Yvette Cooper - yesterday's woman?

Seeing Yvette Cooper on television over the last few months one is left wondering if she thinks we were all born yesterday. Last night she was trying to hold the line on the 9.3% cuts and the message the leak gave us. She waffles and she whines. For heaven's sake, Yvette, get a grip and speak the truth. No more spin, no more subterfuge. Just try a bit of honesty for a change.

Here's a good example of her waffle!

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Gordon Brown 'appalled' by bank bonuses

Gordon Brown says he is appalled by that some financial firms are continuing - or even extending - their bonus culture. Perhaps this son of the manse could enter into a dialogue with the Anglican priest who heads up HSBC and determine what sort of moral compass banks would be best following?

A really good moral compass always steers one in the right direction!

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Alan Duncan on half rations!

Alan Duncan has paid the price - half his rations taken away. David Cameron had his summer holidays to contend with before he decided what to do with the shadow leader of the House. The press think he has been demoted, Duncan thinks it is all very fine and large, we don't really know what David Cameron thinks and the public have more to get worked up about.

This expenses fall-out will carry on right up to the general election. Who is sleazier that who and who is more saintly than the next will be the issue that floats in and out to derail all the proper stuff about the economy and the rest of the government's record.

The voters have not given their memories a makeover yet it seems.

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Nadine Dorries puts libel suit on Brown's gang

No nonsense Tory MP Nadine Dorries has decided that she will sue the muckrakers at the heart of the Brown Bunker. Or more properly the former muckrakers, as Gordon Brown dismissed the emailer of all emailers Damien McBride and his fellow smearer Derek Draper, who was given the bargepole treatment. Good name for a smearer, Draper! Draping everything with a gungy substance.

Gordon Brown is getting a writ too as "No 10". These three in the witness box will make colourful sight. I sincerely hope there is not going to be a stitch-up before it all comes to trial. We should be able to hear exactly what a spin doctor thinks is right or wrong.

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Balls-up or what over Libya?

Ed Balls has come out to tell the listening public that "none of us wanted to see the release of al-Megrahi but that wasn't a judgement made by the British government it was a decision made by the Scottish executive." Do I believe him? It is hard to be convinced by a bunch of inveterate weasel wordsmiths such have infested what is laughingly called New Labour. More like Humpty Dumpty that Mother Theresa, I feel.

The Scottish Government came to the British Government's rescue. Ever since Blair cosied up to Gaddafi in that tent, the aim of the New Labour regime has been to do deals with Libya. Oil deals, trade deals - any deal that helps. al-Megrahi was a kind of fly in the ointment. We don't really know if he was the bomber anyway. Gaddafi might as well have serpents for hair for all the truthfulness he has been involved with. I have some sympathy with Dr Jim Swire's take on events. The fact that a Maltese shopkeeper could finger a Libyan in such a way and for it to pass the minds of Scottish judges as reliable evidence is cause for concern. But not enough concern if you've got BP executives desperate to get into that tent as well. Gordon Brown is hardly likely to want to dig up the truth. Far better a rambling set of ever-changing anwers.

So the basic conclusion is I don't believe Ed Balls. In fact, I wouldn't bother proverbially throwing him, because any distance he went would not be a suitable test for establishing the truth!

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