@stephentall's weekly Twitter updates for 2012-03-09

@stephentall’s weekly Twitter updates for 2012-03-09

by Stephen Tall on March 9, 2012

So the Camb Uni SU is actually arguing Strauss-Kahn shld not be heard in public http://t.co/xeSBD6hQ. Astonishing disregard for free speech. #
Genuine quote from Camb Uni SU: "Strauss-Kahn has not been acquitted of any of the multiple accusations of rape". #innocentuntilprovenetc #
RT @juvelad: Excellent set of by-elections gains for #libdems last night, I see three gains so far on my Twitter timeline! Well done to all! #
Camb Uni SU claims it's "rightfully committed to free speech" yet wants to ban speakers on basis of *suspicion* of guilt. #theyjustdontgetit #
@AAEmmerson Camb Uni's SU petition is really quite scarily reactionary http://t.co/xeSBD6hQ in reply to AAEmmerson #
New post: LDVideo: Nick Clegg – Workfare critics have a “messed up set of priorities” http://t.co/uYEfClSW #
Geordie Greig to leave LdnEveStd to edit MailOnSun http://t.co/4LvXofq6. Odd move unless he's aiming to take over from Dacre in due course. #
Chris Huhne hires Harry Redknapp's QC to defend perverting course of justice charge http://t.co/TCISTUcZ <shd cut odds on his return to govt #
Pah, typical Tory bias from BBC RT @bbcpress: BBC DG: "the Peel Wing… a fitting tribute” http://t.co/8kqh9con <Oh *that* Peel. As you were #
@alixmortimer Cameron may not have inhaled, but we know he can snort #horsegate in reply to alixmortimer #
One of the UK's largest (& coolest) grant-making charities, Education Endowment Foundation, is hiring – interested? http://t.co/z3CVQjYg #
PS: there is a downside to the job… you'll report to me http://t.co/z3CVQjYg #
Good interview » @nicholaswatt Lib Dem London mayoral cand @brianpaddick to campaign to the left of the coalition http://t.co/9Met5zTk #
RT @xtophercook: @eleanorlondon @angiekail Well, she's fictional, so she might be. < sheesh, that's a braaaave comment. #
P'haps 1st time I've applauded a PP pol > MT @plegrain: Congrats to Spain for defying Europe's fiscal torture nonsense. http://t.co/OqKASHze #
New post: Paddick: some Met detectives adopt a “she wants it really” attitude to women alleging rape http://t.co/PNowyDWH #
New post: Do they just not like free speech in Cambridge? http://t.co/OXRGPakE #
@jrrt1904 But 1) where is that quote mentioned in petition? 2) isn't free speech about being able to challenge attitudes you disagree with? in reply to JRRT1904 #
@jrrt1904 And the US allegations referred to in the petition? in reply to JRRT1904 #
@JRRT1904 In which case it's the petition, not me, that's omitting the relevant context! in reply to JRRT1904 #
Raises IQ of both parties > RT @michaellcrick: UKIP source says Conservative MEP Roger Helmer will announce tomorrow he's defecting to UKIP #
Fascinating stuff > RT @jananganesh: My blog on the leaving of Steve Hilton http://t.co/uOg5DzX5 #
Do read @jimpurnell: "the Right cuts without a plan, the Left defends welfare state without identifying priorities" http://t.co/cRRZixYS #
Anne Atkins: 'I can barely get through the day without a drink' http://t.co/QGrkFBLx < ironically Anne Atkins drives many of us to drink. #
Have retired to bed with following: brandy, phone & Spanish vocab homework. Guess which of those 3 is so far untouched…? #
@jockox3 Who uses a phone to phone people? #wedonttalkanymore in reply to jockox3 #
Frances Stonor Saunders is a brilliant writer. If only she'd written Rachel Cusk's 'Aftermath' for her. http://t.co/kbISvYty #
BBC4 celebrates a decade on air http://t.co/vjbyRgLY « tho I still don't get why it starts at 7pm & ends at 3am. Pls timeshift fwd. #
Quite simply, washlets are a concept whose time has come » The Hard Sell: Andrex Washlets http://t.co/lTV1Ex9I #
@artesea Ahh, hadn't realised. But I bet Beatie understands how to operate the DVR better than me. So she shd back down. in reply to artesea #
@natt MEPs elected thru list system, so no constit/top-up distinction. in reply to Natt #
New post by me > : LibLink: Paddick – we are putting forward an innovative, radical Liberal Democrat agenda for L… http://t.co/Qx8g8Zip #
@natt Yes. Yes they would. Any decent human being. in reply to Natt #
@Natt I know. I was echoing your comedic rhetoric. For effect. in reply to Natt #
Excellent: tickets booked for fab @creationtheatre's Hamlet at Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford (with @noasarx & @mssusieday) #
@Natt There's just no way I can top that. Nor, I suspect, should I try. in reply to Natt #
From me last night > Do they just not like free speech in Cambridge? http://t.co/OXRGPakE #
@benedictbrogan @christopherhope Not what I heard – was genuine stand-off between Cable and top Tories over Ebdon. (Not Willetts tho). in reply to benedictbrogan #
@mjturner1975 Does it? I think my argument is unless he's found guilty he has same rights as anyone else to be heard. in reply to mjturner1975 #
@mjturner1975 Diff with OxUnion OJ Simpson invitation – only thing he was famous for in UK was his trial so more provocative. in reply to mjturner1975 #
A bag-carrier's guide to surviving Twitter http://t.co/Vh0lQCbP < @MShapland on good form (esp pt 12). #
@mjturner1975 I think 'innocent til proven guilty' (whether in civil/criminal case) the right focus. The Cambridge petition ignores that. in reply to mjturner1975 #
@mjturner1975 As I said, OJ a diff case (eg fled crime scene). But innocent til proven guilty is not a principle you qualify. in reply to mjturner1975 #
I *love* the use of parentheses here » RT @teessidedazza @libdemvoice @stephentall Lib Dems – remember them more like (the lying cunts) #
RT @finalconflict1: @libdemvoice @stephentall Bleuch. More pro-immigrant, pro-queer liberal nonsense. < Ah, a philosopher! #
New post by me > : The Labour Party. Remember them? http://t.co/mTgNcOeO #
'Why I am standing for the elected mayoralty of Liverpool' by @cllrkemp here > http://t.co/T2W1KsS8 < Best of luck to him #
New post by me > : LDV Caption Competition: David Cameron & Alex Salmond “Who’ll take the Highland?” Edition http://t.co/EO8vGvM9 #
Listening to 'Gaudy Night' while setting up next Lib Dem Voice survey – a special on the NHS reform bill ahead of spring conference at w'end #
@lonwon D'you honestly think that would ever produce a consensus?! I'm all for democracy but opin poll questions will never satisfy everyone in reply to LonWon #
Currently being impressed by Arabella Weir's #letsdance moves. And, as ever, by @timminchin's eyeliner. #
@natt @idealcamel And let's not forget 'Luuurgg at Me'. A true classic in The Geri's oeuvre. in reply to Natt #
Just watched The King's Speech for the first time. Great film. Firth & Rush & Helena all utterly marvellous. #
@natt *retreats, licking wounds, knowing his rightful, culturally submissive, place* BUT WAIT… in reply to Natt #
@natt … BUT WAIT you omitted the possessive apostrophe. Which means I must win. Surely. in reply to Natt #
@natt You are so very. in reply to Natt #
I'm crushed > RT @sully_efc: @stephentall just read this on ldv; you are starting to come across like a tory to me; fook knows why. #
Idealist or pragmatist? » What sort of prime minister does David Cameron really want to be? | Andrew Rawnsley http://t.co/AXJEMlmz #
It's always the cover up… » Has Leveson finally delivered a mortal blow to Rupert Murdoch? | Henry Porter http://t.co/WitKmBCK #
On a train to Brighton, something I've done a few times before. But never not for a LibDem conference. And never before in snow. #
I have taken an instant dislike on first sight to Clapham Junction. Apologies to its fans, but I call it like it is. #
@neilmonnery Surely its mother must like it? in reply to neilmonnery #
New post by me > : In other news… Richard Kemp for Liverpool, Kennedy on the UK, defection in Cambridge, Hughes a… http://t.co/pN3B61pd #
Gorgeous sunset from Brighton beach this evening http://t.co/PL1pmDMi #
New post by me > : New LDV members’ survey now live: your views on the NHS reform bill http://t.co/nPeHrPP8 #
@redcatandnipper I don't & you're wrong. Otherwise an impeccable tweet. in reply to redcatandnipper #
@TimMontgomerie @markpack Personally, I'm at ease with a photo of me aged 27 being used… in reply to TimMontgomerie #
@MathewHulbert @betapolitics I'm happy for liberal policies to be put forward by any party. (Tho LibDems do it most consistently.) in reply to MathewHulbert #
@markpack @mpntod I very delib avoided putting context Qs first: tendency in push-polling I dislike. in reply to markpack #
@mpntod @markpack Genuinely interested Martin to know which statements don't read neutral. I was v careful with this one, as u can imagine! in reply to mpntod #
@MathewHulbert @betapolitics Erm, which is? in reply to MathewHulbert #
@mpntod @markpack "Both sides"? There are (at least) 4 sides in this debate among LDs alone! in reply to mpntod #
@MathewHulbert @betapolitics Even if that advice is to back specific Lib Dem policies? in reply to MathewHulbert #
@mpntod @markpack Ah, that was the one question taken from neutral source! (Ie, YouGov or ICM, forget which, poll.) in reply to mpntod #
@MathewHulbert @betapolitics Disagree with you there, then. More interested in liberal policies being advanced than who gets credit. in reply to MathewHulbert #
@MathewHulbert @betapolitics Please don't forget liberal & Lib Dem belief in pluralism. Can win elections like that too. in reply to MathewHulbert #
@Natt Ah, the Telegraph. It's the Lib Dems' Bible, y'know. in reply to Natt #
@mpntod @markpack Just had chance to check – Q4 was *after* the support/oppose Bill (Q3) – ie, no 'leading' Q first. in reply to mpntod #
Looks like more LDs agree with @TimMontgomerie here http://t.co/qBhuEdXp than Tories agree with me @ConHome here http://t.co/yI79oVWW #
New post by me > : Mori founder Sir Bob Worcester tells me his favourite biased opinion poll questions http://t.co/WkKW1Ehj #
Have taken the bull by the horns and commented on my @conhome piece here http://t.co/miSISOJy #
@Natt It was mainly written for you. Hoped it might make it into mayoral manifesto. in reply to Natt #
@Natt | Notes subtle* insertion of Huff Po link | * = blatant. in reply to Natt #
@mpntod @markpack I think the 'message' here entirely in eye of the beholder! in reply to mpntod #
3 Tories debate LD policy. Unbelievable! MT @BBCNewsnight Jacob Rees-Mogg, Kirstie Allsopp & Tim Montgomerie discuss mansion tax #newsnight #
@MathewHulbert Seems from comments so far most LDV readers agree with Tim's post (incl SLF members!). in reply to MathewHulbert #
@MathewHulbert @Birdyword Surely you can see having all-Tory panel on specific LD policy v diff from one single guest post? in reply to MathewHulbert #
@MathewHulbert We've had Lab & Green folk write for us in past, another lined up for Fri. in reply to MathewHulbert #
Good stuff here > Vince Cable and the future of the coalition: @markpack's TV interview: http://t.co/owugZvVt #
What did Mori founder Sir Bob Worcester say was the most biased poll question he'd ever seen? Find out here: http://t.co/WkKW1Ehj #
So far 46 comments on my ConHome piece on advice from a liberal LibDem to the Tories on building a true majority http://t.co/yI79oVWW #
RT @timmontgomerie: The Lib Dems are dangerously determined to paint the Tories as the party of the rich http://t.co/FHkQzFdE #
You're "dangerous and determined" @markpack ((C) @timmontgomerie) – I imagine you can live with that 🙂 in reply to TimMontgomerie #
"For 10 years, we failed to work out what a Liberal NHS might look like for the century ahead." http://t.co/eHBwil1E <David Boyle 100% right #
Simon Jenkins on good form re property taxes today: http://t.co/mSB8zx6J Especially like the line… #
Simon Jenkins: Focus on income poor equity rich householders "like worrying about people who own Rolls-Royces they cannot afford to drive". #
@richardmorrisuk Oh he's wrong on lots of details, incl 50p tax not raising much, but thrust of article is right. in reply to richardmorrisuk #
@richardmorrisuk He does indeed. Not always consistently mind http://t.co/s44yxGuC in reply to richardmorrisuk #
@richardmorrisuk And whilst I'm touting my previous utterings on Simon Jenkins: http://t.co/7YeRofv3 in reply to richardmorrisuk #
@nickjbarlow Rodney Bewes was definitely played by an actor. Unconvincingly. #masterchef in reply to nickjbarlow #
@richardmorrisuk Thx, had forgotten I'd written it til yr tweet jogged a memory 🙂 in reply to richardmorrisuk #
A plausible predictn from Peter Oborne > This fine Coalition government won’t see out 2013 – what a shame for Britain http://t.co/yIkrIIPW #
Congrats on this > RT @prateekbuch: (2/3): PlanC pamphlet includes exclusive foreword by Will Hutton http://t.co/lwJgCoJw #
@markpack Thanks for the RT. in reply to markpack #
RT @markpack: MORI founder Sir Bob Worcester tells me his favourite biased opinion poll questions http://t.co/xedgveY4 < @stephentall blogs #
@markpack Thx for the RT. in reply to markpack #
RT @lordbonkers: Liberal England: Why Michael Gove is preferable to David Blunkett or Estelle Morris http://t.co/2bgErCNL #
Agree – can Tories show they 'get' ordinary voters' concerns? MT @timmontgomerie: @graemearcher If Tories have a Clause IV it's about class #
Skins axed by Channel 4 (well, after another new series anyway) http://t.co/KDseuNEy < shame. S1+2 great, S5 also very good. Rest a bit meh. #
As inevitable as James Murdoch's resignation > PCC to close in wake of phone-hacking scandal http://t.co/aF79Nqtn #
@digitalpolitico Yes, Skins 5 had great characters tho S6 has lost its way. Naomi was best character from S3-4, agreed. in reply to DigitalPolitico #
Who are "the new philanthropists" – Jon Hneley talks to some here http://t.co/pkZuV6xS #
I just bought 'Plan C – social liberal approaches to a fair, sustainable economy' by Prateek Buch http://t.co/y8XgtItB http://t.co/pI0jMqAN #
Ed Miliband's communication failure: http://t.co/vCC5TWnm Forget the 12 words thing, just boggle at the complex language & silly stats. #
@mathewhulbert Yes. In fact only on Kindle. Link on last tweet shd take you there. in reply to MathewHulbert #
I do indeed! >> RT @richardmorrisuk: Hi Stephen you might like this too! http://t.co/DWIswv7x #
Look out later for the Lib Dem Voice NHS members' survey results. Over 500 voted. Some interesting figures for Nick Clegg to ponder… #
That's some serious dough » RT @sunny_hundal Boris "praised" by multi-millionaire City bakers http://t.co/VYDO6sCq #
RT @paulwaugh New LibDemVoice poll on NHS: 57% LDs oppose Lansley Bill but maj ready to back with concessions. http://t.co/aE3ObikG #
@richardmorrisuk Patience…! or else see @Paulwaugh for the headline results now. Full figures on LDV later. in reply to richardmorrisuk #
@lobbydog Tactical maybe. But not strategic! in reply to Lobbydog #
RT @cllrdaisybenson: .@timfarron 'With just 23% of the vote, we've got three-quarters of our manifesto into government policy' #LibDems #
Good article, esp for riling Comment is Free's green-inkers > Why the Lib Dems must stop apologising | @TimFarron > http://t.co/eAp1YaEP #
New post by me > : What Lib Dem members think about the NHS Bill: 57% opposed, but majority might back it if signif… http://t.co/kEfUa58Z #
Another week, another new liberal think-tank – a very warm welcome to Liberal Insight: http://t.co/lp0BS46B #
Just read John Pugh's 'A Way Through: NHS Reform without strife and upheaval' http://t.co/CNxVfC1Y < a serious contribution to the debate. #