Total Politics gets an introduction to Manchester

Last night saw the Total Politics roadshow fly into Manchester.

Hosted by its editor Shane Greer,it featured local MP's Tony Lloyd, Graham Brady and Mark Hunter along with the MEN's David Ottewell.

Held in the Question Time format at the City Inn,if nothing else the event showed up the anger that the public still feel over the expenses issues and the contempt for politicians and politics in general.

Hardly representative of the populus of Manchester at all,from the show of votes on a couple of issues,you could see that most of the audience's political views were of the centre right with a spattering of the extreme left.

There was a lot of anger in the room over the issue of expenses and trust in Parliament as well as the role of bankers in the financial crisis and the panel have few reassuring answers to give.

Manchester Central's MP Tony Lloyd did tell the room that the government will make a profit from RBS and Northern Rock.

The problem for the audience was of de regulation and Tory Graham Brady found it hard to justify his party's pre crash stance.

As to issues going forward all the panelists seemed to accept that spending cuts will bring tough times ahead,the difference between them was the timing and the direction.The panellists appeared taken by surprise when one question from the audience came with the latest from Blackpool council who have imposed 40 per cent pay cuts on some staff.

The best question of the day sparked off the best debate.

"The average lifespan in Manchester is 100 years lower than in Chelsea-what are you going to do about it panel" asked a women to massive applause and they had little to answer.

Tony Lloyd attempted to justify 13 years of Labour spending on reducing poverty,and improving education but the audience were unconvinced.Labour have had their chance and failed was the general consensus.

The questions finished with the case for an elected mayor for the Greater City.Little enthusiasm wa shown for that.It will attract celebrities,being the one argument,it will interfere with the integration of the Greater Manchester authorities was another.

A way of engaging the population of Manchester in the electoral process? Hardly but let's see how engagement works once the campaign is under way

Not so neutral Total Politics

An interesting revelation in the New Statesman by Kevin McGuire.

Iain Dale's much flaunted new politics mag is to be bankrolled by none other than Lord Ashcroft.

Your correspondent discovered Dale squatting in Ashcroft's 7 Cowley Street basement lair when I paid an uninvited call to the Westminster block. Dale insisted the company was his, with Ashcroft a wealthy investor who'll play no editorial role. Yet I suspect the involvement of the moneybags right-winger, whose tax status remains an international mystery, will hinder Dale's attempt to present Total Ashcroft as "politically neutral

Bob Piper asks the question

Are there any other Tory bloggers getting a 'subsidy' from Ashcroft? (No, not you, newmania... he wouldn't be that daft)... for instance is that other 'independent free spirit Paul Staines also in receipt of Ashcroft gold? As MaGuire says... just exactly how big a hole does this blow in the claim that Total Ashcroft will be politically neutral?

Iain Dale talking to media Guardian replies

Ashcroft's cash would not influence the magazine's content.

A deal with the Tory peer had yet been signed, and any agreement would be purely a "commercial arrangement and Ashcroft's involvement would be a "huge compliment", said Dale.