Called to Account

Clegg's office just called. They will be handing the aforementioned expense claim details for Clegg over* on Wednesday. Can't wait to find out if he has spent on bedroom furnishings...

*See what Guido did there?

Where Are Clegg's Expenses?

It is 43 days since Nick Clegg told us with regard to MP's expenses

"...there is no earthly reason why the rest of the information should not be published immediately. Any delay will only add to the British public’s distrust in their politicians.”

It is a month since they were due to be delivered according to the time-table given to Guido by his spin-mistress Hannah Gardiner. Where are the expenses?

Hannah gave an entirely different (and somewhat irrelevant) explanation to Sky's Cheryl Smith. If there is one thing Guido learnt from Hain's expenses scandal, is that delay is a sign of something to hide. Guido has called Clegg's office repeatedly asking when his expenses will be published. As Clegg told us himself, delay will only add to distrust...

Still No Sign of Clegg's Expenses

Do you remember back in March when Nick Clegg righteously boomed that the delaying of publication of MPs' expenses is a "hammer blow" to public confidence in the Commons?

Do you remember Guido called his office and asked when he would be publishing his expenses. They said in two weeks. The two weeks passed and no publication was made. Things got very testy, they denied telling me what they had told me. So Guido pressed them. They would be publishing them "in a few weeks" said Hannah his spin-mistress. So that meant "that month [April] not next month?", pressed Guido There was some "humphing" from Hannah.

The month has passed.

Vince Backs McCain

He has just told Brillo on the Daily Politics that he would rather support McCain against Hillary Clinton. This puts him to the right of many Cameroons...

+++ Cable : Clegg's Position "Unassailable" +++

Vince has just recorded an interview for GMTV, telling Jackie Ashley that the LibDems were not doing well enough. She asked if Clegg's position was "unassailable"? The ballroom dancing Ming assassin said Clegg was "completely unassailable".

Be afraid Nick, very afraid...

Clegg : the FCS Days, Denials and Delays

Calamity Clegg is denying this story that he was a member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association, unfortunately nobody believes him. Greg Hands MP says "There was only one Nick Clegg at Robinson College, and Nick Clegg was a member of CUCA." He should know, he was counting on Clegg's votes in the internal CUCA elections.

The Huhnie monsters accused Clegg of having a Tory past during the leadership election, something he denied at the time, as he does now.

Changing the subject, his press team told Guido a few weeks ago they would be publishing his expenses about now. Now Hannah in his office says they didn't tell Guido that, and they will be publishing his expenses in "a few weeks". Just as well, because Clegg himself warned us nearly a month ago that “Any delay will only add to the British public’s distrust in their politicians.”

Poor the Sarah

Spotted last night - Sarah Teather eating alone. Maybe Recess Monkey's campaign on her behalf should be re-started? Fact: she has a large collection of Paprika jars.

Guido fears she could in a few years turn into a liberal version of Anne Widdecombe...

UPDATE : While Hague had 14 beers a day, Clegg tells GQ magazine that he has dabbled his pork sword with some 30 different women. Sarah needs to keep her side up...

LibDemVoice has a copy of a press release from Nick Clegg about the speaker blocking the full publication of MP's expenses in full.

“There are legitimate grounds for appealing the decision to publish private addresses. However, there is no earthly reason why the rest of the information should not be published immediately.

“Any delay will only add to the British public’s distrust in their politicians.”

So Guido called Nick Clegg's office.

GF : I see from Nick's press release that he thinks MPs should publish their full expenses immediately. When is he going to publish his expenses?
Tim : I don't know. Can I get his press officer Hannah to call you?

So Guido called Lynne Featherstone, who is very strong on the issue...

GF : When is Lynne going to publish her expenses in full?
Ian : Err, don't know. I'll ask her.
GF : Great, get back to me.

Guido called Ed Davey's Office.

GF : When is Ed going to publish his expenses in full?
Kerry : He will as soon as he can. We have had staffing problems and he has been very busy with the Lisbon Treaty.

So Ed Davey is going to publish his expenses in full. Just as well because his leader says any delay will "will only add to the British public’s distrust in their politicians." The LibDems are talking the talk, can they walk the walk? Don't delay...

UPDATE 16.15 : Clegg's office has just called to say he will be publishing his expenses in full the week after next. They were not clear if all LibDem MPs will be doing the same.

The Party That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Guido exceeded the age limit for the guest list for the launch of Liberal Youth last night on Brick Lane. The Liberal Jugend Führer, Mark Gettleson, wanted to rename LDYS because he wanted "a name that sounds like a youth movement rather than a sexually transmitted disease". Which is as good a reason as any...

The logo and website have a Top of the Pops circa-1974 feel. Which is either knowingly kitsch or perhaps just like the Liberal Party of yore, outdated and retro. Groovy kids!

Guido is in Hong Kong...

Hong Kong is nominally now under communist control, yet has a low income tax rate of 16%, a free market economy and limited government. This combined with its free trade port status makes it a reform model for the developing post-communist world.

It consistently tops the Reaganite Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom. Judging by reports Vince Cable would love it here - at an off-the-record* post-budget briefing he gave to clients of pollsters ComRes, he lauded Nigel Lawson's tax reforms and Ronald Reagan's rolling back of big government. Vince was happily quoting Reagan’s dictum that the most chilling thing you can be told is “We're from the government and we are here to help you.”

As George Osborne promises to stick to Gordon Brown's tax and over-spend policies, maybe the most fertile political ground for the LibDems to stake out is to be liberal on economics rather than social democrat. The centre-right German Free Democrats and the Irish Progressive Democrats have been in government more often than not since the late 80s, despite being small liberal parties. Something to think about as we contemplate a hung parliament...

*Guido was not there, so not bound by the off-the-record convention.

UPDATE : Have just discovered that the Hong Kong finance minister has now abolished all taxes on wine and beer. How refreshingly civilised...

They have also introduced Green tax cuts! Financial Secretary John Tsang also announced last month tax incentives for "Greener" vehicles and a concessionary profits tax reduction for capital expenditure on "Greener" machinery and equipment. Corporate taxes were also reduced this year 1% to 16.5%. Pay attention Osborne at the back.

Economic Incoherence

The Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Philip Hammond, gave an off-camera briefing ahead of the Budget yesterday lunchtime. Not quite sure how this squares with Dave's commitment to the "New Politics" of openness and transparency or his boss George Osborne's "open source politics 2.0" which he said would see a Tory government "become more accountable, more transparent and more accessible - and so bridge the growing gap between government and governed." Having an off camera briefing in the Lobby room seems less than transparent and rather inaccessible to the governed.

Perhaps he has good reason to explain Tory economic policy out of sight, being too timid to put the case for tax relief for the struggling middle classes and reducing state over-spending. The Tories basically accept that because of the dire fiscal position Chancellor Osborne will stick with Gordon Brown's tax and spending plans. As we tip towards worldwide recession and a global financial crisis the Tories are advocating "tax hikes on alcopops!" and the LibDems "tax cuts for smoothies!" Pathetically unambitious.

Cowley Street Press Release : "Clegg Has Bottled It" On Europe

Guido just received this via email. The perfect end to a perfect week for Clegg. Well it is late on a Friday night...

Liverpool LibDem Leadership & Laundry Crisis

As is traditional with the LibDems, there is a leadership crisis at their conference. Clegg has been in office a couple of months, so it is about due. Nothing will come of it, but it will give bored hacks something to write about.

Colin Eldridge a cabinet member of the award winning* Liverpool council, runs a local laundry business. He has a contract with the Crowne Plaza conference hotel. He is urging guests to use as many towels and bathrobes as possible to boost his profits. Not very green!

*The award was for the worst run metropolitan council.

+++ SKY Reporting Three LibDem Frontbench Resignations +++

Different names in their story, Sky reckon Alistair Carmichael will join Tim Farron and David Heath. Bring back Vince...

+++ Crick : First LibDem Has Resigned +++

According to Michael Crick, Clegg has accepted his first resignation. No details.

Paxo Gets Clegg to Shoot Himself in the Foot

Over on GuyNews is the whole Paxman Newsnight interview with Clegg. Guido's favourite bit is 4 minutes and 50 seconds in, when Clegg accuses the Labour Party of reneging on their referendum commitment. Doh!

Up To Three Four LibDem Frontbenchers Could Go

Heath, Kramer and Farron are the most likely to resign.

Last night's Paxman interview was excruciating, Clegg at one point attacked the Labour Party for "reneging on its commitment to a referendum". The government uses exactly the same sophistry as the LibDems. So he was condemning himself by those words. The whole fiasco seems unnecessary. A three line-whip to not vote because Clegg's preferred option is not on the order paper? Idiocy.

UPDATE : Sandra Gidley, who shadows health is likely to vote against the leadership.

Calamity Logic

Guido had his good impression of Clegg diminished during his leadership fight with Huhne, which he won (just) on votes while Huhne won on style and determination. Interviewed yesterday Clegg tried to justify wriggling out of his manifesto promise to hold a referendum. He claimed that the Lisbon Treaty was too "measly and paltry" to hold a referendum on. He was then asked whether the UK needs a clear cut definition so that we can judge if something is constitutionally significant and therefore warrants a referendum?

Clegg: "I strongly agree with that. There's some good organisations, an organisation which I think is great is Unlock Democracy which is putting forward some ideas about how we could get some sort of logic into when a referendum is appropriate or not." (BBC 5 Live, 27 February, 2008)

That would be the Unlock Democracy group which put out a statement on Tuesday from its director Peter Facey criticising the Lib Dems for refusing to back a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty saying: "they should back down and support the Conservative amendment." Logical?

LibDem Stunt Amuses

In Guido's schooldays he had an RE teacher with the distinction of being held in contempt by the boys and the headmaster. We would compete to get thrown out of class and sent down to the headmaster's office. The headmaster would invariably shake his head and send us on our way.

Yesterday's stunt by Ed Davey had the same feel. He was clearly desperate to get thrown out, he was followed by a few of his faux-harumphing fellow Cleggies. Boys will be boys...

Hughes Remembers the "Straight Choice"

Simon Hughes is celebrating the dirty Bermondsey campaign that got him elected 25 years ago. He made his name in the early 80s winning working-class Bermondsey from Labour in a vicious battle. The gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell was his Labour opponent. Hughes made it clear in this election pamphlet that he was the "straight choice". Ironically it turned out he wasn't...It took some twenty years for Simon Hughes to apologise to Tatchell for that campaign, and that was only after he was outed himself.

Hat-tip : Guido is grateful to the Bermondsey Labour Party for pointing this out.