Tony Blair, in power for nine years today, should be worried when as formidable a pair as Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes get together. The Dale-Fawkes alliance has been formed to produce The Little Red Book of New Labour Sleaze.
They want help in cataloguing 100 episodes of Labour sleaze in what they describe as "the first book ever written by internet bloggers". Are you up to contributing no more than 400 words on the scandal of your choice by 7pm on Sunday 7th May? I've already signed up to describe the tragic David Kelly affair. If you can help please email [email protected].
Just last week ConservativeHome mobilised its ChameleonArmy against the enemies of conservatism. This new initiative is another exciting example of how the internet can help to forge a popular resistance to powerful establishments.
PS It's not too late for someone to nominate Guido and Iain for one of the Conservative Movement Awards...
Great initiative Iain/Guido!!!
Posted by: Jonathan Sheppard | May 02, 2006 at 14:04
I confidently predict that this will be a best-seller.
Fantastic idea Guido & Iain.
Posted by: Mark Fulford | May 02, 2006 at 14:08
An interesting idea, although I would quibble whether all the examples Iain Dale lists are example of "sleaze".
Lord Irvine's redecorating costs, for example, appear to have been incredibly wasteful, but not sleaze. Others like the deportation of prisoners scandal seem more indicative of gross incompetence...
Posted by: James Hellyer | May 02, 2006 at 14:14
Worthwhile highlighting though :o)
Posted by: Jonathan Sheppard | May 02, 2006 at 14:15
Perhaps scandal might be better.
Posted by: Andrew Woodman | May 02, 2006 at 14:31
I'd like to see Tony "Snow Whiter-Than-White" and the seven dwarves. Surely Charles Clarke was born to play Dopey with those ears.
Posted by: Chad | May 02, 2006 at 15:25
In response to Chad's post 15:25
As Snow White was, as I understand, a character of great virtue and beauty, perish the thought that Mzzzz Jessa Jowell, Mzzzz Patricia Hewitt, Mzzzz Ruth Kelly, Margaret Beckett or Hilary Armstrong could be considered for the role.
Posted by: Paul Kennedy | May 02, 2006 at 15:52
You have my bow!
Posted by: Gregor Hopkins | May 02, 2006 at 16:03
Do not let them get away with their disgraceful conduct relating to the Single Farm Payment scheme. Any commercial man who treated his creditors the way that farmers are being treated by D.E.F.R.A.would expect a visit from large men in ill-fitting suits wishing to discuss the matter. It is even worse than foot-and-mouth, which was merely grossly incompetent.
New subject. Can anyone put me in line on where to buy a small plastic blue chameleon lapel badge, like the grotesque Vermins we used to wear in 1948? Good for a laugh.
Posted by: Big John | May 02, 2006 at 17:46
Ed, I think you need to be weary about this. I wouldn't call the David Kelly case "sleaze", and it may look as if we were trying to make cheap jibes and political capital out of the affair.
Sleaze I suppose means indiscretions, enriching oneself by abuse of office, or as we've seen, an uncontrollable libido...
Posted by: Margaret on the Guillotine | May 02, 2006 at 18:57
Perhaps the Little Red Book of Labour Scandals?
Posted by: Richard | May 02, 2006 at 19:33
Is this demanding money back that the gov. overpaid in the first place, causing everything from inconvenience to downright hardship sleaze or mere incompetance????
Posted by: Annabel Herriott | May 02, 2006 at 23:04