There is some speculation that Clegg intends to ditch the Democrat in the Liberal Democrat and become leader of the Liberal Party. Seeing that the 'Democrat' is the last vestige of the Social Democrat Party, and given that the Lib Dems aren´t really all that keen on being associated with socialism, it wouldn´t surprise me in the least if Clegg has such a change in mind as part of an attempt to rebrand the party.
Monday, 14 January 2008
Return of the Whigs?
The People vs The Bank
As far as I´m concerned, the most important story today isn´t when or if Hain will resign, nor Dafydd Wigley´s intention to become a peer, but the OFT vs the Banks. The banks -bastard thieves the lot of them- badly need a bitch-slapping for making poor people´s lives even pissier with their extortionate and ridiculous charges. I´d like to write a longer piece on this, but I´m unable to think about this subject without frothing at the mouth and feeling the urge to stab something, a banker for example.
However, the Office of Fair Trading will not ask the judge to make a straightforward ruling over whether the banks' charges are unfair. Instead the regulator will argue that the overdraft charges, which the banks have been describing in their literature as "fees for a service", come under the scope of the 1999 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.
The OFT says this gives it the authority to decide if the charges or fees are unfair, and also gives it the power to do something about it.
If the banks win, they will effectively have a green light to charge customers whatever stupid amount of money enters their heads for whatever reason takes their fancy.
Wigley says 'Yes'
To nobody´s great surprise, Dafydd Wigley has volunteered himself for a Plaid peerage.
“I attach great importance to this, as the only reason I am willing to return to London in such a role is to support the programme of the One Wales coalition government, and to press the issues which are uppermost on the agenda of Plaid’s group in the Assembly.
“Amongst these will be securing the agreement of the second chamber to the legislative orders sought by the Assembly; campaigning for a better financial settlement for Wales than that currently afforded by the Barnett formula; and pressing the case for economic policies from the Westminster government which are helpful for the regeneration of the economy of Wales. I also hope to renew my parliamentary work for disabled people.
“I am certainly not taking it for granted that I will be elected. A number of other strong candidates are putting their names forward and are mounting vigorous campaigns.”
Other candidates for a piece of the ermine include economics adviser Eurfyl ap Gwilym, former chief executive Dafydd Williams, former AM Janet Davies, Gwynedd Council chair Meinir Owen and Rhian Medi Roberts, who works for the Plaid group in the House of Commons.
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