Nath Off!

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to lose one Councillor might appear unlucky, two seems like carelessness, three however smacks of deep rooted problems in Chris Williamson's ever diminishing band of 'Brothers' and of course 'Sisters'.

In the last four months Labour have seen three Councillors resign from their positions within the Labour Group on Derby City Council. The latest individual to go Amar Nath really does demonstrate the depth of division and disillusionment within the Labour ranks.

Cllr Nath is a former Deputy Labour Leader and a Labour Party member and Councillor for decades. What would make this Party man leave? I can only speculate but I guess words like disrespect, dictator and disaster all prefixed with political would most likely be heard coming from him.

Amar says he is undecided whether to join another Party or sit as an independent, my advice is simple if you want to be remembered as an ineffectual member who achieved nothing by moving, join the Liberal Democrats. Even as an independent you'd have more respect.

Of course Amar would be welcome to come and join the Conservative Group but we respect his experience and his principles and as a Socialist he may find the move difficult, however I'd say the modern Conservative Party and it's socially inclusive policies on immigration, crime and disorder and community, as well as our compassion would be far more attractive than what anyone else could offer.

And doubtless these are things he recognises Labour no longer offer. Really he faces a choice between ignominy and opportunity. Derby's Conservatives deliver and he knows it.

I see that the Liberal Democrat, ahem, Leader, Hilary Jones says Amar would be welcome to apply to join her Group, but, 'they would not just accept anyone'. Really?

Methinks she doth speak with forked tongue, again. Hilary do the words Maurice Burgess, Wendy Harbon, and Simon Lysechenko mean nothing to you? Are you really claiming you fully vetted all of those individuals and they outwitted your processes?

Wendy Harbon would struggle to outwit something very easily outwitted, allegedly. Or is it that your selection processes are flawed, as in non existent and frankly you are desperate so you'll take anyone

If I were Amar Nath I'd be insulted.

Now speaking of insulted, have I upset the Liberal, ahem, Deputy Leader Lucy Care?

I suspect I rather have, you see Council protocol dictates that during debate in the Council chamber members must refer to one another as Cllr Jones or Cllr Smith etc, but twice during the last Council meeting Lucy Care referred to your blogger as 'Smalley'.

Now technically she was accurate, however she knew also she was being quite rude and disrespectful. Could it be my continual haranguing of the Liberal Democrats dishonest politics has finally unnerved Lucy and her band of blaggers and the politically unsure?

I do hope so. You can tell when Chris Williamson is rattled because he gets very high pitched and points a lot. Apparently, under the same circumstances, Lucy calls you by your surname. Lucy, if you are cross now, roll on March 3rd.

Hello Michael Mullaney, Liberal agent, part time Councillor and full time purveyor of half truths, distortions and poor campaign plans?

How are you? How goes the campaign your man in Abbey has begun against the Labour proposal for a Congestion Charge?

Got anywhere yet, jumping aboard our bandwagon? Made a little cross by the leaflet we put out exposing that unsubtle charade were you?

I do hope so.

There's another planned for another of your disingenuous little campaigns, where? You'll see. Keep up the good work by the way. Between you and Councillor Williamson, you two are losing/driving away your supporters in droves.

NB.The more you try to cheat this time Michael, the more we will chase you. I hope for one you carry right on so we can expose your mendacious campaigning for once and for all. And for the record, if you want to defect to us, the answer is no and will remain so until hell freezes over.

Speaking of agents, we Conservatives in Derby don’t have one, we have to do all our work ourselves. Some of our number would like us to get one. (The money’s not great but you get to work with me for a bit).

I’m unsure though seeing the mess some of our opponent’s agents seem to have made of things lately. The Liberal Agent insists on flawed, nasty and contrary election strategies and the Labour Agent is being blamed in some quarters for Labours new found, self made problems within Derby’s Asian community. I complain about having to do all my own work, but with hindsight, I’ll stick with it.

Derby deserves better than a fractured and fragmented Labour Party. It deserves better than the ill lead and woolly minded policy-less Liberal Democrats too. Derby’s Conservatives have unity, excellent polices and a clarity of aim and purpose. Never mind party politics, if you care for your city, the choice is clear. Visit http://www.derbyconservatives.com/ for more details of who and why.

By the way, Happy Valentines Day to all my readers. Well the attractive ones anyway.

Cry Boys & Indians

There a few things more encouraging for Conservative Members of Derby City Council, than the Labour Leader Cllr Chris Williamson completely losing both his temper and the plot during the November meeting of the Full Council. This tells us we are clearly winning our arguments and that he and his Group know it.

Cllr Williamson was back to his previous incarnation of hysterical rhetoric when under pressure. His Group lost vote after vote during last Wednesday's meeting.

Our motions gained Liberal support and Labour were forced by us to condemn their own Government for the sad and short sighted policy of Post Office closures and also to call for this Labour Government to give the people of Derby at least, the EU Treaty referendum that they promised the electorate but are now refusing to deliver.

The Labour Group had been publicly humiliated by Cllr Dhamrait and his supporters yet Cllr Williamson claimed it had been a bad night for the Conservatives? Perhaps he needs a review of any medication he may be on? He also, loudly and rather preposterously, claimed we the Conservatives should be quote' getting down on our hands and knees' unquote to praise him and his Group for their Social Care policies. Really?

Is this the same Social Care policy hated by the electorate that has decimated the service, led to hundreds of people having their service removed and has led to a £5 million pound hole in the Council's Budget that Labour will doubtless expect local Council Tax payers to fill? He was raving uncontrollably at this point and appeared close to tears.

His Parties ridiculous decision to deselect an excellent existing Councillor in Hardial Dhamrait to impose a more malleable yes man just to make Cllr Williamson's life easier has spectacularly backfired on both him and his Party in the City.

For year after year Labour took Derby's Asian Community and their votes by consequence, for granted. Sure in their own minds that this situation would never change. However they underestimated the intelligence and courage of our Asian community.

After ten years of this increasingly discredited Labour Government all of this cities communities are feeling cheated and short changed. Labour then chose to add insult to injury by showing a complete disregard for, and denying democracy to, a key element of their power base in Derby. Even more foolish when you consider Cllr Williamson himself sits in Normanton Ward with a predominantly Asian Community, with Asian Community Leaders like for example, Hardial Dhamrait.

If I were a Labour member who represents a Ward with a lower percentage of Asian voters, I would be worried. Cllr Williamson will be looking for a new seat soon.

Both Cllr Williamson and His Deputy Cllr Roberts looked absolutely stunned in the Council Chamber following the courageous decision of both Cllr Leeming and Cllr Dhamrait to publicly walk across the chamber to join the Conservative Group in the midst of a Full Council meeting.

Even more so when the public gallery filled with both Asian and British supporters of Councillor Dhamrait and now former Labour party supporters, cheered wildly and shouted anti Labour remarks, until the Mayor restored order.

Cllr Higginbottom's jaw dropped so far it hit her on the foot, Cllr Jackson burst into tears and the Labour Leadership went grey. This was when the penny dropped for them, not only had they made a terrible error in taking Derby's Asian vote for granted but that also the games up for Labour.

They are losing members and supporters at a huge rate of knots. Their local policies are leading the City to financial ruin and the Labour Government are doing all they can make sure Labour Group lose any sort of control of Derby City Council. Labour are on a runaway train to defeat next May and Cllr Williamson knows it.

So as things stand since 2005 three sitting members of the Council have defected across to the Conservatives. I would like to claim it is as a result of our Groups attractive and dynamic leadership but I believe it is more simple than that.

The Conservative Group on Derby City Council has inclusive well considered, cost effective and deliverable policies. Our national party is leading the way with sensible, inclusive national policies that offer opportunity and optimism.

Not just to some sections of our community but all sections of our community. We are seeing an increase in support at new opportunity the electorate has to vote and 2008 will be a breakthrough year for us in Derby.

To surmise in terms of defections Conservatives 3 The Rest 0. That must be somewhat disheartening for our opponents.

The seismic events of last Wednesday evening must also have had a demoralising effect on the Liberal Democrats. Not only are they returned to their more usual spot of being the smallest Group on the Council, but also their seedy agent is reduced to writing incoherent and innaccurate letters to the DET once again attacking us for supporting Labour.

This is an increasingly hollow cry Mr Mullaney. Your disreputable band of a Council Group claim to be the opposition in Derby to Labour.

In reality your opposition is opportunistic. If you see a bandwagon passing you jump aboard. You cannot point to one instance where your alleged opposition has succeeded.

We Conservatives have consistently maintained our stance of effective opposition from within however and after continually opposing Labour's disastrous Social Services policies for example at Council Meeting after Council meeting, after two years it appears they are considering their policy and we have hope they will realise a review is required.

All the Liberal's have actually done is claim to be opposing Labour in their newsletters they deliver whilst leaving us to actually do the job. The Liberals are all about opportunity rather than opposition. Newsletters to deliver, not policies, that is their strategy.

I publicly called upon the Liberal Leader during the meeting to apologise for her Group sitting back and not working with us to make the Labour Social Care policy shift happen sooner by putting their political desire above the needs of their supporters and residents. And to also for the record, I asled her to deny my assertion that she had said to me the Liberals had chosen just such a course during 2006. She didn't do either and frankly with any conscience she couldn't.

Mr Mullaney also holds up a former Conservative Party member, not Council member, up as a prized defection who's action is offered as a blow for us and a plus for them. This man has had more parties than Ann Summers and Mike your sorry party is his THIRD choice. Strewth, it appears the Liberal Democrats are the political equivalent of Steve McClaren, and about as popular.

We Conservatives believe in effective consistent opposition where required and equally co-operation. We work for the benefit of all who want to see united communities, a health service you can actually use, to create opportunities for people to buy their own home and to make their way in the world.

For all communities and age groups to live free from fear and for families to set the moral compass for our nation. Our vision is clear, as are our policies. Anyone else out there wishing to join us, either Council Member of not, you will be most welcome.

Polls Apart...the spinning Moral Compass

Shall I go for the ‘Grand Old Duke of York’ metaphor for the Prime Minister or simply go for something more pointed? Ok as you wish, ‘dead man walking’ is perhaps more appropriate.

What a sorry state of Government we are in. Gordon Brown let’s his colleagues and party apparatchiks ramble incessantly on about an Autumn General election. He allows the timetable for the affairs of state to be rearranged, people to be recruited for jobs within the Labour Party to manage the upcoming campaign and then at the 11th hour changes his mind.

‘Oh no’ said Gordon, ‘I never said I was to call a snap election’. No but you didn’t say you weren’t going to for more or less a month of increasingly fevered speculation either though did you?

During his rather embrassing press conference, he denied that the surge in support for the Conservatives had led him to cancel preparations for an election. He then repeated the denial when he was challenged to do so ‘hand on heart’ and reminded of his claim to be guided by a ‘moral compass’ (one previous owner... Mr T Blair).

Cue the Sky Camera man zooming into Brown’s scribbled notes that clearly stated ‘Saw Polls’, with the ‘Saw’ underlined no less.

Brown conceded: ‘Obviously I saw the opinion polls.’

That clears that up then, even if his moral compass must have now been spinning faster than a Whirling Dervish.

Simple fact Gordon Brown knew the result would be in the balance and for all his colleagues’ tough talk, he chose to save his own skin.

Let’s face the hard truth for this discredited Government. (That must be some sort of record just over 100 days in office and discredited already, even Wilson and Callaghan took longer to be found out than that). There are many issues that damn this current regime. Immigration is not so much out of control, because under Labour it never has been under control.

Rolls Royce, local firm, the World’s premier manufacturer of aeroplane engines is given more encouragement by the German Government to build a plant there with all the inherent economic spin offs for the German region where the plant is to be sited, than it was given by this Labour Government to keep the plant and it’s benefits here?

A UK manufacturer, building a new site in a fellow Western European country because of better prospects? Unheard of, and frankly not a little sad. On a smaller scale but perhaps of greater significance in terms of our local communities, just how many Post Office closures is the Government to preside over?

The sense of community isolation that these closures can create should not be underestimated. Does the Government listen when people protest? No.

Perhaps though, crucially the UK’s economic situation is destabilising rapidly. Interest rates have risen, repossessions of peoples homes are soaring, the huge personal debts this Government has fostered as a sort of self funding feel good factor for the population to detract from its failings, are out of control. And added to that with the ‘credit crunch’ starting to bite those with personal debts, the subsequent rises in the interest rates of the lenders who have funded the borrowing boom, will for many make their loan repayments unaffordable.

The amount of people defaulting on loans will rise, lenders will get into trouble and all of a sudden our High streets could be filled with ‘Northern Rocks’. Not a pleasant thought. It is no surprise the amount of personal bankruptcies in the UK is at an all time high. I though Gordon Brown told us we had left ‘boom and bust’ behind?

In addition the UK public, or Government, borrowing has increased from £6.7 Billion a year ago to £9.1 Billion today. Who pays for that? We do, all of us who pays tax. So this Government has made our own debt management difficult by losing their grip of the economy, and now they want us to pay more for their wanton borrowings also?

And whilst I’m on the subject of Government finances, a little advance warning that with this current Government spending review there will be even less cash for Councils including Derby to provide services in the community. I’m sure ever reducing services in return for ever increasing taxes isn’t something you voted for either. Further insult to injury perhaps?

Talking of insults, it’s true this Government does try to fool all of the people all of the time. This time though and perhaps finally, the scales have fallen from our collective eyes. Gordon Brown’s Government is no different form Tony Blair’s. Calculating, deceitful, dishonest.

This whole election charade has revealed that for once and for all. No wonder Gordon changed his mind about an election and it didn’t take them long to start making policy changing noises over Inheritance tax did it?

Never been afraid to steal a good idea when they hear one. Only now I believe any pretence of original thought on their part would be foolish, although if these last few weeks have shown us anything, I wouldn’t put it past them.

Whenever Labour choose to call the next election they will lose, it’s just a case of by how great a margin. As the quote goes, ‘Oppositions don’t win elections, Government lose them’. Like I said, Gordon Brown, ‘dead man walking’.

On a lighter note….

The aforementioned polls have had a dramatic effect on some local politicians and their futures. Will the delay save Cllr Dhinsa from a crushing defeat in Mid Derbyshire when the poll is finally called? No.

Will it however give him more time to reflect on his haste to get selected thereby ruling him out of applying for South Derbyshire seat, currently at least, a Labour seat as Mark Todd has announced he will step down at the next election? Yes. (Luckily enough for me the Mayor and my PPC in Mid Derbyshire, has at least now calmed back down to a state of perpetual readiness as opposed to the state of frantic ear bending and profanity that Gordon had worked her up into, another reason in my mind not to like him).

And talking of South Derbyshire, will Labour continue with the selection procedure for a replacement for Mark Todd?

I understand Cllr Banwait was a front runner, was Cllr Williamson also up for selection in that seat? Rumour has it he was. Is Chris to be upstaged by his younger rival? How would that play in the Labour power game?

Will Cllr Dhinsa’s leadership ambitions be rekindled? Oh the speculation is endless and more amusing when you realise most of it is their own making. So who are we missing here??

Oh yes the Liberal Democrats.

Hello Mr Mullaney, Liberal Democrat agent for Derby. As you are a regular reader I thought I’d say Hi. The polls don’t make good reading for you and your increasingly irrelevant party do they?

Lucy Care Winning Here? Where is ‘here’ Mike? Your imagination.

Now we know that the Liberals are fond of fake polls showing how strong their vote is. Well here’s one for you from the media, not me, not the Conservatives or even lying Labour. In marginal seats the Conservative support is 44% of those polled, Labour 38% and the Liberal Democrats 12%. Credit NotW Sunday 7th October 2007.

You Gov also has the Lib Dems at 11% and for what must almost certainly be the first time ever, Martin Baxter’s Electoral Calculus is putting the Lib Dems on zero seats for the next general election. Happy days indeed.

That close to an election and the best you could do is 11%?

That shows your muddled, misguided and misleading party what the voters think of you. Pretty much the same as me; pathetic and of no consequence The Liberal Democrats would be a distant, and do I mean distant, third in any election on that basis.

11%! the rejects on X Factor get more votes than you. The Liberal Democrats are washed up in Derby and pretty much every where else Michael, and apparently the nation agrees.

All in all an exciting if challenging few weeks.

So what have we gained from this experience? Well Labour haven’t shot themselves in the foot that badly since Michael Foot and his balmy unilateral nuclear disarmament policy of 1983. The Liberal Democrats haven’t been this irrelevant since they were the SDP and finally the Conservatives have recognised all this and also the fact we have a Leader to unite behind, to trust, and who will lead us back to power.

Come on Gordon, bring it on.

Mis Match Of The Day

Blog, blog, blog blog, it's all I keep hearing. But I can't I pleaded, I'm spent-done. But did the incessant clamour diminish. No. I'm just glad I never wrote Harry Potter. But then for the money, yep I could live with it. But this blog, it pays nothing, I do it for love or spite I can never remember which. What follows will be a slight change in emphasis. A little more life and perhaps a little less politics. Let me know what you think, either by phone, text, email or writ.

Any how, I realise I've been a little quiet of late, devoid of inspiration or to be more accurate perhaps, targets. But I'll offer up this small tip toe back into the fray and we'll see what happens. Well after more or less three months off, something must have happened. There have been five new additions to the Smalley household. No not as a result of IVF but as a result of the local pet shop being unable to tell boy rabbits from girl ones or we own the only two gay rabbits on the planet who have managed to reproduce. There are rabbits everywhere. Wife wants to keep them, kids want to keep them, however they underestimate the power of advertising.

For Sale 5 Rabbits. (POA depending on who applies) Small & cute, your kids will love them and you get to pay for them. For sale also one normal sized rabbit hutch. My wife bought a new one. Big? I swear you could see it from space.

The last Full Council went well. We put forward a motion congratulating Derby County on their promotion to the Premier League. I spoke as our football spokesman, Chris Williamson as an ardent fan spoke for Labour and the Liberals displayed their vast and knowledgeable insight into the sport and their support of Derby County by fielding Ruth Skelton. Now the only connection I can see to this sour faced woman and football is her hair is vaguely reminiscent of the 1970's Liverpool FC perm. (If she had a bigger 'tache she'd be a ringer for Graham Souness).

So Ruth stands up to her biggest height and proceeded to read from what appeared to be prepared text, (prepared by whom I wondered, not a football fan for sure), that she wished Derby well but regretted that unlike last season, Derby would be unable to play and beat their great rivals F*****. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that F***** and Derby were not in the same division last year, nor the season before for that matter. Never knowingly miss a bandwagon those Liberals.

Tip for members don't call the Mayor, 'Mayor'. Brother Roberts did that and even he crumbled under her steely rebuke. 'Madam Mayor' she asserted. My advice, 'Your Majesty' is safest.

I hear Alan Graves son is following his father into show business although on a different tack, he is embarking on a career as a stand up comic. I wish him well it's a lonely stage at times. I am looking forward to seeing him perform. One tip from an old comic though, son for heavens sake, don't' let the old man write any of your material. Mind you snap his hand off for one of those comedy waistcoats.

So there we are off and running, maybe. Next time, more on the mystery embarrassing members photo doing the rounds at the CH. Perhaps an insight into getting your skirt taken in whilst on a night out. More on those rumours of a shift in Labour agent. Sadly no such rumours in the movements of the Liberal Democrat agent, but will now Cllr Mulaney have enough time to be the agent or did he just stand for his local Council for the sake of it and is never there?? And if so, would his constituents notice?

An Inconvenient Truth

Did I mention there is an election on? Until this week you could have been forgiven for not noticing, but blimey has it burst into life now!

Now this blogger has gained or, (should that read built?), a reputation for being rather hard on the Liberal 'with the truth' Democrats. However what do I discover this week? One of my most loyal and avid followers is none other than the Liberal 'with the truth' Democrats agent, Michael Mullaney. He sent an email to Cllr Hickson, praising my blog for it's entertaining content and witty observations.........ok maybe that wasn't quite accurate, but nothing wrong with a little misinterpretation though is there Mikey? Until you get caught that is.

This week the Liberals were finally outed for the liars they are. They claimed in an election address that the Conservatives had voted for this years Labour budget. But we didn't though Mick did we? Even when the story broke in the DET following Cllr Hickson's threat of legal action against them , Mr Mullaney refused to apologise, instead trying to defend the Liberal 'with the truth' Democrats dishonesty by claiming we were arguing on technicalities. Yes Michael technically your literature lied, technically you were being dishonest. As the DET editorial proclaimed, 'the voters....deserve better'

Privately Mendacious Michael, (you will have to go and look that one up), had another excuse for his parties dishonesty. It was all your dear bloggers fault. Moi? The beacon of truth amid a sea misinformation, the sword of truth, the shield of justice, (where have I heard that before?), anyway Mickey Mullaney tried to blame me in a sort of, well you're as bad as we are, type of witless way.

He accused me of a massive breach of protocol. Is that the one pertaining to ethical campaigning Mozza? Methinks it must be. Now a little light chastisement from me perhaps, but unethical, I don't think so. I will quote his view of my little blog

'a flood of crude insults'. Now to that I object, crude insults, crude? I will have you know my insults are carefully crafted and well thought out, crude, you cheeky ****

'Libel', where, where....???

'Lies', now I'm tempted to go with, 'it takes one to know one', but instead I'll simply refer you to my response to the libel charge

and finally, 'tawdry filth'. Filth? Mick are you mixing up your websites? This is a family blog, I rarely indulge in mild innuendo, clearly I could never be a Liberal.

Now just in case you are beginning to think that this is a personal vendetta by me against Mr Mullaney, you'd be wrong. even Jim Brennan, respected elderly local journo in his Derby Guardian vehicle suggests he's a **** and should be sacked. See that's two of us, anymore out there? In reality though it's not all Mick's fault. If the local parties political leadership wasn't so weak, feckless and ineffectual they could have avoided all these problems and reined Mozza in but alas not. And if their plan is he runs Lucy Care's GE campaign and, he does it as well as he's running this local one, Derby North will be the only seat in the country where there will be a swing to Labour! Enough of this Liberal Democrat bashing onto more local news.


Sorry it turns out this news item too relates to Liberal Democrat bashing, quite literally. Or to be more accurate Michael, I know you are watching, being bashed by a Liberal Democrat. It turns out that the Liberal 'with the truth' Democrats candidate in Mackworth has been ordered to appear in court to answer charges of assault against another person and he has been ordered by the court not to contact his alleged victim or go to his address according to the Derby Evening Telegraph. Simon Lysaczenko, ( pronounced I believe Lie~sa~ chenko, how apt for a Liberal), may now not be eligible to take a seat on the Council should he win on May 3rd due to potential incarceration should the allegations against him be found proven. Now it could be me, but I see a pattern here.

Firstly the Liberals not only selected but made Leader a devious and scheming paedophile. I accept they may have been mislead and do not want to dwell on the issue, however they said after that sorry affair they would robustly review their selection procedure. Did you believe them?? Surely they wouldn't be suckered again? Well let's see, amongst there ranks still is a convicted fraudster/embezzler/thief, they have recently kicked out of their group an inactive malcontent who is due to collect £30k from Derby's Council Tax payers money over the four years of her term and in Mackworth they have selected a man who the Police have seen fit to charge with a crime of violence. Would you want these people representing you? I think not. How do they select their candidates, a press gang? Eeny Meany Miney Mo? The mind boggles. I have to report though there is no truth in the rumour that Mr Lysaczenko's alleged offence was as a result of someone taking my advice from a previous blog, and asking him for a refund due to Wendy Harbon.

You may be forgiven for thinking Smalley's always hammering these Liberals, why leave Labour out? (Ah-ha, Frank Harwood sees a plot), well Frank your wait is over. James Shires, (the Labour agent and another fan by all accounts), if you are reading this, don't think you lot are bomb proof. This week it has been bought to my attention that Cllr Chris 'Long-Wynn-ded' the Labour candidate in Spondon has put out election literature informing the Spondonians.

(If any of you out there think I am mad enough to mock the Spondonians forget it).

Where was I? oh yes, informing the Spondonians that he will fight to alleviate their traffic difficulties should they elect him. Oh the irony. Chris 'Long-Wynn-ded' has for the past year been the Cabinet Member responsible for Planning and Transportation. Transportation meaning amongst other things traffic management. One might ask, if he were so keen on sorting out Spondon's traffic difficulties, why has he not done it already? And politicians wonder why the public are cynical.

A short footnote to any Spondon Labour voters. Don't forget Dave 'Brother' Roberts, the Labour Deputy Leader told Area Panel 1, that Spondon couldn't wish for more effective and hardworking Councillors than it already has, so do as you are told and vote for Peter Berry.

Talking of Berry's well Williams to be precise, rather belated congratulations to Evonne and Gary on the birth of their first child. Well done love, I'll catch up with you soon.

So here we are the final push, an unintentional birth reference, one more week until the election. Still more leaflets to deliver, door knobs to knock, dogs to run away from. Up at all hours, printers on overtime, tempers fraught, (no need for violence though). To some I wish good luck, to others rank misfortune. May the 4th, I predict, will see some surprised defeated incumbents and a new Council for us all to watch very closely. Some I will watch more closely than others.

It appears more and more people average people are reading my blog. Well average people are more than welcome, you know who you are.

I have begun to receive some feedback to my blog on my email address @ richard.smalley@derby.gov.uk Now not all has been positive, mainly from frustrated and humourless Liberals, but mainly it has. All I ask is if you are to insult me at least try to be original and funny and please be aware the Council email system will hunt down anyone who oversteps the mark, and as Mickey Mullaney knows we Tories are very litigious......

We've all been Tango-ed

Now I accept that in the eyes of many members of the general public, the words 'politicians' and 'honesty' could constitute an oxymoron and frankly with due cause on occasion in the case of the politicians, an omission of the 'oxy'.

That said, that sweeping generalisation often made though it is, I am pleased to say, is usually wide of the mark. Unless of course you are Liberal Democrat who's relationship with the truth appears akin to that of Tony and Gordon-distant.

This week saw the launch of the Liberal Democrat 2007 Local Election manifesto. I say launch, a more accurate description might be oozed. Their manifesto oozed out into the daylight from somewhere dank and inhospitable. The Liberal agents nether regions most likely. Not for the Liberal Democrats a publicised launch of a document to be proud, but merely a low key emission, and a foul one at that.

This rather dry and unattractive tome is as per usual, full of half truth's, no truth's and staggering omissions.

The first highlight for me is their desire to maintain Derby City Council's Excellent Status. Now the CPA awarded us this accolade, an independent body. It is not some sort of Soviet military honour, self awarded and undeserved, but hard won and well deserved. Well thanks to the Liberals for pointing out that we are an Excellent Council, (an example of when 'politicians' and 'moron' works well), I suggest if they really want to maintain that Excellent Council status the best thing they can do is shove off and leave us to run it.

They have made great play of 'fighting' Labours Home Care cuts. When we gave them the chance to vote with us during this last political year, to create a majority to do just that, they singularly failed to do so. It is noticeable by omission that they make no pledge in their manifesto to restore those lost services.

An old Liberal trick that one, gesture politics. They claim to be doing something then when given the chance to say how and when, their silence is deafening.

They seem to have a problem with taxis too with a pledge to 'review' taxi rank space in the city centre and a pledge to install CCTV into those taxi's. Review is often politician speak for close or reduce They also neglect to say how that in car CCTV is to be funded either, back to those gestures again.

Congestion Charging their manifesto claims 'is not needed'. No commitment to rule it out though you notice. To Congestion Charging they say they will seek 'significant' funding from central Government for high quality transport-quote.

The only problem with that plan is the only significant Government funding that is available for public transport projects comes with one great big string attached, (in the words of Rolf Harris, do you know what it is yet)? Of course, the introduction of congestion charging. I really do believe the Liberals couldn't lie straight in bed they are that dishonest.

Another absolute belter from the it seems, quite delusional pen of the Liberal Democrat agent, is the manifesto pledge to give, quote, more power to local areas to decide on...planning issues, unquote. That idea would currently have no legal right in law. The only authority to determine/decide planning applications are local Councils and central Government and on rare occasions the judiciary.

And the Liberal Democrats cannot change that situation without being in Government, whilst an horrific prospect it is thankfully very unlikely. This is the worst kind of political lie. One that builds the hopes of those who do not understand the planning laws, which is frankly most of us, by suggesting the scourge of back garden developments could be decided on by local residents if you vote Liberal Democrat. More gesture politics.

I suggest for those sick and tired of Liberal Democrats trying to mislead you in this shameful way, you give the Liberals one or two gestures of your own, any such suggestions on my comments section will be gladly forwarded.

One final thought on the Liberal Democrat's obvious disregard for the truth. They pledge to campaign for a Local Tax to replace the Council Tax. They claim Council Tax unfairly discriminates against pensioners and people on fixed incomes.

Perhaps, but will as they suggest their proposed local tax be any better? Let me get you a second opinion on that.

'The total sum raised under our proposals on local income tax is no more than the total sum presently being raised by Council Tax-but not less either we are not saying it will be less'

Who said that? Charles Kennedy, former Liberal Democrat Leader that's who. So there you have it, from the horses mouth. The much vaunted local tax proposed by the, Liberal with the truth Democrats, won't make anyone better off, pensioner or not.

The only sure thing about it is it will cost even more millions of tax payers money to implement it. The Liberals said they ditched Charles Kennedy because he was a drunk. An honest drunk it would seem however. A fatal flaw in a Liberal.

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Age is something we must all bear and I thought I was going along nicely until I discovered my hearing was going. The Liberal Democrats have been banging on about reducing the Carbon footprint in Derby.

Now we Conservatives support this idea and will work to do so. It appears we misheard the Liberal Democrats though who were apparently trying to reduce the Harbon footprint in Derby, (could it have been less)? This week they succeeded.

The Liberal Democrats unceremoniously booted the inactive and deceitful Cllr Wendy Harbon her out of their group and she now sits on the Council as a independent? Did Darley vote for an independent? No.

Does vote Liberal now mean you get an independent? It would seem so. Wendy Harbon, who is reminiscent of a rather, notorious and brightly coloured MEP in terms of application, is a woman with possibly even less of an idea what to do with herself and the £8500 a year allowance the Liberals secured for her for the four years of her term, than he does.

She was dumped for being an embarrassing waste of political space who brings shame to the honest trade of the Councillor. Just about right for the Liberals really. She's barely been in the city it seems since she was elected, she has been seen in Darley less often than an eclipse.

Her work for local residents is virtually non existent. Her Council PC, paid for by the Council Tax is endlessly being abused by her partner. Do you realise this woman will cost Derby City Council Tax payers, over the four years of her term, over £30k as a minimum. £30k for nothing? Yes she really does sound like a Liberal. Next time a Liberal Democrat asks you for your vote, ask them for a refund.

The Liberals really know how to pick 'em. Their judgement must be called to question. From being conned out of their life savings to being exposed as a paedophile window cleaner. They really are a sorry bunch. I ask you, trust me I'm a politician, sometimes even I wonder.

Big Birds and Bacon Rolls

I've discovered this blogging lark is not as simple as it might appear? (Do bloggers get blog block?) You need to keep coming up with things to say and then present those things in an engaging manner to entice the reader into your world. With politics being my chosen theme, I have set myself a challenge........

So what have we this week? The rather contentious issue of road pricing or congestion charging as we may know it better, seems to be the driving or perhaps more apt, the sitting still, proposal that has exercised us.

Derby Conservatives have made clear our opposition to the introduction of any congestion charge for the city by making that opposition to such a charge the leading pledge in our Manifesto for the 2007 local elections.

Labour by contrast, have made a rather ambiguous, non committal response to our opposition, that appears to suggest they won't charge city centre residents for driving into the city. Even if that were true, that statement from the Labour leader amounts to a tacit admission on their part that they do support, and would indeed be prepared to, implement a congestion charge scheme onto the people of Derby.

(The Lib Dems, that election, as opposed to policy driven machine, haven't yet managed a response. As usual in their attempt to be all things to all people they want to impose the congestion charging whilst not doing so. I believe they are adopting their usual 'Ostrich' approach to difficult decisions. They are putting their heads into the sand and hoping it will go away).

We Conservatives are not simply opposing this idea for oppositions sake. We believe that you cannot simply tax people into agreeing with you. Road users, like the rest of us, are already overtaxed and adding to that burden won't change anything. How about more carrot less stick?

We could reward car sharing with tax reduction incentives or with subsidised fuel pricing for example. We could give tax breaks to people who switch from four wheels to two perhaps. Of course this would be difficult to implement, but there is not currently a sufficiently developed system for monitoring road pricing either. I firmly believe the current rush to further penalise motorists is quite simply wrong.

Don't forget our online poll and survey on the very subject of congestion charging in Derby. Visit www.derbyconservatives.com/concharge.html

Now 9 o'clock is not a time familiar to all Councillors, Conservative members exempted of course, but suffice to say the Bacon rolls were not there solely as an inducement to the press. (May I apologise to the vegetarian member of the press corps for whom we spectacularly failed to cater. Next year there will be a special vegetarian option. Just the roll minus the bacon). Our Manifesto is available to view online via the Manifesto 2007 link on the left.

I note that the elusive Cllr Harbon has been reported to the Standards Board for England, the local Councillors watchdog/disciplinary organisation, for continually allowing her husband to use Council equipment, (in this instance a computer, paid for by local council tax payers, but issued to her as a tool to assist her in her role as a Councillor), for his personal use.

I don't see what the fuss is about, I'm just pleased someone is getting the use out her Council pc whilst shes been on holiday....for seven weeks...will she extricate herself long enough from the bracing Lancashire coast to return to face the scrutineers is the question?

Poor old Steve Mclaren. I watched the illustrious England football team make very heavy weather of Andorra on last Wednesday evening, he didn't endear himself to the England fans at all. You could say the England manager wouldn't have been very welcome on the terraces, about as welcome as a Lib Dem window cleaner.......