Lembit too cool for school?

Lembit is attempting to distract me from watching a programme!

'A Prince for Wales?' on BBC One Wales to be precise. Huw Edwards is asking the great and the good of Welsh life, as well as the ordinary people, about a prince for Wales.

Lembit's new glasses are distracting me beyond belief!

Second chance saloon for taking the Mick out of Opik

Gossip follows the recent news that Liberal Democrat Mick Bates has announced that he will not stand at the next Welsh Assembly elections in 2011, making some think that Lembit Opik may have a second chance at retaining his 'Montgomeryshire home' if beaten into second, or even third place in the much awaited UK general election.

That aside, Mr Bates, the AM for Montgomeryshire, had a majority of just under 2,000 votes at the last assembly election, and is chiefly known for two moments of madness in the Assembly:

1. Appearing in a Santa suit in the former chamber to raise cash for charity; and


2. Raising a middle finger to the laughter of other AMs.

John Smith MP, the Vale of Glamorgan, and the Gurkhas

Apparently this week's Glamorgan Gem local newspaper has published a photograph of John Smith MP and a few other MPs with Gurkhas. Nice photograph, and not the one above!

However, checking Hansard and the Public Whip you will discover that he voted WITH the Government, against the Gurkha settlement rights [Although this extremely rare Government defeat in an opposition day motion is not binding (has no legal force) a Government minister made a statement later in the day to bring "forward the date for the determination of the outstanding applications to the end of May].

Such double standards seems to be fitting for these troublesome times. We need to remind ourselves of this at election time.

The Brigade of Gurkhas

The history of the service of the Brigade of Gurkhas to the British Crown goes back as far as 1815. Since then the Brigade has conducted itself with distinction during numerous conflicts worldwide. Prior to 1997 the Brigade's focus was in the Far East but following the handover of Hong Kong it moved to the UK which is now its base. The Brigade still maintains a battalion in Brunei and plays a full part in the British Army's operational deployments worldwide - currently, in particular, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans.

The majority of MPs voted in favour of the motion:
This House

• regrets the Government's recent statement outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom;


• recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years;


• notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here;


• believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since;


• is concerned that the Government's new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority;


• further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live in the country; and


• calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.

In case you were wondering if any other Welsh MPs votes against the Gurkha settlement rights motion, simply read...

Nick Ainger (Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire) Labour
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) Labour (minister)

Chris Bryant (Rhondda) Labour (minister)
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) Labour

Wayne David (Caerphilly) Labour (minister)
Hywel Francis (Aberavon) Labour

Nia Griffith (Llanelli) Labour (PPS)
Peter Hain (Neath) Labour (former minister)

David Hanson (Delyn) Labour (minister)

Dai Havard (Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney) Labour

Kim Howells (Pontypridd) Labour (former minister)

Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) Labour (minister)

Ian Lucas (Wrexham) Labour (minister)

Alun Michael (Cardiff South & Penarth) Labour (former minister)

Madeleine Moon (Bridgend) Labour

Jessica Morden (Newport East) Labour (PPS)

Paul Murphy (Torfaen) Labour (minister)

Albert Owen (Ynys Môn) Labour

Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd) Labour

Mark Tami (Alyn & Deeside) Labour (minister)

Don Touhig (Islwyn) labour

Alan Williams (Swansea West) Labour

Martin Caton (Gower) Labour - absent
Paul Flynn (Newport West) Labour - absent

Siân James (Swansea East) Labour (PPS) absent

Martyn Jones (Clwyd South) Labour - absent

Betty Williams (Conwy) Labour - absent

Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire) Liberal Democrats - absent

Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire) Liberal Democrats (front bench) absent

Liberal Democrats are thankful for small mercies

In a one-liner, "Gossip mag Opik loses presidential bid".

The vote though might well be remembered more for who lost, than for who won.

In the running were two relative unknowns and one all-too-well-known.

The winner was Baroness Ros Scott, the former group leader of Suffolk County Council.

Businessman Chandila Fernando promised to modernise the party's machinery. And the most recognised name of the three, Lembit Opik, offered a presidency painted in "primary colours".

The party leader, Nick Clegg, will be sighing with relief.

It was widely thought that Baroness Scott was his preferred candidate. In fact, the deputy leader Vince Cable officially endorsed her.

The result:

Ros Scott: 20,736 votes (72%)

Lembit Opik: 6247 votes (22%)

Chandila Fernando 1799 votes (6%)

One thing's for sure - Randerson won't be sleeping soundly tonight.