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Not a very good week for bloggers
First Guido makes a fool of himself on Newsnight.
Then Iain Dale makes an arse of himself in the Telegraph.
Defections from the Conservatives to the Lib Dems have cost the Tories control of at least two Councils (Dover, and Crawley) this year.
A reselected Conservative councillor joined the lib dems in (key swing seat) Torbay just the other week.
One understands Iain's anxiety to show a defection to the world. Few parties have been so affected by defections (and sackings) as the tories in recent years. Two Tory MPs have crossed the House to sit on the government benches, one joined the Ulster Unionists. And a host of Tory Lords have joined up with UKIP.
I may be wrong, but the last high profile defection to the Tories was probably that of Reg Prentice, about as long ago as their last by-election gain in opposition in Ashfield.
But if you enter "Ashfield election" in Google today you will find this story - from last week - at the head of the list:
The Liberal Democrats have swept to victory in the Sutton North County Council by-election with a massive 44% swing. The Sutton North seat had traditionally been safe Labour, however Labour's grip on the seat was smashed as the Lib Dem candidate Jason Zadrozny romped home with 1979 votes whilst Labour took just 435.
Things ain't like they used to be when Thatcher was on the road to power.
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I guess that's "last by-election gain" rather than "last by-election win"...? Not that that's any less damning.
In fairness, I think their last by-election gain was Mitcham and Morden in 1982 (Angela Rumbold). Not much less damning and it does give us an opportunity to break open the bubbly on 3 June to celebrate Dame Angela's silver jubilee - indeed, I think we should get an extra bank holiday for it and really make a day of it.
Will and James
Thanks - I have now wtitten exactly what I intended to write! (I hadn´t forgotten Mitcham and Morden really...)
I said it wasn´t a very good week for bloggers!
Peter
And another former Conservative joins the Lib Dems.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=94039564&blogID=247363738
Peter
"may be wrong, but the last high profile defection to the Tories was probably that of Reg Prentice, about as long ago as their last by-election gain in opposition in Ashfield"
Do MEPs defection count? In 2002 Richard Balfe MEP defected from Lab to Con.
Dear old Richard Balfe - even the tories will be keeping quiet about that one. It is a defection, but not really high profile. He defected to maintain his position as quaestor (? spelling). Balfe is best known for running the MEPs (controversial) pension scheme.
'One joined the Ulster Unionists' - if it's Andrew Hunter you're talking about, he joined the DUP.
You win a cigar
Peter
http://pigeon-post.blogspot.com/