Shock! Horror! LibDem MP Dumped By Cheeky Girl

For the first time in my life I have read a News of the World article. It was a strange experience because I expected to be shocked and horrified. Instead, I am quite pleased that the rather silly LibDem MP Lembit Opik - surely that must be an anagram - has been dumped by one of the Cheeky Girls (I'm not sure which one was supposed to be his fiancee) and has been texting her constantly imploring her to have him back.

But she's a very sensible girl and has told him to sod off. Let's hope everyone follows her lead and tells the bloody pointless LibDems to do the same.

Ming the Winnner!

An extremely elderly man in a Savile Row suit, looking like Bill Deedes's older brother, apparently leads the Liberal Democratic Party. Well, for the time being anyway if the rumours are to be believed.

The latest betting for the LibDems to win the next General Election is 150/1 - not much surprise there. But for some reason there are members of his party who think they should change their current leader as this would improve their electoral chances.

I don't know about you but if someone takes this job on they will have to be a bloody superman (sorry, superperson). My advice is stick with Ming - it's steady as you go, LibDems.

Iain Dale's Diary: LibDems to Prop Up Labour?

Iain Dale's Diary: LibDems to Prop Up Labour?

I think I'm just beginning to get the hang of this blogging thing and realise that you have to get in early with your comments if anyone is going to take any notice of you.

Take this blog from Iain Dale at about 10.30am on Wednesday 20th June. The Guardian story ran all day in the media. I was fascinated why this had emerged as major story but did not get around to reading it until well after midnight. By that time there had been 59 comments but no one had noticed one posted at 11.11am that said "you are missing something. love from a guardian staffer".

I looked at the original Guardian article and spotted this sentence: "He (Brown) may also make a move on Iraq that could require the help of other parties."

My comment was : "Brown will be looking for a big hit and what better than to announce a very quick withdrawal from Iraq? The devil is always in the detail."

None of the other commentators (I use the term loosely) had seen this as a potential reason for Brown's overtures to Campbell. I might be proved wrong but it seems likely that Brown doesn't want to spend all his time sorting out the aftermath of Blair's war on terror.