Tories to follow Radiohead

The Conservative party are to follow Radiohead's online idea of 'paying as much as you want' in a bid to boost funds and support.

The Tories have launched a £500,000 advertising campaign to recruit online 'friends'.

Internet users can pay as little or as much to become a Conservative supporter on either Facebook, MySpace, iVillage or Bebo.

This was inspired by Radiohead's online honesty box, were there was no fixed charge for fans to download their latest album 'In Rainbows'

Democrat candidate Barack Obama also has boosted his funding during the US Presidential nominations from donations recieved by individual web users.

Shadow Chancellor George Osbourne said: "We want to be the groundbreakers of British politics."

However the Liberal Democrats have already the largest support on Facebook.

In August 2007, the Lib Dems were the largest users of the social networking site, with 25 of the party's 63 MPs actively using their pages.

Labour also claim to have been pioneers of using the web for party donations and forming the Labour Supporters network were web users can sign up for online bulletins without joining the party.

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Castro: threat to the west or true leader?

Fidel Castro, now former President of Cuba, will go down in American history as 'the commie on the doorstep'.

But having been in power since 1959, he has survived the intense advances of nine US President's who have tried to force him out.

To the rest of the World, he has to be congratulated.

Cuba, a small country in South America, could have easily been manipulated into an American 'satellite state'. Before Castro's reign, the country was in severe poverty.

With a range of good qualifications through education, Castro was shocked by the treatment the people of Cuba were recieving from then President Fulgencio Batista.

He drew influence from Karl Marx and Lenin, becoming a revolutionary and plotting the downfall of Batista.

Castro's actions led him to live in exile in Mexico, but his support grew. He trained in guerilla warfare (successful when Zulus fought the British) and gained companions such as the legendary Che Guevara.

His support grew within Cuba and in 1959, his forces overthrew Batista (as seen in Godfather II).

Castro promised to give the land back to the people and defend the rights of the poor.

He became America's enemy during the cold war. The Cuban Missile Crisis saw Cuba prepare Soviet missiles and face them towards America.

The Soviets and Americans were at deadlock and eventually Soviet ministers withdrew the missiles from Cuba.

Since then America has attempted to assasinate Castro around 600 times, according to one of his ministers.

Because of this, Castro has refused to embrace democratic ideology but insists his brand of Communism is nothing like Russian communism during the early 20th century.

As times have changed, relationships with other nations have deteriorated. Some people in Cuba hate Castro, for refusing democracy and continuing with his 'ancient philosophy'.

However his relationship with other surrounding South American states is healthy and he has improved healthcare, literacy rates and infant mortality.

After nearly 50 years, he has stood the test of time. He has survived the wrath of the most powerful nation in the World and will be forever seen as a true leader who did what was best for his country.

Rock the Casbah

Chancellor Alister Darling has announced that Northern Rock will be temporarily 'nationalised' as part of emergency legislation.

The decision had been made after two private takeover offers did not offer the taxpayer "sufficient value for money."

This means that the government are now in control of Northern Rock, and is another chapter to the ongoing saga that is Northern Rock.

The government have appointed Ron Sandler, who has promised saver's that their deposits are secure.

Mr Sandler had previously restored confidence in Lloyd's bank, after its years in financial disarray.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Darling explained the governement's decision, saying it was better for the government to hold onto Northern Rock until market conditions improve and its value increases.

Shadow Chancellor George Osbourne opposes the idea and said:

"The nationalisation plans were 'catastrophic', and that they would be opposed by the Conservatives."

Politician or Prince Charming?

Over the current weekend you may have noticed that French President Nicholas Sarkozy married his supermodel girlfriend Carla Bruni.

The whirlwind romance has been criticised by the people of France as the couple have been splashed on TV, gossip magazines and falling into the elite category of 'celebrity relationships'.

Recently in the French newspaper 'La Parisien', had a poll in which Sarkozy has dropped 7 points in his approval ratings, and that 48% of French people now say they have lost confidence in their leader.

The point I'm trying to seek is, can a politician be taken seriously when he or she is under the celebrity spotlight?

The fact that Nicholas Sarkozy has got married should be congratulated but the way he has been parading in front of papparazi has been excessive.

His new wife being a supermodel doen't help and his high profile position as President of a major European nation is rightly being attacked by the people of France.

The population of France have every right to be angry and upset as they voted him into power. Sarkozy is their leader, a man they expect to lead the country through the ups and downs that will continue to face the nation.

His image as a leader has been tainted and from an outside point of view, it's a joke. President marrying a supermodel. It would be laughable if Gordon Brown was seen flirting with Kate Moss outside a club wouldn't it?

We have our own mini version with Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik going out with one of the cheeky girls.

I can understand the French people's frustration. Sarkozy's image has gone from politician and leader to glitz and glamour.

France is going through high unemployment, slow economic growth and debt. The last thing the people wanted was a fairytale wedding. It's time for Sarkozy to leave the castle and become one with the crowd.