Received a leaflet from the outgoing Calder Valley MP Chris McCafferty today, courtesy of the parliamentary stationary budget.

Having spent the last few months fundraising to pay for our local election campaign, some things leave a bad taste in my mouth.

At the same time as Tim Swift’s Labour Group and Ann McAllister’s Tories are playing footsie under the council table in Calderdale, Labour and Tory MPs are cozying up in Westminster to get themselves exempted from the Freedom of Information Act.

From my albeit slightly biased perspective it looks as though we have turned a corner in British politics.

Once upon a time Labour and the Tories would rarely be seen in same room together but today they are regularly seen voting together in both Westminster and on local councils.

Prior to 1997 there was a polarisation of British politics which benefited both Labour and the Tories, effectively squeezing out the Lib Dems. On any political issue of the 80s and early 90s it was almost guaranteed that any attempt by Tories to introduce legislation would be opposed on principle by Labour.

Now you can’t put a fag paper between them.

My little brother Paul has sent me some pics of his new digs.

Breeze blocks and mosquito netting are all the rage in Basra.

Stay safe Paul

Labour jumped straight into bed with the Tories again on Calderdale Council last night.

Tim Swift’s Labour group voted to put Ann McAllister’s Tories back into all the cabinet positions at the Town Hall.

As Labour and the Tories snuggle up for another year the Lib Dems will continue to be the only credible opposition to this unholy alliance.