A bail out, but not for Labour.

The Times has reported that Alistair Darling might launch a second bank bail out.

Lobbydog says that would be a major blow for Labour politically – even if in time it has a positive effect.

Coffee House correctly point out that a second bail out would lay the ground for the key political clash of the new year.

The Tories will say the need for further action proves what has been done so far hasn’t worked.

Labour will say another bail-out shows they are willing to do “whatever it takes.”

But the banks have shown they’re slow reacting to Government action so any benefit would be delayed.

In that time the recession would deepen leaving Labour looking like the party who poured money into a black hole twice.

I’m itching to see how the Labour spin machine would play it, and if an eager Ken Clarke would be brought in to pick apart their plan.

A prize politician

Notts MP Geoff Hoon has finished off the year with a crowning achievement - having an award named after him.

As the news stream slows to a dribble, sites across blogosphere are desperately running fill-in bits to keep their readers hitting.

The most common format is the "award list" - though Guido has decided to parody it with his 'worst of' style awards.

The "Hoon Prix d'sh*t" has so far attracted nominations for Peter Mandelson, Michael Martin and Hoon himself.

Winning ways

Lobbydog has ended the year in winning ways by taking the top prize in Bent Society's Christmas caption contest.


He looks forward to taking part in more. Happy New Year Nottingham bloggers.

Clarke, cure or poison?

If people say something for long enough it starts to become accepted truth – for example that bringing back Ken Clarke is a good thing for the Tories.

Rumours of a return have been rife for some time, but over the last fortnight there have also been shed loads of column inches on a possible position for the Rushcliffe MP in a New Year Conservative reshuffle.

A survey from ConservativeHome has now shown support for the move among grass roots Tories.

The problem is that calls for the return are beginning to take on a life of their own.

Now that debate seems to have turned in favour of Clarke, there has been less and less mention of the division that may follow in his wake.

People should note that the poll showed a far higher margin of support for a return for David Davis, 72% for and 22% against, than for Clarke, 50% for and 41% against.

For many in the party Clarke is simply unacceptable because of his views on Europe.

He is plainly at odds with Cameron’s current thinking on the EU and is not the sort of man to change his tune.

That would prove a headache for Cameron and would force the European issue back onto the agenda – so would he be a saviour for the Tories or a gift for Labour?