Chris Whiteside's Blog

Napoleon's advice to his marshals appears very appropriate to Conservatives with the news that Jeremy Corbyn has been nominated as a candidate to be leader of the Labour party. At first sight this may appear to be good news for Labour's opponents. Dan Hodges (who despite his disenchantment with Ed Miliband did vote Labour last month) wrote in the Telegraph that Jeremy Corbyn getting on to the ballot paper proves that " The lunatic wing of the Labour Party is still calling the shots. " UKIP's one MP Douglas Carswell tweeted "Please let it be Jeremy! I'm so hoping Mr Corbyn gets it! UKIP 2020 strategy to displace Labour wld get another boost" Labour MP John Mann tweeted a similar opinion but the opposite attitude "So to demonstrate our desire never to win again, Islington's Jeremy Corbyn is now a Labour leadership candidate" Many Tories have gone wild with delight, and jokingly suggested - at least, I hope it was a joke - j...

“ Never interfere with your enemy when he is making a mistake" ( Napoleon I, also attributed to various other people in various forms but you can find here the evidence that a form of this advice was first attributed within living memory of the Battle of Austerlitz as having been said at that battle by Napoleon.) I have been running through a series of Free Speech quotes this week to match up with the anniversary of Magna Carta, and I posted one this morning. However, it also occurs to me that the above quote - which of course is relevant to the other important anniversary which falls this week, that of Waterloo on 18th June 1815 at which Napoleon was finally defeated - seems particularly apposite today following Jeremy Corbyn's nomination as a candidate to be leader of the Labour party. See next post ...

Magna Carta, sealed at Runnymede 800 years ago today, was of course an instrument of power politics, a bargain between a highly imperfect king and a cabal of almost equally imperfect barons. Despite this, it was a massively important step in the development of modern civilisation for two reasons. The first is the power with which some of the concepts of justice within the law are expressed in the charter. Article 40 of the charter says, "To none will we sell, to none will we deny, to none will we delay right or justice." (Sometimes quoted in slightly different words as in the image from my quote of the day.) Those words ring down the centuries as the perfect one line summary of what any system of justice should aim for. The fact that nobody has ever quite got there does not diminish the importance of the aim, or alter the fact that our system of law comes much closer to providing justice because Article 40 of Magna Carta is ...

As we celebrate the 800th anniversary of King John's meeting with the barons at Runnymede at which he set his seal to Magna Carta ...

I used Henry Purcell's "Music for a While" for one of my "music to relax after campaigning" slots during the election. Here is another recording of the same piece, by Helen Watts, which I really enjoyed listening to. I hope some of those who visit this blog might also enjoy it. And as 400 to 500 people marched today to support hospital services in West Cumbria, I will say again, # SupportOption1

The capacity of the human mind for convincing itself that what it most wants to believe is true can be quite remarkable. For example. in the immediate aftermath of the May 2015 UK general election, several articles were published online suggesting that the result was, quote, "a smashing victory for the left." http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-uk-election-was-a-smashing-victory-for-the-left-2015-05-15 http://uk.businessinsider.com/uk-general-election-vote-statistics-how-the-left-gained-2015-5 The links above are two articles by business commentators who convinced themselves that the published results can be interpreted in this way. There have also been completely deranged posts on Youtube and elsewhere suggesting that the election was supposedly rigged . I hope that most people reading this will appreciate the links to these articles and posts as examples of how completely people can convince themselves of something ludi...

Just returned back from the march to support keeping services at West Cumberland Hospital. There was a good turnout of perhaps 400 people. When marchers arrived Castle Park there was a song and dance performance by local young people of a number from "Frozen" adapted to the need to keep our hospital services. Among the speakers was retired consultant Mahesh Dhebar who previously worked at West Cumberland Hospital and suggested that the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust should have "West" added to the title (it would then be something like North and West Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust.) It was very apparent that, despite the good humour of the meeting, there was strong and unflinching determination to make sure we keep services at our hospital in West Cumberland. This means that we must #SupportOption1" to keep consultant-led maternity and support all other services.

A march to support maintaining services at West Cumberland Hospital is being organised this afternoon (Sunday 14th June) in Whitehaven by the We Need West Cumberland Hospital group. The march begins at the Market Place gazebo at 1.30pm then will proceed up King Street, turning off at Lowther Street and walking to Castle Park. More comments on my hospitals blog at: http://savewestcumbriahospitals.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/march-for-wch-services-set-for-sunday.html

Michael Deacon has a great article in the Telegraph with some humorous translations of some of the phrases which politicians have already started to use in the run-up to the referendum. Here are some examples: “My honourable friend has given an excellent speech”: He expressed opinions I already held. “My honourable friend made his point with characteristic vigour”: I disagree with everything he said and I think he’s a shrieking nutjob. “As a matter of principle, 16 and 17 year-olds must be given the right to vote in this referendum”: I believe that they would vote the way I want them to and thus help my side win. “As a matter of principle, 16 and 17 year-olds must not be given the right to vote in this referendum”: I believe that they would not vote the way I want them to and thus help my side lose . You can read the full article at   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/11671613/What-politicians-say-about-Europe-and-what-they-really-mean.html

 

An interesting Guardian article yesterday about potential Conservative divisions over the EU Referendum, the Human Rights Act, and welfare cuts, also described David Cameron and George Osborne as "the first prime minister and chancellor in living memory to maintain warm and harmonious relations" There is no doubt whatsoever that DC and GO get on vastly better than most PM and Chancellor teams have, and ironically this especially applies where they were in place for a long time. Poor relations between the two most important members of the government has often been one of the biggest problems for the governments concerned and not usually worked in the national interest. Bad blood between Leaders of the Opposition and their Shadow chancellors have often been a problem for oppositions, too. Relations between Ed Miliband and Ed Balls were sufficiently poor that the suggestion could be made in newspapers immediately after the 2015 election that the Miliband team kne...

A march to support maintaining services at West Cumberland Hospital is being organised for Sunday 14th June by the We Need West Cumberland Hospital group. The march begins at the Market Place gazebo at 1.30pm then will proceed up King Street, turning off at Lowther Street and walking to Castle Park. More comments on my hospitals blog at: http://savewestcumbriahospitals.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/march-for-wch-services-set-for-sunday.html

Today seems to have been a particularly sad day for the world of entertainment, with three significant figures from that world reaching the end of their mortal lives. Beside Sir Christopher Lee whose death a few days ago was announced today, there were similar obituary announcements for Ron Moody, famous for playing Fagin in "Oliver," and for Jazz star Ornette Coleman. All died rich in years - at 93, 91, and 85 respectively and all will be missed. But I particularly want to remember Sir Christopher Lee who had a very long and truly spectacular career - he said he wanted to die with his boots on and indeed was planning another film at the time of his death. As a young man Christopher Lee served in RAF intelligence during World War II. He was quoted as saying that "I was attached to the SAS from time to time but we are forbidden – former, present, or future – to discuss any specific operations. Let's just say I was in Special Forces and leave it at that. People c...

"I pay tribute and give credit to Ed Miliband. That was the best manifesto I have stood on in four elections" ( Andy Burnham speaking in Dublin (!) on 9th June 2015) "Best Manifesto, Worst result." ( Ben @Jamin2g on twitter in response to this comment.)

Today the Eurepean Parliament debated relations between the EU and Russia. French Front Nationale and British UKIP members of the European parliament have voted against a proposal requiring greater transparency in foreign donations to European political parties. This proposal was then put forward: This was passed by 494 votes to 135, with 69 abstentions. Most mainstream parties supported this, including Conservative and Labour MEPs. The opposition to the motion came from the Communist and other far left groups, unattached nationalists, and the EFDD group, which consists of UKIP and their allies.

"'Cynical' in politics roughly translates to 'Damn, something the other side's doing is working.'" ( Frank Underwood @Frank_Underwood - Tweet yesterday retweeted by Guido.)

Debate has begun on the proposed EU Referendum bill which will give the British people the final say in the direction of this country's relationship with Europe. An "entire generation" has been denied a say on the UK's place in Europe, Philip Hammond has said as he opened the debate.   The foreign secretary said the EU had a "wafer-thin democratic mandate" in the UK and the people must have "the final say" on its future direction. Mr Hammond said a vote - which would be the first on the UK's links with Europe since 1975 - was needed to renew the democratic legitimacy of the UK's relationship with the 28-member body. "We've had referendums on Scottish devolution, referendums on Welsh devolution, referendums on our electoral system and on a regional assembly for the North East," he said. "But an entire generation of British voters has been denied the chance to have a say on our relationship with the European Un...

A march to support maintaining services at West Cumberland Hospital is being organised for Sunday 14th June by the We Need West Cumberland Hospital group. The march begins at the Market Place gazebo at 1.30pm then will proceed up King Street, turning off at Lowther Street and walking to Castle Park. More comments on my hospitals blog at: http://savewestcumbriahospitals.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/march-for-wch-services-set-for-sunday.html

" ... there is an even greater number of people, even though they were not enthusiastic about David Cameron or the Tories, who feel relieved that we are not in government.  We have got to address it. It was not a blip.” ( Harriet Harman, acting leader of the Labour party in an interview in yesterday's  Independent recognising that even many of the Labour party's own voters did not have confidence in the party's ability to run the economy)

Those who remember "Not the Nine O'clock News" may recall a sketch about the fact that when politicians die those who were there opponents, rivals or enemies in life often line up to praise them. The usual assumption is that either the praise after their death or the criticism after it is hypocritical, though I am not convinced that this is true. Many humans are complex characters and it is quite possible to admire some aspects of an individual and detest others - when praise or criticism are called for it is often possible to select from your genuine opinions something to say which is both sincere and appropriate. In the "Political Obit" sketch two politicians are hurling insults in a TV broadcast when one of them has a heart attack and dies live on TV. The other switches in mid sentence from insult to apparently sanctimonious praise ... (Snarling) "This is the kind of politician   -  who - (thump) (Sermonising) " - will be greatly missed. A...

" Even Labour supporters were glad we didn't win the election says interim leader ," is the headline in today's Independent. Either Harriet Harman has had an attack of candour or someone from the Conservative Campaign Centre has managed to slip Sodium Pentathol in her coffee. Extracts from the interview: "In a candid interview with The Independent , Labour’s interim leader admitted the widespread doubts about the party’s leadership and economic credibility cost it dearly.  She said Labour’s much-trumpeted 6m conversations with voters counted for little because the party had the “wrong message.”   Many people felt Labour was not talking to them ..." "Initial post-election focus groups ... uncovered a feeling of relief among Labour voters than the party had not won.  One supporter in Ealing Central and Acton confessed to being “a little bit disappointed and a little bit relieved.” The same view was expressed across the country, highlighting how ...

Andrew Neil seems to be making a habit of giving Cumbrian MPs a hard time - after making Jamie Reed look very bad indeed he had a fairly tough interview with Tim Farron today ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02t4gqm

The Bishop of Carlisle (The Right Reverend James Newcombe) was in Whitehaven this morning for a confirmation at St James' Church. There was a little difficulty at first with his microphone - e.g. when it should be on or off. However, at least he managed to avoid either doing a Gordon Brown or repeating the urban legend of the bishop who was struggling to get his microphone to work. The story goes that after three attempts to get the mike to turn on, the bishop turned his chaplain and said "There seems to be something wrong with this microphone." Hearing him speak without being able to make out the words, and assuming that he had said the first words in the order of service, which were 'The Lord be with you,' the congregation of several hundred replied in unison with the next words from the order of service, "And also with you." As I say, happily we avoided that this morning.

Charles Wood's "O thou the central orb" is a glorious piece of choral music which I thought would make a good Sunday Music Slot. And don't forget both to #SupportOption1 for consultant-led maternity at WCH and support other services too by joining the march one week today (14th June)

This music slot is of extracts from Handel's Creation It includes rare footage of "The Heavens are Telling" with the words the right way round. The first major musical performance I ever took part in was Haydn's oratorio "The Creation" for which my school choir started rehearsals when I was 11. The first thing which the school's Director of Music, Simon Lindley, told us to do after issuing our copies of the Ivor Novello score was to put a line through each page of the chorus "The Heavens are telling" and paperclip those pages closed: he then issued us with a separate pamphlet version of this chorus. I was curious enough at the time to compare the two versions and soon spotted the difference - the version we were singing has "The Heavens are telling the Glory of God: the firmament displays His wondrous handiwork." The version we were told to cross out had "The Heavens are telling the Glory of God: the wonder of His wo...