The tension is mounting here in Barnet as Tory group and council leader Lynne Hillan prepares to go head-to-head with Mark Shooter. This bout is scheduled for Tuesday 7 September, at an undisclosed location (well, I don't know where it's happening).
The odds are shortening on Hillan (I can't remember how I know, but I know!). She has done enough, backing down over Allowancegate, and she has enough cronies about her to see off the challenge from the plutocratic whippersnapper. But her career has almost certainly been shortened by this episode, and Shooter might make a name for himself and go on to greater things. (Or he might just be a nice, ineffectual posh boy who... goes on to greater things cf Matthew Offord.)
I forget why I started this blogpost... oh, yeah! The other party...
The other one, no, not the one that's being led by the nose by David Cameron's Tories. The one that ran the country (ha!) until a few months ago. The Labour Party.
Of course, the Labour Party have their own rather less interesting leadership contest going on, for leader of the party nationally, the man (or woman!) who would be PM.
Hendon Constituency Labour Party is endorsing Ed Miliband in this contest. It's only an endorsement and is not binding on anyone's votes. Members of the Labour Party and affiliated trade unions and Labour MPs will all have an individual vote - they'll just be weighted outrageously heavily in favour of MPs. Ain't democracy grand?!
Predictably, I (yes, I get a vote!) am going to vote for Diane Abbott, the most left-wing candidate (I'm not sure she actually qualifies as left). I think the worst of the candidates I have seen is Ed Balls. He gave the most creepy and inept performance in the "Newsnight" debate a few weeks back; he has been the most willing to tap into xenophobia; and I saw him in action at the teachers' unions' lobby of Parliament against the axing of Building Schools for the Future. (Ridiculous pic below of Balls trying to look noble next to a dishy blonde.)
Ad Miliband (I call him that because he sounds adenoidal) will be answering questions at an event organised by Hendon CLP this Sunday. I'll miss it, as I will be stuck in motorway traffic heading back into London from Milton Keynes (see previous blogpost) - hmm, not such a bad idea going there, after all.
In spite of the strong challenge by his younger brother, I predict David Miliband will win ultimately. But is anyone watching?
Here's that pic of Ed "Queen Bee" Balls I promised you:
Showing posts with label Milton Keynes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milton Keynes. Show all posts
Friday, 20 August 2010
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Milton Keynes, here I come! Plus dates for your diary
I'm off on my hols tomorrow - two days in Milton Keynes (don't ask). As I'll probably be too busy - moping around thecentre:mk or getting lost in the Milton Keynes grid road system - to write any blogposts I thought I'd offer you some diary dates to think about.
Wednesday 25 August, 10am: deadline for submitting public questions for the next Barnet council cabinet meeting. Email questions to Nick.Musgrove@barnet.gov.uk.
Saturday 4, 11 and 18 September: community stalls in Burnt Oak, Finchley and High Barnet. Email info@barnettuc.org.uk for details.
Monday 6 September: Barnet council cabinet meeting, 7pm, Hendon Town Hall. Come and hear the public questions and see, possibly, Lynne Hillan's last performance as Barnet council leader, because...
Tuesday 7 September: Tory group meeting - secret location - Lynne Hillan vs. Mark Shooter (blow-by-blow accounts available, hopefully, on Barnet Bugle blog).
Wednesday 8 September: Barnet TUC meeting, 7-9pm, venue to be confirmed.
Tuesday 14 September: lobby of Barnet council against cuts, privatisation, loss of BSF money, Barnet Homes' treatment of Mr Meakins, senior councillors' allowance hike. 6-7pm, Hendon Town Hall, the Burroughs, NW4 4BG. More details: info@barnettuc.org.uk.
Thursday 23 September: public meeting against cuts and privatisation, 7pm, Emerald Suite, North London Business Park, NW11 1GN.
Wednesday 25 August, 10am: deadline for submitting public questions for the next Barnet council cabinet meeting. Email questions to Nick.Musgrove@barnet.gov.uk.
Saturday 4, 11 and 18 September: community stalls in Burnt Oak, Finchley and High Barnet. Email info@barnettuc.org.uk for details.
Monday 6 September: Barnet council cabinet meeting, 7pm, Hendon Town Hall. Come and hear the public questions and see, possibly, Lynne Hillan's last performance as Barnet council leader, because...
Tuesday 7 September: Tory group meeting - secret location - Lynne Hillan vs. Mark Shooter (blow-by-blow accounts available, hopefully, on Barnet Bugle blog).
Wednesday 8 September: Barnet TUC meeting, 7-9pm, venue to be confirmed.
Tuesday 14 September: lobby of Barnet council against cuts, privatisation, loss of BSF money, Barnet Homes' treatment of Mr Meakins, senior councillors' allowance hike. 6-7pm, Hendon Town Hall, the Burroughs, NW4 4BG. More details: info@barnettuc.org.uk.
Thursday 23 September: public meeting against cuts and privatisation, 7pm, Emerald Suite, North London Business Park, NW11 1GN.
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