Idiot

Prime Minister David Cameron used the Today programme to decry the idea of Gordon Brown becoming Managing Director of the IMF. He then suggested that it was time for someone from the developing economies to take the role.

I have never come across such a piece of self serving, and UK damaging nonsense. David Cameron used to complain bitterly about the decline of UK influence in the world, and now he seeks to give it away so that he can stick the boot into his predessor. He is using Britain's prestige as a tool for narrow political advantage.

I am sure that he genuinely feels Brown is not the man for the job. However how can it be in Britain's interest to give away a key global role for no gain? A Brit in the job, even the wrong man, at least has some interest in the country doing well.

The Tories have previous on this. Out of spite they have attacked Tony Blair bidding to become European President, and the appointment of a Brit as de facto head of European Foreign Policy. Because they were from the Labour Party. As if having a British President of Europe would not have reflected well on the country. Other countries are sensible enough to realise that politics should stop at the border. In their disdain for anyone who is not exactly like them the Tories have shown their contempt for the whole country of Great Britain. These are the people who have talked of it not mattering if they have no presence in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland because of their majority in England. Forgetting that they are supposed to be a Unionist party, and not an English party.

They should put aside their hatred of Labour, and look to the good of the country. As opposed to just the bits of it that they own.

1-1

What an attitude. One nil down after 97 minutes, Liverpool managed to draw 1-1 at Arsenal with another (rather soft) penalty as the last kick of the game.
That is a major change - there would have been no blame for having lost to Arsenal, away from home, having lost 3 players to injury. Under Roy Hodgson that would have been seen as a reasonable excuse. Under Dalgleish the excuse was not needed.

I feel sorry for Arsenal, who I would prefer to win the Premiership, but they did not really deserve to win.

So now we have 5 games left - one against Spurs - to catch Spurs or Man City for the last European place. 6 points behind, 15 to play for... I think we need to beat Spurs at Anfield, and then take 9 or the remaining 12. Doable given that it is Fulham, Birmingham and Villa. An amazing turnaround from Christmas

The Change in the weather

It is amazing that a bit of better weather can make things more bearable. Despite the fact that things are no better workwise, or in fact even worse. A weekend in Paris also was a break and a chance to see that things could be worse - one friend's business is now in administration. At least I am not there yet.