A mighty kick?

The triumphalism and euphoria of the (not the) Conservative Party over the Norwich North by-election is only to be expected of a tribal system where winning is all. However, since the winner took only 18 percent of the popular vote, this is not so much a victory as a sign of a political system in crisis.

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And that election ...

It says something either of this writer, politics in general, or both, that the by-election in Norwich North is very low down the batting order. But then, the only outcome is to vote in another "useless mouth" to the provincial parliament, while the real government gets on with its business in Brussels. For the record, the "victor" was Conservative, Chloe Smith, 27 – a former "management consultant" and therefore able to bring her extensive experience of business into play, as to how to comply with EU legislation.

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We have very little time to educate the public to gather behind whoever the most likely non-MainParty candidate. I suppose they want women MPs for obedience because they sure won't get any intellectual debate.

Well,who would you rather look at,her or Jacqui Smith?

Give her time ... don't all pets end up looking like their masters? Or is it the other way around?

Well it would be to bad for her to look a little Belgian,some of them have inherited a bit of French flare. It does make a change from some of the househaunters on the Labour benches. It's the only party I know where the blokes are more pretty than the women.

I guess she has been to university, so she has had around 6-7 years of doing a real productive job, then gain experience of real management before becoming a consultant on such. Hmmm...

We need MPs to face down the Civil Service, the Judiciary and the EU because if they don't regain our liberties we will, eventually, take them back.
That pretty little poodle is the problem, not the solution.

She's an administrator.

We need thinkers.

Give her a break. It's only her 1st day!

And if she's genuinely interested in Management Science (which I would hope she is if she's a Management Consultant), then she may be able to help in some of the Ministries that "are not fit for purpose" -eg the old Home Office, & currently quite clearly the MoD. That's if she survives the 2010 election, of course.

I wonder what her attitude to the EU is?

Watchet

Whatever she is told.

Interestingly, Peter, when I first saw her I thought she reminded me of Ingeborg who represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest some years ago (singing 'Door de Wind' if you have to know).

On the main issue of small party support - the clutch of local authority by-elections on the same day as Norwich North gave the Tories absolutely no comfort at all. Losing a seat to Labour and another to the Greens, and a couple to UKIP. And shedding votes everywhere.

The title of that Eurovision was song was translated into English as 'Breakout' - it may well be what the UK electorate is now trying to do.

Keep up the good work on Afghanistan - you are right to point out that the column is heavy on it, but it is really important that there is a focus for the issue.

It would be tragic if we talked ourselves into letting the madman stay at the helm for another four years.The damage would be irreparable.

In truth, the damage probably already is ... what is dismaying though is the Hobson's choice. Obviously, Brown cannot stay on, but the alternative does not fill one with unalloyed joy.

DH - Thanks ... we'll try and keep up.

I too worry about the "not the conservative" party, Brown must go undoubtably but Cameron in No10, worrying! In opposition he has done little to show he has principles or that he has the guts to challenge anything. He apparently is at one with the "melons" and all the other nonesense being peddled with no thought of the potential costs. The current subsidies for energy. hidden in our bills, are becoming a burden on the ordinary people and it can only get worse. Everything being touted as the answer to the myth of MMGW, now "climate change", is expensive both in capital costs and the loss of trade which must be the result. Why can he not understand this? As for the EU, he is either totally ignorant of it's workings and aims or he is lying. Nor does he seem to appreciate the great loss of our liberties that has occurred over the last few years. For a prospective Prime Minister this is a serious lack of knowledge.

Derek

The point is,we can probably "get to" Cameron,whereas there is no chance with the egomaniac we have at present. It is good to send the political classes a memento mori from time to time. Politics is all they have.