Frank McKenna Q&A

Posted by David Sudworth on January 24, 2008 9:35 AM

HOPE you've all managed to read the Big Interview by now. If not, click on the image above.

Here's the Q&A from tha interview which I've saved as a treat to my loyal blog reader(s).

McKENNA ON...

...GORDON BROWN
“I think he made a mistake not calling a General Election last autumn. He should have done because we’d have won and Cameron would have been finished.
“He’ll prove over the next 12 months that he’s a very good Prime Minister.”

...DAVID CAMERON
“He’s certainly no Tony Blair because he got the party to drop Clause Four. Cameron has yet to take his party with him when it comes to change, with the grammar schools row being a good example.”

...DONATIONS
“We’re in danger of seeing all of politics as corrupt, and actually it’s better here than a lot of countries this world.
“The business of politics is expensive and the rules for donations are extremely complex, as we’ve seen with what’s happened to Peter Hain, David Cameron and George Osborne.”

...WEST LANCS DISTRICT COUNCIL
“I’d like to see it go for unitary authority status. I think Bill Taylor (chief executive) and Les Abernethy (deputy chief executive) deserve the chance to show what they can do on a bigger scale.”

...COUNCILLORS
“They should be paid more but have fewer of them. Afterall, I’ve never had anyone come to me asking more more bureaucracy and yet that’s what we give them.”

...ADRIAN OWENS
“Adrian is a very able public debater but he’d feel more comfortable in a Thatcher-led party. It’ll be interesting to see the differences which appear between him and David Cameron.
“The last West Lancs Tory MP, Ken Hind, was very consensual so Adrian is the best candidate for us fight.”

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Frank McKenna - Exclusive Interview

Posted by David Sudworth on January 23, 2008 4:21 PM

IN this week's Addy (Jan 24) we've got an exclusive interview with Frank McKenna, ex-leader elect of Lancs County Council.

It's now five years since the fraud charges against the ex-Labour councillor and colleague John Fillis were dropped.

It promises to be an interesting read... so don't forget to pick upt he Addy this Thursday.

Also, tomorrow morning I'll be uploading a special Q&A session from the interview where Frank gives his views on Bill Taylor, Adrian Owens, Gordon Brown and party funding.

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Who'll Win West Lancs?

Posted by David Sudworth on January 11, 2008 3:37 PM

I STUMBLED across the UK Polling Report website's report for the West Lancashire which makes for interesting reading.

There's certainly some debate going on as to whether this is a natural Conservative or Labour seat, with points being made about Labour having a county council seat in Ormskirk and a district council seat in Bickerstaffe despite these now being seen as Conservative areas.

There's also a strong feeling that Skem will completely out-vote other areas, with one contributor saying it would need a 'landslide' to remove Rosie Cooper while another saying it could become the 'Solihull of 2009'.

Interesting stuff... I'd be keen to hear your predictions for the seat.

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The Big Interview - Bill Taylor

Posted by David Sudworth on January 10, 2008 9:42 AM

MY colleague, Sarah Gaffney, has done a fantastic interview with West Lancs chief exec Bill Taylor in this week's paper.

It really gives a flavour of what type of person Bill is, talks about his upbringing and how that spurred him on to be, in my opinion, one of the best council bosses in the land.

Enjoy it here or click on the image above.

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Tickets available for council assembly

Posted by David Sudworth on January 8, 2008 10:48 AM

WLDC is urging people to snap up tickets for the annual council assembly meeting

Council meeting as an assembly - reserve your tickets now!

Tickets for 2008's 'Council Meeting as an Assembly' are now available - so make sure you reserve yours today.

This popular annual event, which gives local people the chance to air their views on issues that affect the area in which they live, will be held on Wednesday 30 January at 7.30pm at Banks Leisure Centre, Greaves Hall Avenue, Banks.

This year two topical subjects are up for debate, these are: 'Ormskirk Bypass' and 'Creating a Sustainable Rural Economy'.

To reserve your free tickets or for more information visit our Assembly pages or call 01695 585016/585017.

Cllr Geoff M. Roberts, Leader of West Lancashire District Council, said:

"The Council Meeting as an Assembly is always a very popular event, drawing a full house each year, so it really is important that people reserve their tickets early.

"The Assembly is a great opportunity for people to have their say on current issues that affect the local community and the items on the agenda have been chosen because of their district-wide importance."

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Schools Question Time reminder

Posted by David Sudworth on January 8, 2008 10:27 AM

Just received this press release about School's Question Time for those who are interested in entering...

REMINDER: LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO FOR PUPILS TO ENTER THE SCHOOLS QUESTION TIME CHALLENGE

All UK secondary schools still have time to get their entries in to win a chance to produce a BBC Question Time programme with David Dimbleby

Students in secondary schools nationwide have less than two weeks to enter the Schools Question Time Challenge and win a chance to work with David Dimbleby to produce an edition of Question Time for BBC ONE in 2008.

Now in its fourth year the competition has been a success within schools, and involves pupils aged 14 - 18 staging their own debates based upon the popular BBC Question Time format. Entering the competition is easy, schools simply need to complete an online form at www.schoolsquestiontime.org describing the issues they would discuss during their ideal Question Time and the panel they would choose to discuss those issues. The deadline to enter the Challenge is 18 January 2008.

From all the online entries 12 finalist schools will be selected and given a £500 grant from the Institute for Citizenship, supported by BT, which must be used to run their Schools Question Time events. Each finalist school will also receive professional support in staging the event by taking part in a Schools Question Time communication skills workshop. A team of judges will travel to each finalist school to evaluate their Question Time event and assess how they applied the principles of citizenship. Four award winners will be selected to collaborate with David Dimbleby and the Question Time production team to produce a real BBC Question Time programme to be broadcast in the summer of 2008 on BBC ONE. They will be involved in all aspects of production, from making editorial decisions to researching and taking on production roles for the programme.

David Dimbleby, chairman of BBC Question Time, said: “Last year’s Schools Question Time Challenge demonstrated, once again, that young people are passionate about politics when they are given the opportunity to play their part in serious debate. Given the rapidly changing environmental, economic, political and media landscape, it is more important than ever that we involve young adults and get their views and input into the decision making process. The challenges that young people and future generations face in all these areas are significant. Giving young adults a voice on subject matters that affect them is vitally important and I look forward to working with the winners of the current Challenge.”

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Going Stateside with Hillary Clinton

Posted by David Sudworth on January 2, 2008 4:34 PM

IN the absence of any local or even national politics in recent days, I've been following the US elections.

Now let me make it clear I know sod all about American politics except that there's Republicans and Democrats and they have something called the House of Representatives (or is it Congress?)

The thing I do know is that come November I'm betting that Hillary Clinton, the well-groomed missus of Arkanasas' most famous cigar loving politician, is sitting in her hubby's old chair at the Oval Office.

I've been impressed with Barack Obama but despite all of rhetoric about being the Land of Opportunity, America hasn't exactly come across as a country where the underdog emerges victorious (they save that for Hollywood, Rocky being a case in point). And also, a country which elects George W. Bush twice hardly has much sentiment, does it?

I reckon Hillary will win for the following reasons:

1) She appeals to both the left and the more moderate right wingers
2) Her closest opponent, Obama, is too inexperienced
3) Everyone wants to see Bill Clinton back at the White House, even if it's just to make tired and crude jokes
4) The best Republican, Rudy Gulliani, will not even make it to the final two

Am I right?

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Why 2008 can be Gordon Brown's year

Posted by David Sudworth on January 1, 2008 8:05 PM

THE so-called expert pundits are already writing off Gordon Brown and Labour's chances of winning the next election.

It seems they've decided that David Cameron will maintain his lead in the polls and at the end of the year be ready to breeze into Number 10. Fools, fools, fools the lot of them.

Although it has undeniably been the most testing time for Labour since they came to power, the one thing they still possess above all else is a membership which is supportive both in practice and ideology to its leader. The same cannot be said of the Conservatives.

It's true to say Cameron has won over the ciabattering classes in the likes of trendy Notting Hill, but he is still viewed with a massive degree of scepticism both in the country and within his own party. West Lancs is a prime example as a place where, if the truth be told, the traditional Tories still yearn for Maggie or even Hezza (the best Tory PM they never had).

Labour can turn that to their advantage because even some Tories admit to admiring Brown's values and political nouse which is very much a key strength and yet very much underestimated of late.

But his team needs to do what Blair was a master at and get a grip of the news agenda. Yes, the economy isn't looking as rosy as it was 3 years ago but it's a helluva lot better than it was 16 years ago. The employment figures aren't sky high and there isn't rioting in the streets. The front benchers need to make it their new year resolution to sell the party better to the country.

Many have portrayed the last six months and the time when Gordon Brown and the Labour government lost it. If I was them, I wouldn't worry unduly given the fact there's still time to turn it around

But if the same is being written about them this time next year...

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