You just don’t get it, do you!

Liberal Democrats get asked one particular question more often I suspect then members of other parties do. It’s why are you a Liberal Democrat and not a .....(replace with any other party).

Why don’t you just join the Tory party?  Since the coalition I get asked the question (more than is used to). Well many people of course can’t understand (especially those who are members of other parties) why anyone would be a member of the Lib Dems.  Labour members think we have sold out (to the nasty party), although they always believed we were somehow Labour lite anyway. Far from it.

Unions also seem surprised at the Lib Dems position in government, but don’t they realise that we have never been very big with the unions. Nor have they been that involved with the party.

So why don’t you join the Labour party?

You must be joking, did you not see how illiberal they were in government. I also don’t want to join a party that has such a high influence of the unions in their funding which does make a difference to a party. I think David Miliband would understand this very well. Liberal Democrats do not believe in using benefits to keep people poor (Nor does Labour of course but this is what has been happening) We believe that they way out of poverty is to help out the working man, if possible we would have then pay very very little tax indeed. We do believe in socialism but in a practical and helpful way. 

There is too much exaggeration on what the coalition is doing, benefits are being changed not removed, The NHS will still be free at the point of use, and to many people have been going to university and now the fees system is more progressive. The governments money is not some magic money from nowhere, It’s our money, If the students don’t pay (once they are earning a decent wage) then working people will be paying for the future education of those that earn more, that’s not fair either, is it?

So why don’t you join the Tories?

Oh come on, we never were just sitting there waiting to have a coalition with (what some see as) the evil Tories. Turns out their not all evil toff after all, they just believe that the free market and letting people earn their potential with less government interference  can produce more tax revenues as less poverty (I get it, didn’t Labour sign up to this when they won their first election under Blair?) Of course I do understand this stance and agree with smaller government and less red tape. But Lib Dems also know that not enough people that earn their potential will give back fairly to society. It’s not all about the money you know, we do want to live is a less greedy and fairer society.

I do believe we are holding the right of the Tory party back. But in a way this isn’t just helping out the left wing voter (yeah not getting much thanks there then) but we are also the helping the Tory party (again no thanks required). If they were in power on their own then you may have seem some splits by now. They are lucky that they have us to not only take the flack but to hold of those right wing conservatives back from splitting their play apart. So yes Tories you can thank us when you win an outright majority in the next election, although be careful what you wish for. Just as Labour can thank us for giving them some more time to sort out what they stand for.

Why don’t you join the Greens.?

Lovely though your green policies are (and yes it is the most important issue facing mankind, I’m afraid your to left win for me. While your hearts in the right place. The leftist idealism just isn’t practical unless every country in the world does the same thing, which of course they won’t.

Why don’t you join UKIP after all your not pro European, you’re in the wrong party?

No, No I’m not, Lib Dems are ok with people who do not following everything the party has in its manifesto like a lemming (we are not that tribal). Anyway UKIP its not just about Europe you know, I know you think it is but you guys are not as Liberal as you keep telling me you are. I do after all believe in free movement of people because I’m a Liberal, If UKIP was then you would believe this to. No your way to Conservative for me, to right wing.

It’s simple really, I’m a social liberal, there is really no other party for me, Just because being in government has made us less popular maybe even unpopular doesn’t trouble me. I think we have to do what we believe in as much as we can. Not easy when you’re in a coalition with your natural enemies. Liberal Democrats are much more practical party then other party members may realise. We are ok with compromise because we are used to doing this in a party which is made up of Liberals and SDP members.

All this hate for us as it is for the other parties is a little unfair, as we are trying to do what we believe in just as you are for the good of all. We all just have different ideas on how this is done, perhaps some policies do seem nasty, but you have to look at the bigger picture and not just look at the headlines. Lib Dems cannot carry out what we really want to do because we are the party that comes third, We don’t have the power to make this a Liberal Democrat government. If we did then despite what you believe now, you would see that we would actually be a very fair and practical government. Shame we will probably never know. Oh well we soldier on.

Where is the Lib Dem London Mayor Candidate?

London Liberal Democrats really need to pull their finger out on the selection of a new candidate for London Mayor.

Labour have already had their selection process done and dusted between Oona King and Ken Livingstone. Even though Boris delayed his decision we now know he is the Conservative candidate.

So what's taking so long? I read at Lib Dem Voice that this is because the party were focusing on the GLA list of candidates for the London Assembly. But I don't see why this should hold up the candidate selection for Mayor.

In order to have a cat in hells chance against the might of Ken and Boris we need someone out there now. Liberal Democrats do have a competing character in Lembit Opik and I expect Brian Paddick or Susan Kramer to run along with others.

It's a shame but the London Mayor race is as much about personality as it is about policy. It's not to late as personality can also win over an unpopular party but they really needed a head start. Next time we must do better.

Green technologies should reduce environmental accidents

The recent events in Japan just show how dangerous nuclear energy can be when it goes wrong. Personally I am a supporter of using Nuclear if it is not funded by the tax payer to a great extent, but I want this energy to be as safe as possible. 

Britain does not suffer from tsunami or earth quakes but we could suffer from other forms of danger such as a terrorist attached or a simple accident. Nuclear energy accidents always seem much worse then other forms of energy accidents, therefore we need to take a step back and make sure they can be as safe as possible. This is because we can not just reply on green technology only at this point or other forms of power generation because of fuel security. Hopefully one day we can reply on green technologies but until then....
 
It's for this reason that greener forms of energy such as wind farms are more important than ever. But perhaps the best idea is local and domestic generation as well as more efficient energy usage. Which is why its important that money is directed to domestic use and not bigger commercial project, Bigger project should be self funding.

Of course the opposition to nuclear energy by the party I support (the Liberal Democrats and a position I didn't agree with myself at the time) is well know, as is the fact that Chris Huhne has decided that in a coalition that it is right to build new nuclear power stations, if they are not funded by public subsidy, this is a compromise of a coalition government.
 
This delay makes it even more important that the governments (and Liberal Democrat policy) Green Deal works. Domestic generation is a good way to protect yourself from the volatile energy market be that from world events effecting oil and gas prices and supply or doing your bit for climate change.

Even those that don't believe in climate change perhaps can see the worth in generating energy for themselves and saving bill by being more efficient with energy usage. Those that don't want wind farms on their doorstep also wouldn't want a coal fire or nuclear power station in it's place. Energy generation is not pretty, but we all use it and all need it.

So the coalition policy of feed in tariffs at fixed rates as per Lib Dem policy, smart metering, funding for apprenticeships and floor rates for carbon trading all help this aim. the more this can be done the less relient we will be on all forms of big power generation including Nuclear. So perhaps green technologies should reduce environmental accidents as our reliance changes.

I support the letter from Liberal Democrat Councillors

The main problem with the cuts at local level is the speed. This speed does not allow the councils enough time to implement or manage the cuts in a more efficient and controlled manner were cost efficient methods or solutions can be found or even to allow councillors to understand how their voters want services to be prioritised and therefore plan a controlled reduction is services.

 

I do agree with the coalition that more power should be with local councillors to decide what should be cut which means that less services should be ring fenced. Because if we elect local politicians to make local decision than it is for them to be held to account and for them to prioritise their spending on our behalf. Otherwise if there is to much top down decision making, it makes voting for a local councillor redundant and less clear cut.

 

I also agree with the accusation directed at Eric Pickles (Communities Secretary) on gunboat diplomacy. You should let councillors make their decisions locally or you control them from above, you can't do both. Eric Pickles can't be promoting localism while telling councils what to do.

Ten tips for the Lib Dem part of the coalition

Julian Glover over at comment is free on the Guardian has 'Ten top Tips for the Liberal Democrats'. 10 points I totally agree with.

Point 4 is also one I never considered before. 'Join forces with Labour in Scotland next May. A Lab-Lib Dem coalition in Holyrood would prove that pluralism runs more than one way. Lib Dems aren't Tories in disguise', what a good idea, I hope there is enough votes to get a coalition in Holyrood.

Another email from a Lib Dem minister to the party members

Today you may of noticed that we did something you don't agree with again. We know that this is not Liberal Democrat policy. We know you may of voted against this policy at one of the conferences. We know you put on the leaflets that we won't do this or indeed that. But we have just done the opposite of this in government anyway. That is because our policy was not realistic in these hard times or our Tory coalition partners right wing just can't stomach it. So we caved in, It is for the national interest after all.

 

Yes we know it looks bad, maybe because it is bad?

 

We also think it is a good idea to not release all of our plans that relate to the same subject together. Like say the CSR benefits cuts and IDS plans on benefits. We think it is best to do one thing at a time. Best to get the bad part of the story out the way first and then slowly add the good bits. If we get any small concessions on this thing you don't agree with then we will let you all know in a number of emails like we did with the Trident delay.

 

We also think that our members don't really understand why we are doing this. Therefore I felt it was best if we sent out this patronising email to our members just so you can understand what fairness means. We will also keep on telling you that everything is fair even when it appears not to be. Believe us it is fair, everything we do is very very fair. Honest. I can pledge that it is very very fair. So don't worry about it. It's ok this is how it is when your in government.

 

I know you love your party and it has taken decades to build the party up to the size it is now. It's not been easy. I know our hard working councillors are worried about losing their seats. Our activists are more nervous then usual about knocking on doors for claims of being a yellow Tory or some kind of sell out.

 

Again stop worrying. I won't worry too much about Labour voters after all they just voted for their least worse alternative. But I also wouldn't worry about Liberal Democrat voters because they will understand won't they (Students,Teachers,the poor and Civil servants aside). I'm sure they will come back, won't they?

 

Yes the public don't really understand how a coalition works. Problem is nor do we. Luckily we made this coalition agreement. We think it's really helpful if we keep telling voters that it was in the coalition agreement rather than Tory policy we agree with or Lib Dem policy the Tories agree with or a clear compromise between the two positions.

 

I can say that we are all in this together because we as ministers stand a very good chance of losing our seats in the next general election. So we will hang on to the bitter end. After all we can always say we sacrificed our party for the national interest. What can be more noble than that!

 

 

Today's link is to Paul Waugh who suggest that the Tories are increasingly fed up with Liberal Democrat concessions in Vince tweaks Osborne's tail

Media get graduate tax wrong again

I keep hearing about how Liberal Democrats want a graduate tax. This came up again on today's BBC Breakfast during the interview with David Cameron.

I feel I must correct the BBC on this. Liberal Democrats still want to scrap tuition fees and do not want a graduate tax. It is not Liberal Democrat policy. But it is a proposal Lib Dems would be willing to support.

The graduate tax is a coalition proposal put forward by Vince Cable as a progressive form of tax. It's an idea to help fund higher education when austerity measures are required. It is not a permanent solution but a necessary measure in these times.

Another misunderstanding is that some believe the graduate tax proposal is on top of tuition fees. It's not. The Graduate tax is a replacement for tuition fees and is not in addition too them.

I really wish the media would try to understand the difference between a coalition proposal and party policy. At the moment the media seem happen to confuse the public.

Details can be found on this money Q&A: What would a graduate tax mean?

Setup for a coalition?

One of the fridge meetings I attended at the Liberal Democrat conference was a debate asking if the coalition was the correct thing to do. During this discussion I learnt that Nick Clegg had changed his email because he was not receiving some important emails from the filter of White Hall officials. I also learnt that some believed Lib Dems had not been provided with the same resources as others. This demostrates that our civil service is not setup for a coalition (not a shock I know). Nor is the Lib Dem party organised for a coalition, a party that believes in coalitions.

One problem of course is the cabinet collective responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility conventions. The former requires that cabinet ministers must publicly support government policy, even if they disagreed with it in private cabinet meetings. Ministers who wish to openly disagree with government policy must resign. This of course is difficult when everyone knows your position through party policy.

I think Chris Huhne tackled this subject quite well in his speech at the Liberal Democrat conference where he said;

"The coalition agreement, of course, involves give and take. I expect George Osborne to take more millions of the low-paid out of income tax even though he is a Conservative minister implementing a Liberal Democrat pledge. And George Osborne expects me to deliver our agreement on nuclear power, which is that there is an important place for new nuclear stations in our energy mix as long as there is no public subsidy. A deal is a deal, and I will deliver. I'm fed up with the stand-off between renewable and nuclear which means we have neither – we will have both. We will have low carbon energy, and security of supply."

So this is how Lib Dem ministers have to handle policy that is agreed in the coalition, but may not agree with fully. However Lib Dem back benchers can express Lib Dem policy which may not agree with coalition policy. I think we could temporary redesign our party for a coalition. One idea I have is to put Lib Dem backbench MP's in mirrored major ministeral positions, i.e. a mini shadow cabinet only for the major offices. The mini shadow cabinet don't have to criticise the ministers personally but the could put forward Lib Dem policy verse coalition policy. A voice of the Lib Dems to clearly separate coalition policy from Lib Dem and Tory policy. Maybe the Tories could do this too?

I think the puplic are getting used to a coalition and the longer it stays in place the more people will accept that a given coalition can survive. But we also need to demonstrate to the public that the coalition is made up of two very different parties.

Lib Dem Conference diary Update

This weekend I will be away from the Blog and Bracknell at the Liberal Democrat conference in Liverpool. I will try to bring reports or pictures if anything interesting happens (like these planned protests). It will be interesting for me to see more media and high security at a Liberal Democrat Conference.

I thought it would be a good idea to list my program for Saturday and Sunday just in-case any other readers are attending the conference as there is an opportunity to meet. Sunday evening I will be in Manchester as I am staying with a friend.

Lib Dem Conference plan

In addition to my visits to the main hall I will be attending a number fringe events;

Saturday

18.30 - 19-30 Yes to reform! Winning the battle

With Nick Clegg and guests. A rally with the Electoral Reform Society to launch Liberal Democrat support for the Yes! To Fairer Votes campaign in next year's AV referendum.

20:00 to 21:15 What now for Green Issues in the Coalition

About: Now we are in government, what will happen nationally to sustainability and environmental issues?
Speaker/Artist(s) Info: Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Energy Minister, leads the discussion including a speaker from the Conservative Environmental

22.00 – 23.30 www.LibDemVoice.org

Blog Of The Year Awards 'Join LDV and online friends for a walk down the yellow carpet to award the 2010 BOTYs'. Mark Reckons is up for an award which, if he wins I will take it too him on his behalf.

Sunday

07.15 – 08.30 London Detainee Support Group: The Detained Lives campaign

'The real cost of indefinite immigration detention The detention system needs reform. Migrants who cannot be deported are detained for years, at great human cost. How can we change the detention system to respect civil liberties, based on the manifesto pledge?'

13.00 – 14.00 CentreForum and Fabian Society

Is the Lib-Lab coalition gone forever? Speakers: Prof Richard Grayson; Norman Lamb MP; David Lammy MP; Stephen Twigg MP (tbc). Chair: Michael White, The Guardian.

or

www.LibDemVoice.org LibDemVoice Fringe

www.LibDemVoice.org are having a Mystery Event with a Mystery Co-sponsor to chew the fat on the coalition – from some surprising perspectives! Full details on our website closer to the time.

At some point after these events/debates I will be leaving to visit Manchester. So enjoy the TV coverage and I will do my best to bring you any stories using my limited resources of an Iphone.

Have Lib Dems lost their innocence‏?

The problem with being out of power is that people accuse the party of not being capable of being in power and of having high and mighty ideas that in reality are not practical. This practicality of policy takes a tougher test when spending needs to be cut. The reality test is something Labour may have to consider at some point during the next few years as you can't campaign on making cuts later if there is not a recession and that time has passed.

Of course I would say that Lib Dem policies were practical and great steps have been made to justify the cost of these policies in recent times. But now the Lib Dem's can say look we can handle power. Problem is we also can't say, look we are different as we have not been tainted by power. We can not appear as innocence and separate ourselves from the two bigger parties because we are now part of the same homogenous group of those that have been in government.

Making a case for being different, refreshing and for change will not perhaps be possible. It's going to be very hard to change our way of campaigning now that we have been bloodied by government.

Liberal Democrats have lost their innocence or at least I know I have. Because we are no longer the sandal wearing geeky Liberal but a suit wearing embattled Liberal.

Low polling for Liberal Democrats

Sundays polls did not look good for the Liberal Democrats with polling results of around 16 to 17%. Not a surprise to me. I personally consider the Liberal Democrat core vote to be just below this level. This current polling puts the Lib Dems at about the same places as they where in before this years general election.

Labour are trying their best to get the Liberal Democrats to split from the coalition by attacking them and exploiting any cracks.

It feels like people don't want the 3rd party to ever have any power. The 3rd party are some how wrong to want to be in government and even worse their helping the Tories (you know the party most people voted for). How dare the Lib Dems not join with Labour.

Heard many people claim this is the end of the Lib Dems. Well no. we are just back to where we started. If however the Lib Dems did split at this moment and forced a general election then it could well be the end. This is because policies we stood for have not yet come to pass. It is because it could be claimed that Lib Dems can't handle power, can't handle real government and cut handle cuts. Lib Dems would become even less popular and attacks while so weak could reck the party.

The Liberal Democrats really have to make the coalition work. I believe this country needs a strong three party system not a two party system with less views. I personally would not want to be part of another party.

So I think that the Liberal Democrats are actually more likely to stay together because MP's would be scared of losing their seats.

Sorry to all those coalition haters but I'm sure the more pressure you put on the Liberal Democrats the more they will be in it too the bitter end.

Todays link is too Pajamas Media which has an interesting article on American Restoration: What It Will Take.

Criticisms of the Lib Dem campaign‏

Ray Earwicker Lib Dem PPC for Bracknell believes that some criticism of the election campaign is justified. Here are his thoughts.

The leadership pressed home the four tenets of fairness underlying the campaign for far too long. Once it became clear that the main focus of the debate had shifted on to more controversial areas such as immigration, Europe and Trident we should have been ready to counter more effectively the arguments put forward by the media and the opposition against our proposals. The fact that we weren't able to do so undoubtedly lost us lost votes towards the end of the campaign, as the opinion polls all too clearly showed.

My second criticism concerns the presidential nature of the campaign. This may have been unavoidable given the pressure from the media to make it one but it prevented other members of the campaign team from making a bigger contribution to the campaign and may be taking some of the pressure off Nick. It also meant that the focus of attention remained on personalities rather than policies.

Thirdly, if there are any criticisms to be made of the organisation of the campaign, I would support those who found it difficult to obtain policy advice or guidance from HQ during the weeks before the election. The decision to replace the well-established Extranet information system with the new Huddle software package just before the election was asking for trouble. It was difficult to access, slow to respond and almost impossible to navigate; when time is of the essence familiarity is essential, especially for technophobes like me! The quality of the advice, however, that was eventually provided was generally excellent.

Finally,HQ need to ensure that candidates have a clear understanding of the lines of communication; who is responsible for what and how they can be contacted. Trying to make contact with Cowley Street is never easy but during the campaign it was like trying to make contact with the other side - is there anybody there?

My thoughts

I am not a parliamentary candidate so I do not know much about the Huddle system but I too have some thoughts on this. I believe that Liberal Democrats should of defended some seats better. For example, I like many others was disappointed to not only fall back in Oxford East where local Liberal Democrat campaign teams were directed too but to of lost Evan Harris in Oxford West. Next time I will be helping to get Evan Harris elected as his scientific background was a great loss to the parliament in general.

Newsnight showed a few seats where the surge caught the Liberal Democrats by surprise. This didn't happen locally where teams campaigned hard. but I do feel as if the surge and seat targeting perhaps directed Liberal Democrats away from defence. This I feel was inevitable because the surge too along time to decrease and was more spread between seats (second place in 242 up from 188).

Seats where much less predictable on national swings than anytime I can remember. Result really varied and I think there were local issues affecting many results.

I will add that individually I was impressed with the Lib Dem MP's on the media. If there was any wobbles it was because there was not a comprehensive response to defend some policies. I think this period of shared power will improve the Lib Dems arguments and battle for ideas.

So how is it for you Tory and Liberal Democrat government

I know many Liberal Democrats won't be happy but Lib Dems always said they would work with whoever gained the most votes. Labour did not want to compromise and many Labour MP's spoke openly against a coalition with the Lib Dems. Many in Labour knew that it couldn't work when they had so few seats it couldn't work. Labour was ready for opposition.

Personally I'm pleased and optimistic.

I don't see that there was any other way of getting some Lib Dem policies into government under the current voting system.

Could the Lib Dems really say no to such a deal. Tories have given a lot of ground as have the Lib Dems. It's dangerous and some people who voted for us won't be happy, but over time we need to prove that it can work. I think when the £10,000 allowance comes in (yes it's phased a compromise I know) this will be a clear Lib Dem policy that people will know the Tories have taken on board from the Lib Dems. If people like this government then Lib Dems will be ok.

This risk is required for all parties.

1. Labour need a spell in opposition to help them rebuild their party. find their feet on what kind of party they want to now be and select a new leader and come up with new ideas. they can also call the other two parties the opposition.

2.Tories could not be running a government without us or at least one that was a highly disadvantaged minority government. Work with the Liberal Democrats will hold back some of their right wing tendencies and this will keep them in government.

3.Liberal Democrats need to prove that they can not only be a pressure group and a critic but can also help run a government. We need to prove to the Tories that PR doesn't; just work against them. We also need to get in voting reform even if it's really a first step.

People do want politicians to work together and they wanted real change let see if they accept it. The coalition will produce better and more though out policy because the parties will have to discuss it and compromise on the more radical right wing ideas or the more radical liberal ideas, thereby producing better policy.

Better Tories with the Liberal Democrats then on their own. Especially when a minority would not of help Britain out of this financial crisis. Lets also not forget how illiberal the Labour party was and I for one want to see more Liberal values.

This move has taken some nerve on behalf of the both party leaders, but you only make change by taking risks. Something Brown didn't do when he bottled calling an election.

Todays link is to Charlotte Gores Blog who blogs about how Labour are blaming the Liberal Democrats on Traitors! Turncoats! Liars!

Lets prove to the Tories that PR works

The Conservatives don't want proportional representation not only because they are worried about having to work within a coalition. The other reason of course is that they fear the centre left ganging up on them in a rainborrow coalition.


Labourites forget that the Liberal Democrats are not only socialist with a small 's' but we are also Liberals. This Labour government has been far from liberal. The Conservatives with the Liberal Democrats could fix the police state developments. If the Liberal Democrats always sided with Labour we may as well all join the Labour party. Fact is Labour don't have the same principals as the Liberal Democrats. I'm not even sure if Labour are as progressive as the Lib Dems.


So to Liberal Democrats its not quite as easy as lets go with Labour because their more centre left, Conservatives do have there good points for Liberals too.

There is another reason to work with the Conservatives. We need to prove to Conservatives that coalisions work and that parties would work with them in a coalision. These would help the tories to fear proportional representation less.


Todays link is to Power 2010 who protested outside of the Liberal Democrat meeting on saturday.

Liberal Democrats must be realistic and we promised

This weekend will be the hardest weekend every know to Liberal Democrats. Charlotte Gore has blogged about Nick Cleggs impossible position. It is that because Nick Clegg promised the British people that the Liberal Democrats would work with whichever party one the most votes. Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives need to now work together for the good of the country. Of course this means Labour and obose all the various cuts that will be required and in opposition will look like the good guys.

I do not think this would split the Liberal Democrat party, some may leave but I think most members will understand. It the Liberal Democrats are to ever become the 2nd rather than 3rd party then we must prove ourselves in government.

Liberal England believe that the the Liberal Democrats should accept David Cameron's offer in some form. I agree, this is what the electorate has given us and we have to start somewhere. Labour simply do not have enough votes.

I believe that a Conservative and Liberal Democrat government would be better than a Conservative government (I accept that Labour and Conservative supporters would not all agree.). But we have to be realistic, this is that hand we have all been delt so lets get on with it for the sake of Britain.

Caron's Musings has details a genuine consultation exercise on how to get your views know to the Liberal Democrat Federal Executiveon the above subject.

In the words od Gordon Brown, Nick its time you got real. for once I agree with Brown.

Cancelled my Sky Subscription‏

I have just cancelled my Sky subscription after watching the debate on Sky News. This is because I was horrified to see Adam Boulton point out the Telesgraphs Nick Clegg donation story during the debate. This is surely in breach of the rules of the debate as Adam Bolton should be impartial and its for the party leaders to bring this subject up during the debate. I also complain to ofcom about this which can be done here.

These attempts at smears on the Liberal Democrats or indeed smears on any political party are totally discussing. How is that type of reporting (if I can call it that) of incorrect infomation or half truths good for democracy. There are now a number of stories showing the growing right-wing press campaign in a bad light. Nick Robinson has details of Tory-backing papers being called in one by one to discuss how Team Cameron would deal with "Cleggmania".

A story in the Independent on 'The Sun' censoring a poll that showed support for Lib Dems' plus details of the truth and lies told in the recent articles.

I believe, unlike others, that this will lose the Liberal Democrats some points in the polls. There might be a backlash but this is smaller than the paper reports themselves and these stories stick in the mind. The papers are losing their power and influence but they do still have influence

Of course its not just the right-wing press. Perhaps one of the craziest stories other than the Daily Mails Nazi slur is this TV presenter Louis Theroux claimed he was the Lib Dem leader's "fag" at boarding school. What a load of rubbish.

Needless to say I won't be giving Rupert Murdoch any more of my money.

Todays link is to the Daily Mail-o-matic where you can get 'A new Daily Mail headline every time you click the button. For a limited time only, every headline is about Nick Clegg'. Enjoy.