Gavin’s Gaily Gigest

Lee unfortunately couldn’t do the animation for this week, so you’re left with only my nasal dulcet tones and the script for this week’s Politalks (ah, just like the old days) to guide you through Iraq, Obama, the Tory surge and Parliament on Youtube
Listen to this week’s Politalks:

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

[Read more →]

The Liberal Democrats have launched a new website today, calling for the MPs still in Parliament who voted for the Iraq military action to be held to account (i.e. voted out, preferably in favour of a Liberal Democrat).
Snappily titled Iraq: Hold Them to Account, it’s partially a reaction to Tory calls for an inquiry […]

[Read more →]

Listen to the show:

 

 Standard Podcast [31:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tories surge ahead in the polls, both nationally and in London, with worrying (for Ken) second choice preferences.
Jo Swinson calls for Parliament to be on Youtube (and listen out for the baby in this part).
The Iraq War five years on.
PMQs, China and Tibet.
Obama’s […]

[Read more →]

The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has decreed that the minutes of two Cabinet meetings held in the days leading up to the 2003 Iraq invasion should be disclosed to help “transparency and public understanding of the relevant issues”.
Nothing wrong with that of itself, of course - in any democracy there should be a presumption of […]

[Read more →]

From the New York Times:

So… None from Iran then.

[Read more →]

From Mary Riddell, in today’s Observer, slips up in what is an otherwise persuasively argued piece on the dangers of a war with Iran and the alternatives open to the world:
“Hundreds of thousands have died in Iraq in a war waged to wipe out non-existent WMDs. This time round, the intelligence is just as thin, but […]

[Read more →]

Via the Daily Irrelevant:

[Read more →]

Turns out the Police and Stop the War came to a compromise, and today’s protest calling for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq was able to go ahead past the Palace of Westminster… On the day the Prime Minister announced to the Commons that the number of troops serving in Iraq will be cut to […]

[Read more →]

The Stop the War coalition’s protest which the police have banned (and I’ve blogged about before) is going ahead. I know this not because I read it in the news, but because I’ve just be accosted outside King’s to come and join in. Several MPs, former MPs and “celebrity” political activists are taking part and it will […]

[Read more →]

From BBC News, noted lawyer-shooter and US Vice President Dick Cheney has come out of solitary confinement to warn Iran to say out of Iraq:
Mr Cheney told Fox News that Iran was “fishing in troubled waters” by aiding attacks on US forces and backing Shia militias involved in sectarian violence.

“I think the message that the […]

[Read more →]