political archive
Have the Conservatives already forgotten Eastleigh?
It would appear they have, judging by the reaction of many in their ranks to last week’s local elections. The calls since last Thursday from many Tories have been to tack to the right, to say nasty things about Europe and only slightly politer things about immigrants in the belief that’s a winning combination to [...]
Watch and laugh: Clarke and Dawe – Outlining his detailed policy platform
More comedy genius from Australia’s Clarke and Dawe: Also on YouTube.
How the Liberal Democrats should respond to UKIP
Some of UKIP’s support comes from places the Liberal Democrat should leave well alone – especially those yearning for a 1950s-style society of white men at work, white women at home and gays in the closet.
There is a bizarre political virility test for Government ministers
Here’s my piece for the latest edition of House Magazine about the forthcoming Queen’s Speech: There is a bizarre political virility test for Government ministers. Only the most optimistic would think it has been killed off, but there are at least hopeful signs that the Queen’s Speech will see it continue to slumber. The test [...]
Labour are biggest losers from UKIP’s surge
Look how the votes have changed this year compared to last (using the BBC’s national equivalent vote share projections, i.e. this is comparing like with like as it adjusts for the different range of seats up for election): UPDATES: There’s a good follow up piece by John Rentoul over on the Independent website. I [...]
Local election results: some thoughts so far
Highlights and trends from the local election results so far.
King’s Game: a great Danish political thriller
The leader of an opposition party is hospitalised after a horrific car crash days before polling day. Rivals to be his successor maneuver for support. A journalist looking to make his name on the political beat has a sniff of a story. Many political thrillers have raw ingredients similar to that. What raises King’s Game above them [...]
Labour councillor: stop protesting over the Whittington Hospital
Well, well. Cllr Martin Klute is a Labour councillor for St Peter’s ward: UPDATE: Richard Osley has a good write-up of the splits in Labour over the Whittington.
Each time I hear about Nigel Farage, I puzzle about Caroline Lucas
Nigel Farage is certainly the protest vote leader of choice at the moment. It’s not a surprise that there should be such a person, nor even that it’s not the Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition. After all Lib Dem leaders have often had that role in the past. But that it’s UKIP highlights the failures [...]
The best 2p anyone ever spent in the Liberal Democrats
It was back in 2007, when Lib Dem Voice founder Rob Fenwick decided to stand down. He drove a hard bargain, as you can see:
