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5 Jan 2006, 18:32
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#1
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC News
Kennedy making personal statement
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy is due to make a personal statement within the next hour.
The statement will pre-empt media allegations about his alleged alcohol problems - it will not be a resignation statement, the BBC understands.
He has said he will make the statement at Lib Dem headquarters at 1745 GMT.
Mr Kennedy has faced repeated calls to hold a vote of confidence to end talk about his future - but has insisted this would be a distraction.
The BBC has learnt that just under half of Mr Kennedy's front bench team have signed a letter informing him that they no longer have confidence in his leadership.
The letter has not yet been presented to Mr Kennedy but he is said to be aware of its existence.
Eleven out of 23 party spokespeople - ranging from junior to senior figures - signed the letter before Christmas.
This did not include the three men thought most likely to run for party leader if Mr Kennedy stands down or is removed.
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said: "Had any one of Sir Menzies Campbell, Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten added their names there would have been a majority of Mr Kennedy's top team calling - in effect - for him to resign.
"Those who signed the letter hoped it would convince Mr Kennedy that he had no choice but to stand aside. "
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4582930.stm
The inconsiderate fool's making the statement right in the middle of Neighbours and I didn't see the lunchtime one. Bastard.
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Last edited by furball; 5 Jan 2006 at 20:00.
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5 Jan 2006, 18:55
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: London
Posts: 3,347
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Well it doesn't really matter. the stupid bastard missed his parties only real chance to make a significant step forward. If they had put some actual effort into the last election they could have done far better as the other 2 was in a bad way.
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5 Jan 2006, 19:08
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#3
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I am.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,580
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
well there we are. he's admitted an alcohol problem and called a leadership election.
If only the lib dems would rename themselves the liberal party and get a sexy young leader (female would be prudent) then they could seriously upstage the boy cameron.
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5 Jan 2006, 19:13
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#4
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Next goal wins!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London
Posts: 5,406
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
the problem is
menzie campbell is old (no one likes old people these days)
Simon Hughes is gay (Well, I've heard this a number of times at least from other people within the party, but strangely not from the media. While I think it would be ace to have a gay leader of a major party, I imagine a lot of people don't, but then again they probably won't vote LD anyway).
Mark Oaten I know nothing about so no brackets for him.
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bastard bastard bastard bastard
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5 Jan 2006, 19:14
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#5
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
Posts: 6,506
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
This could become interesting.
Although I don't know enough about the candidates to compare them to Charlie. Sir Menzies is a bit old though.
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5 Jan 2006, 19:25
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#6
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
The choices for sexy young female leader:
Ms. Lorely Burt - MP for Solihull; (elected 2005)
Ms. Jo Swinson - MP for Dunbartonshire East, Scotland (elected 2005)
Ms. Sarah Teather - MP for Brent East (elected 2003 in a by-election, re-elected 2005)
Ms. Jenny Willott - MP for Cardiff Central (elected 2005)
Jenny Willott's actually my local MP now, got elected on the student vote. I don't know any of the others. The usual suspects for replacement are Sir Menzies Campbell, Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten. None of them are anything special.
Basically there's not much hope for the Lib Dems. Not that I care - Cameron's getting my vote. Listened to him on Radio 1 today and sounded like a bit of a legend tbh. Beats Brown any day.
EDIT: apparantly Oaten's not standing - so it'll be Campbell (too old) vs Hughes (repeated failure). Lovely.
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5 Jan 2006, 19:29
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#7
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________
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Somwhere I belong
Posts: 4,474
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by furball
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Can I just say that only one out of all four fall in the category for "sexy young female leader" and the one who made it the closest is Jo Swinson (even though she ain't fit).
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Roller coaster favorite ride,
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5 Jan 2006, 19:34
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#8
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
I got so desperate that I just added all the female MPs under 40. Oh, and Swinson only just edges out Lorely Burt.
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5 Jan 2006, 19:36
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#9
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I am.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,580
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by furball
I got so desperate that I just added all the female MPs under 40. Oh, and Swinson only just edges out Lorely Burt.
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Lorely Burt Date of Birth: 10.09.1954
...
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hi
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5 Jan 2006, 19:56
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#10
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
Posts: 6,506
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Who do you reckon is the most attractive MP in the HoC?
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5 Jan 2006, 19:56
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#11
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Emperor
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: in front of a computer
Posts: 490
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by furball
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It once again shows that they didnt yet understand the internet - the high resolution pictures arent even bikini shots
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5 Jan 2006, 19:59
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#12
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yahwe
Lorely Burt Date of Birth: 10.09.1954
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That's worrying. I clicked on her profile, saw the photo and pretty much assumed. She looks good for her age though
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5 Jan 2006, 20:06
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#13
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Emperor
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: in front of a computer
Posts: 490
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deepflow
Simon Hughes is gay (Well, I've heard this a number of times at least from other people within the party, but strangely not from the media. While I think it would be ace to have a gay leader of a major party, I imagine a lot of people don't, but then again they probably won't vote LD anyway).
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On a funny sidenote - one federal state of germany implemented a 30 question catalog to determine if muslims wanting a german passport are enemies of the german constitution. One question asks them how they would react if their son tells them he is gay and wants to move in with his friend now. I wonder why they dont ask how they would react if their daughter tells them she envisions her future as a government registered prostitute because the pay is pretty good.
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5 Jan 2006, 20:33
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#14
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Next goal wins!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London
Posts: 5,406
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
I've just been reading up on this, and read this ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4535288.stm ) lovely article. What it says is all well and good, but it reads almost like a tabloid politcal commentary at some points. Perhaps this internet thing isn't doing the BBC's quality control any good
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bastard bastard bastard bastard
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5 Jan 2006, 23:29
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#15
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Next goal wins!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London
Posts: 5,406
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Well if he's ok with mr "Rabid Marxist Bile" then he can't be bad, surely.
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bastard bastard bastard bastard
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5 Jan 2006, 23:38
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#16
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Evil inside
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,631
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
There is two choices here:
1) furball is ghey
2) the lib dems doesnt have any young and sexy young female MP
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<Almeida> well i like to grow fat myself too, and when i have enough ships then i can engage in big battles
<Nantoz> Zhukov for Lord Protector!
<Jakiri> (Windows)XP was fine on release
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5 Jan 2006, 23:51
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#17
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Mathamagician
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: At the very edge of existance
Posts: 1,803
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toccata & Fugue
I quite like Mark Oaten.
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He's my local MP, top bloke really. In a quite interesting situation the local tory candidate (one of them anyway) had Mark Oatens web adress ( here) hacked and link directly to his own web page.
Oh how we laughed.
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6 Jan 2006, 00:44
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#18
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nomen est omen
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 1,095
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Good on Charles Kennedy to admit so openly. I have a "drinkies" problem myself, but ofc I am not a leader of a Political Party.
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6 Jan 2006, 01:28
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#19
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by G.K Zhukov
There is two choices here:
1) furball is ghey
2) the lib dems doesnt have any young and sexy young female MP
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There aren't any young and sexy female MPs in politics, as far as I know. It's like natural selection really - and the cast-offs end up in Parliament.
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6 Jan 2006, 19:10
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#20
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Tiny Dancer
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Yellow Brick Road
Posts: 355
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Its getting a bit silly now though. I like the guy, but he has to go - im afraid the media controls politics now.
Why do political leaders never realise when their time is up?
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7 Jan 2006, 17:24
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#21
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Registered Awesome Person
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
And he's gone.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4590688.stm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BBC News
Charles Kennedy has resigned as Liberal Democrat leader.
In a statement at Lib Dem HQ, Mr Kennedy said he had been "inundated" with support from party members since admitting having a drink problem.
But it had become clear he did not have strong enough support among MPs and had decided to quit with immediate effect.
Deputy leader Sir Menzies Campbell has said he intends to stand in the leadership race. Simon Hughes and Mark Oaten could be among his rivals.
Mr Kennedy's resignation comes after 25 MPs delivered an ultimatum saying they would refuse to serve on the Lib Dem front bench unless he resigned by Monday.
'Stick with us'
Mr Kennedy on Thursday said he would call - and stand in - a leadership election after admitting battling to overcome a drink problem.
Now he says he will play no part in the contest for the leadership of the party which is the third biggest in the UK.
In his statement on Saturday afternoon, Mr Kennedy said he had thought it fair to give party members a say in his continuing leadership.
But no MPs had come forward to stand against him in a leadership contest.
Mr Kennedy said he had enormously appreciated the messages of support received from grassroots members.
"However, it is clear now, that such support is not reflected strongly enough across the parliamentary party in the House of Commons itself," he said.
"In all of this the interests of the party have to come first. That is where my personal, political and constitutional duty lies.
"Accordingly, I am announcing today that when nominations open for the leadership of the party I shall not now be putting my name forward.
"And I am standing down as leader with immediate effect."
Legacy
Mr Kennedy stressed he wanted to remain in national and local politics for many years to come.
He said he had left the new leader with a "good inheritance", with the party's biggest number of MPs for 80 years.
There has been a debate inside the party between economic and social liberals but Mr Kennedy said the two positions were not irreconcilable.
He urged his successor to keep the debate within the "parameters" of Lib Dem principles "and not to get unduly distracted by the machinations in other parties or what the vagaries of the British voting system may offer-up at a future general election".
Leadership race
Party president Simon Hughes said the party's federal executive would meet on Monday to decide the rules for the leadership election, he said.
Mr Hughes, Sir Menzies and home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten are likely frontrunners in the leadership race.
Education spokesman Ed Davey, frontbencher Nick Clegg and former parliamentary party chairman Matthew Taylor have all ruled themselves out of the race.
Sir Menzies and Mr Oaten had said they would not stand in a contest if Mr Kennedy was a candidate and his departure leaves the field clear for them to run.
Sir Menzies, who is acting as interim leader, said he would be consulting his colleagues but intended to be a leadership candidate.
Some are hoping the party can unite around one candidate in a "coronation".
Asked about that prospect, Mr Oaten replied: "I need to talk to the other possible contenders but I'm in no mood to have a long drawn out issue."
Mr Oaten praised Mr Kennedy for showing "incredible dignity" in his resignation speech.
"I just hope now Charles can be allowed some privacy and the party has to unite and move forward," he said.
Mr Hughes refused to discuss whether he could be a leadership candidate, saying: "Today is to say thank you for Charles."
Change of mind
In an interview given to the Independent newspaper on Friday afternoon, Mr Kennedy said it would be a "dereliction of duty" to walk away from his job.
But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said overnight and on Saturday morning he had realised he was no longer a unity figure and he had to stand down.
Over the past two days senior MPs have repeatedly urged Mr Kennedy to resign, saying the current crisis was damaging the party.
More than half of his 62 MPs told a BBC Newsnight survey that Mr Kennedy should go or said his position was untenable.
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It was always going to happen. I don't know any of the three candidates particularly well. Supposedly Mark Oaten is a "smug bastard" so it'd be in their interests that he doesn't get it. Simon Hughes is pretty experienced, but I have no idea even on what wing of the party he is. Ditto Campbell. Campbell is probably too old, especially if he'll be competing with Cameron as well as Blair (at present).
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7 Jan 2006, 18:12
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#22
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Lord Denning
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: City of London
Posts: 2,548
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Quote:
Originally Posted by furball
Simon Hughes is pretty experienced, but I have no idea even on what wing of the party he is.
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I've been told that he's on the left wing of the Lib Dems, and that he probably wants really high tax rates, but that comes from my crazy Irish mother so treat it with whatever doubt you think fit.
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Quote:
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He was crowned in York Cathedral as 'Expert in the West' by Pope Urban III in 1186.
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7 Jan 2006, 18:16
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#23
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J to the C to the A G E
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Scúnthorpe
Posts: 5,583
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Caroline Flint (Labour, Don Valley) is actually hot, but the pictures on the internet don't show that.
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7 Jan 2006, 19:24
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#24
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Not Dark or Handsome
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cwmbru
Posts: 2,588
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Did anyone post that he's quit yet?
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7 Jan 2006, 19:29
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#25
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Registered Awesome Person
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Posts: 5,676
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Why don't you just scroll up a few posts?
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7 Jan 2006, 19:32
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#26
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Aardvark is a funny word
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: I'm No Nino Rota
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
Mark Oaten is not a credible option, Simon Hughes is the least interesting politician I've ever encountered and will engage precisely 0 voters, Menzies Campbell is likeable, charismatic, competent has a degree of elder-statesman about him. Kennedy should have stayed but failing that Campbell is the sensible option.
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As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
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8 Jan 2006, 14:13
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#27
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
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Re: Glug glug glug...Kennedy's leadership finally gets call for last orders?
T&F told me he wouldn't til tuesday...
Ah well.
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