election)
8. Tory policy on the Lisbon treaty to be made clear.... once the Irish have another referendum...
9. BBC may lose some of its funding... in the next few days... or months...
10. Prince Charles is being too political.... it must stop... once he is King...
11. The race to be the next Speaker is hotting up... results on the 22nd...

I'll stop there just short of a dozen because I'm not really sure what my point is. As a conservative I support slow, considered and fair process and so should like this sort of thing but it troubles me.

In that list there are some serious decisions that should not be rushed but do we really need to read about every insignificant development in the process (yes in the absence of a salient point I am turning this into a media crusade and yes I realise as "just another blogger" I am a complete hypocrite in this respect). It is not that this isn't important news and it isn't that the transparency isn't commendable it is just that we no longer seem to have those "big breakthrough" news moments anymore. Whenever any major decision or result is reached it has already been suggested, predicted, expanded upon, commented on, analysed and generally accepted as what is going to happen by the time it is actually announced.

With that rant/waffle over with I will return to searching the newspapers trying to find anything that has happened without everyone already knowing about it

There has been much talk of late describing Peter Mandelson as "the man behind the throne" and the puppet master to Gordon in the papers and the blogosphere. If this suggestion by Mandy to bring in the Euro is anything to go by then I sincerely hope it is not the case.

However Ian Hislop did make a suggestion on Have I Got News For You this week that seemed to ring very true. Peter Mandelson is in fact Grigori Rasputin... (yes it is conspiracy theory time again)

Once again I have prepared some evidence:

1. Rasputin was often claimed to have mystical powers, particularly the power of hypnosis. Would this not explain Mandy's otherwise inexplicable frequent returns to Government.
2. Rasputin was also a close personal friend to the Tsar despite being hugely unpopular with the St. Petersburg political elite. If Brown's joke about Mandy calling his only two friends is to be believed it seems just a little two similar...
3. Rasputin travelled the World searching for and spreading religious proclamations. Again we find the coincidences to be just a little too strong.
4. Rasputin's politics were very controversial and at various times he was accused of corruption, accepting bribes and lying. History repeating itself or the same man continuing in his old ways?
5. Also once the Tsar (Blair) had left leaving the Tsaritsa (Brown) on the throne Rasputin exercised ever increasing control including hand picking certain people for Governmental positions.
6. Vladimir Purishakevich described Rasputin as "the evil genius". Not quite the "Prince of Darkness" but the similarities are piling up.

Of course historical wisdom is that Rasputin was murdered by a former colleague and supporter of the Tsar. However numerous conspiracy theories exist suggesting he lived on through his dark and mystical powers.

Now we just need James Purnell to poison, shoot, drown and burn Lord Mandy to be sure...

Update 12:13 15/06/09: This piece clearly backs up point 5. The net is tightening Mandy/Raspy...

I am late to this story I realise but would like to add my condemnation of the Oxford University Conservatives to the record. Their racist remarks and laughter in a public arena is completely unacceptable (reported by The Mail, The Telegraph and Tory Bear).

It makes Tory Outcast's crime seem minor and insignificant *looks around for support*.

While on the topic it seems I am a name (admittedly small in comparison) on an ever growing list with Lord Kalms being the latest expelled member. Perhaps Brian Binley MP is right in saying we need to allow dissent and vote lending on the EU issue?

I am of course bitter and biased but perhaps there are more pressing issues for the Conservatives in terms of unruly members and perhaps, on the issue of the EU, they need to start listening to their former and remaining members?

I would also like to wish Lady Thatcher a swift recovery.

The NHS is rapidly becoming an issue once more after a few years of relatively low coverage. Alan Johnson is no longer Health Secretary and he seems to have taken his ability to keep the NHS out of the headlines with him.

Almost immediately every paper is full of tales of £15bn deficits (1,2,3) and targets being missed or getting in the way. Despite the new Health secretary's protestations it seems to be firmly back on the agenda and not in a good way.

Prime Minister's questions today brought up this issue several times, particularly concerning the Shadow Health Secretary's alleged gaffe over the 10% cuts figure. The usual back and forth was given between Brown and Cameron as well as other MPs and no real conclusion was reached.

The trouble is both major parties see it as such a thorny subject. Labour cannot possibly be seen to make a single cut and when they are the Tories cry bloody murder (as do the bloggers). Meanwhile if the Conservatives were to suggest such a policy it would be "the same old Tories cutting away and ignoring the worst off".

However instead of Conservatives saying its got to be done or politicians trying to find something else to cut so they don't have to I am going to suggest something much more publicly unpopular that really would incite cries of "same old Tories". I am going to suggest more privatisation in healthcare.

If I were a prominent politician I would probably already have been publicly executed. The only reason Dan Hannan gets away with it is his otherwise incredible popularity, his charming way with words and the fact that he only really suggests it on American TV.

However please do let me make my case. First of all it must be clear that I fully support the NHS and its continued existence. Apart from being a hugely important service and a basic right of people in this country to receive free at the point of use health care it is also of vital importance to my suggestion.

What I suggest however is more private firms entering the market for healthcare. They could be large firms that offer a wide range of treatments or a larger number of small firms who specialise in treating just a few ailments or illnesses. These firms could then compete on price, comfort, service and methods of treatment.

If you are taken ill you are then taken to an NHS hospital or GP where you are given emergency care and diagnosed. You then have the option of staying with the NHS for treatment or going to private firms. The level of internet access today would rapidly allow patients to research and be fully aware of the pros and cons of all of their options. These options include the fact that every person still has the right to nationally provided healthcare if they want it.

However it is my assertion that competition in the private sector would reduce prices and improve service and efficiency thereby encouraging and enabling more and more people to use private healthcare. This in turn takes pressure off the NHS by reducing waiting lists, increasing doctor to patient ratios and improving the quality of care received.

Obviously many may see this as unfair to which I would offer two responses

1. It is no more unfair than the current system with BUPA offering private healthcare
2. Inequalities can be justified if the least well off benefit (anyone who has read John Rawls may recognise this thought). If my assertions of the benefits of private competition driving innovation and efficiency are correct then the quality of service for those using the NHS will also vastly improve. It may be seen as unfair but is it any better to let people die on waiting lists or from overcrowded wards leading to infection

I hope if you have read this far you have not completely rejected my proposal. I am a committed sceptic and am therefore filled with doubt by any such radical proposal (yes even when I am the one suggesting it...). Please leave comments below if you spot a flaw or issue as I am completely open to criticism to improve it or to knock it down.

Nick Griffin was pelted with eggs and generally attacked outside Parliament this afternoon. I have made my views on the BNP clear before but I am still disgusted by this action. The Unite Against Fascism (UAF) group immediately and gleefully claimed credit for organising the protest in a manner not dissimilar to terrorist groups claiming responsibility for an attack.

For a group that purports to support the minorities, chasing a minority party (whatever their views) down the street is incredibly hypocritical. They also seem to have missed the extreme irony in proclaiming "these types of politics [the BNP] don’t represent the majority of this country" while claiming to fight fascism.

I detest the politics of the BNP but marginalising and attacking them in the street is not only fascist in itself but also playing right into their hands. Defeating the BNP cannot be done by attempting to silence them. Censorship and repression of criticism are tennents of many Fascist governments past and present.

What needs to be adressed is why 1 million people voted for them (I don't think suggesting they were "duped into it", as the National Secretary of the UAF seems to think, will really work) and much more importantly why 29 million people didn't vote.

Equally the level of media attention they are recieving needs to be adressed. They won two out of 72 seats. It shouldn't be ignored but the fact that our Government was beaten into third nationally and 5th in many areas is a much more pressing issue for our democracy. The fact that more than half our MEPs don't support the Lisbon treaty (or at least demand a referendum) and yet it is still being pushed into law is again more pressing.

If anybody was going to be chased away from that press conference it should have been the journalists so they could actually present a balanced view of the election results rather than putting up a smokescreen to other matters and scoring an own goal with the BNP.

20:18 Update - I realise I am myself becoming a hypocrite here by continuing to draw attention to this story but I simply could not ignore this video. In it a member of the UAF shows the sort of selective judgement and contradictory statements that are typical of the organisation to which they protest.

In it she says "we don't believe in free speech for fascists". I hope I don't need to elaborate on what is wrong with that statement. She also clearly gets confused about voting figures. 135,000 more people did vote for the BNP. She may be confused with the drop in support in the areas where the BNP MEPs were elected but what she says is inexcusably far from the truth. She also directly contradicts the UAF National secretary who says in this article that "the BNP were able to dupe them". Hypocrisy, lies (intentional or otherwise) and inconsistencies are what will become apparent in the BNP and should not be exhibited by the groups who wish to defeat them.

Once again I think the BNP need to be defeated but the protest and this video will do nothing other than give them more of a platform. Their incompetent, racist and un-British policies can only be exposed on an open platform. Every time you silence them your cries of "racism" and "fascism" lose meaning and help their cause.

23:24 Update - OK I don't want to labour this point any more but another display of massive ignorance and hypocrisy by the UAF has just appeared on Newsnight. Watch it if you can. I won't elaborate too much as Tory Bear has already covered it fairly well here.

I will just say on the slight off chance that anyone from the UAF does read this that you should really consider their actions. This could well be the first time many people have heard of your organisation. Do you think you have come off well?

Guido Fawkes is reporting that James Purnell will stand at noon tomorrow if no other "credible candidate" stands.

Apart from being shocked that any Labour politician has the guts to even make this half bid for power I am quite pleased to see this (if it is true). From a Conservative point of view I would rather Gordon stayed in as this is only likely to increase the Tory share of the vote when we do get a General Election.

However a new leader would almost certainly force an election and, with the impotence of Government we have at the moment that has to be the most important issue. Whatever the result, even if Labour win again at least they can then govern with authority and legitimacy. We have a democratic deficit that must be repaid as soon as possible so the interests of the people can be served once more.

Putting my Tory hat back on for just a moment I will say Purnell has got to be better than Johnson in terms of helping with a Conservative victory. As the Telegraph points out here, Johnson is just too "nice".

Hopefully confirmation will follow soon and Tory Outcast won't be too far out with his prediction

Update 20:31 - Telegraph and BBC news channel suggest the plot has failed. No more word from Guido. Perhaps Purnell knows something Brown and his lackeys don't?

Update 20:44 - Guido now suggesting this one has petered out. Still worth keeping an eye on? at least till noon tomorrow.

As I woke this morning to sunlight streaming through my Outcast Dungeon's barred windows (listen out for typing if you walk past Conservative HQ) I shall start with the good news from last night.

Conservatives and UKIP both gain a seat each with particular note to the Conservatives topping the poll in Wales and UKIP doubling their seats in Outcast's home county of the West Midlands not to mention coming second in the popular vote beating Labour into third.

A few other highlights included another fantastic speech from Dan Hannan (really do watch it if you haven't already) and Polly Toynbee's hilariously idiotic response to Nick Griffin's election by attacking the Conservative's choice to leave the EPP (hopefully link to follow).

However the bad news must also be considered. Last night was a very bad night for Britain. Two BNP MEPs were elected with nearly a million nationwide votes. As a Nation I think we should be truly embarassed and ashamed to send a former member and a former leader of the National Front to represent us in Brussels.

The unfortunate truth is they actually lost 6,399 votes in Yorkshire and Humberside and lost 2,865 votes in the Northwest. Meanwhile, turnout for both regions fell by roughly 10%. Those who couldn't be bothered to vote should be considering whether those extra few minutes they saved were worth it. Those who protested against the expenses scandal by not voting should consider if they would rather their taxes paid for duck houses or the salaries of fascists.

Hopefully Andrew Brons and Nick Griffin will be entirely marginalised by the other MEPs until the next election when we can kick them out. Hopefully they will show the same incompetence their councillors have shown across the country preventing them from actually doing anything. Hopefully the vast majority of the population are as disgusted this morning as I am.

However I will look to the positives. Hopefully four things will come out of this election:

1) UKIPs success will push the main parties into leaving the EU thereby removing the seats of the BNP

2) This BNPs victories will show the dangers of PR voting systems and stop any talk of Westminster adopting it.

3)Labour's humiliating defeat, being pushed into 5th place in many areas, will force the dissolution of Parliament that the public demand.

4) Those who couldn't be bothered to vote have learnt their lesson on the dangers of apathy.

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In the last few days the number of cabinet resignations and random appointments has been too much for Tory Outcast. If only I didn't have this pesky degree to do...

Anyway in lieu of my witty, poignant and otherwise insightful posts may I highly recommend the Guardian's Interactive Cabinet. It can be hugely helpful in keeping track.

It seems to have died down for the moment though as the rebels put the revolution on hold for now and Brown waits anxiously for the European results. I will take this brief respite to try to catch up on the ups and downs:

1) So first to go were Jacqui Smith and "the other two". Aside from being glad to see the back of Ms Smith (the first paragraph here might offer some justification) this, damaging as it was, did not seem like the move that would bring about Brown's demise.

2) Then Blears followed on with her resignation on Wednesday. Again it was damaging but it probably saved Gordon from sacking her anyway. Perhaps if Harman went at this point the 3 witches might have brought about Macbeth's demise (in Tory Outcast's mind Ed Balls is Lady Macbeth... not sure where that leaves Yvette Cooper...)

3) Purnell's now infamous letter made it 5 on Thursday morning. I suppose he could be Banquo in our little tale, the ghost, tormenting Macbeth to near madness. Or perhaps Malcolm would be more fitting, the (Blairite) returning son of the last King.

4) Hoon, Hutton, McNulty, Flint and Beckett all followed suit the next day becoming in my mind Ross, Lennox, Angus, Menteith and Caithness, the Thanes who deserted our tragic hero as the day of battle drew near.

5) Then came the reshuffling and the additions. Sugar, Lord Adonis and Glynis Kinnock being the major new faces. The spirits conjured by the witches who convince Macbeth of his supposed immortality?

The real question then is who will be our Macduff? Cameron would certainly like to be the one "leading on". He even already has his Lady Macduff ready and waiting.

Tory Outcast suspects however that the one who was "from his mother's womb untimely ripp'd" will not be standing in front of him at PMQs but perhaps just a couple of seats to his left. The new Home Secretary perhaps? Or Miliband the elder? Or Straw or even the third Witch herself?

If the Macbeth analogy holds true then it should by rights be Purnell taking the throne as Malcolm son of Duncan (Duncan is Tony Blair if you have lost track).

Then again Cameron is the "heir to Blair"...

Sorry about all the Shakespeare but once again Dan Hannan has inspired me

Tory Outcast has just had his first published prediction come true. Perhaps not the most important one of this post but it is in the update... See Gordon's expenses scandal here. Not long now Dave...

You have to question a Labour government when even Polly Toynbee describes them as "unfit for leadership". She does suggest that Gordon Brown may yet be hoisted "back on his horse like El Cid". If my memory serves me he was dead at that point (El Cid not Broon) so I'm not sure if it is sincere optimism but it is optimism never the less. I'm going to attempt another prediction at this point and suggest he won't be PM by 1400 Tuesday.

On a more sombre note please take the time today to remember those who gave their lives 65 years ago on the beaches. Without their sacrifice I could not be writing this and you could not be reading it.

Read the articles (1,2,3,4,5,6,7), watch the commemorations, put a pound in the charity buckets in town or just take a minute to think about what they lost so we didn't.

Council results are still rolling in and I'm pleased to see the Tories winning nearly everywhere (6 councils and 187 net gain in councillors at the time of writing). Whether they will get their targeted 250 remains to be seen.

Ministers are resigning left, right and centre and one Labour MP even had the decency (admittedly a bit late) to stand down and force a by-election. Dark days indeed for the Labour Party.

However with the European results not due till Sunday evening and even the Labour rebels recognising nothing is going to happen till after the weekend it means that, for now at least, Gordon Brown still holds on.

However with turnout expected to be very low for these elections I begin to wonder if Gordon should give us an election now, not only because he has become impotent in government but because at this rate we might forget how to vote.

"The only way to practice democracy, is to practice democracy" Hu Shih

Never have the people being elected mattered so little in the choice of who to vote for. In a party system such as ours it is rarely the most important factor but it usually plays a least some significant role in the decision making process.

However, many other motives are appearing today. Here are just a few:
1) Boycott the main three parties to show disgust over the expenses scandal
2) Vote for the Conservatives to try to oust Brown
3) Vote Labour to show the party (and even Brown?) still has your support
4) Vote for any one at random to stop the BNP gaining a seat
5) Vote for UKIP or the Greens to send a policy message to Westminster
6) Vote Libertas or Jury Team to reform politics
7) Vote Lib Dem because.... um.... well I'm sure you have your reasons

Not an exhaustive list but none of them are really about who we want in Brussels. This could be because you think, like me, there isn't much power in the European Parliament anyway and sending a message to our Government here is more important. Or perhaps it is just a complete lack of information. Whatever the reason, if you have time, do have a quick search to see who you're voting for.

Perhaps your MEP has been swindling more expenses than the politicians you're trying to punish. Perhaps your MEP has shown complete incompetence in some past role and won't achieve what you hope he will. Perhaps (like me) you will find you cannot endorse your preferred party's candidates in your area because they seem so totally at odds with your views.

Again, just take a moment to search who your candidates are and what they have been up to. You might be suprised.

Oh and don't forget to vote once your done!

So this afternoon Hazel Blears added her name to the Cabinet resignees with one of the most politically weighted speeches Tory Outcast has heard since Heseltine. Now taking bets on how long before she makes her leadership bid. Leave your guesses (in hours) in the comments section. However perhaps she might want to look at what happened to Heseltine after his resignation before she continues and take notice of his warning "he who wields the knife, never wears the crown".

I discussed Jacqui Smith yesterday and would only like to add her support of Ian Blair to the list of things I disagreed with her about.

However it is the other two resignations which have sparked Tory Outcast's interest today. Despite my unbounded knowledge of the Labour Cabinet (*looks shifty*) even I found myself saying "who?" when I read of their resignations. However after a quick search to remind myself the memories did resurface.

Both Tom Watson and Beverly Hughes have resigned on previous occasions and both of their previous resignations led in some way to the resignation of people in positions of much greater power.

Beverley Hughes' earlier resignation came in April 2004 for effectively deceiving the House of Commons. This did mount pressure on the then Home Secretary David Blunkett and while it was not this incident that led to his resignation it certainly damaged his credibility meaning "nannygate" was almost certain to force his hand.

Tom Watson was much more instrumental in bringing down his senior figure however. He resigned in September 06 after he refused to withdraw his signature from a letter requesting Tony Blair's resignation. He was given a "withdraw it or resign" ultimatum by none other than .... Jacqui Smith (then Chief Whip). Don't you just love it when these coincidences just fall into place?

He then released another message calling for Blair's resignation in which he said "I no longer believe that your remaining in office is in the interest of either the party or the country" (history repeating itself?). 9 months later he was recalled to join Brown's cabinet.

Tory Outcast begins to wonder if these resignations will play their part in causing another high profile resignation. Perhaps even our dear leader?

So Jacqui Smith is finally leaving after a couple of frankly disastrous years as Home Secretary. Despite disagreeing with almost everything she did in the job (ID cards, 42 day detention, Gurkha's settlement rights and the Damian Green affair to name a few) it was the news that Prince Charles had received an invite to the D-Day commemorations that I was particularly pleased to see today.

Despite the uncharacteristically patronising approach of President Obama in bringing this about I do think the correct resolution has been found. I am not a particular fan of Prince Charles but I do think it is hugely important that a member of the Royal Family be present.

Don't get me wrong, I do support Gordon Brown's attendance as well. This anniversary marks the turning tide in the fight against fascism and Gordon Brown is our highest elected representative who can symbolise everything our heroes fought and died for.

However they fought, in principle at least, for King and Country. It seems not only appropriate but necessary that if not his daughter then the Grandson of King George be there as a representative. This does not come from some underlying monarchist intention but from respect for those who died and those who lived.

Alongside the Presidents, Prime Ministers and Monarchs there will be the Veterans. Those that saw their friends, Brothers and Fathers die in the fight against oppresion. Many of them are now in their very late years or are wheelchair bound and may be unable to attend the next landmark anniversary in 5 years time. Their wishes should be respected and, though I cannot possibly presume to speak for them, it is my belief that they would like to stand beside a representative of the same Monarchy they fought for and the same Monarchy that is still head of the Armed Forces to this day.

Just a couple of days before election day and, at the risk of sounding like a very broken record, I would like to take this chance to encourage you to vote. Don't let Tory Outcast's sacrifice have been in vain.

However as I am guessing the majority of people reading this will already be intending to, I will instead turn my attention to the potential results. Firstly there will undoubtedly there will be a boost in support for the smaller parties (as reported here). Good news if, like me, you are voting to send a particular policy message to the major parties such as a desire for stronger environmental commitments, a wish to make politics more transparent or (Tory Outcast's personal favourite) leave, or at least take a harder line with the EU. On the other hand it could be very bad news for Britain if the BNP manage to grab a seat.

The less predictable and potentially more volatile results however are those of the three major parties, particularly Labour and the Conservatives. There is little doubt that results will favour the latter but the question is; how much? With economic warnings getting worse (1, 2, 3) and the expenses scandal turning on another Cabinet Minister the real question is whether Labour are facing defeat or destruction. Again the latter seems more likely with the European results potentially being the worst in history and the Tories setting high targets for the Council elections potentially leaving labour without a county Council.

This "double humiliation" if it occurs then leads to another question. Can Gordon survive? Whatever the result it certainly won't be easy for him with many predicting a major reshuffle on Friday as the first measure to try to hold on. However he insists he will cling on no matter what. Can he manage it?

Tory Outcast will watch on with interest over the next 48 hours or 7 days depending on whether the Telegraph or Guardian is to be believed (anyone else not surprised those two are that way round?)

Accused of tin-foil hattery and pissing into the tent by Tory Bear I decided to turn my attention to a more concrete story today:

OK so I realise I'm coming a bit late to this story but is Brown really going to make Ed Balls Chancellor? (Currently resisting the urge to make "balls up of the economy" jokes)

It seems to be a growing possibility with Darling's latest expenses scandal and Brown's determination to hang on to power. From a political perspective it is I suppose an understandable move. He gets to remove an unpopular Chancellor without admitting he was wrong about the economy and promote one of his closest allies in the Cabinet.

From a professional point of view it at least makes more sense than Balls' current job as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. He was after all an economist by trade before becoming an MP and, though it pains me to say it, was not entirely wrong about everything.

However from a practical point of view let us not forget who this man is. A man who cries "so what" when told Britain is facing the greatest tax burden of all time (maybe).

Credit where credit is due, Cameron did see this coming with remarkable foresight:
"I know he wants to be Chancellor so badly it hurts. I have to tell him another Budget like the one we have just heard and he won't have to wait very long."
Here we are one budget later and here we are with the prospect of Chancellor Balls.

However the real reason I am so concerned at this man becoming Chancellor is his startling incompetence in his current job. I was delayed in posting this story as I searched to find this piece which I remembered reading on holiday last year. It stuck in my mind because not only is it one of the very few times I have agreed with more than 10% of what Simon Heffer says it is also one of the most damning reports of repeated, serious and unforgivable incompetence I have ever read.

Darling is bad but better the devil you know than the devil who seems utterly incapable of grasping what his own job entails.

Update 17:13: Oh dear God no!!