Tag Archives: ming campbell

Spring conference in Harrogate

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Of course the big debate was the Royal Mail/Post Office debate. It passed. It had been radically altered since the last conference when it was defeated and sent back to the drawing board. I had voted against it then. But this time it was better. 51% remaining in state ownership, worker participation and shares and for me the real clincher. It safeguarded the universal postal service and allows us to reopen lots of the post offices that Labour have closed.

And I have to say – having carried out a postal service survey a little while ago which I am currently analysing the responses – we got 6,000 responses and still rising. Many of these were complaints. To be fair to Royal Mail, it has offered and is currently addressing the casework I have given them. However, it is very clear – that this service is malfunctioning and now that competition in the market place has arrived from the continent it will be do or die. This is a radical Liberal Democrat solution to save the universal postage system and reopen post offices. And yes – selling off some of it (but not the majority shares) will pay for this. (You can read the full details of the policy on the Lib Dem website).

Labour’s closure of Post Offices has been absolutely disastrous for our local high streets and shopping parades – and particularly for elderly people whose visit to the PO to get their pensions is often the only outing of the week.

So the motion passes. It was never in any doubt really – as the new leader had also put his weight solidly behind this and it was much, much improved since I last saw it.

We then had our first Parliamentary Party meeting (PPM) with Ming. And he was really great.

I stop to do a Party Political Broadcast bit of filming and then after a quick sandwich am off to Betty’s famous tea house to do a podcast for the Guardian. Podcasts are clearly in – as this is my second one in as many weeks (last one was with Guido Fawkes and Recess Monkey).

The queue for Betty’s is very long – and after about half an hour (and Willie Rennie was meant to be here too but is running late) we get a table but have actually done the pod cast recording in the queue as I have to dash off to do a fringe meeting where I am speaking on police force mergers.

Harrogate rally

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Having got, finally, to Harrogate – I’m on as one of the main speaker at the evening rally.

The room was packed with probably about 400 or so delegates. I would love to think it was me they came to listen to – but I expect the attendance had more to do with the imminent speech of the new leader. I was the last speaker for the rally which was called ‘Meeting the Challenge’ and I was proposing a radical agenda on the inequalities that are widening under the Blair regime.

My speech goes down really well (if I say so myself)! But happily – lots of other people say so too! Then there was a couple of minutes from each of the most recent by-election winners – Mark Hunter, Willie Rennie and Sarah Teather. Duncan Brack, who is Chair of Conference Committee introduced one speaker thus:

‘There is an Australian rock musician called Mark Hunter. There is an American navel officer called William Rennie. But there is only one Sarah Teather!’

I thought that was witty!

And then the grand entry of our new leader. And Ming was on good form. He has seemed very happy and confident since his win. He reiterates the crusade against poverty and that he will arm our party with the campaigning tools we need to match the other parties. He is certainly saying all the right things.

I go back to my room and find a message on my phone from the Press Office to say that Question Time have bumped me off the program next Thursday in favour of Nick Clegg – as he is on the Ming team and therefore because of the result they want a Minger!

Then I go to dinner with the World This Weekend team, who have invited me, Paul Marshall and Michael Moore. It was really very pleasant evening. However, the snow and ice was vicious outside and I had to hang onto Brian Hanrahan all the way back for dear life!

Finishing fifth in the leadership election

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Time to catch up now on the day of the leadership election. Early in the morning I go to the Electoral Services building in Clarendon Road where the count is to be held – and it’s actually in my Hornsey & Wood Green constituency. As I arrive it is great to be the local MP and we agree that I will come back another day to make an ‘official’ visit as there are some issues they need to discuss with me.

We (and there are six members of each of the leadership contenders’ camps admitted to the count) are first in a coffee room – where our mobiles and Blackberries are taken off of us. The count is to be absolutely rock solid in terms of no leaks of the result or how it is going during the day. And then we go in – and it begins. It is always strange to watch the ballot papers as they begin to tell the story of the result. At first it looked as if Chris and Ming were pretty much even with Simon trailing slightly. I thought we were in with a chance until after about an hour or so – I went over to the table where Ming’s first preferences were being checked – and whilst on the initial counting tables the piles looked even – it was pretty clear over here that Ming’s votes were piling up ahead. But one hopes against hope and experience – but the differential was clear and by midday the first stage of the counting was finished and the contender with the least first preferences (Simon) was eliminated.

Simon’s ballot papers were there distributed to Chris or Ming – depending who had got the second preference after Simon. Ming had more of Simon’s secnd preferences than Chris – so the differential increased. And Ming’s pile grew higher – and around 1.30pm the count was finished and Ming was our new Leader.

A moment of light relief! The ‘spoilt’ ballot papers were checked by the three agents. There were a few with Charles Kennedy written on them – and there was one with Lynne Featherstone written on. So technically I came joint fifth in the leadership campaign with a couple of others also having one vote!

So at 1.30pm we knew the result but no one outside must know. We were put back in the coffee room and our mobiles etc were given back – but we were on pain of death not to text or phone out. At 2pm three cabs came to take us to the LGA (Local Government Association) in Smith Square where the result was to be announced.

Packed to the rafters with MPs and journalists and broadcasters – Navnit Dholakia came in and read out the results – which you can read on the Lib Dem website.

The two losing contestants gave short speeches. Chris paid full tribute to Ming. And Ming, I am glad to say, cheered me up by saying that he would not simply be ‘a safe pair of hands’ and that consolidation would not be enough. Too right! Ming said he would take risks, wanted power and would have a radical reforming agenda and a crusade on poverty’ – so whilst disappointed over Chris – at least the promise is dynamic.

Following the speeches, there was the usual media scrum for interviews with the new leader, the losing candidates and anyone else that the journos could get hold of. I did a piece for BBC London who asked how I felt. So I simply said that on the day when my candidate had lost I was obviously sad – but by tomorrow I would pick myself up, dust myself off – and be happy that we can now move forward as a party. I did a piece for the Today program and then we walked from the LGA to our LibDem HQ in Cowley Street.

Ming lead and we walked with him – the MPs – and then on the spiral stairs of the HQ literally packed to the rafters, Ming greeted the HQ staff. And he was very good. And then we all went off to our three separate ‘parties’ and I drowned my sorrows with a glass or two.

Ming elected

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Of course I am dissappointed – ‘cos I had set my heart and soul on Chris winning. But it wasn’t to be – this time. But I am so proud of him – the way he won the campaign itself, the ideas he put forward that will now become part of the Lib Dem landscape and to have been close to the emergence of a real Lib Dem star. Lib Dems have done really well out of this contest – and it was a proper contest – exciting to the last.

Ming will be a wonderful leader – it will just be different than it would have been with Chris. I look foward to a real period of renaissance and to successful local elections in May.

Dunfermline victory

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Politics for activists doesn’t get much better than Thursday night! Question Time with the three would be leaders and then the Dunfermline by-election.

All three performed well – enough – although the atmosphere was a bit subdued in the studio and the lighting was foul – not doing any of them any favours. Dimbleby was actually quite brilliant. He had done his homework and didn’t let those who had been spinning negatively get away with it. I hadn’t been aware of the stuff coming from Simon – but according to Dimbleby it was in his manifesto. Simon denied it – but then Dimbleby said that he was being told it was on Simon’s website as they spoke. It was a killer.

There were some tetchy bits with Ming – who seemed in no mood to be slighted by Dimbleby or anyone in the audience. Twice, I think, he basically said that something had been raised (that he didn’t like) and wanted the opportunity to come back on it – which Dimbleby gave him.

And my boy Huhne – did well – but was even better last week on Question Time. More humour and more human!

But the real joy was to come. The Dumfermline by-election super result. We stormed to victory and how sweet it is in the midst of all our troubles to shine through the mess with the heart and soul of Liberal Democracy triumphing. I don’t know if this signifies that we are better off without a leader at all … !

No – what it demonstrates is that the party and its values and beliefs are what matters and will survive all the slings and arrows that life throws at us.

Hurrah!

Offensive cartoons

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Bumped off London Radio by the offensive cartoons! So many callers apparently that they want to take me later in the morning. However, I am otherwise engaged on a campaign team meeting. It’s all go in Haringey for the local elections. Labour know we are in a position to take the council off of them – and for months have been plastering Haringey with posters saying how wonderful the council is! I think they might be able to fool some of the people some of the time, but…

Some of the activists there who had been supporting Ming Campbell originally – said how impressed they were with Chris Huhne on Question Time. Way to go. Ming and Chris had sent leaflets to the HQ for activists to pick up – but none from Simon. Haven’t heard much about his campaign at all.

Spend a good part of the day reading the police grant report – I know – just lucky I guess. It is coming to the Commons tomorrow and I am leading for the Liberal Democrats, so want to be well-informed for the debate. Make some speech notes, do my emails (only about 8 left in inbox – it’s a miracle) and pay bills.

The cartoon issue has gripped every paper and news outlet today – not surprisingly. There is clearly something stirring in the world beyond our shores. My sense is that there is a desire from some quarters for Jihad – and this is just grist to their mill. I sometimes think it is a bit like the days of communism. With communism – ordinary working people were exploited in the name of a wider cause that was supposedly in their interest, but in fact wasn’t – and sacrificed huge numbers of them in the name of the cause.

Same with Muslim extremists – trying to claim that their own extreme beliefs are really on behalf of – and in the interests of – the much wider and larger Muslim community, when in fact – its nothing of the sort, and the extremists are instead trying to exploit the (very different) bulk of Muslim faithful. With communism it was a case of perverse ideology, in this case it’s a case of perverse theology.

Liberal Democrat leadership contest

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Reading The Times this morning I would say that Chris Huhne must be doing really well in the Lib Dem leadership contest – given the number of attacks on him.

There seems to be briefings against him. The briefings say that he had agreed not to run. I believed passionately that we needed him to run for the party to have a real choice, and I wasn’t the only one. Chris did the right thing – he went to Ming and said he had changed his mind and asked if Ming would release him from his earlier commitment. Ming is a gentleman – and basically let democracy flourish. And Chris has handled this really well I think – being open and honest and saying, yes – he changed his mind.

Whether Chris or Ming wins – they will at least know that they have a genuine mandate from the party for their leadership.

Evening – I go to a small stakeholder meeting on Hornsey Hospital – a long-running saga. Having met previously with Richard Sumray to demand a public meeting to update the situation – the public meeting is finally to be on 22 February. The plans are to deliver first rate local health services to the area – but there is a price to pay. Watch this space.

In the evening Chris (leadership) Huhne is on Question Time where he gives a storming performance – aided by an astoundingly bad one by the First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan. The man is a liability. Chris was really good and seems to be growing stronger and better every performance.

Simon Hughes

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Simon Hughes is indeed in the tabloids today – as being gay or bi-sexual. Now, it is hardly news to anyone I know – but Simon has always protected his right to keep his private life private – and I support him on that. But the attack is because a week ago to three newspapers he denied he was gay. I guess he was cornered and the question was never going to go away – and he just made an error of judgement. The media say he lied. I think he just defended himself badly. So another roller coaster for the party to bear as this latest news works its way through the rounds of the media.

It is the first question Steve Richards asks myself, Ed Davey and Phil WIllis who are having a pre-recorded panel session which will go out Saturday at 11am – the Week in Westminster. This is a panel of the key supporters for the leadership – me for Chris Huhne, Phil Willis for Simon Hughes and Ed Davey for Menzies Campbell. So – whilst none of us would go on any media to discuss Simon – once they’ve got you there anyway, there’s no stopping the question. We all basically defended Simon’s right to privacy and right to be whatever sexual orientation he wanted. Then, thank goodness, we get on to policy areas and have a right good ding dong. Great fun!

I get a call last thing because we (Lib Dems) need to put out a statement on Sir Ian Blair’s attack on the media for being biased towards coverage of white murders. For bizarre reasons he chooses Soham as an example of their bias. I remember the coverage at the time – because first the poor girls were missing and we all went on that journey of anxiety as we moved toward the eventual horrific reality. It would have been the same what ever colour the girls were. It was a huge story and the press were bound to follow that one.

However, Ian Blair is right to highlight the issue of bias in coverage. But when I think back I can remember examples both ways – when two murders occur when sometimes the black murder will be covered and sometimes the white. So methinks we need proper examination of this issue – as it is a very important one. We need to look at the way information about a murder gets to the press. Which stories originate from the police forces themselves. What are their policies in terms of media liaison over murders. Let’s have an analysis of all murders and their coverage over the last few years and see what led to what. I am not happy about statements that are not backed up by factual analysis on this. So I welcome the opening up of this as an area for concern – but let’s get it right and based on factual information.

Get home late – just in time for Question Time and Simon Hughes is on tonight. I don’t know if it’s good or bad to have such a media opportunity at this point when there is a feeding frenzy around him. It did give Simon the chance to put his case – which he did as well as he could under the circumstances.

Meeting Ken Livingstone again

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Ring Peter Hendy to congratulate him. He has been chosen as the one (out of the two applying) for the job as Transport Commissioner for London, taking over from wiley Kiley. Peter was bus supremo – and we have argued across the transport spectrum for years now. And I still want a full time service on the hard fought for 603! What I always really like about Peter is his hands-on approach.

Whenever I put out a press release that he didn’t like – be it about the ‘free’ bendy buses or the ‘bursting into flames’ bendy buses – or whatever – he would phone me on my mobile and give me hell. Despite our opposite positions – we always got on well and I think he will be a great Commissioner. Look forward to seeing his negotiating style with the government. And – on the occasions when he was wrong – eventually he would admit I was right.

My favourite was over AVL – the system of countdown which tells passenger when the bus will be along and is plotted on a computer. Terrible system – never worked properly. I always told Peter that it was pointless finishing implementing an outmoded useless system across the rest of London (it was half in). Have to say – gave me great pleasure the day he told me I had been right all along. Anyway – he is a good thing and I hope to see London improve under his stewardship.

Sonia from the LSE is shadowing me today as part of ‘LSE Women in Westminster’. She and Mette, my researcher, come to Home Affairs Team meeting. We always run through all the Home Affairs Bills with each of the team responsible for that Bill – both Lords and Commons. Mark Oaten (Shadow Home Secretary) heads the team. Updates on Religious Hatred Bill – coming back for another row I think to the Commons soon; ID cards in trouble for the Government – as may be the Terror Laws soon. The Government seem to be having a go at getting back to 60 days on detention without charge. I trust the Lords will stick to the 28 we conceded in the Commons.

Rush off to Prime Ministers’ Questions (PMQs) next. Will Ming pass the test? Well – his question was on the Soham murders – so the House fell silent. And he was absolutely fine – not that in my view PMQs should have any sway. It’s just a blood sport. I do wonder why jeering, leering and making rude gestures is rated so highly by the boys and the media!

I race to City Hall for a London Day event with my old sparring partner – Ken Livingstone. He gives me a double peck on the cheek and I observe that he is clearly missing me since I left. He denies this assertion and tells me what a terrible thing we have done to that nice Charles. And what’s wrong with a drink anyway? Well – this from the man who claims to get bored at parties and only drank three glasses of chardonnay! Hey, Ho.

The lunch was fine – and then Ken orated. He is a good speaker – something to do with nasal tones and trying to shock. I learned a lot from Ken during my five years as an Assembly Member (only the good bits) so have a lot to thank him for in as much as I learned to keep in mind when I speak the audience outside the room as well as those present. And to be direct!

Ken wittered on for some time about water and desalination – but his surprise announcement was his endorsement of Simon Hughes as LibDem leader. Not sure if that’s the kiss of death for Simon!

Sky leadership debate

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Monday night was the live Sky TV hustings for the Lib Dem leadership contest. So I went up to Martin Horwood and David Howarth’s office to watch. I was somewhat surprised to see myself doing a sort of Big Brother walk on, sit down, speak to camera and off as one of three little pieces preceding the main event. I had simply forgotten that I had run into Sky the week before and done it – not realising it was for the live hustings.

Anyway – irrelevant! Chris Huhne did good. I have to say – he came over really well: determined, passionate, eloquent and convincing. And I really enjoyed seeing the other three already adopting the issues and ideas he had raised on the first hustings on green taxes, commitment to black and ethnic minority MPs, localism and so on. Imitation being the best form of flattery etc

Afterwards they went to a random grouping they had set up in a pub in Carshalton to see how the four candidates had gone down. The one I really liked was a floating voter who had thought that she would like Ming or Simon – but said that although she had not heard of him previously – Chris came over the best. Way to go!