The Diktat Diaries

Okay, I know I haven't posted in ages, but is there really any point in me continuing this blog? How many people read it/check in on it regularly? How popular is it? What do you think could be improved?

Cps I'm getting no comments on most of these posts and often little viewing of them. There is little point in me typing this stuff is no one is reading/enjoying it.

What do you think? (Yes, that DOES mean leave some bloody comments, and yes, I mean 'bloody' in the raw, brutal and honest sense of the term).

The Welsh Assembly, that is. I have just been watching BBC Parliament (okay, hit me, I understand completely), and the bit of the debate that I saw was interesting.

I dont know the full details (will have to read the bill at some point soon, can anyone provide a handy link?), but one thing that struck was the Conservative and LIbDem opposition to the change in the electoral system.

Under the current system, AMs are elected via two methods - one is constituency based (Alternative Vote, I think), while the other is a proportional system (Single Transferable Vote). That isn't the problem though, it comes more from the fact that candidates can run in both types of election, so if they don't get a constituency seat (much preferred) they may win one on the list system. This means 'losing' candidates winning seats. It is wholly wrong, opportunistic and just plain stupid. Whoever proposed it ought to be shot (or severely reprimanded in a non-violent way). On that, I agree with the Conservatives and LibDems (Gasps of shock).

But, for some reason, both parties failed to really consider this point on its own terms. Instead, they spent the debate arguing that since it was a Labour government which introduced this electoral system, the Labour government is only changing it now because it isn't working in their favour (Labour has no AMs elected through proportional representation at the moment).

Even if it is true that Labour is only concerned because it negatively affects them (which in itself is debatable), surely the whole point of parliament especially when it comes to constitutional issues to argue in favour of what is best for the country instead of apparently opposing something purely on the basis that a rival party will benefit? The present Welsh electoral system needs to be altered, yet none of the Cons/LibDem MPs speaking today seemed capable of recognising this blatantly obvious fact. Perhaps they were temporarily blinded by partisan motives. But still, it is hardly an inspiring political process in which this occurs.

The last few days....

From the BBC website:

But Jackie Pearcey, a Lib Dem councillor from Manchester, accused some MPs of losing track of the interests of the party.

"Us ordinary party members are seeing a group of very ambitious people fighting each other down in Westminster," she told BBC News 24.

Mark Oaten:
"Colleagues should now give Charles time to prove himself, to show he has got on top of his problems," he told BBC News 24.

Mr Oaten added: "At the moment we are just damaging ourselves."

Here's what the LibDem lady has to say about Charles:

BARONESS TONGE, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT PEER
"If you were looking for someone to play the part of Tarzan, you wouldn't employ a one-legged actor, and if we're looking for someone to lead our party we wouldn't deliberately go for an alcoholic. "

Ouch. The recent furore by LibDem glory seekers has sickened me. The pressures that have been put on him since christmas have been harsh and it is quite clear that those who wish to succeed him as leader are doing their best to manipulate the entire situation.

If I was ever going to consider supporting the party, this has put me right off. Regardless of whether he stays or goes, the LibDems are doing themselves no favours.

see the post below. baby (my honaray niece) is okay. dad would have been okay, only he betted that Owen would be the first goalscorer in the recent liverpool/newcastle game and lost. mum is also okay.

in other news....

hahahaha.....liverpool hammered everton in the boxing day derby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my sister and first honaray mother (my sister is a half-sister by my dad, so honarary mother #1 is her mum, honarary mother#2 is my mum's partner, makes christmas and birthdays wonderful) are both evertonians. I, obviously, am a red.

my three nephews love their gifts! and, the one out of all of them who I thought was least (as in not) interested in education has (temporarily) decided he wants to "work hard and go to a good university" after he asked me what I was planning on doing after I graduate and I explained that I really want to work as a parliamentary researcher (and then explained what one was).

I have my blackberry!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its a 7290, cos I didn't want the newfangled garbish. It totally rules. But instant email notification may turn me into a workaholic.

My father is a man utd. fan. My mother gave him a special christmas card (knowing nothing about football). It was an arsenal christmas card. My father is not impressed. He has put it up though. Next to his man utd. dvd.

And in the world of politics......

not a lot, it christmas break. but I did manage to get introduced to Hilary Benn as an intern with the Fabians. When he asked how it was going I was left in the 'wonderful' situation of having to explain that I was not an intern at all. I'll try to say something a little more, umm, substantive, later. I read the Fabian Review on Britishnesss so will probably say something about that. Or something totally unrelated. I dont know.