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June 2007 Archives

Trading Places

Posted by David Sudworth on June 30, 2007 8:21 AM

Sir Digby Jones

GORDON Brown raised more than a few eyebrows this week when shaping his new government.


In his promising to pool "all the talents", he appointed former CBI chief Sir Digby Jones as a trade minister.


I find it a curious appointment mainly because Digby Jones is seen by most as 100% true blue Tory in his beliefs and attitudes, even by those on the centre Right of Labour.

Unsurprisingly, the news has not gone down well with grassroots Labour activists who were incensed at his performance on Friday's PM programme on Radio 4 when he wouldn't confirm whether he'd even vote Labour at the next election.

Maybe Gordon Brown, the clever tactician that he is, thinks it would be better to have Sir Digby, a vocal critic of government policy in the past, inside the tent spitting out rather than outside the tent spitting in.


The big question is that is this new consensus politics the way forward, or just a good way of brassing off party workers who don't like the top jobs going to people who aren't even fully paid up members?

One thing's for sure... when Brown hammered the word "change" in his speech outside Number 10 on Wednesday, he really did mean it.

Reaction to Tory Open Primary Choices

Posted by David Sudworth on June 28, 2007 8:57 PM

THERE'S been a few comments posted on the Conservative Home blog about the West Lancs candidates.


One is advocating that the party sticks with the 2005 candidate, Alf Doran, while another is glad to see Adrian Owens, Ormskirk Derby Ward councillor, on the shortlist.

Check out the full comments here

Mind Your Language

Posted by David Sudworth on June 28, 2007 6:48 AM

Jim Knight MP


I'VE got some sympathy with MP Jim Knight, the schools minister who this week claimed that more than half of West Lancashire's schoolkids can't speak English.


As someone whos hated maths at school with a passion only reserved for the likes of Vernon Bloody Kay and GMTV, I can understand why he got it so wrong.

Of course, he didn't get it wrong per se as it was his department who furnished him with the dud figures. And as minister he carries the can.


However, I've never understood kids no matter what language they speak... which these days seems to be anything but clear English.


As someone who uses words every day, and a former foreign languages tutor, I'm fascinated by regional accents. Actually, as we were discussing the Jim Knight story in the office, we all started to give our opinions on what the dominant accent is in West Lancs.


Out of three of us, only I thought that Lancastrians still had the upper hand, with the others opting for Scouse.


Certainly, there's a lot of 'Scousers' in the council chamber these days - and not all of it from the Skelmersdale councillors either.


Infact, the Aughton-based Tory leader Geoff Roberts is from Liverpool as are a few of his colleagues.


As Liverpool grows as a city, so does its influence culturally.


Gone are the days when it was just Skem which was the most affected. Indeed, if you go to the likes of Aughton, Ormskirk and even as far north as Burscough, you'll hear kids who were born and bred in West Lancs talking as if they've spent their whole life on the Dock Road!


And my top five favourite Scouse words?

1) Bizzies (Police)
2) Tar-lar (Thanks mate)
3) Trackies (Tracksuit bottoms)
4) Trainees (Trainers)
5) Bezzie (Best)


Quentin Who?

Posted by David Sudworth on June 27, 2007 6:35 AM

Quentin Davies MP


THERE'S been a considerable amount of froth generated over Quentin Davies MP's defection from the Conservatives to Labour.


The first thing I thought was "Quentin who?" and I bet you did as well.


The most surprising thing of all was that Labour actually allowed someone called Quentin to join their ranks... a most disturbing decision I must say.


In all honesty, the timing was all very convenient and while I have no reasonto doubt his reasons, it's clear that Team Gordon managed to capatlise on it very well.

So now Quentin Wotsisface has joined Labour he'll presumably be quite happy to stand for his cosy Tory seat of Grantham and Stamford at the next election on a Labour ticket? Well, not if his comments to Jeremy Paxman last night were anything to go by, mumbling on about not wanting to campaign against people who had supported him in the past... yeah, right.


Of course, when these stories come up there's always MPs lining up ready to snipe at their former colleague. But these two were the best I found:


"All I say is 'good riddance'." - Sir Nicholas Winterton (Conservative)


"This defection will raise the average standard of members on the Conservative side and lower it on the Labour side." - Tory peer Norman Tebbit (who else?)

Chief Exec Talks About Pay Rises

Posted by David Sudworth on June 26, 2007 7:51 AM

WEST Lancs District Council chief exec Bill Taylor makes the subject of executives' pay the focus of his weekly video blog.

It comes after the Advertiser last week exclusively revealed how the council's top brass (except Bill and his deputy Les Abernethy) were given pay rises following a £16,000 review by consultants.


Bill makes a general point about both public and private sector, drawing comparisons between both sectors.


Again, another interesting video blog from Bill, who should be applauded for pioneering such a valuable service. Other councils and chief execs (especially those who are so low-profile they might as well be invisible) would do well to take note.



Tory Candidates Unveiled

Posted by David Sudworth on June 26, 2007 7:10 AM

THE four who will pitch to become the Tory prospective parliamentary canadidates are as follows:

1) Alf Doran
2) Veronica Horman
3) Thelma Matuk
4) Adrian Owens


Full story and candidate profiles in this week's Advertiser.

Brown Bounce in West Lancs?

Posted by David Sudworth on June 25, 2007 7:03 PM

THERE'S hot speculation that Gordon Brown could call a snap election this spring.

And if he did, it could very well have an unintended but nethertheless positive effect on the local Labour group's fortunes.


The reasons are obvious:

1) Incumbent Labour MP Rosie Cooper has a healthy majority
2) People would be voting for district council and parliamentary candidates
3) I can't imagine many people would vote Tory for district and then Labour for general election, or vice versa


Net result: A Labour majority?

Of course, this is purely hypothetical as I can't remember the last time (if ever) that there were district and national elections on the same day.


So who knows, maybe GB's plan could be a sure-fire (and probably only) way of weakening the Tories' vice-like grip on West Lancashire anytime soon.

Tories Prepare To Do Battle

Posted by David Sudworth on June 23, 2007 7:00 AM

THE Conservatives this week announced details of their open primary.


I reckon it could be quite an interesting but nerve-wrecking night for the candidates.


I know of one wannabe Tory MP who thought they were going to be fast-tracked, only to have an open primary imposed upon them. In public they managed to toe the party line about how good and democratic it was, but privately they were less than charitable in their comments about this 'big idea' being foistered from upon high.


It'll be interesting to see how the candidates (names to be released soon) react under pressure. I suspect some will be quite at ease due to their experience in some situations, others less so.


It'll also be interesting to how general members of the public turn out - afterall that is what these open primaries are designed for.


So the date for your diaries is Friday, July 6, at Church House, Ormskirk.


Anyone who wants to attend should call 01695 572306 or e-mail office@westlancsconservatives.com with their address and phone number.

Spend, Spend, Spend

Posted by David Sudworth on June 21, 2007 5:56 AM

MY SPIES in Derby Street claim that some £300,000 has been spent on consultants by the council over the last few years.

I wonder if the powers-that-be consider that a wise use of public cash given the chaotic way in which the latest exercise ended (see story in this week's Advertiser).


The salary review for WLDC's top bananas cost the taxpayer a reported £16,000. They should have come to me instead, I found a bunch a stats after just 30 seconds by typing 'chief officers pay' into Google and I'd only have charged them £8,000. I think I missed my calling in life...

Of course, if it was left to the council, none of us would have known about any of this as every report on the subject has been 'on the pink' - council jargon for 'confidential'.

The final decision was made at a specially-convened Extraordinary Council Meeting and before that there's been a handful of Senior Officers Renumeration Committee Meetings - all of them held away from the gaze of public and press scrutiny.


But in this week's Advertiser, we've revealed the real story. Afterall, why shouldn't you know how your hard-earned lolly is being spent - all £800,000 of it?


The reason it should have been place in the public domain in the first place is clear - we're talking about job posts here and responsibilities, not individuals.


I assume street scene chief Graham Concannon didn't get a £10k hike just because he's a nice bloke, but because of heavy responsibility heaped onto his department since the introduction of the fortnighly bin collections.


At the other end of the scale, housing boss Bob Livermore (who is also a nice bloke, so I'm told) got a £720 rise. This is probably because the council's housing stock is depleting and therefore the responsibilities are no greater now than they were when his own pay level was last looked at.


There's no reason why the public couldn't be told that.


I don't think any reasonable person would begrudge any employee from any organisation a pay rise in recognition of either increased responsibilities or as a reward for success.

But the way they've shut the public out of this gives the impression they have something to hide.

Shoot The Messenger

Posted by David Sudworth on June 17, 2007 10:32 AM

OH DEAR, it's happened again - someone's gone and shot the messenger.


It appears I've incurred the wrath of Charles Denton, secretary of Skelmersdale & Up Holland Senior Citizens' Association, for my report in last week's Advertiser (Skem edition) that locals may be asked to stump up £60 a year more tax to pay for a Town Council.

Mr Denton, a veteran campaigner of that parish, wrote a letter published in this week's Skem edition claiming my report had a "whiff" of sensationalism and added: "Since when was it decided that we should have a price on local democracy?"

Of course, I'm not suggesting that at all but merely reporting on the fact that Maghull - a town similar in size to Skem - has a £56.45 precept and that experts (not me) are warning that locals could expect a bill of a similar figure if the plan goes ahead.

Mr Denton is very keen on the idea of a Town Council so perhaps therefore the money issue isn't a problem to him, but it could be to some families in town with an already stretched budget.

Our paper is the only one in the area which has covered the Town Council debate in depth and part of that means examining many different aspects of it, and sometimes that means covering issues which some people aren't happy with.


Never mind, I think of it as just one of the perks of the job....


No Case To Answer?

Posted by David Sudworth on June 16, 2007 7:32 AM

Cllr David Phythian Ken Linvingstone

KEN Livingstone is not everyone's knight in shining armour, but he may be about to save Cllr David Phythian's career.


As reported in this week's Advertiser, Red Ken's landmark legal ruling could get Cllr Phythian off the hook over his comments about black footballer Pascal Chimbonda living in a mudhut.

Linvingstone himself once very indiscreetly likened a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard, but managed to overturn a suspension from office because the incident happened while Livingstone was not carrying out his official mayoral duties.

Cllr Phythian's case happened under the very same circumstances so Labour's expected him to be let off.

Dodging the Standards Board for England's wrath is the most important hurdle because they have the power to kick him off the council. Labour, which is holding its own internal inquiry, can only stop him from being a Labour councillor. And all indications are that if they withdraw the whip from him, he'll carry on as an independent.


As I said in an earlier blog posting it's going to be a tough call and if it was up to the local party, I think he'd be fairly safe even though there are many who are deeply uneasy about his comments.

However, regional office is quite strict about these types of incidents so his future - as a Labour member at least - is still up in the air.

Even with Congestion Ken's help, I think it's a case of watch this space...

It's Official - Politicians Don't Know When to Shut Up

Posted by David Sudworth on June 15, 2007 8:20 PM

The House of Commons

IN MOMENTS of what can only be described as sheer boredom (or perhaps stupidity) I start flicking through the channels and somehow find my way to BBC Parliament.

For the uninitiated, this is the channel where the cameraman basically points his lens at an MP talking in the House of Commons and then goes for a kip.


Sometimes, the camera will be in the Lords, the Scottish parliament or some select committees (the seating plan of which make sme feel as if I'm intruding on someone's job interview) but the general modus operandi is the same.


However, I can guarantee that every time I turn it on a boring MP from East Devon or somewhere else in the nether regions of the country will be there in full flow either asking their Rt Hon friend to congratulate their local hospital for its 100% cleanliness rate for bed pans or arguing the point about a tedious Bill seeking to regulate the sale of washing powder and lawnmowers to the Balkan states.


So with no intention of listening to that tripe, I start flicking again but five minutes later when I get back to the channel, he's still at it! Argh!!!!!

Unfortunately, the archaic rules of televising parliament mean we cannot be treated to cut away shots to other MPs who have dozed off or writing their shopping lists, which would lift the gloom no end.

I'm not surprised the nationals don't report parliamentary debates anymore. Heaving to read it all can only be marginally more boring than having to sit through it.


What never ceases to amaze me though is how MPs speaking in the House have real difficulty in getting to the point.


Maybe I've got some kind of undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder but I think the Speaker should introduce a one minute maximum rule. Either that or when the first snore is heard, whichever is the quickest.

Have Rosette, Will Travel

Posted by David Sudworth on June 13, 2007 3:25 PM

I'M told that Alf Doran, West Lancs Conservative candidate in 2005 and nomination hopeful this time around, is throwing his hat into the Chorley nomination ring.

The Formby councillor, who also tried but failed to be nominated for Sefton Central (his home patch), may even try again for the Southport seat after his previous bid in 2001 failed.

Rumours that he's about to enter the American presidential race have been strongly denied by the White House...


Alf Doran and Michael Howard'
"So come on Michael, did you threaten to overrule him?"


Tarred With The Same Brush - Again

Posted by David Sudworth on June 13, 2007 7:02 AM

IT'S a well-used tactic of any politician who comes under-fire for them to attack the source of their misery - in Tony Blair's case the media.

I'm not really surprised by his slating of journalists by likening them toi 'feral beasts'. But I would have had more respect if he'd done it years ago, not when he's got one foot out of the door of No 10.

The reason that didn't happen was because Blair knows you never bite the hand that feeds you. But because he doesn't need them any more, he's let them have it with both barrels which, to be honest, is a cowardly way to go about things.

However, I don't entirely disagree with the thrust of what he says, but I wish he'd have inserted the word 'national' when slagging the media off.

As a local hack, I've lost count of the number of times I've been tarred with the same brush as a national hack and at witnessed first hand their bull-in-a-china-shop tactics.

They're quite happy to come in, turn everyone over, upset your best contacts, get their story and begger off back to London before you can say M25. For us poor souls in the provinces, life is a lot different.

We get to know people over many years and have built up good working relationships with many. Organisations like the council/hospital/police etc know that from time-to-time they'll get critcised but they accept it as par for the course.

Unfortunately the cynicism in this country (of which the actions of Blair & Co have added to) means that a reporter from the Village Bugle is, in the public's eyes, no different to a News of The World hack. Believe me, there's a world of difference.

Local papers are the lifeblood of communities and research constantly shows they're among the most trusted forms of media.
Okay, from time to time, we make mistakes in print but because of the cynicism of people, a lot are convinced that we've done it on purpose to suite some kind of hidden agenda.

Well, I hate to smash any conspiracy theories but our agenda is simple - to keep readers well-informed and entertained with accurate information. And in the Advertiser's case, we've been doing it week in week out since 1853.

Paxo's Stuffings

Posted by David Sudworth on June 11, 2007 7:00 AM

HERE'S something to brighten up your Monday, Jeremy Paxman doing what he does best - turning politicians over.


I must admit, I don't think ihis aggressive tactics are necessarily the best way of trying to get information out of your subject, but it sure does making for hilarious TV.

In a fantastic 'best of' you can see old stoneface:

a) Asking Tony Blair what he knows about the content of porn mags with dubious titles and I suspect even more dubious content
b) Making Hazel Blears look like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a Trans-Siberian truck doing 150mph
c) Letting Michael Howard make a fool of himself (the old classic. If you look closely, even at the end you can see Michael Howard is beginning to see the funny side of it)


And here's another corker, when Paxo went head to head with George Galloway on election night 2005.

Now after watching those, don't you feel better?

Bill's Blog

Posted by David Sudworth on June 10, 2007 7:00 AM

I'VE been meaning to give a special mention to West Lancs District Council chief executive Bill Taylor's blog for ages.

Actually, it's not just a blog but a video blog and over the last few months, he's talked about many things; crime and punishment, the press, council performance and much more.

The best was a few months ago when he commented on the amount of gobbledegook which officials come out with. As a journalist, I see this day in day out, real Sir Humphrey type stuff so thought it was a cracking piece.

Even though the post of chief exec in any council is quite restrictive in the sense that you've got to be very politically sensitive, Bill manages to make it a very worthwhile service and quite topical.

It's just a shame there isn't a larger presence on the net when it comes to West Lancs political debate.

At the moment we only have Bill's blog, councillors Adrian Owens' website, Cllr Steve Hanlon's blog and Rosie Cooper's site.


I reckon it's about time for some more. Afterall, I can think of quite a few councillors (naming no names) who aren't short of a word or two.

None More Cheesy

Posted by David Sudworth on June 9, 2007 7:00 AM

I'VE been perusing You Tube recently and came across this really awful Labour video for the 1997 election.


I'm not sure if the soundtrack refers to the quality of the acting, but if it doesn't then it should.


When it comes to cheesy vids, this has to be in the Top 10 of stinking gorgonzolas...


All I'll say is watch at your own risk


Memory Lane

Posted by David Sudworth on June 8, 2007 8:46 AM

LAST night the Advertiser had a leaving party for a real stalwart of local journalism.

Assistant editor Clifford Birchall has left the paper after a remarkable 38 years, during which he's done just about everything (he even revealed to a shocked audience that he once put his arm around Miss World, who borrowed his jacket!).

Cliff is a veteran of the local council/political scene and has been warming press benches across West Lancs since 1969. He's seen many legendary councillors in action, such as Phil Bond, a firebrand Labour councillor from Skem, and the avuncular Tory councillor Robert Hodge, a real gentleman of local politics who was respected right across West Lancs.


As a young hack, I knew that if I had a question about local council workings, Cliff would always know the answer, and then have a little anecdote to go with it. For someone all wet behind the ears, Cliff's knowledge was invaluable.

He once told me that at the old Skem & Holland UDC meetings, there would always been sandwiches laid on as the meetings were at such a time that many councillors wouldn't have time to go home. Apparently, they'd get there straight from work and debate right into the wee small hours! I don't know about the last bit, but the sarnies sound like a good idea.


So the Addy team got together last night to give him the farewell he deserves. After buying his presents, including a batch of Greenhalgh's potato cakes (his favoured lunchtime 'baggin') he had just short of £1 left over so Geoff, the sports ed, decided to put in on a horse.

He walked into the betting shop, observed the runners and racers and picked the aptly-titled News of The Day. He stuck 50p on it each way at 16-1 and remarkably it came in second, and therefore bagged £8 in winnings!

The 'do' was a great chance also to catch up with another reporting veteran Pat Roberts. I went to my first West Lancs District Council meeting with Pat and she showed me the ropes.

Her motherly instincts were a god-send for me, a rookie hack, who was a) scared stiff and b) didn't have a clue what was going on. That night, I didn't get to bed until 1am but believe me, I could have written a 2,000-essay from memory on the issues surrounding the council's Housing Revenue Account.

What last night proved (apart from the fact that the bitter in The Farmers' Club is excellent and strangely more-ish), is that down the years, the Addy has always put great importance on council/political issues.

Whereas some papers present it in a dull-as-ditchwater way, the Addy always tries to make it relevant to the man on the street by untangling the jargon, cutting through the spin and getting to the heart of the matter.

It's not easy at times, people will do anything to throw you off the scent of an important story or send you on a wild goose chase. This only makes us more determined to get to the truth.

So cheers Cliff, you're going to be a massively hard act to follow...

Racist or Just Ill-Judged?

Posted by David Sudworth on June 7, 2007 12:51 PM

Cllr David Phythian

WHAT a difference a week makes.


Seven days ago, David Phythian was just another face among many on the backbenches of West Lancs District Council and Up Holland Parish Council, busy sorting out complaints about potholes and making decisions on planning applications.


Fast-forward a week and his name has been plastered over all the media and internet following his conviction for making racist remarks about Pascal Chimbonda.

A search on Yahoo reveals just how far and wide this story has travelled. But despite that, Cllr Phythian had not given his side of the story.

However, in this week's Advertiser he granted me an exclusive interview in which he sheds some valuable light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.


I have to admit that being a Wiganer myself, and having been to matches at the JJB staduim a few times, I've heard the word 'mudhut' being used jokingly in reference to a house (do a search on Google or Yahoo under 'Wigan mudhut' if it sounds weird to you)


I've grown up with similar oddities (for some reason, we call people from St Helens 'Yickers'. Answers on a postcard please) and as such I've never really given them a second thought. Neither probably has Cllr Phythian, until now.


However, the burning question is was Cllr Phythian knowingly being racist or was it just an unfortunate choice of words given the circumstances in which they were uttered?


That is something the Labour Party heirarchy is going to have to make a decision on soon.


We're told the case is also being referred to the Standards Board for England, the governing body for councillors, but as this happened in his own private life, as opposed to while he was carrying out his public duties, it's open to debate how they'll proceed.


Last night, sources were saying there's general support for Cllr Phythian in the Labour Party but - and it's a big but - there's also a real concern about the racism issue.


Politics is all about making the right decisions... will Labour make the right one? .

Mind Your Grammar, Mr Cameron

Posted by David Sudworth on June 7, 2007 12:50 PM


I'M a broken man.


For weeks since the grammar school debate was sparked, I've managed to keep my trap shut because, admittedly, I know more about Benazir Bhutto's bunions that I do about grammar schools.


It kicked off while I was sunning my girth in Menorca. I just kept hoping the row would blow over so I wouldn't have to comment on it.

But I switched on the news last night and the BBC's Nick Robinson (nice bloke, he came up and chatted to me in the press gallery at Westminster a few years ago) was there grilling David Cameron over it.

My resolve was shattered.

To be honest, I couldn't really give a fig about grammar schools, having never stepped foot in one.

I'm told we don't have any in Lancashire so this is basically a row about a few counties in the south of England and an ideological row about a system which in the main died out years ago.

Although you wouldn't know it reading the Daily Mail, my paper of choice while on hols, as day-by-day it was getting increasingly hot under its starched collar about the Tories' so called "abandoning" of the sector.

It's so typical though that if it's affecting south England, then they think the rest of the country cares. I doubt they do, because believe me it certainly isn't a burning issue among my friends, family or colleagues.

The Conservatives have to be careful or this will turn into another Europe, an issue which made sure they came completely unelectable from 1992 onwards.


David Cameron must regain a tight grip of his party because if there's one thing voters hate, it's the political chattering classes indulging in protracted bouts of navel-gazing and infighting, something the national Tories have mastered down to a fine art in recent years.

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