Politicos: 2007

Friday 23 November 2007

A Man Must Eat ...

Entertaining (meaning eating and drinking) is pretty much crucial to succeeding in business, and politics, and journalism, and PR, and publishing, and so on. If you are Head of the National Audit Office as well as Comptroller and Auditor General of the United Kingdom, however, you have to make sure that you are not open to bribery. Not easy therefore to accept those invitations to wine and dine unless you are footing the bill. Sir John Bourn was obliged to resign after it was revealed that he had spent £27,000 on restaurant bills over three years, and £370,000 in travel. That equates to around £175 a week on food and drink. Easily done, I would have thought.

Fortunately Sir John's resignation does not take effect until next year which is good
for two reasons. The first, as James Kirkup points out in today's Telegraph, it enabled him to authorise the quick release of the emails which go a long way to explaining the process which led to the two notorious 'child benefits' CD-ROMs being lost; and secondly it gives a bit of extra momentum to his recently published book, Public Sector Auditing. There's a lot of good stuff in the book - the chapter headed Why Bureaucracy will Never Work kicks off with "Public Programmes are Often Late, Cost More than Planned and do not Work as Intended". Subsequent chapters deal with risk, vulnerability to fraud, theft and corruption, and, under the heading of Programme and Project Management - Bureaucracies' Weakest Link there is a warning about concentrating on lowest price rather than best outcome. All relevant stuff.

It might be argued that Sir John's publishers, John Wiley, should pick up some of the £370,000 travel costs that . After all his book is international in scope and includes examples of auditing from the US (visited 3 times), Canada (1), China (1), India (1) and Australia .

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Missing discs for sale on eBay

The 25 million record child benefit database is now for sale on e-Bay. Bidding is fierce for this treasure trove of information.

Today's papers

Via Dizzy

ConservativeHome is live blogging PMQs today.

Politico's Bookshop Bulletin

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Politico's Bookshop Bulletin
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1. The Strange Death of David Kelly
2 Magnificent Seven: Christmas Books from Harriman House
3. New biography: Fidel Castro
4. In Paperback: Blowing Up Russia
5. Speeches That Changed the World Book/CD

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Note from the Editor
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The high-profile death of David Kelly is regarded by many as suspicious, and the events surrounding it as 'unfinished business'. Norman Baker has carried out extensive research, and shows in 'The Strange Death of Dr David Kelly' how the verdict of suicide is simply not credible.

For years people have tried to persuade the leader of the Cuban Revolution to tell his own life story. Finally in 'My Life - Fidel Castro' Ignacio Ramonet, well-known activist and editor of Le Monde Diplomatique, has succeeded.

"Explosive" was the News of the World's (inevitable) description of 'Blowing Up Russia' when it appeared in hardback at the beginning of the year. Now available in paperback it contains the devastating attack of ex-KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko (murdered in London) against his former spymasters.

Finally - Simon Sebag Montefiore's 'Speeches That Changed the World' hardcover book plus audio CD-ROM.

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1. The Strange Death of David Kelly
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Guaranteed to a be a sensational book... Norman Baker has been researching 'The Strange Death of David Kelly' for over a year, and has uncovered a mass of new material. His book looks in detail at the motives for the unlawful death of Dr Kelly and the various possibilities about who could be involved. The author also analyses and criticises the official process instigated after Dr Kelly's death, putting the entire episode into its British political context, and looking at the actions of government, particularly in relation to the Iraq war. In conclusion Norman Baker suggests: "The key question was this: why was Dr Kelly's such a strange death? Nobody would commit suicide that way, but nor can murder be explained by what was found. The only answer that makes sense is that he was murdered by other means, and then steps taken to make the death look like suicide. For reasons I give in the book, I believe he was murdered by Iraqi elements, the police were too late to stop this and a decision was taken for political reasons to alter the truth."

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2. Magnificent Seven: Christmas Books from Harriman House
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The Bumper Book of Government Waste 2008
Brown's Squandered Billions
by Matthew Elliott and Lee Rotherham
This new edition of the bestseller not only gives mind-numbing examples of government waste, but shows how the tax burden of every household could be cut by over four thousand pounds a year.

How to Label a Goat (Paperback)
The Silly Rules and Regulations that are Strangling Britain
by Ross Clark
Exposing the most petty and bizarre rules and regulations which are blighting the lives of Britons today.
http://books.global-investor.com/books/240367.htm?ginPtrCode=10410

The Little Book of Boris
by Iain Dale
A must-have for all Boris fans. Here are the very best "Boris-isms" - quotes by Boris, quotes about him together with a handy biographical reference.

The Maverick
Despatches from an Unrepentant Capitalist
by Luke Johnson
One of Britain's most successful businessmen, Johnson wrote the popular "Maverick" column in the Sunday Telegraph. This book brings together 84 articles with updates.

The Optimist's Handbook
Facts, Figures and Arguments to Silence Doom-mongers and Defeatists
by Nick Inman
Intelligently written this is the perfect antidote to human and financial misery - a great gift.
http://books.global-investor.com/books/131119.htm?ginPtrCode=10410

The Richest of the Rich
The Wealthiest 250 People in Britain since 1066
by Philip Beresford and William D. Rubinstein
An extraordinary collection of soldiers, inventors, aristocrats, rags-to-riches stories, and, at 250th, Bernie Ecclestone.

The Road to Southend Pier
One Man's Struggle against the Surveillance Society
by Ross Clark
Big Brother is watching us more than ever before! Ross Clark reveals the nitty gritty - on cameras, on identity cards, and the sheer volume of information that government and businesses hold on everyone in the UK.

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3. My Life - Fidel Castro
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In My Life - Fidel Castro - through a series of probing interviews with Ignacio Ramonet - Fidel Castro describes his life for the first time, from the 1950s all the way up to the present day. He discusses his parents, his earliest influences, the beginnings of the revolution, his relationship with Che Guevara, the Bay of Pigs, the Carter years, Cuban migration to the US. And along the way, Ramonet challenges Castro to discuss his views on a number of controversial questions, from human rights and freedom of the press to the repression of homosexuality and the survival of the death penalty, and he gives his opinion of other leaders, alive and dead, including George Bush and Tony Blair.

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4. Blowing Up Russia
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Vividly written and based on Litvinenko's 20 year's of insider's knowledge of Russian spy campaigns and Yuri Felshtinsky's comprehensive academic knowledge, 'Blowing up Russia' is a meticulous and gripping story how the secret organs of the Russian state are out of control and plotting a return to Russia as a state of terror. Writing about his co-author, Yuri Felshtinsky recounts how the banning of their book in Russia caused 3 related deaths.

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5. Speeches That Changed the World Book/CD
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This book and CD comprises Simon Sebag Montefiore's hardback book with over 50 momentous and thought-provoking speeches from a wide range of historical eras and nations. "Speeches That Changed The World" includes biographies of each speaker, the history of why each speech was significant and what happened as a result. Iconic black and white photography dramatically illustrates these key figures and moments in history. The audio CD-ROM provides genuine historical recordings of 20 of the most significant speeches of the 20th century, each introduced by acclaimed historian Simon Sebag Montefiore. This is an unusual and fascinating potted history of the twentieth century: a history of humanity, told through the speeches that shaped it.

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Endquote
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"Safe is spelled D.U.L.L. Politics has got to be a fun activity"

- Alan Clark

Taken from Iain Dale's selection of 500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Politics

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Wednesday 14 November 2007

Danish elections - Anders Fogh Rasmussen wins a third term

The conservative/liberal coalition of Denmark was returned to power for a historic third term. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen saw his early-election gamble succeed, to the delight of his supporters. "This is an historic victory," he said. "Because for the first time the Liberal Party has won three elections on the trot, and is also the biggest party for a third successive parliament."

The results were:
Liberals - 46 seats , down 6
Social Democrats - 45 seats, down 2
Danish People's Party - 25 , +1
Socialist People's Party - 23 ,+12
Conservative People's Party 18, no change
Social Liberal Party - 9, -8
New Alliance - 5, +5
Red-Green Alliance - 4 , -2
Christian Democrats - 0

Further reading:

Google News
Danish Parliamentary Election 2007 on Wikipedia.

Tuesday 13 November 2007

Politico's Bookshop Bulletin: Blair Unbound

1. New: Blair Unbound by Anthony Seldon
2 The Pick of Recent Paperbacks
3. New: 'An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots In Charge)'
4. Bargains and Special Offers
5. New: 'The Optimist's Handbook'

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Note from the Editor
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The Blair bibliography increases by the week. The Master of Wellington College, Dr Anthony Seldon, has been particularly busy. It was only a week ago that we announced 'Blair's Britain: 1997 - 2007' which Dr Seldon edited, and now comes Blair Unbound the follow up to his earlier political biography, Blair, which was published in 2005. Blair Unbound is already creating waves (Ed Balls on The World at One used the words "fictional", has "no foundation", is "rubbish" and full of "ridiculous" allegations - so it looks like a "must-read").

A rich selection of recently published paperbacks includes Geoff Mulgan's Good and Bad Power, Margaret MacMillan's Seize the Hour: When Nixon Met Mao, and A History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900 by Andrew Roberts.

Impartiality seems hardly likely in John O'Farrell's An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots In Charge) a book his publishers describe "as entertaining as a witch burning, and a lot more laughs".

Take advantage of this week's list of very special bargains while stocks last. Included are Alastair Cambell's The Blair Years and David Strahan's The Last Oil Shock both at 45% off, and three fascinating golden oldies (rediscovered at the back of a broom cupboard) at 75% discount.

Finally an antidote to miserable headlines, miserable health, miserable weather - Nick Inman's intelligent and thought-provoking The Optimist's Handbook: Facts, Figures and Arguments to Silence Cynics, Doom-mongers and Defeatists.

Best wishes,

editor@politicos.co.uk

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1. New: Blair Unbound by Anthony Seldon
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The first volume of Anthony Seldon's riveting and definitive life of Tony Blair was published to great acclaim in 2004. Now, as the Labour Party and the country get used to the idea of a new leader and a new Prime Minister, Seldon delivers the most complete, authoritative and compelling account yet of the Blair premiership. Picking up the story in dramatic fashion on 11 September 2001, Seldon recaps very briefly Blair's trajectory to what may now be regarded as the high-point of his leadership, and then brings us right up to date as Blair hands over the reins to his arch-rival, Gordon Brown.

Based on hundreds of original interviews with key insiders, many of whose views have hitherto been kept private, Blair Unbound serves both as a fascinating second volume of this masterclass in political biography and a highly revealing and compelling book in its own right.

Buy Blair Unbound here and save 25%

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2 The Pick of Recent Paperbacks
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Good and Bad Power: The Ideals and Betrayals of Government
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Geoff Mulgan's entertaining analysis of the moral imperatives that both drive and elude democracies.

A History of the English Speaking Peoples Since 1900 by Andrew Roberts
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"Magnificently provoking ... a worthy successor to Churchill's history of the same subject ... this is a work of astonishing range and depth, combining as it does a polemical flair with sure-footed scholarship" - Hywel Williams, New Statesman.

Seize the Hour: When Nixon Met Mao by Margaret MacMillan
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"She writes vividly and in detail ! This is diplomatic history at its most lively and accessible" - Sunday Telegraph.

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3. New: An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots In Charge)
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John O'Farrell's latest is a book about "then" that is also incisive and illuminating about "now" - a hilarious, informative and cantankerous journey through Britain's fascinating and bizarre history. Read how Anglo-Saxon liberals struggled to be positive about immigration; 'Look I think we have to try and respect the religious customs of our new Viking friends - oi, he's nicked my bloody ox!'. Discover how England's peculiar class system was established by some snobby French nobles whose posh descendants still have wine cellars and second homes in the Dordogne today. And explore the complex socio-economic reasons why Britain's kings were the first in Europe to be brought to heel; (because the Stuarts were such a useless bunch of untalented, incompetent, arrogant, upper-class thickoes that Parliament didn't have much choice).

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4. Bargains and Special Offers
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We have limited stocks of the following titles (some very recent, some rather old) available at special prices:

The Blair Years: Extracts from the Alastair Campbell's Diaries
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The most compelling and revealing account of contemporary politics you will ever read. A national bestseller. Limited stocks available at 45% discount.

The Last Oil Shock: A Survival Guide to the Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man
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David Strahan's disturbing book predicts a crisis far more dangerous than international terrorism, and just as urgent as climate change. Buy here in paperback and save 45%.

Chairman Blair's Little Red Book by Steve Bell and Brian Homer
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A historical document now, the Little Red Book (which is blue) reads like a prophecy - most of which came true. Buy now in (very small) paperback and save 75%

Inspired and Outspoken: The Collected Speeches of Ann Widdecombe
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Another history book. Read her maiden speech, her opposition to the Channel Tunnel, and her stance regarding the ordination of women. Buy now in paperback and save 75%

Major, Major by Terry Major Ball
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These "Memories of an Older Brother" make for curious reading nowadays. Find out about the garden gnomes and more in this original hardback and save 75%

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5. New: The Optimist's Handbook
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Cheer up! Nick Inman has even included a section on political optimism in his compendious 'The Optimist's Handbook'.

This charming yet intelligent volume ranges (alphabetically) from 'Altruism' and 'Anaesthetics' to 'World Government' and' World (end of)'; via 'Economics', 'Nelson Mandela' and 'Robinson Crusoe'. It is not a slushy collection of inspiring thoughts, but a sure-fire, thinking person's antidote to the misery and general gloom of a world obsessed by economic woe and the price of petrol.

It also the perfect gift.

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Endquote
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"I'm an optimist, but an optimist who carries a raincoat."

- Harold Wilson

Taken from Nick Inman's 'The Optimist's Handbook' (see above)

Monday 12 November 2007

Slovenian presidential election

Yesterday, the 2nd round election for the president of Slovenia occured.

The results were:

Danilo Turk , Social Democrats,68.26%
Lojze Peterle, Conservative, 31.74%

More info and news:
EuroNews
Bloomberg
New York Times

Upcoming elections

Elections worldwide for this week:
13 November: Denmark, parliament
17 November: Kosovo, parliament

Tuesday 16 October 2007

The Road To Southend Pier

Due for publication October 22nd.
The Road To Southend Pier by Ross Clark.

A chance encounter with a talking lamp-post got Ross Clark thinking: is there any escape from Britain’s growing surveillance society? He set himself a challenge: could he get to Southend without Big Brother knowing where he had gone? In this entertaining and highly revealing account of his attempt to dodge Britain’s 4.2 million CCTV cameras and other forms of surveillance, Ross Clark lays bare the astonishing amount of data which is kept on us by the state and by commercial organisations, and asks whom should we fear most: the government agencies who are spying on us - or the criminals who seem to prosper in the swirling fog of excessive data-collection.

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Liveblogging the pre budget report

Due to start at 3.30pm.

15.32 Alistair Darling has begun his report to the Commons
15.33 "Britain the fastest growing major economy in the world"
Growth is expected to be 3 per cent this year.
Forecasted growth next year of 2 to 2.5 per cent.
For 2009-2010 2.5 to 3 per cent growth.
Borrowing/debt in Britain lower than the Eurozone, Japan
Surplus of £18 billion
Debt 37.6% in Britain this year
Debt interest 2% of national income next year
Net borrowing £38 billion this year.
Borrowing will fall to £23 billion by 2012.
Departmental spending will rise to £397 billion in 2010 up from £345 billion this year
Armed Forces/Defence - additional £400 million
Defence budget £37 billion by 2010
Foreign Office budget will increase
Single budget for anti-terror work. £3.5 billion in three years time
£700 million for the Home Office for anti-terrorism.
Savings made by departments £30 billion by 2010
Home Office and Ministry of Justice to £20 billion by 2010
Research and science to £6 billion by 2010
Health Research £1.7 billion by 2010
Transport £14.5 billion by 2010
Corporation tax cut next year by 2p to 28p
Capital Gains Tax taper relief to be 18%
Private Equity tax loopholes to be closed
Non-domicile tax payers. There are 115,000 registered non-domiciles. Only 15,000 would have enough wealth to pay a £25,000 flat tax.
Tory non-domicile plans would have a £2 billion shortfall
Flat rate charge for non-doms to be introduced. Will raise £650 million. Charge introduced after 7 years of non-dom status. Higher rate after 10 years of non-dom.
Capital Gains taper relief to be withdrawn next April
£800m for flood defences by 2010
2009 airline duty to be levelled on flights rather than passengers
Overseas aid to rise to £9 billion by 2010
Child maintenance doubled to £20 a week next year
Child tax credit increasing to £175 a year next year
Pension credit to be £260 per year for a single person
Extra £200m to fund free national bus travel
£4 billion over 3 years to renovate homes
Inheritance tax threshold up to £600,000 from today
For couples the threshold will rise to £700,000
Backdated for every widow or widower
NHS Funding will 4% above inflation
NHS funding rises from £90bn to £110bn by 2010

Friday 28 September 2007

Blogs, Boris and Peter Oborne

1. New: Peter Oborne's 'The Triumph of the Political Class'
2. New: Iain Dale's 'Guide to Political Blogging in the UK 2007-2008'
3. New: 'Peter Thorneycroft' by Stanley Crooks
4. New: Mark Oaten on 'Coalition'
5. New: 'The Little Book of Boris'

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Note from the Editor
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Dear Politico's Customer

With the party conference season in full swing there's a wealth of new books coming through. This week we lead with Peter Oborne's brilliantly argued The Triumph of the Ruling Class which shows the chilling reality of how things now work in the mother of all parliaments. It is described as "one of the most important works of political analysis since Anthony Sampson's Anatomy of Britain".

Iain Dale has listed 1,200 political blogs active in the UK at present. But his new guide provides much more than a directory - it includes a listing of the 500 top blogs by category, insightful articles by 30 leading bloggers and commentators, profiles of over 50 leading blogs and much more.

Stanley Crooks' excellent life of Peter Thorneycroft has an Introduction by Lord Carrington and includes colour illustrations throughout', and Mark Oaten's timely 'Coalition' recalls the politics and personalities of coalition government from 1850 and poses the question as to whether or not coalition governments ever work?

And we round off with 'The Little Book of Boris', a hugely entertaining compilation of witticisms and comment (aka 'Boris-isms') from the great man, accompanied by a fact-file, a bibliography and more

Best wishes,

editor@politicos.co.uk

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1. New: Peter Oborne's The Triumph of the Political Class
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Both an extension of and a companion to his acclaimed expose of political mendacity, 'The Rise of Political Lying', Peter Oborne's new book reveals in devastating fashion just how far we have left behind us the idea of people going into politics for that quaint reason, to serve the public. Notions of the greater good and putting something back now seem absurdly idealistic, such is the pervasiveness of cynicism in our politics and politicians. Of course, self-interest has always played a part, and Oborne will show how our current climate owes much to the venality of the eighteenth century. But in these allegedly enlightened times should we not know better? Do we not deserve better from those who seek our electoral approval? Full of revealing and insightful stories and anecdotes to support his case, and with a passionate call for reform, The Triumph of the Political Class is destined to be one of the defining political books of 2007.

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2. New: Iain Dale's Guide to Political Blogging in the UK 2007-2008
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Political blogs used to be a sideline show. Now, in just a few years, they have developed into an essential part of political dialogue and reporting. In similar vein, Iain Dale's 'Guide to Political Blogging' started life as a small pamphlet and has now become a 268-page book which does much, much more than just provide the only comprehensive directory of its kind. There are more than 30 contributing articles from leading bloggers and commentators, there is a 'Who's Who' section. technical information, the top 500 blogs of course and classified lists of the top 100 Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Non-Aligned blogs, the top 30 MP blogs, 60 media blogs and 30 councillor blogs.

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3. New: Peter Thorneycroft by Stanley Crooks
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Handsomely produced, Stanley Crooks' new biography has received much praise from senior politicians:

"Peter Thorneycroft was consistently ahead of others in his thinking, and behind them in his search for personal recognition. Stanley Crooks' biography brings this remarkable man alive with lessons as pertinent for today, as they were for his own time." - John Major.

"A meticulous tribute to the Conservative Chancellor who was one of the first to blaze the trail towards economic sanity." - Geoffrey Howe

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4. New:Mark Oaten on Coalition
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As the prospect of a hung parliament looms large, our political protagonists can learn much from the politics and personalities of the past. Mark Oaten's story of coalition government begins in the 1850s, with Disraeli fighting for his political life and Queen Victoria's battle to find a Prime Minister from the Whigs and Peelites driving her to despair. At the start of the following century, the First World War threw Lloyd George into the limelight but nearly killed the Liberal Party; Ramsay MacDonald's coalition in the 1930s saw him become leader without his party, who many felt he had betrayed, and Churchill’s Great War coalition helped bring victory at war but not in peace.

Decades later, two generations and parties came together with David Steel and Jim Callaghan forming the Lib-Lab pact, something Blair and Ashdown's "project" never managed to emulate. North of the border, a deal did come off, resulting in Scotland being run by coalition government for 8 years. Throughout Europe, coalitions are the norm but recent political events in Italy and Germany have been far from normal. All these lessons from history are drawn together by Mark Oaten as he looks forward to the next election and reflects on whether hung parliaments and coalitions can ever work.

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5. New: The Little Book of Boris
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"Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh." - Canvassing in Henley, 2005.

"Their policy on cake is pro-having it and pro-eating it." - Discussing Liberal Democrat policies

There are few politicians who could genuinely be described as a phenomenon. Boris Johnson is one. Boris has star quality. He is loved by many, ridiculed by some, feared by others. This 'little' book contains a selection of the best Boris-isms, collected together by Iain Dale in a pocket-sized guide to all things Boris. Included are quotes by Boris and quotes about him, plus a handy reference to the history of Boris. An absolute must-have for all Boris fans.

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Endquote
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"Of all the vulgar acts of government, that of solving every difficulty that might arise by thrusting the hand into the public purse is the most illusory and contemptible."

- Sir Robert Peel

Taken from Iain Dale's selection of 500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Politics

Friday 7 September 2007

Politico's Bookshop Bulletin: Junk Medicine

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Politico's Bookshop Bulletin
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1. New: Theodore Dalrymple's Junk Medicine
2. New: The Political Campaigning Handbook
3. In Paperback: Simon Jenkins' Thatcher and Sons
4. New: Nixon and Kissinger
5. New: Politipedia

---------------------------
Note from the Editor
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Dear Politico's Customer

Almost everything you know about heroin addiction is wrong. In his provocative new book Junk Medicine: Doctors, Lies and the Addiction Bureaucracy , Theodore Dalrymple argues that addiction to heroin is not an illness, and that doctors only make it worse.

An essential part of any campaigner’s armory, Lionel Zetter's The Political Campaigning Handbook guides you through every stage of a political campaign, whether for parliamentary, local or council positions.

Now available in paperback, Simon Jenkins' much praised Thatcher and Sons, winner of the 2007 Channel 4 Political Book of the Year award, argues that Margaret Thatcher’s legacy has continued down to the present. Not just John Major, but Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are her heirs and acolytes.

Robert Dallek is one of America's most distinguished historians and his joint biography Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power provides a startling new portrait and a new understanding of the immense power and sway these two men held in affecting world history.

Can you name the ten Cabinet Secretaries who have held office since World War I , or the ten political powers vested in the monarch, or could you name thirty songs for a political karaoke? They're all in the ultimate quirky reference book for voters, students and the entire population of the Westminster village - Nick Inman's Politipedia: A Compendium of Useful and Curious Facts about British Politics.

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1. New: Theodore Dalrymple's Junk Medicine
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Based on his experience as a prison doctor and as a psychiatrist in a large general hospital in Birmingham, Theodore Dalrymple exposes the mythology surrounding heroin addiction. Moving seamlessly between literature, pharmacology, history and philosophy, he demonstrates what happens when the nature of a social problem is so thoroughly misunderstood, and when human beings are regarded as inanimate objects rather than as agents of their own destiny. His scintillating, iconoclastic book has an importance far beyond its immediate subject matter.

"Theodore Dalrymple is a brilliant observer of both medicine and society, and his book wittily engages with two versions of the current nonsense: orthodox medicine on drug addiction, and romantic poets on the wisdom you supposedly enjoy from getting high."
- Kenneth Minogue, professor emeritus at The London School of Economics and author of 'The Liberal Mind'

Buy Junk Medicine: Doctors, Lies and the Addiction Bureaucracy in hardback.

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2. New: The Political Campaigning Handbook
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Aimed at the many thousands of people who take part in election campaigns every year, The Political Campaigning Handbook is a 'how-to' guide to fighting elections on the ground. From the top-down of the political party campaign machine, Lionel Zetter, a veteran of many a campaign, describes the steps necessary to win those all-important seats. Whether you are fighting for parliamentary, local or council positions, every stage of the combat is described; from the bureaucracy surrounding the selection process, to the timetable that must be followed to keep your application on track, and cunning tactics to fill up both the coffers of the ‘war chest’ and the lists of constituents who pledge their vote.

Buy The Political Campaigning Handbook in paperback.

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3. In Paperback: Simon Jenkins' Thatcher and Sons'
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The history of Britain in the last thirty years, under both Conservative and Labour governments, has been dominated by one figure - Margaret Thatcher. Her election marked a decisive break with the past and her premiership transformed not just her country, but the nature of democratic leadership. In his 'argued history', now available in paperback, Simon Jenkins analyses this revolution from its beginnings in the turmoil of the 1970s through the social and economic changes of the 1980s. Was Thatcherism a mere medicine for an ailing economy or a complete political philosophy? And did it eventually fall victim to the dogmatism and control which made it possible? This is the story of the events, personalities, defeats and victories which will be familiar to all those who lived through them, but seen through a new lens. It is also an argument about how Thatcher's legacy has continued down to the present. Not just John Major, but also Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are her heirs and acolytes. And as the Conservative party reinvents itself as a viable political force once again, is the age of Thatcher finally over?

Buy Thatcher and Sons in paperback and save 35%

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4. New: Nixon and Kissinger
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Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were two of the most compelling and contradictory world leaders in the second half of the 20th century. Both were largely self-made men, brimming with ambition, driven by their own inner demons, and often ruthless in pursuit of their goals. Tapping into a wealth of recently declassified documents and tapes Robert Dallek, one of America’s most distinguished historians, uncovers fascinating details about Nixon and Kissinger’s tumultuous personal relationship—their collaboration and rivalry—and the extent to which they struggled to outdo each other in the reach for foreign policy achievements. He also brilliantly analyzes their dealings with power brokers at home and abroad. Authoritative, illuminating, and deeply engrossing, 'Nixon and Kissinger' provides a startling new portrait and a new understanding of the immense power and sway these two men held in affecting world history..

Buy Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power in hardback and save 25%

Also recently published - Richard Milhous Nixon: The Invincible Quest by Conrad Black

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5. New: Politipedia: A Compendium of Useful and Curious Facts about British Politics
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An ideal new reference for anyone looking to discover where their vote (and money!) actually go, or for those looking for quotes and fascinating titbits. Politipedia captures the entertaining essence of politics without taking up too much of the reader’s valuable time. From listing the bars and refreshment points throughout the Palace of Westminster to a section entitled "Quangos (and Gocos) - A beginner's guide to everyday agency-spotting" , Nick Inman sets out to ask all the vital questions about politics and then attempts to find answers to them – getting to the heart of each subject with brevity and humour.

Buy Politipedia now from Politico's and receive 35% discount.

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Endquote
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"I am humble enough to recognise that I have made mistakes, but politically astute enough to have forgotten what they are."

- Michael Heseltine

Taken from Iain Dale's selection of 500 of the Most Witty, Acerbic & Erudite Things Ever Said About Politics

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Tuesday 21 August 2007

Journos Departed

Richard Stott, who died on 30th July, is the only man to have edited two national newspapers in the UK - twice - the People and the Daily Mirror. His 2002 book, Dogs and Lampposts is due to be reissued within the next 7/10 days. It tells the tale of the last days of Fleet Street - an expose of the double standards, hypocrisy, lying, cheating and back stabbing at the heart of Britain's public life, by a man who saw it first-hand. One of Stott's last accomplishments before his death was the editing of his friend Alastair Campbell's The Blair Years.

A man who preferred writing news stories to editing them (although he did both) was W F Deedes. There have been many tributes to one of our generation's greatest journalists - the Telegraph special feature being packed with anecdote and memories. His own writing provides a fitting tribute: Words and Deedes which was published in paperback earlier this year recalls a life in which Deedes reported the most important events, affairs and issues that have affected Britain, Europe and the World in a span of 75 years.

Monday 16 July 2007

Boris to run for Mayor of London

Henley MP , Boris Johnson, has announced his intention to run for Mayor of London.

Books by and about Boris:

Have I Got Views For You

Seventy Two Virgins

The Dream of Rome

Lend Me Your Ears

Friends Voters Countrymen

Boris by Alan Glimson.

Thursday 5 July 2007

The Big Red Book of New Labour Sleaze

The Big Red Book of New Labour Sleaze, written by Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes, it details more than 140 instances of New Labour sleaze since 1997 - cronyism, nepotism, sex, money, drugs. Examples of sleaze include:

- Peter Mandelson's Mortgages
- Ron Davies's 'Moment of Madness'
- David Blunkett and Nannygate
- Bernie Ecclestone's Donation
- Loans for Lordships
- John Prescott's Cocktail Sausage
- Lord Irvine's Wallpaper
- Margaret Beckett's Air Miles
- Cherie Blair's Freebie Holidays
- Tessa Jowell's Mortgages
- The Dodgy Dossier
- Stephen Byers
- Jo Moore Burying Bad News
- Derek Draper and Lobbygate
- Badger Watching with Ron Davies
- Cherie Blair Signing the Hutton Report
- Gordon Brown and the Smith Institute
- Cherie Blair's 'lecture' tours
- Gordon Brown’s Spinning Addiction

It's available for £7.99 from the Politicos bookshop.

Monday 11 June 2007

Sarkozy leads first election round

Via Breitbart and Drudge

Voters in France have resoundingly endorsed President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to overhaul the French economy, giving his party a commanding lead in the first round of elections for parliament.

Mr Sarkozy's UMP party won 39.6% of the vote, while the opposition Socialists had 24.7%, the Interior Ministry said.

Mr Sarkozy's conservatives have a strong advantage heading into the decisive runoff next Sunday, on track to expand their absolute majority in the 577-seat parliament.

Monday 28 May 2007

Spanish local elections

MADRID - Spain's ruling Socialists and opposition conservatives both claimed victory in weekend local elections that were seen as primaries for next year's general elections.

With 100 percent of the vote counted, the ruling Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist party had 34.9 percent against 35.6 percent for the right wing Popular Party led by Mariano Rajoy, a difference of 155,991 votes.

The Socialists, however, won 679 more town hall council seats than the Popular Party out of a total of 66,162 that were up for grabs.

Socialist win more seats, PP more votes
Honours even in Spanish polls
Senior Spanish leaders react to poll results
Rival parties split Spanish election

Saturday 26 May 2007

Bertie Ahern's three in a row

Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail has managed to pull off a coup that has astonished the Irish media. Despite being in power for 10 years, Fianna Fail has managed to gain seats in the Irish general election. Mr Ahern had been at the centre of a series of scandals regarding acceptance of cash gifts from Irish businessmen (otherwise known as Bertigate), and it was widely predicted that Fianna Fail would lose seats, and Mr Ahern his premiership. Instead, it appears that a surge in support came through on polling day.Fianna Fail representatives explained that a large portion of that late surge in vote came from the under-25s.

The biggest shock of the night was the Progressive Democrats leader and Justice Minister, Michael McDowell losing his seat.

Negotiations to form a coalition government are underway , but its looking increasingly likely that it could be a Fianna Fail / Labour coalition, despite Labour's assurances to the contrary.

However, a rainbow coalition involving Fine Gael, Labour , the Greens and the Progressive Democrats , while unlikely, cannot at the present time be ruled out.

Morning Ireland, RTE radio (podcast feed)
Election 2007 - full coverage from RTE
More from RTE

Due to Ireland's complex proportional representation voting system, counting is still going on in many constituencies. However, the latest results , and percentage voting share, are as follows:

Fianna Fail - 74 seats 44.1%
Fine Gael - 48 seats, 27.3%
Labour - 20 seats, 10.1%
Green Party - 5 seats, 4.7%
Sinn Fein - 4 seats, 6.9%
Progressive Democrats - 2 seats, 2.7%
Others - 5 seats, 6.6%