Hallam Re-elected.

TB is most amused to hear that some jumped up little bastard tried to pass a motion at last night's

CWLCF

meeting to have the bear permanently banned from their branch events. Apparently TB has an ongoing vendetta against the branch. That isn't true, it's just that if you bill yourself as the "flagship" Conservative Future branch then you have to expect a higher level of scrutiny. Must be doing something right though.

TB is exceedingly hungover so will let you all find the story for yourself in the quite spectacular mountain of waffle that he got this morning after merely inquiring what the turnout and result was:

President: Mark Field MP
Vice President: Patrick Evershed
Chairman: Edward Hallam
Vice Chairman: Lucy Roblin
Hon. Secretary: Dolly Theis
General Committee Treasurer: Richard Mabey
General Committee Social & Social Action Secretary: Lauren McEvatt
General Committee Campaigns Director: Dickon Prior

Turnout was low despite a concerted effort to increase attendance numbers. Ways of improving our means of contact with our members and our storage of member data were discussed at the meeting under AOB as was the social plan for the next year. Plans for increasing our financial responsibilities towards the association and party were also discussed, as were ideas for increasing our social action contribution to our community, in line with David Cameron's recent speech on social action. Turnout was 10 (not including the returning officer, Donald Stewart, who ran the election). In due course minutes will be made available for our members, both those who were able and those who were not able to attend.

There were no contested positions.

Lucy Roblin was also returned as the second representative to the Executive of the Association proper.

The new committee would like to offer their grateful appreciation for the work done in the previous year by the outgoing committee, and for the diligence shown by all of the people who have been involved in Conservative Future Branch of the Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association over the last year. The new committee would also like to extend their gratitude to Donald Stewart, Agent of CLWCA for running and overseeing our election.

So two years running there has been an uncontested ballot and for a "flagship branch" a turnout of ten leaves a little to be desired. Victoria Parker went quietly after the confusion, as revealed by TB on Wednesday, about the legitimacy of her bid for the Chairmanship. No doubt she could have kicked up quite a fuss, but she allegedly fell on her sword for the sake of the associations reputation. No one likes a good old election scandal, do they?

So Hallam will be juggling a general election campaign as National Campaigns Coordinator for the whole of CF but he seems to have a strong support below him. Congratulations to all.

Just one word of advice, don't let old Mr Mabey set the ticket prices for events. Long story.

Guess who's back...

One of the blogs TB used to always read before he finally decided to set up his own was Scottish Tory Boy. The gossip and intrigue that he provided from Holyrood was always worth the visit. He disappeared after his identity was eventually clocked and caused some discomfort to his boss.

Well the good news is

STB is back

.

Gordon finally loses it...

Creepy.

Brown is destroying Parliament - Literally.

It is often said that this Labour government has no respect for the constitution, conventions or institutions of this country. Their utter contempt for Parliament has manifested itself through bypassing, unprecedented whipping and on occasion a complete disregard for it's authority. Fitting then that their leader has absolutely zero physical

respect

for it either then:

TB has had issues with Alan Duncan in the past but it was he has done well to call this out today.

Totty Watch - Profumo style.

This should liven up that post lunch lull. The Spectator are trailing their political scandals special with a familiar image:



Well it got TB's attention...

This is what a liar looks like...

Remember the one about cancelling the election?

What about the day he said he didn't want to move Darling from the Treasury.

TB could go on.

The Berk "clamp down"

John Bercow promised to clamp down on announcements being made by the government to the press before the House of Commons. Despite it happening countless times since Bercow hauled himself up into that big chair, he finally had something to say yesterday:

"Before I call the Minister to make his statement, I regret that this House is the last to hear it. That said, if the statement had been made earlier it would have further constrained the time given to the main business of today. I hope that such circumstances are not repeated in the case of other Departments. In answer to points of order made earlier today, I acknowledge that a written ministerial statement was made today at 7 am, before the Secretary of State’s interview was broadcast."

Ohhhh they must be shaking in their boots.

+++A fight after all?+++

So it seems that the rules have been relaxed and nominations will be accepted for the CLWCF elections (see below,) up until the meeting tomorrow evening.

So there goes all those carefully prepared Zanu-CF/Ahmadinejad jokes.

TB will be at the Speccie party tomorrow evening, errr sadly, rather than the AGM but no doubt he will be able to get the results up pretty pronto once they come through.

TB hears that an old ally from the north mabey in the running for one of the positions. If it was anything like the Granita-style deal he did with TB once upon a time for the Vice-Presidency of Conservative Future Scotland then he shouldn't have any problem getting elected down here!

Who was it that was moaning that TB had abandoned blogging about CF?

Will they still be smiling tomorrow?

After a mild allegation of impropriety concerning the announcement of last year's

Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Future

internal elections, TB has been keeping half an eye on this year's ballot which is set to take place at the AGM tomorrow evening. Although every effort has been made to keep the candidates list a secret TB has finally has a copy on the way. It would appear it isn't going to be a particularly contested election. TB understands Chairman Ed Hallam is set to be returned unopposed, and the rest of the committee places have been sewn up without a vote.

However that's not what everyone thinks. TB has spoken to both incumbent Ed Hallam and current Vice-Chairman Victoria Parker today, both who have said they are running for the top spot. The official nomination list apparently says the top spot is uncontested though.

And to think it was all going so well. TB wasn't actually planning on turning up to Ebury Street tomorrow night for the AGM, so the rumoured bouncers can probably be spared, however it looks like it could be an interesting night.

If Victoria Parker's nomination has, for whatever reason, not been accepted then TB has a feeling things are going to kick off...


UPDATE- 18:09: Did Victoria Parker's nomination fall short of one of these criteria?

Would seem odd if it has given that she has been the Vice Chairman for a year - hence would have remained a member, and was at the meeting where the rules and timings of the election were set out.

Hmmm why have people stopped taking TB's calls all of a sudden?

The sickest Michael joke yet...

Heard the one about how Michael Martin will now be ennobled "for his eminent services during the important period in which he presided with such distinguished ability and dignity in the chair of this House"?

Hilarious!

What a tool...

That is indeed a new one.

News from YBF

A full release from

YBF

is is now out:

"The Chairman, Chief Executive and Management Board of the Young Britons' Foundation regret to announce that Christian May, YBF's Operations Director, will be leaving YBF with effect from 17 July 2009.

YBF is pleased to announce, however, that Christian's successor as Operations Director is to be Steven Dent, currently YBF's New Media Director. Steven graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in Politics, having joined Conservative Future while at university. He was appointed YBF's New Media Director in August 2008, in which role he has created a number of viral campaigns and films.

Commenting on Christian's departure, YBF Chief Executive Donal Blaney said: "Christian has pioneered the development of YBF's campaigns and taking YBF's training out across the nation. He has been a superb Operations Director and will be greatly missed. Steven will have some large shoes to fill. I am delighted that Christian has agreed to join YBF's Advisory Board and that he will continue both to support our important work and to help train the leaders of tomorrow.

Speaking on his impending departure, Christian May said: "Working for the Young Britons' Foundation has been a hugely rewarding experience. I couldn't have imagined a job better suited to me when I left university, and the last year has been truly excellent. I'm delighted to have played a part in training hundreds of new activists, and to have been involved in our high profile campaigns. YBF's work is of vital importance, and I look forward to helping out from the sidelines in the future. I wish Steven all the very best in his new role, and I hope he enjoys it as much as I did."

Steven Dent added: "I will be following two superb conservative activists in Christian May and Shane Greer. The coming twelve months will be crucial both for conservatism in general and YBF in particular. I cannot wait to get started!""

Steven runs a

rather good blog

if TB isn't mistaken and he was wondering why it had livened up in the last couple of days. Best of luck to both of them and TB is looking forward to sinking some cold ones with them both at what will no doubt be another cracking

summer party

to hazily remember.

There's no I in Twitter

Putting Nick “what about my access” Robinson, The Guardian's chief sleaze apologist Michael White, and their arch rival Guido Fawkes on the same stage was never going to be pretty. It was a gamble that clearly paid off though for

Delib

. The political consultants hosted last night’s packed debate in the Grand Committee Room about whether the internet is the corrupter or saviour of democracy. After this lot once battled on Newsnight a few years back, there were old scores to settle.

Though people who wished for in depth chat about address harvesting and Obama type fundraising were grumbling, those there to see some of the most powerful political voices outside of Parliament spar did not leave disappointed. Guido went on the attack from his opening gambit and left a rattled White and Robinson having to resort to irritating liberal elite-esque sarcasm in an attempt to bat away criticism that had clearly hit a raw nerve.

The argument for the internet was greatly aided by the jumbo Twitter screen at the side of the stage which let the world

take part

in the event. Michael White’s somewhat Luddite performance was greatly aided in terms of comedy by the quick thinking anonymous tweeter who managed to crack the room up with

his message

for Michael on the screen.

Let’s just say it was twit with an “a”, not an “i”.

+++All change at YBF+++

Just call him scoop - Word is reaching TB tonight that Christian May, the deputy Chairman of Conservative Future has resigned as Operations Director of the Young Britons' Foundation.

Developing.

ID Cards will not be compulsory

Alan Johnson just

fired a shot

across the bows of the Tories with his announcement that the proposed ID card scheme will never be compulsory. This is of course fantastic news and a big congratulations should go to the likes of NO2ID, Liberty and for the sensible wing of the Conservative Party who have fought this measure tooth and nail since it was first conceived. This isn't the end of the war against the New Labour's authoritarian grip on Britain, but it's certainly victory in a major battle.

However on a slight tangent it is clear to see that Alan Johnson isn't going to let his stint at the Home Office be the graveyard everyone assumes it to be. In this one action he will win over a considerable amount of support. TB has said it before and will say it again. War-game, war-game, war-game - the Conservative Party must not get lull itself into a false sense of security.

Brown could be gone at any moment - it's up to Peter, and his most likely replacement is canny.

Quote of the Day

"Ed Balls has just called me up about my post from this morning , hopping mad. He instructed me to "take that post down now". I thought he was joking: has there been some change to the constitution where ministers now have power over the media? But he was deadly serious. "You should not call me a liar," said Balls. I told him that if he doesn't want to be called a liar, “he shouldn't tell lies”."

-

Fraser Nelson

King Cnut

Kim Il Sung's Wisdom of Foreseeing Weather

Pyongyang, June 29 (KCNA) -- It was early in June of Juche 70 (1981) when President Kim Il Sung gave field guidance to a co-op farm. Looking round the farm, he riveted his eyes upon one place for a while.
It was a magpie nest being made on a branch of a tall tree.
After staring at it, the President asked officials why the magpies were making the nest entrance sideward, not upward.

He told the officials, who racked their brains to find an answer to the unexpected question, that it would rain heavily this rainy season, it would not be an ordinary one but one accompanied with "torrential rain" and to make the entrance sideward was evidently for the magpies to protect their nest from the "torrential rain".
He emphasized that all the farms in the country should take thorough-going measures against the rainstorm and flood.

The officials looked up to and were deeply moved by the words of the President who clarified the essence of the question with prominent scientific penetration and extraordinary wisdom, seeing a natural phenomenon which was regarded as an ordinary one by others.

As he forecasted, the country was visited by heavy rain rare to be seen in history.
As the President taught, the officials and working people in the field of agriculture completed the preparation for preventing damage by heavy rain and storm before the rainy season and could protect all crops.

Copyright (C) KOREA NEWS SERVICE(KNS) All Rights Reserved.

Wonderful

stuff.

TB has a rather sore head after last night but some how managed to

file this to the Standard

from his phone:

• WHICH Cabinet minister would be brave enough to pitch up to the IPPR 21st birthday party/summer gig on the panoramic top floor of Centrepoint last night? Blair’s “favourite think tank” announced in the Sunday papers that it believed New Labour was dead. So Labour wonks were waiting with bated breath for the arrival of a promised cabinet minister. It was very bold of Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw to show up.

Ben didn't hit the dancefloor sadly. TB did, apparently there are photos. Oh dear.

Date set...

The wheels are in motion and the date of the Norwich North by-election has been announced:

You can follow the campaign and find out how to get involved

here

.

Weekly Cartoon from Posh Tory

If you haven't already, TB recommends adding

Posh Tory

to the blogs you take a peek at. His cartoons are updated a couple of times a week, and he will also be doing one for Tory Bear every Monday.

TB has it on good authority that really happened.

For more and infomation about buying orginals visit

the site

.