Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Explaining it for Manuel.

Smoking gun? David Cameron dodges Lynton Crosby cigarette packaging controversy question

Tory strategist’s links to cigarette giant pile pressure on PM after tobacco policy U-turn

Andrew Grice Political Editor
Wednesday 17 July 2013

David Cameron was mired in a deepening controversy last night over allegations that Lynton Crosby, the Conservatives’ election strategist, may have influenced the Government’s policy to help clients of his lobbying company.

The Prime Minister was accused of using “weasel words” after he and his official spokesmen repeatedly refused to answer the question of whether he discussed plans to bring in plain packaging for cigarettes with Mr Crosby, whose company Crosby Textor represents the tobacco giant Philip Morris. The proposal was dropped from the Queen’s Speech in May after Mr Crosby urged ministers to focus on mainstream issues rather than unpopular causes.

The row intensified when the Government formally abandoned a plan previously backed by Mr Cameron to set a minimum unit price for alcohol to combat binge drinking. Crosby Textor also represents a drinks industry body that has campaigned against minimum pricing in his native Australia.

Mr Cameron told the Commons: “He [Mr Crosby] has never lobbied me on anything.” Later he told a press conference: "This is a complete red herring which is raised by the Labour Party because it is in political trouble….with its relationship with the trade unions.”

The Prime Minister said the decision not to go ahead with plain packaging for cigarettes was taken by him and Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, “for the very simple reason that there is not yet sufficient evidence for it and there's considerable legal uncertainty about it.”

But Labour seized on Mr Cameron’s refusal to go as far as Cabinet colleagues. Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, said: "He [Mr Crosby] is employed by the Conservative Party, he advises us on campaigning, he has absolutely nothing to do with the policy side of things. He doesn't advise us on policy. We don't have conversations with him about it." Mr Hunt suggested that Mr Crosby never advised Mr Cameron on public health “because his company has clients in that area.”

Ed Miliband wrote to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, asking him to investigate a possible breach of the ministerial code of conduct. This says ministers must “not become associated with non-public organisations whose objectives may in any degree conflict with government policy and thus give rise to a conflict of interest.”

The Labour leader said: “Had Mr Crosby been a government employee there would have been very strict rules to prevent that conflict taking place. Because he is formally an employee of the Conservative Party, while clearly advising on government business and regularly visiting Downing Street, we have been left with what is in effect a back door breach of the ministerial code.”

Mr Miliband said the conflict of interests was not limited to tobacco. He referred to The Independent’s disclosure on Monday that Crosby Textor, represents the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, an oil and gas lobby group campaigning aggressively for fracking.

The controversy overshadowed the publication of the Government’s long-delayed Bill to set up a register of lobbyists paid to lobby on behalf of a third party. Although intended to clean up politics after a series of scandals, Labour was quick to table amendments, claiming that a loophole would allow Crosby Textor not to join the list or name its clients. The Bill appears to cover direct communications in meetings, emails or phone calls between lobbyists and ministers and their permanent secretaries but not lobbying firms who set up meetings with their clients through other avenues such as ministers’ special advisers.

Labour’s amendments would force all professional lobbyists working in the UK to declare their full list of clients on a statutory register and the approximate value of such work; ensure the list includes people working for a governing party as well as the Government and avoid conflicts of interest.

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, who is also a GP, was "very disappointed" by the decision to drop a minimum alcohol price and plain packaging for tobacco. “I think actually what the public are really worried about is the parasitical influence that we get from hidden lobbying." She added: “I would like, for example, to know who else is paying for Mr Crosby’s services. The public have a right to know, I want to know, who else is paying for people's services when they have such an influential position with senior politicians."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/smoking-gun-david-cameron-dodges-lynton-crosby-cigarette-packaging-controversy-question-8713969.html

Is he referring to the gents at Lord's today.

Shouldn't they be drinking less and working harder.

Perhaps, he has be effected, like hays seems to be, by the Crosby influence.

Mind I think he and Manuel think his first name is Bing.

Mail Online....


PM's new fixer in racist rant at Muslims: Foul-mouthed abuse by campaign chief revealed as he lands top Tory postLynton Crosby used the phrase 'f****** Muslims' in diatribe while working for London Mayor Boris Johnson

Crosby has been chosen to head the Election campaign of David Cameron
Accused of telling Johnson party should forget wooing ethnic minority vote in London Mayoral Election

The Australian said he had 'absolutely no recollection' of using the term
Johnson urges PM not to reverse his decision calling Crosby 'soul of kindness and sweetness'
Allegations come days after Tory chiefs secret £200,000 deal to give Crosby charge of Election campaign
By Simon Walters
PUBLISHED: 22:31, 17 November 2012 | UPDATED: 16:49, 18 November 2012


The man David Cameron has picked to head his Election campaign once launched a foul-mouthed rant against Muslims.
Outspoken Australian ‘fixer’ Lynton Crosby used the phrase ‘f****** Muslims’ in a diatribe while working for London Mayor Boris Johnson.
But No 10 officials said the Prime Minister has no intention of changing his mind about appointing the strategist, despite the new revelations.



Mr Crosby’s outburst came earlier this year as Mr Johnson’s aides discussed whether to devote more attention to wooing the ethnic minority vote in his battle with Labour’s Ken Livingstone.
According to a source, Mr Crosby said Mr Johnson should concentrate on traditional Tory voters instead of ‘f****** Muslims’. The source added: ‘He definitely used that phrase’ and said: ‘Lynton’s view was that chasing the Muslim vote and other ethnic groups was a waste of time – and he frequently expressed himself in very strong terms. Some people found it very offensive.’
In a statement last night a spokesman for Mr Crosby said he had ‘absolutely no recollection’ of using the term.
His allies claimed Mr Crosby was the victim of a dirty tricks plot by Tory enemies to stop him taking charge of campaigns at Conservative HQ.


The spokesman said: ‘It is entirely mischievous to suggest Lynton is racist in any way. He campaigned vigorously for the Muslim vote during the Mayoral race. He has absolutely no recollection whatsoever of making these comments.’
Asked repeatedly if Mr Crosby had uttered the words ‘f****** Muslims’, the spokesman said: ‘As I have said, he has no recollection of doing so.’
It is not the first time Mr Crosby, 55, has been involved in a sensitive row over campaign strategy.
The Australian objected to the way Mr Johnson ordered adverts to be removed from London buses which stated that gays could be converted to heterosexuality. Sources close to Mr Crosby denied he was opposed to the adverts being taken down – but said he objected to the way the Mayor briefed newspapers without discussing it with him first. The sources said it was totally untrue and an ‘outrageous lie’ to suggest Mr Crosby is either anti-gay or racist.
Mr Johnson last night said he had ‘no recollection’ of being present when Mr Crosby made his ‘f****** Muslims’ comment. He said his election chief was ‘the soul of sweetness and kindness’.


And the Mayor urged Mr Cameron not to reverse his decision to put Mr Crosby in charge of his election campaign.
Mr Johnson said: ‘Lynton Crosby is the soul of kindness and sweetness and is not the reactionary caricature some have painted him to be. He is the best campaign manager anyone can hope for and I congratulate Conservative HQ for securing his services.’
A spokesman for the Mayor added: ‘Boris wants it known that Lynton is not the ogre some make him out to be.’
Asked to confirm the Mayor was present when Mr Crosby referred to ‘f****** Muslims’, the spokesman said: ‘The Mayor has no recollection of the alleged conversation. The Mayor would recognise that there were debates over the direction of strategy. What he would not recognise is any suggestion of abusive or offensive language directed at any particular group of voters from any member of his campaign staff.’
The damaging disclosure comes days after Tory chiefs secretly put the finishing touches to a deal whereby Mr Crosby and his Crosby-Textor political polling company will take charge of the next Tory Election campaign from January. The deal, said to be worth £200,000 a year was due to be announced in the next few days.

Success: Crosby helped John Howard, pictured, win the Australian election in 1996 when he served as Liberal party campaign director
Blunt-talking Mr Crosby, has been called ‘the Wizard of Oz’ because of his legendary success in political campaigns, including winning four terms for former Australian PM John Howard. His supporters have called him one of the most brilliant political strategists of his generation.
Tim Montgomerie, editor of Conservative Home, wrote that the Tory Party ‘needs him and needs him desperately. He will bring discipline, clarity and the toughness to the Tory operation that, at present, is so sorely lacking’.
But Mr Crosby has powerful enemies in the Party. Some Tory MPs and No 10 advisers believe his advocacy of populist policies, and in particular his views on immigration, could lose votes.
Tory Deputy Chairman, Lord Ashcroft took the unusual step of publicly warning Mr Cameron not to sign up Mr Crosby.
The peer said last month: ‘I believe it would be a mistake to hire Lynton Crosby. Not because it would lead to a re-run of the immigration-dominated 2005 campaign but because I do not think he is needed and would become a distracting influence.
‘Far from ensuring a single strong manager, this is a recipe for the kind of conflict and confusion that dogged the 2010 campaign and helped cost us the majority we could have won.’ Some insiders have suggested Mr Crosby’s arrival marks a demotion for Mr Cameron’s campaigns chief, Stephen Gilbert, a close confidant of Lord Ashcroft.
Nor is Mr Crosby’s appointment approved by all of Mr Cameron’s advisers. Head of strategy Andrew Cooper, who played a key role in Mr Cameron’s ‘modernising’ of the Tory Party away from its Thatcherite image, is said to have voiced doubts – but he has denied threatening to quit over the hiring of Mr Crosby.
A source who has worked with Mr Crosby said: ‘Lynton’s problem is that he only has one club in his golf bag. He goes on and on about immigration but there is much more to getting Conservatives re-elected in 2015 than that.
‘Mitt Romney’s defeat shows that a Right-of-centre party cannot win in the modern world by appealing to core voters only. You have to reach out to all groups.’
An ally of Mr Johnson said: ‘Boris was not always comfortable when Lynton talked about ethnic issues.’
Mr Cameron is believed to have sought assurances from Mr Crosby that he will not push the Tories back to the Right if he takes charge of campaigns.
Mr Crosby’s most vocal Cabinet supporter is George Osborne.
The Chancellor previously persuaded Mr Cameron to appoint former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his spin doctor – but Mr Coulson was later forced to resign over the phone-hacking scandal.


If Lynton Crosby is known for one thing, it is winning elections for Right-wing political leaders by ruthlessly playing the immigration card.

Mr Crosby, known as the ‘attack dingo’, has become synonymous with ‘dog whistle politics’ – the repeated use of coded language which plays to the worst fears of certain voters.

The term entered the political lexicon when Mr Crosby, running the Tories’ 2005 General Election campaign for leader Michael Howard, is responsible for the slogan: ‘Are you thinking what we’re thinking?’

He deployed messages such as ‘It’s not racist to impose limits on immigration’ and ‘How would you feel if a bloke on early release attacked your daughter?’ on posters and mailshots.

Although the tactic failed to prevent a third term for Tony Blair, many Tories believe it helped limit Labour’s majority and provided the platform for revival under David Cameron.
As a result, he retains a loyal fan base in the party.

Born in 1957 in Kadina, South Australia, the economics graduate soon discovered he had a flair for advising parties on election-winning strategies.

Infamously, he was associated with claims in the 2001 Australian general election that asylum seekers had thrown children into the sea.

Witty, foul-mouthed and a workaholic, ‘the Wizard of Oz’ is blunt to his political masters.

In the 2008 London Mayoral campaign he told Boris Johnson: ‘If you let us down we will cut your f****** knees off.’

The Mayor of London has little doubt about Mr Crosby’s abilities. This month he told Tory backbenchers they should ‘break the piggybank’ to hire him and give him a ‘free hand’ to take control of campaigning.

Those close to Mr Crosby are not offended by his plain speaking – and say it is all part of his charismatic personal style.
.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2234565/Lynton-Crosby-Foul-mouthed-abuse-campaign-chief-revealed-lands-Tory-post.html#ixzz2ZNoE6qNP
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http://www.moneyam.com/InvestorsRoom/posts.php?tid=17453#lastread

Ipsos MORI/Standard – CON 29, LAB 40, LD 10, UKIP 12
17 Jul 2013

Ipsos MORI’s monthly poll for the Evening Standard is now out, and has topline figures of CON 29% (-2), LAB 40% (+5), LDEM 10% (nc), UKIP 12% (n/c). Whereas ICM showed a big swing back to the Conservatives on Monday, MORI show a big swing back to Labour today… I think it only serves to underline how polls are always at the mercy of normal random error, and how we really shouldn’t get too het up about individual polls. Watch the trends, watch the averages.

Latest UNS Projection LABOUR MAJORITY 84

TANKER see this, and the Tories are opening the gates for them.......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2367612/Invasion-pickpockets-Disturbing-pictures-Eastern-European-gangs-brazenly-targeting-victims-broad-daylight-Paris-streets-heading-UK.html

for Ald,

Another laugh,


"Given David Cameron's use of his "love" of the NHS to burnish his "caring, compassionate Conservatism" this posed a real threat to the Tories' ability to win the next election.

So, Hunt decided to present himself as the champion of the patient challenging the institutional failures of the NHS."

Did he ask Lansley to create the present mess?

Con_Dem_Nation ‏@Con_Dem_Nation 29m

It staggers me that Sarah Woolaston joined the conservative party... so nice to hear common sense being spoken, even if by a tory

You have to have one sensible MP in the con party in order to reform them from the inside, after 50% of the rest of them will freak out to UKIP and the BNP.

The obsession of the Brits with alcohol has nothing to do with price. Across Europe alcohol is far cheaper than the UK in many countries. Those countries do not have the problems with alcohol that we do. It is a problem in our culture and raising the price won't stop it.

ohhh inded indeed Fred.

Watching cricket at 11 am should be a cracking test match. My brothers up for 2 weeks holiday so ill send him out for the beer.

Keep the 2 posh numptys in check please Fred.

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 17th July - Con 31%, Lab 37%, LD 12%, UKIP 13%;

Just as I thought and have been posting here what really was going on... check this out. ..............................

http://www.cityam.com/blog/one-chart-shows-failure-osbornes-funding-lending-scheme

England 28 for 3!

My kids have tickets for the 5th day, but it may not go on that long.