Monty Python once had a Ministry of Silly Walks. I presume that they had something like this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7708411.stm in mind at the time.

"Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide "entertainment" and "mental stimulation" for their pets under new government advice"

If anybody wishes to "stimulate" our cat, please book an appointment in advance so that I can have the relevant bandages and ointments standing by.... 

Everyone who is asked "Where did the govt get £500bn" in interviews with journalists ducks the question. Yvette Cooper and Gordon have both ducked it directly. Why won't they say?

Literally, it seems

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1062940/I-obeying-orders---Schools-Secretary-Eddie-Balls-dre ssed-German-officer.html 

The Guardian calls this Balls' "Bullingdon Moment" and with that reshuffle due on Friday... errr.... oh dear.... 

The BBC is currently reporting that the US govt has  not passed the $700bn rescue package.

Oh dearie me. Now what? 

Iain Dale has this on his blog

"The papers are full of rumours that Gordon Brown will have to abandon his planned reshuffle on Friday because various ministers have made ckear that they would resign rather than be moved. ..... I can think of no Prime Minister in my lifetime who has been held to ransom like this."

http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-gordon-going-to-abandon-his.html 

There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.....

The BBC is reporting that Siobhain McDonagh has been sacked for calling for a leadership campaign. More at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7613086.stm

The BBC has broadcast interviews with Labour ministers in the late 70s. It's worth an hour's listening.

The parallels are striking, but the situation is not as bad yet as it was then.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00d7ppb

Some time ago, for a bit of fun I posted a link to a "political belief analyser" - answer a few questions and it classifies you. Some people took it a bit more seriously than I intended, but one of the sites used has mapped the relative political positions of UK parties over the last three decades.

I was astounded by how much Labour has moved to the right.

This morning on the radio they were discussing the fact that it is the 40th anniversary of Soviet tanks rolling into Czechoslovakia. The famous "Prague Spring" used the tagline of "Socialism with freedom". One of those who was there at the time asserted that what they learned is that you cannot have socialism and freedom in the same society. To exist socialism must be authoritarion in nature and deny many freedoms.

Were the Czech activists right? Are socialism and true freedom incompatible?

A bit of fun to lighten the mood!

It seems like John McDonnell is gearing up as the stalking horse.