We'll have to wait and see if he manages to get back safe and sound from the USA - or whether he'll end up being shipped off to Guantanamo Bay for the duration. George does, after all, owe Tony big time!

Sorry re the typos! I was in a hurry.

Would I be right in thinking that George would be the first person to get elected almost exclusively by courting the Muslim vote?

I don't think so Alan - he still has a following among "old labour"

I think "poutcome" was appropriate enough lol

Well,he can sit with the DUP. All lunatics together.How do vile people like these morons get elected to parliament.

On the gripping point of where MPs actually plonk their behinds in the Commons, we should remember that the UUP bench in the last parliament will probably now be allocated to the DUP. The old DUP corner bench could accommodate the fringe parties- Galloway, the hospital man from England, Blaenau Gwent's old Labour candidate... and of course that other lone voice from North Down.

Don't forget, she loses the Short money with immediate effect ( needs 2 or more members to qualify), the political development money from next April ( this year's probably all spent on the election), and all those little, but oh so dear to the UUP, trappings such as the right to lay a wreath on Armistice Sunday, priority in being called in debates, representation on Select Committees- and no chance of being sworn in the Privy Council -a first I believe for the leader of the U U Parliamentary Party.

BTW, does any one know the swing in Basingstoke from the DUP to the Conservatives? As their only loss from the last election, I think we should be told :0)

On the gripping point of where MPs actually plonk their behinds in the Commons, we should remember that the UUP bench in the last parliament will probably now be allocated to the DUP. The old DUP corner bench could accommodate the fringe parties- Galloway, the hospital man from England, Blaenau Gwent's old Labour candidate... and of course that other lone voice from North Down.

Don't forget, she loses the Short money with immediate effect ( needs 2 or more members to qualify), the political development money from next April ( this year's probably all spent on the election), and all those little, but oh so dear to the UUP, trappings such as the right to lay a wreath on Armistice Sunday, priority in being called in debates, representation on Select Committees- and no chance of being sworn in the Privy Council -a first I believe for the leader of the U U Parliamentary Party.

BTW, does any one know the swing in Basingstoke from the DUP to the Conservatives? As their only loss from the last election, I think we should be told :0)

Peter,
It's called democracy!
Despite how much you may dislike the DUP tough majority rule.

davidbrew

Policy development money... parties aren't supposed to be spending on election campaigns, surely?

...although I (vaguely) remember that the spending criteria were very vague. No?

If so, I rather suspect there will be a need to tighten the rules up.

Davidbrew http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/flash_map/html/map05.stm

forgot all about him, strangely (or not) its shows as a tory "hold", tho it was mostly a gimmick anyway (in my opinion) thought he had ideas of standing in NI this time round.