Tag Archives: Conservative Party

Over promise or under deliver?

Posted on July 23, 2013 by ianchisnall

‘If elected, by the end of our first Parliament I want a third of all my  ministers to be female,’ David Cameron pledged  on 29th April 2009. This promise did not come in the context where it was likely that a third of … Continue reading →

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Lynton is not Dave’s real problem

Posted on July 22, 2013 by ianchisnall

The race is on. On Thursday Parliament broke up for its Summer Hols, all the prefects took off their badges and the painters and decorators can finally begin to paint the areas which are kept busy during term time. The changing … Continue reading →

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Conflicted Interests

Posted on July 19, 2013 by ianchisnall

Wednesday was one of the 20 days in the year when the opposition party gets to set the agenda and debates for Parliament as a whole. Any attempt to change the law will not be easy as it depends on winning … Continue reading →

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What did the Parties ever do for us?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by ianchisnall

The origins of the modern Political Parties can be traced as far back as the end of the 16th Century with the arrival of the Stuarts, and the end of Elizabeth I’s reign. It seems fitting that the parties are reaching the … Continue reading →

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Is it time for political disarmament?

Posted on July 16, 2013 by ianchisnall

This weekend the Sunday Politics programme revealed several issues of note. As I wrote yesterday an interview with Angela Eagle disclosed that the Labour Party and by implication other parties still have expectations that there will be a major renaissance in party membership. It … Continue reading →

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The Mirage of Mass Membership

Posted on July 15, 2013 by ianchisnall

George Santayana famously coined the phrase “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it“ I am not sure if he ever considered the opposite problem but an American author of self help books, Denis Waitley certainly did. He said “losers … Continue reading →

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Whisky Galore – A Pathetic Waste of Time and Money

Posted on July 13, 2013 by ianchisnall

The Government is guilty of a staggering level of incompetence and arrogance. First they told us they would introduce a minimum price for Alcohol, as outlined in an article in the Daily Telegraph in December 2011. It was reported that setting … Continue reading →

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Payments By Results – Parliamentary Style

Posted on July 12, 2013 by ianchisnall

The debate about MPs pay and rations is inevitably focusing on the money, but perhaps we need to try to step back and focus on value. About 10 years ago I took my car to a garage for an MOT … Continue reading →

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Does Availability equal Accountability?

Posted on July 4, 2013 by ianchisnall

This morning a conference taking place in Central London called the National Disabilities Conference will “provide a forum for discussion and debate on how best to support disabled people to live fulfilling lives, to reach their full potential.” I confess to being … Continue reading →

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Its time to balance the books

Posted on July 2, 2013 by ianchisnall

                o The similarity between David Copperfields Mr Micawber and David Camerons Eric Pickles in theory at least goes beyond the visual similarity in the images above. According to the words written for Uriah Heaps Clerk, “Annual income twenty pounds, annual … Continue reading →

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