The camara never lies - or does it

Why on earth would a Tory Assembly candidate put his opponent's leading campaign photograph on his blog. But it is such an interesting photograph. And the big question concerning our office in Welshpool is "What on earth has happened to our candidate's head". Candidates sometimes do lose their heads - but not usually literally.

The photograph was taken at a cross-party march through Llanidloes, as part of the campaign to stop the local hospital from closure. Our man, Dan Munford was there as were the splendid fellows from Plaid Cymru, David Senior and David Thomas. To begin with I thought, "lucky Lib Dems" - finding a photograph with only their answer to Morecambe and Wise leading the match, and none of the others in sight.

And then we noticed Dan's legs. He had been decapitated - but his legs were still there. His wife recognised his shoes. His head (or at least 6/7ths of it) should have been between the heads of Morecambe and Wise. I'm told that there is some 'blue pixel residue' where the head should be. And some yellow 'bleed' into Mick's collar which could have come from a campaign T-shirt. Well, if you are going to be decapitated, it might as well be on a 'Save our Hospital' march with some doctors close at hand who could stick it back on again.

Poor old David Senior happened to be behind a UNISON poster, which is so much brighter and sharper than all the others that a suspicious mind might think it had been added on later. And he is generally thought to be such a good looking boy.

I think David Thomas, Plaid's very good candidate for Montgomeryshire was just unlucky. I hope he won't mind me noting that his weakest point (from a photogenic point of view) is that he is what we might call follically challenged - and that is the only bit we can see behind 'Earnie's head ! But then this could all be a mirage. Elections do funny things to people.

UPDATE - The Lib Dem rebuttal unit's been on to deny absolutely that the photo has been 'doctored'. According to them, Dan's head is directly behind 'Earnie's'. Well there is a fair bit of room there for sure. I only report what I see.

Cost of Powys 'Whistleblower' Hunt

So Powys County Council must have had five grand hanging around waiting to be blown. "What shall we do with it said the boss". Give a bit more to cash strapped schools perhaps - or a bit more to social services, or to road repairs. Maybe reduce the Council Tax increase for next year (after all, this years bills have left so many people in utter despair about how to pay). "No tell you what. We'll 'blow it', we'll 'blow it' on a 'whistle blower hunt'".

You might think this is some sort of joke. But its not. A few Weeks ago, the Council's internal procedures discovered that 44 staff, with access to vulnerable children, had not been subject to properly required criminal record checks. This was bad, but mistakes do happen in big organisations. My only comment was that procedures must be changed to ensure such a thing never happened again.

But the Council decided not to admit what had happened publicly, and somebody in the know spilt the beans - and Mr Yapp at the BBC ran a story on it. Quite right to. But the Council was tamping mad - so mad that they decided to hire a special detective to expose the 'whistle blower', the public spirited person who had made public that which the Council should have made public. And now we find out, after a bit of arm twisting that this utterly stupid exercise cost the Council not much short of £5000 (£4435-16 to be precise - must have needed a 16p special offer kit-kat to keep going) for 5 days sleuthing.

Now follow 'quotes' on this issue that the media might care to use.

"I am appalled that Powys Council have wasted nearly £5,000 of Council Tax payers money on a wild goose chase. Its the 'public's money' that the Council has 'blown'. And thank goodness the Council's sleuth failed to track down the 'whistle blower', who lifted the lid on what was going on. We should all be grateful to the 'whistle blower'."

"There needs to be a new committment to transparency at Powys County Council. The Council is there to represent the people - not pursue personal vendettas at public expense. This matter has greatly reduced public confidence in this Council as a protector of the public interest."

Peeing on your compost

Just watching Newsnight, and there was some fellow peeing on his compost. This was being portrayed as being environmentally friendly. But this is not a proper way to behave. Its not that I'm prudish about this sort of thing. How can someone who as a young man, often worked out in the fields for whole days, miles from any facilities, be prudish. Its not proper because undiluted urine is too acid and kills those valuable red composting worms. Its not green at all. If you decide to become a natural compost accelerator, keep a container of water handy. A 50/50 mix is probably about right.

Robin's nest.

Just had an emailed press release from the FUW about a robin which is sitting on three eggs under the bonnet of Neil Smith's quad bike . It seems that Tim Hughes of Smithfield Tractors of Builth Wells has stepped in and loaned Mr Smith a replacement until the eggs are hatched and the robinlets flown. I hope this press release brings new business to Smithfield Tractors.

I remember a friend of mine (known locally as Digger John - or Ginger John, until he lost his hair) finding a blackbird's nest under the bonnet of his digger when he was working on my farm. He couldn't afford to stop working so he carried on 9 -5 every day - which didn't seem to bother the blackbird at all. All four blackbird chicks fledged successfully. Our wildlife is a lot more adaptable that is widely thought.

Karen Carpenter

Watched the BBC One programme about the Carpenters last night. Deeply nostalgic. Its not as if Karen was a great beauty or sexy or anything special on the eye (sorry - but that is how we blokes talked in those days). In fact, I always thought she was rather frumpy. But she had the loveliest voice I have ever heard. There cannot be a nicer sound in this world than Karen Carpenter singing 'Close to you' or 'We've only just begun'. Maybe Eric Clapton's guitar on 'River of tears' comes closest. Or the first song of the willow warbler - which for me is much more the harbinger of summer than the swallow. The tragedy of Karen Carpenter is a 'lump in the throat' issue for men of my age.

None of us understood what a dangerous killer, anorexia was in those days. Today, she may have been saved. Just listening to that easy magical voice again last night reminded me why the Carpenters sold 150 million records - and how much of a loss Karen's death at 32 was.

The Light amongst the Grasses

This is a watershed post. Not for you dear readers, but for me. I was tidying up the cortaderias when a realisation so overpowering came upon me that I have had to rush in to post - just in case I lose it again. Its one of those thoughts that have been bouncing around the dark corridors of my mind, which has suddenly crashing into the 'active' zone. It might only be the glorious sunshine but it sure puts some backbone into my politics.

It started with the question "How does a country which does not believe in separation from England come to vote for a political party that does?". (We're talking Scotland here.) The answer must be that a lot of voters are voting for Alex Salmon because they believe he puts Scotland first rather than for any policy reasoning. The SNP may talk 'socialism' but that is not why Scots are going to vote for them. I reckon that there are probably many thousands of a centre-right mindset who think a Scotland with greater autonomy can be less 'socialist' than a Gordon Brown led Government at Westminster. And I suspect they are right.

Next question is how this translates to Wales. At present, the 'Wales, our nation' camp is infected with 'socialism'. And that is because people like me have allowed it to happen. And I have just been confronted by the realisation that it has been because of a lack of courage (no other way of putting it). Since the 1997 devolution referendum, I have been going around saying "Now that we have devolution, it is not going away and we must work to make a success of it" or "I accept the referendum result because I am a democrat". I have gone further than most in my party by saying "In the interests of 'accountability' I believe we should have law making powers in devolved areas". When I think about it, how can I expect to inspire anyone with such non-visionary, feet-dragging, reluctant acceptance.

All this brings me closer to Plaid Cymru in some ways, but drives a 'Berlin Wall' between me and the so-called Party of Wales in other ways. Plaid Cymru has become a 'socialist' party with a 'begging bowl' approach to politics, an unshakable belief in 'state interference' and a policy agenda aimed at promoting a culture of dependency. It is the anti- private sector party. It is time for devolution to be promoted as a mechanism for getting the state off the backs of the people. The case for devolution, and devolution itself is not safe in Plaid Cymru's hands.

And the joy of it is that I hardly need to change my views at all - just be more courageous about why I hold them. I believe that Wales should have law making powers so that we can set the people free from the stultifying shackles of the 'state', we can oppose the 'freebie' culture of dependency creation, we can search for ideas to help ourselves, etc.. I am a centre/right politician who is appalled by what Labour is doing to Wales from its Westminster base and Cardiff Bay outpost - and I positively want a full law making National Assembly so that Wales can cast off the great 'socialist' baggage that is dragging my proud nation down.

You can never take the sweeties back.

What is a caring man to do. Worried about the kids getting too fat - and then Rhodri Morgan gives them sweeties, big fattening sweeties. Free swimming, free breakfasts, free prescriptions, free bus travel, etc., etc.. You know that you should take the sweeties back for their own good - but you realise that you just can't. You know from experience that, once given, sweeties cannot be retrieved.

Of course, one of the reasons Rhodri handed out sweeties to all in the first place is that he could threaten voters that you would take the sweeeties back if you had the power to do so - and when you are pragmatic and say that you will not, what is Rhodri to do. His cunning plan is 'stuffed'. His fox has been shot. I suppose it depends just how desperate he is.

I suspect that this man is so desperate that he will resort to lying through his teeth. I suspect he will try to persuade the kids that they would lose their sweeties if they do not vote for him - even though he knows this to be a blatant lie. I suspect he might try to persuade Welsh voters that Tories would end free bus travel - even though he knows this to be a blatant lie. He might even try to persuade voters that we would start charging for prescriptions again - even though he knows this to be a blatant lie as well. A little bird has told me that Rhodri intends to do these things tomorrow. I hope that he won't resort to such depths. We shall have to wait and see.

It might be possible to fool the kiddies about sweeties. It won't be so easy to fool voters. The question is "Is this desperate man really stupid enough to gamble?"

The Thin Man.

Funny piece by Matt Withers in today's Wales on Sunday. An interview with Mike German. It seems that the sole reason only 6% of welsh people recognised him in a poll was because the wrong sort of photograph was used. (sounds a bit like one of Network Rail's excuses) Apparently it was a photo of 'fat' Mike, rather than the new 'slimmed down sleek Mike' on offer at this election. According to the Lib Dems, some 40 % recognise the new 'Thin Man'.

And then 'Thin Man' says he wants to talk about Lib Dem policies rather than coalitions - and then goes on to talk only about coalitions. Never in the history of political conflict has one man been so consumed by the appeal of a ministerial car. When he finally gets arouynd to mentioning policies, its nuclear power and the green tax switch - which are both non devolved issues. Gareth Price, for heaven's sake, get a grip on your man. The Party is falling apart - even we've overtaken the Lib Dems in Scotland according to today's Telegraph.

And Mike finishes up by rubbishing Lembit. He says "I don't think it (Lem's extra-political activities) will have any effect whatsoever on our party". With this one wholly unbelievable comment, the interview lost all the credibility Mike had built up when he was talking about personal ambition.

Bloggers in competition.

I see that there's competition amongst bloggers. I've known that there has been a bit of tension between Tim Montgomery and Iain Dale for top Tory blog - but I didn't know about it in Wales. Blamerbell has started compiling a league table based on something called a 'technorati' ranking which puts his blog at number 2. This word, 'technorati' could be made up. And then there are comments from sanddef and Bethan that makes it clear there is a battle for the top spot, which is currently occupied by Peter Black.

This very all very worrying for me, because I seem to be dropping down this league. And Eaglestone didn't like my dead donkey story. I immediately feel my competetive hackles rising. I can't help it. But I'm not sure what I can do about it. Should I go for hits, visits or links. Actually I'm rather ashamed to say that I'm not sure what the difference is. And I've not the slightest how to measure these things. And I thought it was all just a bit of fun.

Parallel Worlds.

There is a National Assembly election going on. I have to remind myself. Rhodri Morgan's vile tactic of banning dual candidacy has left me feeling really flat about the whole thing. Its just not the same - not fighting a constituency seat. The problem was that because all the kids were coming home today, I decided to take the day off. I reckoned that our local candidate, Dan Munford was in Newtown with a good gang in support and I wouldn't be missed - and when I'm with Dan I have to keep on explaining that I'm not retiring from politics. Very frustrating.

Meanwhile, back at the farm, its been a gloriously sunny day. I've been tidying up the kniphofias and echinaceas (all the new varieties have survived the winter well). Three buzzards have been soaring overhead all day long, sorting out breeding territory. The sheer pleasure of watching their gymnastics, and listening to their crying is matched only by a curlew in full song. And today, there were two of them doing just that over the pasture below the house. Two pied wagtails are housebuilding in the ivy opposite the kitchen window and Mrs Canada Goose is settled on her eggs on the pond island. Today, nature has been smothering me in joyous things.

And yet, I feel flat. There is an election going on. I am envious of all those candidates who are out on the stump, asking voters to "Please vote for me" or something similar. It is just not the same going out and asking voters to "Please vote for my party list". It will be OK after tomorrow. Its Easter Sunday and no-one will be out canvassing - or at least shouldn't be. Undistracted, I will enjoy the natural world. But I won't take another day off until May 3rd.

Buying a Donkey

An old Welsh farmer sold a donkey to a young lad named Gordon for £100. But when he delivered the donkey next day, the poor animal had died in the lorry.

Gordon said "In that case, I'll have my money back."

The old farmer replied "I can't repay you, because I have already spent the money."

Gordon said "OK then, just unload the donkey."

The old farmer asked "What are you going to do with it?"

Gordon answered "I am going to raffle it off."

The old farmer exclaimed "You can't raffle off a dead donkey."

Gordon, with a wicked smile on his face said "Oh yes I can. I just won't tell anyone that it's dead."

The old farmer went home, and when he met Gordon a few weeks later he asked "Whatever happened with that dead donkey?"

Gordon said "I raffled it off. I sold 500 tickets at £2 a ticket, and made a nice juicy profit.

The amazed old farmer said "Didn't anyone complain that you had stolen their money because you didn't tell them it was dead?"

To which Gordon replied "The only guy who found out that the donkey was dead was the raffle winner when he came to claim his prize. So I gave him his £2 back, plus another £200 which as you know is double the going rate for a donkey, so he thought I was a really great guy."

Gordon grew up and eventually become Chancellor of the Exchequer, and no matter how many times he lied, or how much money he stole from the British voters, as long as he gave them back some of the stolen money, most of them still thought he was a really great guy.

The moral of this story is that if you think Gordon is about to play fair and do something for the everyday people of this country for once in his miserable dissembling life, think again my friend, because you would be better off flogging a dead donkey.

Thats another way of looking at last month's budget.

Secrecy in Powys

I read on the BBC website that Powys County Council's disgraceful 'whistleblower hunt' has drawn a blank. I had some sympathy with the Council in its difficulties when it discovered a few weeks ago that proper criminal checks had not been carried out on 44 of its staff who had access to children. Mistakes happen in large organisations and I called for an immediate overhaul of procedures to ensure that it could never happen again. that seemed proportionate to me.

But I have condemned totally the Council's secrecy about the matter. The public should not have learned about this from the BBC. It really was beyond condemnation that the Council decided to spend thousands on an external 'investigator' to track down the 'whistleblower' - who with the help of the BBC put information in the public domain which the Council should have done itself. I have issued a press release calling on the Council to tell us how much this misguided inquiry cost the Council Tax payers of Powys. It really wouldn't surprise me if the Council tried to use some excuse about 'confidentiality' to avoid telling us.

Predictable Poll

Poor Nick Speed. Trying desperately to give the impression on the Six-o-clock news that the NOP poll conducted for ITV told us anything we didn't know already. It was precisely the same as I've been predicted for months. Which is rather good news for the Conservatives.

We all know that Labour is doing badly and the suggested 25 seats is all they can reasonably expect. I think they will slip back some more yet - principally because of the outrageously undemocratic way that Brown is fixing his own 'coronation'. And we have all listened to Plaid Cymru's rather amusing predictions of 17 seats, which has been based on no evidence whatsoever. No-one has believed their rubbishing of the Tories. It has just made them look out of touch. The suggested 12 looks about right. And as for Mike German's talk of 12 seats - well, we've all had a good laugh about that. The only party leader who has been telling it straight is Nick Bourne. We know that we are doing reasonably well post-Cameron and 14 seats is about where we are at present. All of this looked predictable.

What's interesting is where we will go from here - and here are my predictions. I think Labour will slip back a touch more. Not so much because of their record but the sheer arrogance of Rhodri Morgan. Today, he has defied the electorate to vote him out, by talking of his retirement in the face of a bad result. He actually thinks his threat to retire will frighten people to vote Labour. Completely barking! And voters are beginning to smell the putrid stink associated with Labour's gerrymandering of the voting system by banning dual candidacy. There will be no justice unless Rhodri has gone in two months time. It will be the price he pays for trying to 'fix' the vote. I think Plaid might sneak on one - and I cannot see the Lib Dems improving on 7 seats while Mike, Lembit and Ming are leading the party down a blind alley. Which leaves us.

I've been saying for a while that anything less than 14 is a poor result for us and anything better than 14 is a great result. I know that things can change - but its looked like that for months. Well, I think we can do a bit better than that now. The Labour Party is in free fall and deservedly so. I've given up discussing what sort of coalition all this might lead to, until after the May 3rd poll. But I'm going down to the Black Lion in Berriew for supper tonight with a smile on my face. Things are going OK for the Welsh Conservatives.

The Rise of Stumpy

The world of film has a new star - Stumpy. According to today's Telegraph, Stumpy made his TV debut yesterday, at the tender age of 8 weeks old. The thing about Stumpy is that he has 4 legs. Now the number of legs on a duck is of particular interest to us in Wales since Rhodri Morgan famously asked "Does a one legged duck swim in circles" when Jeremy Paxman (I think) asked him if he wanted to be First Minister. Perhaps when Jeremy asks Rhodri if he is going to resign after a catastrophic result on May 3rd, he'll reply by asking "Does a four legged duck swim backwards"

As it happens my wife has gone to see 'Torville and Dean on Ice' in Birmingham tonight. It just struck me that if Stumpy's pond freezes over, he could show off his quadruple toe-loop! Anyway I'm sure that Rhodri will join me in wishing Stumpy a long and successful film career.

Public Duty.

Walked into a council office today. And there he was. Just sitting there, looking at his monitor as if nothing has changed. Just sitting there contentedly enjoying a fag. He looked so happy and contented. I looked him in the eye and saw no guilt whatsoever. I don't think he knew the law had changed. Millions spent on advertising to no avail.

Question is 'what should I have done'? Should I have snatched the disgusting, polluting weed from his lips? Should I have reported him to the 'authorities'? Should I have lambasted him with supposed facts about what harm he was doing to himself and everyone else who would have to set foot in his revolting office? What was my public duty? I'm afraid that I just smiled inwardly and retired. All I wanted was to know the way to another office. Modern life is so complicated for a libertarian.

BBC won't so I will

I posted about this story on my blog yesterday. I didn't issue a press release even though I thought it should be known because I didn't want it to be seen as political. I fully expected the BBC to start the ball rolling - but No. For some reason, which completely escapes me the BBC doesn't think this is worth reporting. So I will have to do it myself.

Last week, Jonathon Osbourne, Consultant Otolaryngologist with the Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust wrote to Miss Andrea Price from Llangurig, near Llanidloes - one of my constituents.

Dear Miss Price,

I am writing to update you on the current situation regarding the funding of your cochlear implant.

As you know, Health Commission Wales recently produced a document which denies cochlear implants to all adults in Wales apart from those patients who had previous meningitis (a minuscule proportion of the total). I went to see the Minister of Health (Brian Gibbons) on 5th March 07, to protest about the situation, and was left informally under the impression that he might be able to help. Sadly, in response to a question in the Assembly today, he has confirmed that Wales will not be providing cochlear implants to nearly all adult patients.

Wales is therefore the only home nation to deny this treatment to deaf people. Cochlear implantation is a well established treatment that is more cost effective than renal transplantation or coronary artery bypass grafting, there is no effective alternative treatment and in my view this policy is cruel to people like yourself having to cope with the handicap of profound deafness.

Having failed to help you through the appropriate channels I see no alternative to publicising this outrageous situation prior to the Assembly elections in May. We will be mounting a campaign via the good offices of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf. Please let me know if you are happy to be contacted by the media. In the Meantime please feel free to act independently and contact your local Assembly Member/Member of Parliament.

I know that this news comes as a devastating blow to you, but please don't give up hope. In the long term having Wales behave like a third world country is not a sustainable situation and I believe it is just a matter of time before we get this decision reversed. Kind regards

Yours sincerely, Jonathon Osborne, F.R.C.S, Consultant Otolaryngologist.

I looked through some of the stories that the BBC decided should be reported on today.

a) Police believe thieves are targeting pubs.
b) Part of a kitchen is found under a driveway.
c) A local post box is stolen.
d) Halkyn Mountain is to be surrounded by cattle grids.
e)American High School band visits Wales.

UPDATE - I am told that the Minister Brian Gibbons has now allocated £750,000 for the provision of cochlear implants for adults. The consultant, Mr Osborne has contacted me to inform that the Minister's decision will now allow Andrea's treatment to go ahead, which is great news for her and others in the same position.

Lib Dems Need Help

Just in after a day's canvassing in Machynlleth with Dan Munford. Lib Dems are in free fall if our experiences are anything to go by. Apparently it was the same in Llanidloes last week. No wonder the Lib Dems are getting desperate.

Iain Dale has posted a copy of an email which has just been sent out by the Lib Dems, begging supporters to go into their Cowley St. Call Centre in London to telephone people in Wales. It reads thus

Help Wales and Scotland to Win.
It is only five weeks before the elections to the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. The importance of these elections cannot be overstated. In Scotland we are being squeezed on all fronts and the SNP's polls are looking impressive. In Wales we are facing intense opposition from Plaid Cymru and Labour. On Tuesday night we are telephone canvassing from Wales and Scotland from Cowley Street at 7.00 pm onwards. It is really easy to do and requires no knowledge of either situation. Just dial and ask how people are going to vote.
If you can help, please ring...... We really do need the help so if you could spare an hour then it would be appreciated.

So if you have a phone call on a Tuesday night asking which way you are going to vote, you will know that it is probably from some Lib Dem in a call centre in London who has no knowledge of the Wales situation.

Confusion in Montgomeryshire

Been around Welshpool Livestock Market today with impressive local Tory candidate, Dan Munford. But the truth is that no-one had much idea of what we were about because they didn't understand the Assembly Election voting system. Most people we talked to thought that I was retiring from politics. I suppose they could be right - but I think they meant voluntarily! It really is maddening that Peter Hain and Rhodri Morgan have got away with their shameless gerrymandering. The ban on duel candidacy is even more confusing than I thought it would be. Regrettably, there is not much 'opinion' in the Welsh media. Otherwise, they would have been crucified. Not sure it will make much difference to the result though - but I do think the confusion will result in a poorer turnout.

Even more confusion at home. A grey wagtail has fallen head over heals in love with my car mirror. It spends all day trying to mount its reflection - and standing on top of it c***ping all over the glass. If only we humans could express our disgust with those who con us in such a direct way.

And to cap it all, an incredibly handsome cock pheasant has fallen for my wife. It follows her around the garden whenever she walks out to see the magnolias. Poor fellow must be going through a real identity crisis. For a while, we both thought it was a 'gay' cock pheasant - a bit like Boysey's 'gay' bull. Normally, this time of year cocks are strictly territorial and harem building - but this fellow was 'dropping his wing' at a fellow cock in the most suggestive way. I think that I am going to blame Peter and Rhodri for this confusion as well.

Warped Priorities

More NHS shame in Wales. A constituent, living near Llanidloes, in Montgomeryshire has lost her hearing. A Cochlear implant would give this young woman (around her mid-twenties) her hearing back. Her consultant tells us that Wales in the only UK country where the NHS refuses to pay for these implants, which I am told would cost around £32,000. Her consultant has described Health Commission Wales' treatment of my constituent as "outrageous" and "cruel" and her treatment as akin to that of a "third world country".

Ironically, I received a copy of the consultant's letter on the day that prescription charges were abolished - costing the NHS in Wales well over £32 million.

Ah well! That tells you something about Welsh Labour's priorities. Apparently its OK to give free prescriptions to the 15% of the population which was paying for them - and leaving a talented and dynamic young lady (and thousands like her) without treatment that would be available in England and Scotland.

The Right to Disagree

I like Councillor David Fouweather, even if I quite often disagree with him. One reason I like him is that he has opinions and isn't afraid to express them. This week he wrote to the Western Mail, outlining his disagreement with Welsh Conservative Party policy on devolution. Fellow blogger, Peter Black describes this rather melodramatically as 'Open Revolt'. Lets examine this proposition a bit further.

David would like to see the National Assembly scrapped. There are a lot of people in Wales, across all parties (except Plaid Cymru) who agree with him. I'm surprised that Peter doesn't know Liberal Democrats who agree with him - because I know some. The only question to be asked is what percentage think devolution should be unwound. Its my belief that its lessening, and that there is no prospect of the Assembly being abolished.

David Fouweather and I were of like mind until the referendum in September '97. But I accepted the result, even if it was only a wafer thin 'Yes' vote on a 50% turnout. As driving home from the Powys count in Llandrindod Wells, I also accepted that the only constitutionally sound devolutionary settlement is full law making powers in devolved areas. It may be that there isn't a majority in our party for either David's opinion or mine. But we are both free to express our opinion. Far from being 'open revolt', that is exactly how it should be.

Tolerance of dissenting opinion is crucial to any political party. In Cameron's Party at Westminster at present, there is a wonderful flowering of ideas driving the Renaissance in Conservative politics. Over the next 12 months there will have to be tough decisions about what becomes 'party policy'. I will be very surprised if I agree with everything - but I will accept the majority opinion. Its called democracy. "So carry on holding your opinions David Fouweather. I don't agree with the contents of your recent letter and I will carry on trying to persuade you otherwise. Mind you, I'd prefer if you didn't write to the Western Mail again until after May 3rd."