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Politician carries unmarked jar of white power through Colombia. Guess what happen...
A Tory MP has described how Colombian soldiers held him at gunpoint and forced him to eat mouthfuls of coffee whitener after mistakenly suspecting him of smuggling cocaine.
MP Michael Fabricant had been trekking with a friend last week when armed soldiers searched his bag and found an unmarked jar of white powder. Fabricant thought the best way to clarify he wasn't a drug smuggler was to try and explain what the coffee whitener Coffee Mate is - an ambitious move since he can't speak Spanish at all. Unfortunately for him, the guards presumed he was trying to claim it was coffee and, knowing coffee tends to be a granular brown powder, thought he was lying so pointed their M16 guns at his head.
He explained: "I started tasting some of it and the guards insisted I had more to see if I was going to trip out.
"When it became obvious it wasn't happening, they started giggling and one tried it on their tongue." A Tory MP has described how Colombian soldiers held him at gunpoint and forced him to eat mouthfuls of coffee whitener after mistakenl... more -
There is no excuse for being fat, Tories claim
The Conservative party has launched a new "responsibility" campaign telling overweight people that there are "no excuses" for being obese.
The shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley, set out proposals on how government and businesses can cooperate to tackle problems caused by poor diet, alcohol abuse and lack of exercise.
"Tell people that biology and the environment cause obesity and they are offered the one thing we have to avoid: an excuse," he said. "As it is, people who see more fat people around them may themselves be more likely to gain weight. Peer pressure and social norms are powerful influences on behaviour and they are classic excuses."
Vowing to "take away the excuses", Lansley unveiled proposals for the party's second "responsibility" deal with business.
He will ask a new working group to consider:
· supporting EU-wide proposals for mandatory front-of-pack food labelling
· asking the food industry to reduce portion sizes
· a clampdown on food advertising
· using role models and positive peer pressure to promote healthy living
· local campaigns to promote sport, exercise and healthy lifestyles.
Do you think any of his ideas will work and make a drastic difference to the number of obese people in the UK? Do you agree that there are 'no excuses' for being overweight? The Conservative party has launched a new "responsibility" campaign telling overweight people that there are "no excuse... more -
Cameron reunited with stolen bike
Conservative leader David Cameron has said it's "incredible" to have his bicycle back. He's been reunited with the bike, which disappeared from outside a Tesco store in west London on Wednesday, courtesy of The Sunday Mirror. The tabloid said it had used the contacts of local Ernest Theophile, 60, to retrieve it.
It was found in a nearby side street, minus its front wheel, but with Mr Cameron's helmet and lock still on it. The Tory leader expressed surprise that thieves did not think the helmet worth advertising on eBay.
Social entrepreneur Mr Theophile said, "You never want to see anyone have their bike nicked - not even a Tory." Conservative leader David Cameron has said it's "incredible" to have his bicycle back. He's been reunited with th... more -
Put it away, love: trendy Tories urge curbs on lap-dancing
The Conservatives would give communities more power to block the opening of lap-dancing clubs, the BBC reports today.
Current licensing laws put lap-dancing clubs in the same category as pubs or coffee shops, giving residents less scope to oppose them than sex shops or cinemas. The number of lap-dance clubs in the UK has risen to 300 since the first one opened in 1995 (that's more lap dance clubs than rape crisis centres, don't you know).
But councils should be able to decide whether such venues are appropriate for their area, according to shadow women's minister Theresa May.
Ms May said: "Councils are currently unable to block lap-dancing clubs opening even if they are overwhelmingly opposed by local residents.
"The government's reforms have effectively silenced communities and allow no consideration to be given to their views.
"Local people often have legitimate reasons for objecting to the planned location of a lap-dancing club - if it is near a school or a library for instance. We want to empower councils to take account of local opinion."
Um, if its near a library? Are the Tories saying that ladies shouldn't dance in their underwear in close proximity to books, or that the trade of human flesh should be regulated carefully, and a matter for community consideration?
And it's a great sentiment, but is anyone else slightly suspicious of the Tories' right-on attitude to all things lady these days? Yes, a Tory agenda in favour of decreasing sexual permissiveness isn't a huge surprise, but lefty feminists have long been campaigning for re-classification of lap dance clubs, and here come their traditional political nemesis with resounding support! It's an odd combination. What on earth is happening to the Tories... and is it (dare I say it) actually a good thing...? The Conservatives would give communities more power to block the opening of lap-dancing clubs, the BBC reports today. ... more -
David Cameron: shape up, fatties!
Earlier this week David Cameron declared it was time for an end to 'moral neutrality'. If people are fat and poor, they should simply be told that they're fat and poor, and its all their fault, and they should sort themselves out, and they definitely can't blame it on the government.
Tis a fair point, in a sense - but at the same time, government has a reponsibility to react to society as it changes, and if we're all getting beefier because our entire cultural landscape has altered (we're so busy working to pay the bills that we don't prioritise eating healthily, and communities have been so decimated that we don't actually go outside to exercise, and therefore fighting fatness and poverty seems like a losing battle, for example) then that should be acknowledged, at least. Right? Or wrong?
Here the delightful (and delightfully rotund, she reckons) Arabella Weir speaks up for the fatties and, er 'poories' amongst us, and addresses the social and economic issues dear David seems to be forgetting...
David: "We talk about people being 'at risk of obesity' instead of talking about people who eat too much and take too little exercise."
Arabella: "Of course you're bleeding well 'at risk' if you come from the socio-economic group most likely to eat badly as a result of being less well versed in good eating habits and with the least access to shops selling quality food at reasonable prices."
Ha! I know who my money's on in this particular battle. And yet the Tories are ever popular... Come election time, be afraid. Be very afraid. Earlier this week David Cameron declared it was time for an end to 'moral neutrality'. If people are fat and poor, they shou... more -
Hug-a-hoody speechwriter beaten up by hoodies
We all remember David Cameron's infamous hug-a-hoody campaign, well it wasn't his brainchild, it was the work of a certain Danny Kruger.
His soft approach to youth crime didn't seem to pay when he chased down some youths who were trying to steal a moped; he and a friend ended up with a bust lip and a black eye.
Shouldn't he have just hugged those poor misguided hoody instead of trying to confront him? We all remember David Cameron's infamous hug-a-hoody campaign, well it wasn't his brainchild, it was the work of a certain D... more -
Tories' Brussels enforcer quits over £½m expenses
The Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament has been forced to resign, after admitting to breaking the rules on expenses to the tune of around £500,000. Ironically, Giles Chichester's role was to ensure MEPs in his party were behaving scrupulously. But it has emerged that over the past 12 years he has been transferring funds from MEP allowances into a company of which he was a director.
The Tories have moved to head off damaging allegations of sleaze. David Cameron, Tory party leader, issued the following statement:
"Giles Chichester is right to stand down as leader of our MEPs to prepare a full explanation of how his office is funded. Just as I expect our MPs to adhere to the highest standards, so must our MEPs. The tax-paying public have a right to know how their money is being spent and politicians have a duty to ensure it is spent properly." The Conservative Party's leader in the European Parliament has been forced to resign, after admitting to breaking the rules on ex... more -
Labour's decline in stoke and the rise of the BNP?
Stoke-on-Trent now it has nine BNP councillors. It used to be a Labour's stronghold.
Will the far right be running the town hall by 2011? Stoke-on-Trent now it has nine BNP councillors. It used to be a Labour's stronghold. ... more -
The end of New Labour?
Cameron, who joined his newly elected MP to celebrate, said the election win was "a positive vote for the party".
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Tories sweep Crewe and Nantwich by-election
The Conservative Party achieved their first by-election gain in 26 years early this morning as Edward Timpson comfortably took the Parliamentary seat from Labour, winning 7,860 more votes than his rival. The contest followed the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody. Many believed the seat was safe for Labour, and apparently they called the contest early in hopes of stopping the Conservative momentum, but to no avail. It's been reported that this is one more in a series of major blows for Gordon Brown.
Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images The Conservative Party achieved their first by-election gain in 26 years early this morning as Edward Timpson comfortably took the Par... more -
Downing St is at it's most rightwing since WW2
I worry about what the Tories might do if they get in. I also worry about what Labour might do if it wins another term. Why should anyone on the left seek the re-election of the most rightwing government Britain has had since the second world war? I worry about what the Tories might do if they get in. I also worry about what Labour might do if it wins another term. Why should any... more
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Boris Johnson Is London's New Mayor
Boris Johnson has beaten Ken Livingstone to become the first Conservative Mayor of London.
He thanked the people of London and promised that he would "work flat out to repay and justify your confidence".
When Londoners' first and second preferences were added together Mr Johnson had won 1,168,738 votes; Mr Livingstone 1,028,966. Boris Johnson has beaten Ken Livingstone to become the first Conservative Mayor of London. ... more
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