Parliament of Fowls

While I was at work Elliot Morley has now been sacked from the Labour Party.

Nice one. More please.

Quickie card -

The Moon

Reading without notes, the dragons are baying to the moon and there is a sense of the danse macabre - the scandal has claimed another victim, following on from Andrew Mackay this morning, and I can't say the tarot looks unhappy at this. Meanwhile there'll be more; the dragons don't quite look satisfied or sated yet.

Andrew Mackay has resigned from his position as an aide to Vulpes Vulpes, his fellow fokssss. He is a local MP to us, and is matched in Wokingham by a third vulpine, John Redwood. Not too unhappy at this - what he did with fourth foxy Julie Kirkbride is just unspeakably bent, and how he can claim that nothing "stands out" in his expenses claim I'm not sure - but he did at least help sniff out victory in Reading East, for which I will be always be grateful. We weren't anywhere near defeat, but there were people there who really actually would have preferred noble defeat to a solid victory, so it was helpful to me and others who actually wanted to win to have him endorse our goal as within reach. Sadly this feral nose of his wasn't good enough to smell out the naked abuse of this issue here.

Again, not a Parliament article without a reading for this, and the news Douglas Hogg is facing having his whip withdrawn over refusing to pay for his moat.

Questions for Mackay and Hogg

The Star. Like the return of spring after winter, the Star signals rebirth in any or all aspects of life, and the relaxing of restraints. After an illness, the Star card indicates the return of health. After a period of frustration in relationships or work, it promises the return of joy and the blossoming of new partnerships. This is a good time to begin any new venture.

There is release in this situation for both of them from constraints imposed from outside, and it seems to me that their official roles were chafing somewhat. A curious card for people swindling the taxpayers, but a suggestion that for both of them their roles in the party and as an official MP may not have been that comfortable to begin with and they were - subconsciously - daring Foxy to sack them as a result of these revelations.

Answers from Cameron

Four of Swords. A temporary relief from struggle. Use solitude to plan a way forward because the chances are that much will be demanded of you again soon. This can refer to either health or your personal life. Remember, with hindsight all the best achievements involve triumph over adversity.

As the release comes for the two wayward MPs, the release is similar for Cameron, freeing him from potential trouble. He can't fully relax - he needs to keep moving if he is to avoid finding himself in the Prime Minister's perilous situaition - but he can remove two thorns from his side and ponder the way forward without the problems caused by these particular cases.

Questions for Cameron

The High Priestess. Inspiration, learning, mystery, understanding of the inner workings of life, enlightenment and serenity are all represented by this card, with a hint that serenity can sometimes lead to emotional detachment from daily events. Often this card implies that hidden spiritual factors are currently affecting your life, so look carefully within, or consult a respected advisor.

In a sense Cambo is trying to rise above this situation and establish himself as an inquisitor rather than a perpetrator of the injustice and greed that is going on. However, he cannot really do this effectively without deepening his range and beginning to shore up his party's reputation now that the political agenda he has pursued for the last several months (if not three and a half years) has rebounded on him as well. He must begin to concentrate on substance and deepening the Tory message, or be dragged under by the tide engulfing politics. Michael Howard was in the same position before the European elections last time when the media decided to try and rock the anti-politics boat for very little external reason indeed - he cannot afford to go the same way under much a more genuine anti-establishment movement with much more genuine causes.

Answers from Mackay and Hogg

King of Swords. In astrology the character of Saturn in his benign aspect closely resembles that of the King of Swords. He represents power, authority, and the law, splitting complex arguments with the edge of his sword. His judgements can at times seem lacking in tolerance of human frailty, but are never unfair. The card usually represents an authority figure that the querent can look to for justice.

The two wayward MPs now hold the balance of power - if they make a fuss they could rock the boat for Cameron further. It may be that the public will not side with them but they could manipulate things that they feel released from to the detriment of Vulpes Vulpes, who is trying to deepen himself without losing the tactical game to a seemingly moribund government. The Tories always seem to me that despite their high poll ratings - which are now on a downslope again due to this issue - fragile and still insecure. This may make it easier, not more difficult, for disaffected MPs to make their voices heard more clearly if they are released from having to be officials in the party or parliament and this could be a dangerous side-effect of a zealous campaign to clear the party of miscreants. The sacking of Howard Flight rebounded on Michael Howard - so indiscriminate clearing of deadwood may also concentrate minds against a leader looking like he is clearing bedblockers to insert his own cronies in safe positions - such as Douglas Hogg's constituency seat.

Direction for MPs

Justice. Justice reveals a judgement in your favour as you receive your just rewards. This can be uncomfortable for those who have strayed beyond morality, but usually this card signals good fortune for you and a happy outcome to current negotiations. The card signals a good time for drawing up contracts, settling outstanding debts and obligations, and laying foundations for the future.

There's a risk of interpreting this card too much in one favour or another. Mackay and Hogg may feel they are being punished when no rule or law has been broken (as it emphatically has in the case of Elliot Morley, caught claiming mortgage interest for a mortgage already paid off). But they seem for the moment to be guilty as charged and while this may diminish any challenge they throw down to Big Foxy, they still have here a moment where their difficulties could leave a legacy of more strife for the political party in question, not less.

Direction for leadership

Ace of Wands. The Ace of Wands represents the beginning of some great new practical venture or career. The time is right for putting your boldest ideas into action, pushing back the boundaries of possibility and sharing your enthusiasm with the world. Now, when everything is flowing your way, is the time to exercise your talents, stake out your territory, and show the world what you can do.

A strike while the iron is hot from Cameron to try and solve the problems. It may not be a total coup - the damage in the polls is done and he flatters himself if he can turn people back round solely by sacking a few MPs and making token gestures; people want policies which he can't give them - but it is action that shows he is willing to tackle a political crisis. If he applied this dexterity to policies perhaps people would not be so cynical and would not be turning to other more substantial parties with policy agendas and "solutions" of their own.

Direction for party

The Hierophant. Providing comfort, security, the wisdom of the ages, and generosity in others' time of need are among the many virtues of the Hierophant that make him someone to turn to in troubled times. But inflexibility - a lack of openness to change - can often negate these virtues. Too great a reverence for the past can become hostility toward all change, and then the Hierophant symbolises an obstacle to growth. He can also indicate marriage or other lasting union.

The strict nature of Cameron's actions may help in the short term but there needs to be a genuine organic development for the party to start to recover the respect of the public in the long-term. Before the issue broke so violently, they were Not-Labour. Now they are And-Labour - they have not gained from Labour's difficulties because the abuses are much worse and much more redolent of extravangance - chandeliers? tennis courts? moats? and the Leader doesn't need to abuse expenses because he is worth £3 million. The party needs to focus on wisdom and security of purpose, rather than just look like it has reverted to the pre-Thatcher fossiliation of the ultra-rich and their commensurate lifestyles.

Solution

VII Pentacles. The Seven foretells a truly rewarding time. The possibilities before you are quite awesome, but do think in the long-term. Decide who you are and what you would like to be remembered for by your family and friends. The choices you face really are that important. Destiny is at work.

There is hope of regrowing some of the lost ratings, but the party is still only a possibility, not a real potentiality. They are still developing something solid, and the solution is still to keep on going with this in the same direction. It is taking a long time - I hope it is worth it in the end. 

Outcome of skirmish

IX Cups. Victory and success come your way as several long-held dreams come true. Share your good luck with others, and it will be multiplied. This is a good time for looking forward and making fresh plans for the future, because your confidence will be infectious. Several new and stimulating friends are likely to enter your life.

In this case the situation is solved to the satisfaction of most, but it is not the real transcendence of mind over matter that the party needs. It needs to solve this problem of haemorrhaging voter confidence in both sides, and it is fair enough to suggest that Cameron has solved the problem for the moment, but he did not solve it before it became a problem, nor did he answer to why the Conservative Party had tolerated this situation in the first place. The image is so flimsy it has been dented by this, and that substance needs to come about before the situaiton will improve.

Outcome of war

IV Wands. It is now time for a well-deserved rest and the enjoyment of good company. Your plans were well-laid, so you can allow yourself to bask for a while as you see your ideas take shape in reality. This could also be a good time to consider moving house, or formalising a romantic attachment. Enjoy this time, but don't allow complacency to set in.

The structure emerges and the party returns to solid ground, but there isn't any card here that really gives even the illusion of the solidity people crave. It is all about image - who appears in the right, who gets the oneupmanship in a crisis, who is the best at promoting their agenda...and nothing that the public does will persuade the parties - or the media - to get back to policy detail. The structure and complacency here is that of a house of cards - and a strong wind is blowing again, just as it was prior to the 2004 elections.

Today's card continues the theme of solving and resolving the expenses crisis/scandal/whatever (I am surprised that no-one has suggested a moniker such as Expensesgate or Cash-For-Bath-Plugs-And-Horse-Sh*t, but never mind). The previous two cards, The King and Love, suggest to me that the party leaders, first Vulpes Vulpes and then El Gordo, have variously moved to try and staunch the haemorrhage of confidence that the public have in their elected representatives, after the 39%-26% poll in Tuesday's times.

Today's card is:

Happy Ever After

Cico Books' Dragon Tarot, which I have returned to today after using the Wisdom of Avalon Oracle Cards to the outer limit of their potential, is the artwork for The Star writ large - there is no border or name on this card, so I decided to use it in the deck as a marker card that the current activity or trend has reached its high - or low - water mark. In this case, the omens are favourable, a sign of the parties getting to grips with their issues in ways that will transform politics as we know it - though the results may not be seen for a while until after the European elections.

Unlike The World, which is the transcendent end of one cycle and the beginning of another, this card simply marks the climax of the affair, the denouement or the apostheosis of the issue. The situation becomes so important that it assumes a dominant position in the arena of, in this case, State. No other issue is important for now, no attempt can be made to deflect or bury it until it is satisfactorily dealt with by all concerned. Each party will go through its own transformation; each party realises the danger it is in and has to rise to the challenge. The struggle intensifies such that everything else becomes of secondary importance and must wait until this issue has been successfully concluded.

For the government, the time has come to make good on promises to institute reforms taking control of expenses away from Parliament. For the opposition, the time has come to stop playing petty politics with the issue and confront their own lack of balance and solidity on a number of fronts and either put up something that will stop the leakage of their respectability as well as Labour's or shut up the main pretender to the throne for another leadership cycle.

Good luck guys - you're gonna need it.