Cricket, LD leadership, Squire
Sydney: Australia 359 & 288-2 beat South Africa 451-9d & 194-6d by eight wickets Rain on the fourth day, and a generous declaration from South Africa, allowed Australia to pull off an unlikely win.
Batting first, Kallis (111) and Prince (119) put on 219 for the fourth first-innings wicket, while Ponting (120) and Gilchrist (86) made the running for the home side. Nel took four wickets, the difference between the sides. With only twenty overs possible on the fourth day, Gibbs' 67 and Kallis' 50* helped South Africa ahead, but Smith declared as Kallis and Pollock were beginning to build up a head of steam. Australia completed their run-chase with 14.3 overs in hand, Ponting made 143*, Hayden 90.
Lib Dem Leadership
"It is not credible for a party leader to have the passive support of the wider membership without first ensuring that he has the confidence of the vast majority if not the whole of his parliamentary colleagues." So wrote Andrew George (LD, Trade) to Charles Kennedy (LD, leader (subject to re-election))
Others who have voiced their dis-satisfaction with Mr Kennedy's continued leadership include Andrew George (International Development), Vince Cable (Treasury), Norman Lamb (Trade), Chris Davies (MEP leader), Sandra Gidley (Romsey Redhead), Nick Harvey, Jenny Tonge, David Laws, Chris Huhne, Sarah Teather, Andrew George, Ed Davey, Norman Baker, John Thurso, and Michael Moore. The Lib Dem MP, and not anyone else of a similar name.
Simon Hughes, the popular London MP, has not declared his intentions. It feels like a case of when, not if, Mr Kennedy goes.
Incidentally, how come it's unacceptable for Mr Kennedy, a leading British politician, to hide an alcohol dependency, but perfectly acceptable when it's done by a leading figure in the colonies, failed candidate X.
Death in the family
Rachel Squire (Lab, Dunfermline and West Fife) has died, aged 51. Ms Squire has been suffering from cancer since shortly after her election in 1992. An old gel of top private school Godolphin and Latimer, she specialised in defence debates (more spending), and supported the Rosyth base in her constituency.
The Dunf&Wamp;F seat is safe Labour, only vulnerable during the most anti-Labour periods in history. It remained Labour by 2500 votes over the Conservatives in 1983, and there was not a significant Scottish Nationalist challenge during the 1970s. An upset here is not likely.
posted 06 Jan 2006, 18.39 +0000
