Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Could Michael Crick maintain a watching brief on any good things falling into the lap of the DUP and other groups and individuals who favoured him with their 42 day votes, over the next weeks and months. Call me old-fashioned, but if it can be established that the PM has been handing out tax revenues, favours and the advancement of causes, on an ad hoc basis, solely to assist him politically, and then lying about it repeatedly, I think it matters.

Why is Gordon sitting beside Paul O'Grady ?

it wasn't going to last. Davis goes on walkabout. Have the tories decided to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? It just makes the tories look loony.

I bang on about what happens if the SNP win the 2010 referendum almost every day so sorry to the other posters.

I appreciate that independence does not start the day after a poll win - and the SNP might lose. But its hugely important if it does happen.

Its just typically complacent of the politicians - and the media to not consider it.

There was the report out this week urging improved regional coverage.

I would add that inter-region (apologies to Welsh and Scots who don't see themselves as a region but countries) coverage is pretty crucial too.

Is this an exceptionally important issue that is falling between the stools? How can you plan strategically if you don't consider the "what if" situations?

Another idea is is the 2020 carbon shortfall going to happen? Are discoveries actually sufficient to meet demand in the mid-long term? Are futures prices indicating stability? Oil prices are shooting up. If this is a permanent feature then it must be crucial for the government to accelerate the move to renewable energy sources.

Its a strange day when Rupert Murdoch is actually promoting democracy.... any labour candidate standing against David Davis can't stand purely on the 42 days. He'll be judged on Browns entire record and lose accordingly. McKenzie as an independent, single issue candidate on the other hand can. I don't see him winning but it'll be very interesting to see how many votes he gets.

regarding the 'oil strike'... if the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's coverage of Northern Rock is anything to go buy there'll be mass panic. Jeremy Vine has basically just said in his over theatrical voice 'the government say don't panic... but', so doubtless there'll be a huge que of Radio 2 listeners outside every filling station now.

IRELAND SAYS NO

Now we must demand a book of EU rules that WE can understand.

Re #4.
I think you're bang on about the importance of the SNP; I feel we'll certainly look back on this period and see the fragmentation and subsequent redrawing of the British political map. David Davies' little adventure will also play its part, I imagine.

#1

I agree it matters. If you listen to Brown and then to Abbott either the former is telling porkies or the latter has an over active imagination. Thats supposed to be my territory!

Lots of issues to dip into. The petrol strike:- one perhaps obtuse view is that if they can stay out for ever then issues on running my car and the cost of a barrel of oil will fade into insignificance. It may even bring down the costs as none of us will be driving around. Should save me currently Β£300/month.

Irish vote:- will bring the cries of why the English,Scots and Welsh can't have a vote. Reason? it is because we will all vote "no"as well. No wonder Brown ran scared of this.

Mr. Davis:- The sooner he goes away the better. Interesting to hear Cameron trying to pull it back by saying he will support his campaign as "there are a lot of other issues that the electorate will want to hear about Labour".
I thought it was to be a "one issue" campaign on the 42 days. Well that's Cameron for you-trying to muddy the waters. Perhaps he may be tempted to say if the Tories will repeal the act when they gain power and, heaven forbid, we may hear what he is to do about car tax and the price of petrol,i.e. have some policies to tell us.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ report:
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has said that talks with the US on a long-term agreement allowing US forces to remain in Iraq have "reached an impasse".

Doubt you can do it tonight but


1) Does this show Iraqi deference to the US won't last into the next Presidency?

2) Could the US get chucked out and would they go even if asked to?

3) Once Bush has gone are there going to be serious problems and renegotiations over contracts for oil and rebuilding? He can't stonewall and gag once hes out of office. If McCain wins he may cover for America - would he do that for Bush.

4) Does this reveal Iranian interests and thinking?

I'll be looking in on your Irish Referendum piece tonight.

Your last was excellent but can we keep James Joyce out of it this time? I really fear we might have to edure a bit of Finnegan's Wake tonight (round and round we go ...). Pleeease NO!

Feel free to bung in a bit of Yeats though.

Would be good to hear French Foreign Minister explain what the implications are and his views on the Guiscard's comments to Le Monde that raised such suspicion in Ireland

Irish Vote -

I'm thrilled by the Irish vote, but my euphoria is tempered by Barossa's comments from Brussels that "the Lisbon Treaty is still alive".

This is, of course, exactly what I expected. In Europe, any referendum results that are at odds with what the Brussels establishment wants mean that the offending voters have to be given a second chance to change their minds and "get it right". Isn't that what happened in Ireland over the Nice Treaty? And what about Denmark a few years ago?

So - Fellow citizens of the European Union, welcome to Zimbabwe! I can't help feeling that, in this case, our attitude towards Mugabe and his cronies over rigged elections smacks more than slightly of hypocrisy.

I hope that your presentation of the Irish NO vote does not have the same pro-European bias that has been displayed all afternoon on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TV News.

All important topics for the daily email from Richard....

I don't have to write on it, since it has already been written earlier.