Chris Whiteside's Blog

To relax after the last day of campaigning in May. For more than one reason I really missed a trick not using this one earlier in the month!

Well, that "leaders debate" was a couple of hours which the people who watched won't get back, I suspect it will only influence the most miniscule number of votes because the people watching had already made up their minds how to vote. In historical context the decision of the Prime Minister and the First Minister of Scotland not to attend is not at all unusual. Here is a potted history of all the times over the past fifty-three years when a leader's debate has been called for and why it usually didn't happen. There has been precisely one election - in 2010 - when it was agreed to get the plausible candidates to be Prime Minister (Brown, Cameron and Clegg at that time) in front of the cameras for a series of three debates.  Here is an interesting BBC report from the time on the history leading up to that series of debates. Since them, in an understandable but ultimately futile attempt to be fair to all parties, we h...

Amazingly the most ridiculous manifesto put forward by a party represented in parliament in this election is not that of the Labour party, dire though their offering is. No, it belongs to the SNP and is fact-checked by Channel 4 at   https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/the-snp-manifesto Large parts of the SNP  manifesto relate to matters determined by the Scottish parliament: the promises and claims concerned were relevant to the recent election for MSPs but have no relevance whatsoever to the Westminster MPs who are currently being elected. "For instance, the SNP are promising “the continuation of free university education in Scotland”. But it is constitutionally impossible for their MPs in Westminster to do this, because education is a devolved issue in Scotland." The SNP's addiction to borrowing and to the "magic money tree" appear to be even worse than Labour's: for instance "The SNP seems to be the only party openly flouting one ...

The first thing to say about polls is that the only one that matters takes place on 8th June. The opinion polls led people to have false expectations in the 2015 general election, in the 2016 referendum, and in the 2016 US Presidential election. The latter was the most understandable since Hillary Clinton did carry the popular vote - although this should warn us not to map polls directly to results in Britain too, since just as the US uses a state-by-state electoral college to elect their president, Britain elects a House of Commons from 650 constituencies each returning one MP. Part of the problem is that pollsters have to make a large number of assumptions and adjustments to correct for bias in their samples - some types of voter are much harder to reach - adjust for differential turnout, guess what voters who say they have not yet made their minds up are likely to do, etc. These assumptions can radically affect what the poll predicts. There is a ve...

Following a meeting at Whitehaven Golf Club on May 16th, NUGEN issued the following statement about their Strategic review. NuGen’s CEO Tom Samson held a series of meetings with elected representatives and technical and special interest groups in Cumbria to discuss the company’s current transitional phase. Following recent news on challenges to NuGen’s Moorside project due to shareholder and reactor vendor issues, NuGen initiated a series of face-to-face meetings with communities and representative groups in West Cumbria to discuss the current situation. Held at Whitehaven Golf club, the Moorside Technical Group (MTG) was followed by an elected members’ briefing where parish council, local authority and county councillors were briefed on NuGen’s plans, and given the opportunity to ask questions about the situation. Tom Samson set the scene by outlining NuGen’s “ tough start to 2017 ” when the extent of financial issues affecting Toshiba and reactor vendor Westinghouse...

The challenge of paying for good social care is one of the biggest facing our country. Here is what the Conservatives will do about this huge challenge if Theresa May is re-elected in the General Election on 8th June.

Question: Did you think the Falklands war was a Tory Plot? Jeremy Corbyn: No Question:   Why did you say you did, then? (Twitter post about last night's debate) Link to story about how Jeremy Corbyn did make that comment at a Haringey council meeting in 1982 can be found here .

"There is no safe way to vote Labour on June 8th" (Penultimate sentence of an article on CAPX by Graeme Archer which you can read here .

CONSERVATIVES HAVE PROTECTED PENSIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. The Conservative-led coalition government introduced the "Triple lock" on pensions in 2010. As a result, The state pension has increased by more than £1,250 in the last seven years . A decade ago, poverty blighted the retirement of many older people. That’s why we introduced the Triple Lock – where the State Pension rises by whichever is highest of earnings, inflation, or 2.5 per cent. That has worked – increasing the full basic state pension by over £1,250 in cash terms and reducing pensioner poverty to historically low levels. This also represents a significant increase in real terms in the state pension. The Conservatives will keep the "Triple Lock" until 2020 in line with the 2015 manifesto. After that there will be a "Double Lock" so that the state pension will increase in line with inflation or average earnings, whichever is higher. We will also take action to ensure that...

This is what the Conservatives are actually proposing in respect of education funding:

" Walking the streets of Manchester, I find tolerance rather than hatred " (On learning of the terrorist attack) "Not Manchester, I think. Terrorist attacks happen everywhere else, but not here, not in my home city." "I feel sad and angry. How could anyone target children?" "I go out into Manchester city centre. Other than a few police officers in Market Street, which is where all the shops are, it seemed like any other day. Hundreds of people were in St Ann’s Square laying flowers in tribute to the victims." "Where’s the hate, I wondered? The vast majority of people in times such as these come together and offer support. Do not believe the loud voices shouting about “Islamophobia” and the backlash against Muslims." "British people, on the whole, are marvellous and tolerant ...  British Muslims are overwhelmingly fortunate to live here." (Extracts from an excellent article in the Sunday Times by British Muslim I...

There is a good article by former Labour and union activist Dan Hodges on why he will be voting Conservative on 8th June which you can read here . One person had criticised him with the words "So you're going to vote for May because you don't like how Jeremy Corbyn wears his tie." Dan replies "It was never about his tie. On Friday, my wife and son were due to attend an Ariana Grande concert at the O2 arena. When people target – don’t simply murder, but deliberately target – children, I expect my Prime Minister to say ‘the blame is with the terrorists’, and then stop."

Four movements of Vivaldi's magnificent " Gloria in Excelsis Deo " (Glory to God in the highest) sung by the choir of King's College, Cambridge.

It would be fair to say that the Institute for Fiscal Studies is no friend to either the Conservatives or Labour. They have been critical of both the Labour and Conservative manifestos. Personally however I find their criticisms of Labour's preposterous spending plans both more convincing and more damning. Labour candidates may claim that their manifesto plans are "fully costed" but the reality is that the Institute for Fiscal Studies has taken those plans to pieces. Labour says it can raise £49bn a year through tax rises - £52bn minus £3bn of slack. The IFS argues that at the very least £11bn of that £52bn is not going to materialise on the grounds that the party has overestimated what it will get from taxing the rich and hitting tax avoidance (see below). They also warned that the remaining £41bn was "very generous" and that corporation tax rises wouldn't deliver the claimed savings beyond 2022. Taxing the rich and companies hits everyone, n...

Copeland Conservatives had two good campaigning sessions today in Distington and Gilgarran, canvassing for Trudy Harrison and conducting a postal vote knock-up. As something for anyone who has been out campaigning today to unwind to, here is a Bach Concerto. But when I say "Bach" I don't mean Johann Sebastian Bach - J.S. Bach is the best known member of the family today but by no means the only one. As Wikipedia puts it, "The Bach family was of importance in the history of music for nearly two hundred years, with over 50 known musicians and several notable composers, the best-known of whom was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). [1] A family genealogy was drawn up by Johann Sebastian Bach himself in 1735, his 50th year, and completed by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel ." This rather charming Harpsichord concerto was written by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach , the eldest son of JS Bach and a very distinguished musician in his own right.

That trying to post both a picture and a poll (serious or otherwise) on the same tweet is not something which twitter handles very well, unfortunately ...

A government Health Minister has praised Copeland’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for her commitment to local health services and spoken about plans to further develop West Cumberland Hospital if the Conservatives are re-elected. Straight after being s worn in after winning the Copeland by-election Trudy Harrison met with Philip Dunne, Minister of State at the Department of Health, to reinforce the strength of local feeling, the need for vital services to stay in Whitehaven and to urge the required funding to complete the final phase of construction at West Cumberland Hospital. Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Health, who recently visited WCH, said yesterday: "Trudy Harrison has already shown herself to be a strong champion for local health services and has lent her support to West Cumberland’s bid for new capital investment as part of the long planned improvements in this area.” The trust has been removed from Special Measures, a fully staffed maternity ward i...

Boris Johnson writes ...  "We can’t let Corbyn get away with this. We can’t let Corbyn get away with this Chris Last night Jeremy Corbyn was interviewed by Andrew Neil – and spent the whole interview trying to escape from everything he’s said and done in his 30 years in politics.              We can’t let him get away with it.              Everyone needs to see this video showing his true views – so please watch and share it right now.      The fact is Jeremy Corbyn backed the IRA, doesn’t support NATO, wouldn’t renew Trident, wants to increase immigration and wants to massively increase taxes on working families.              And can you imagine him negotiating Brexit on behalf of Britain?        ...

In which the leader of the Labour party demonstrates that he does not understand the meaning of the word "borrowing." Jeremy Corbyn was interviewed by Andrew Neil in this clip below first broadcast on 26th May and the section in which they discussed borrowing runs from 22 minutes to 24 minutes into this interview: Here is a transcript of part of the relevant section: Note that this post has been modified: originally I posted an image here in good faith which appeared to be a reference to this interview but it's authenticity has been challenged. I therefore took it down and replaced with video and text showing clearly and definitively what was actually said.

Bach to work with Copeland Conservatives out campaigning in Bransty ward this evening in glorious sunshine. I think it was the first time since I have lived at this latitude that my wife warned me as I was on my way out of the door to go campaigning to put some sunscreen on (which I did.) For all those who have been out campaigning this evening and doubtless returned home hot tired and thirsty, here is some music to unwind to.

As campaigning resumes, Prime Minister Theresa May writes: Subject: An important message Chris An important message Chris The last few days have been some of the most difficult that we have faced as a nation. All acts of terrorism are cowardly attacks on innocent people, but the attack in Manchester stands out for its appalling, sickening cowardice.             We experienced the worst of humanity in Manchester, but we also saw the best. The cowardice of the attacker met the bravery of the emergency services and the people of Manchester. The attempt to divide us met countless acts of kindness that brought people closer together. And in the days ahead, those must be the things we remember. As I said on the steps of Number 10, our country and our way of life will always prevail. And in just under two weeks’ time millions of us will go to the polls, exercising our demo...

"A moment’s thought will confirm that there is no foreign policy Britain could introduce that could possibly appease the likes of Abedi.  We are damned if we intervene, and damned if we don’t.  If we intervene, we are accused of imperialism and wars for oil.  If we don’t, we are accused of indifference to the plight and slaughter of Muslims."   "But in any event, foreign policy is not, repeat not, the sole or even the main cause of Islamist terror." "Military intervention, non-intervention, secular government, liberal democracy, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, women’s freedom, gay rights, Jews, Shia Muslims, Sufis, the technological superiority of the west, the backwardness of much of the Muslim-majority world – all these assemble in the minds of Islamist fanatics, like a collage on a teenager’s wall, to provoke a primal scream of fear and hatred.  That many of them have previous form as criminals and addicts, are not in a stable relationship...

As previously mentioned the UK will be observing a minute's silence in memory of the victims of the Manchester bombing, at 11am today (25th May.) Local political campaigning will resume at noon today following that act of respect, and then national political campaigning will resume from tomorrow. There are legitimate difference of opinion about how long political campaigning should have been suspended for in the wake of this dreadful act of terrorism, but I think this gets it about right. I don't agree with those who suggest that suspending campaigning for a few days was a victory for the bomber. If the political parties had stopped campaigning because they were afraid, it might be seen that way, but that is not what happened. As one Mancunian friend of mine tweeted observing Manchester's busy shopping centres the day after the bombing, "the terrorists can't even stop us shopping!" Most of Britain's politicians chose to suspend campaigning for a...

"Donald Trump says re Manchester the terrorists want to be called monsters, so he's going to call them losers." ( Faisal Islam , on twitter) "OK. You know what? That isn't stupid." ( David Baddiel , on twitter.)

"Lux Aeterna" (Eternal light shine apon them) from the Mozart Requiem

There will be a minute's silence at 11am tomorrow (Thursday 25th May) in memory of those killed in the Manchester terror atrocity.

"What on earth goes through the mind of someone who could do this? Yet the sacrilege of it must be the point. The more blameless the victims, the more everyday the circumstances, the more we all see ourselves in it and the wider the impact. The natural instinct is to hunker down at home and count your blessings, retreat into the domestic and familiar – which is one reason politicians have rightly suspended campaigning for a few days, to the palpable disappointment of those whose opportunism knows no bounds. As if anyone wants to see MPs sniping at each other about their manifesto costings right now, or fielding shouted questions about counter-terrorism strategy while posing for photo opportunities in Nuneaton nurseries." Of Manchester: "My parents moved to Manchester in the 1990s, the heyday of the Haçienda club, when I went to university. Some of the best nights of my life were spent back home in that city. It was always big enough to be exciting, but still just ...

This afternoon I will confess to being quite upset at seeing the picture of the lovely eight-year-old girl who was one of the 22 people murdered last night in Manchester in an indescribably evil act of barbarism.  A few minutes later I read a tweet in memory of the late Sir Roger Moore, who has also just died, with a charming story about his kindness and humour towards a seven-year-old boy (and again 23 years later when the boy had become a man.) Here is the tweet.  https://twitter.com/MrKenShabby/status/867036448037511169  I hope those who do not share any religious faith or may think this comment to be theologically unsound will forgive me a piece of whimsy which is giving me a little bit of comfort on a very sad day.  I'm imagining Sir Roger Moore and that eight year old girl meeting outside the Pearly Gates, and him cheering her up with his unique sense of humour the way he did that seven year old boy back in 1983.

When he was cast to play James Bond, Roger Moore,  who has died at the age of 89 after a short battle with cancer, reportedly said "I'm not as good as Connery but I'm taller." I disagree. Connery was and is a brilliant actor but Roger Moore was just as good. I will particularly remember him as Bond and as The Saint but he had a very rich and varied career. To paraphrase the theme from one of the Bond films, "Nobody did it better. Rest in Peace.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk , tweeted that " My heart is in Manchester this night. Our thoughts are with the victims." Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull told the Australian parliament, "This is an attack on innocents. Surely there is no crime more reprehensible than the murder of children." "This is a direct and brutal attack on young people everywhere, on freedom everywhere." Metro Mayor of Birmingham Andy Burnham , transcript of speech this morning: Statement from the Muslim Council of Britain: President Trump: "My thoughts are with the people of Manchester after this terrible attack." Of the perpetrators: "They were evil losers. I won't call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that was a great name. I will call them losers from now on. And we'll have more of them. But they're losers, just remember that. Chanc...

TO ALL CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS In view of the terrible incident in Manchester last night and out of respect and remembrance for those killed and injured, the Prime Minister has decided that there should be no campaigning of any sort at any level until further notice. I am sure that all our thoughts are with those affected. Rt. Hon Sir Robert Atkins Chairman, North West Conservatives.

Following the dreadful atrocity at Manchester here is what various people have had to say. HOME SECRETARY AMBER RUDD “This was a barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable in our society - young people and children out at a pop concert.” “The great city of Manchester has been affected by terrorism before. Its spirit was not bowed; its community continued. “This time it has been a particular attack on the most vulnerable in our society - its intention was to sow fear - its intention is to divide. But it will not succeed.” METRO MAYOR OF MANCHESTER ANDY BURNHAM PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY "We are working to establish the full details of what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack. “All our thoughts are with the victims and the families of those who have been affected.”

Thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the reported explosion at Manchester Arena, particular those who have died and their families and loved ones, and all those who have been injured or are searching for people they love.

Which of Britain's political parties do you think would be most likely to act as in the way described in the following true story? During a general election campaign, a nurse confronts the leader of a government, complaining about the stress under which NHS staff are placed and adding that she has to make use of food banks. The governing party goes into full attack mode against the nurse: a parliamentary candidate  (I would say MP except that technically there are no MPs during a general election) wrongly describes the nurse on a BBC programme as being married to a councillor of an opposing political party. Facebook pictures showing the nurse on a holiday abroad are plastered all over social media as she is vehemently attacked online by hundreds of supporters of the government party. The same pictures and appear in a prominent newspaper. It soon comes out that the parliamentary candidate who attacked the nurse on the BBC was encouraged to d...

Copeland Conservatives had a good campaign session in Whitehaven this evening and were joined by Alistair Burt who travelled all the way from Bedford to support Trudy Harrison. Here is the first movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" for piano as something for anyone who was out campaigning today to unwind to.

"We've actually produced a grown-up manifesto." (Kenneth Clark MP asked on radio about some of the less popular measures in the Conservative manifesto refers to the fact that it actually addresses some of the difficult decisions which will have to be taken, for example to fund adult social care.

" J o Cox was a force of nature , a five-foot bundle of Yorkshire grit and determination absolutely committed to helping other people." (Andrew Mitchell, Conservative International Development Secretary 2010-12, on Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered a year ago and remembered around the country today.)

A rather different treatment of the tunes to "On Ilkley Moor Baht 'at" in a baroque style ...

During the Copeland by election a huge proportion of the Labour campaign was devoted to scaremongering about the NHS much of which bore very little resemblance to the truth. * They claimed that "the Tories" were proposing to remove hospital beds from Keswick Community hospital when the Conservatives were proposing no such thing and the actual proposal from the "success regime" for community hospitals was to INCREASE the number of beds at Keswick. * They claimed that there was a threat from "the Tories" to remove Accident and Emergency service at West Cumberland Hospital when the Conservatives were proposing no such thing, and nor was the "success regime." * In relation to the proposal from the "success regime" to remove in-patient maternity services at WCH - and this proposal did exist but all local parties oppose it - they suggested that  a vote for any party other than Labour would mean that "babies will die" and be br...

Can I repeat the apology to anyone who has been having difficulty getting hold of me in the past few days, particularly by email or social media. I have been having, and continue to have, some intermittent but serious communication problems - nothing to do with the hackers who attacked West Cumberland Hospital and many other institutions worldwide, I suspect this will turn out to be just wear and tear on a copper cable. A visit by an engineer has reduced the problem but not eliminated it. One person on social media is saying that he has sent me emails to which I have not replied. This is because I have not received them. I'm not going to go over to a mobile supplier because mobile signal reception in the vicinity of my home is rubbish and BT Infinity is not yet available to me at home, though it will be soon. Incidentally through no fault of mine I do NOT yet have a county council email which works, although county IT have this in h...

As the PM was in Yorkshire today to launch the Conservative Manifesto, it seems only appropriate after campaigning to relax to the Yorkshire anthem, "On Ilkey Moor Baht 'at." These are the words I know to the song (there are other versions!) 1. " Wheer hast tha' bin sin I saw thee (I saw thee) On Ilkley Moor baht 'at? Wheer hast tha' bin sin I saw thee (I saw thee) Wheer hast tha' bin sin I saw thee? (bin sin I saw thee) (Chorus) On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At, On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At, On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At! 2. Thou's bin a-courtin' Mary Jane (Mary Jane) On Ilkley Moor baht 'at? Thou's bin a-courtin' Mary Jane (Mary Jane) Thou's bin a-courtin' Mary Jane (courtin' Mary Jane) (Chorus) On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At, On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At, On Ilkley Moor Baht 'At! 3. Thou's goin to catch thee death of cowld (death of cowld) On Ilkley Moor baht 'at Thou's goin to catch thee death of co...

(Stephen Daisley, on why Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party is not party most long-standing Labour supporters have traditionally backed. This comes from the same Spectator article as yesterday's quote, and it can be read here .)

Today this blog passed 800,000 pageviews since the traffic counters went on a few years ago. Thanks to everyone who visited in that time.

Prime Minister Theresa May writes about her speech today launching the Conservative manifesto: Forward together. Forward together   Today I launched my manifesto for Britain’s future. It is a manifesto to see us through Brexit and beyond – and a plan for a stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain. I need your help to deliver it. Please volunteer for our campaign and let’s secure the strong and stable leadership our country needs.   The next five years are the most challenging that Britain has faced in my lifetime. Brexit will define us: our place in the world, our economic security and our future prosperity. So now more than ever, Britain needs a strong and stable government to get the best Brexit deal for our country and its people. Now more than ever, Britain needs strong and stable leadership to make the most of the opportunities Brexit brings for hardworking families. And now more than ever, Britain needs...

"Of course, there is a narrow sliver of public opinion to the right of Jeremy Corbyn and the left of Norman Tebbit. It’s called ‘ the country’ ." (Stephen Daisley, on winning the middle ground, in a Spectator article which you can read here .)

Can I apologise to anyone who has been having difficulty getting hold of me in the past few days, particularly by email or social media. I have been having, and continue to have, some intermittent but serious communication problems - nothing to do with the hackers who attacked West Cumberland Hospital and many other institutions worldwide, I suspect this will turn out to be just wear and tear on a copper cable. (And before any fan of mobile broadband asks me why I don't go over to a mobile supplier, the answer is that mobile signal reception in the vicinity of my home is rubbish.) I'm posting this during one of the few periods in the past 36 hours when the broadband connection has stayed up long enough to permit me to do so. We're due an engineering visit tomorrow, in the meantime please bear with me. My telephone line is still working. My number is in the telephone directory because I want human beings to be able to get hold of me (unle...

Chancellor Philip Hammond has been doing some analysis of the proposals in the Labour manifesto. Big surprise - Labour's sums don't add up. This is what he has to say ... Paid for by you, Christopher   We’ve been going through the numbers in Jeremy Corbyn’s manifesto - and what we discovered might shock you.             The amount Labour want to spend is £58 billion more than the amount they are going to raise. That’s a £58 billion black hole in a single year - paid for by every family in the country with higher taxes and more debt.   Jeremy Corbyn said his manifesto was ‘fully costed’ - but if he can’t be trusted to add up properly, then how can anyone trust him to run the economy or negotiate the right Brexit deal for Britain? We have to make sure there’s no chance of him getting into No 10 – donate today and stop him putting our economy at risk. This £58 billion black hole i...