Blog
Political bloopers: Brown and beyond
by Josh White / 06 Dec 2012 14:05
1. Anne Marie Morris blows her top, very very enthusiastically.
2. The coming of the Milizombie.
3. Gordon Brown's 'smile strategy' was one of the worst in history.
4. Tom Bradby elicits John Bercow's self-important ire.
5. Gordon Brown blames no one but himself.
6. Michael Gove hits the deck (Connoisseur's edit).
7. Following the horrific
Why doesn't UKIP get a fair deal from pollsters?
by Alexandra Swann / 06 Dec 2012 13:30
The commentariat are finally acknowledging that something is stirring across the country. The steady rise in the vote share of the often derided UKIP is undeniable and has been constant since early spring. So why do the polling organisations refuse to accept this reality and steadfastly pretend that this isn’t happening? With the exception of Survation, polling companies continue to refuse to include UKIP in their top line voting intention question, relegating the party
'Error, lies and adventure': Politics on video
by Grace-Anne Marius / 06 Dec 2012 10:46
The best way to describe the Institute of Art and Ideas (IAI) TV is as a sort of European equivalent of the ever-popular TED, which is instead taking a closer look at the often ignored bigger ideas, which underpin much of politics and society.
Philosophy and politics are intrinsically linked and from Diane Abbott to David Blunkett to Vince Cable, all of whom have spoken for the organisation, there is clearly some agreement
Stand and deliver: Osborne’s improved performance
by Charlie Critchell / 05 Dec 2012 16:46
In the wake of Osborne’s address to the Commons, the general consensus in the House appeared to be one of mild relief - Ed Balls and Labour notwithstanding.
Welcome news in the form of a projected deficit reduction, provided by the OBR, set the ball rolling for what appears to show – at first glance at least – that the chancellor’s medicine is working.
Starting with the obligatory painting of the fractious
Autumn statement: Quotes of the day
by Josh White / 05 Dec 2012 15:22
The state of the economy:
Osborne: “So the economy is recovering. It’s recovering more quickly than many of our neighbours.”
Balls: “The longest double-dip recession since the second world war, now followed by the slowest recovery in the last hundred years.”
The causes of sluggish growth:
Osborne: “If, for instance, lower growth was the result of the government’s fiscal policy, they [the OBR ] would say so. But they do
'Labour for Democracy': treason or reason?
by Josh White / 05 Dec 2012 11:03
Janan Ganesh tells us in his biography of the chancellor that the first time George Osborne and Steve Hilton ever discussed the possibility of a hung Parliament was on 20th April, just a couple of weeks before the general election.
The current opposition, however, does not intend to be so lax in considering the potentially ‘coalitious’ electoral permutations of 2015. This was signalled last night at the hard launch of the new Read more…
Autumn statement: Can Osborne avoid the winter blues?
by Charlie Critchell / 05 Dec 2012 10:22
Unlike his budget earlier this year, George Osborne’s autumn statement hasn’t - as yet - been leaked. To those familiar with the script, this will be of little consequence; assume greater and deeper spending cuts, lower than expected growth and a failure to meet projected forecasts. Or at least until the official OBR figures are unveiled later today, that will be the consensus.
The key challenges facing Osborne and his team include meeting
Leveson report lands in Commons confusion
by Josh White / 04 Dec 2012 09:44
At times, the illusion of cross-party harmony was almost believable during yesterday's debate, the first opportunity MPs have had to investigate the Leveson report in detail. And matters seemed to be going Labour’s way: both David Blunkett and John Whittingdale announced climb-downs in their opposition to legislation and the unsure Maria Miller admitted in response to an intervention by Jack Straw that the government would initiate statute, if the worst came to the worst.
Lynton and Leveson: the Tories blink first
by Charlie Critchell / 03 Dec 2012 10:08
The strategy is still taking shape, the battleground merely a sketch on a map, yet the Conservatives have already begun wheeling their heavy artillery to the front line. The appointment of Lynton Crosby as campaign strategist officially marks the end of the phoney war. In a month that sees the coalition stutter on Europe and most recently Leveson, the Tories have at least agreed upon one thing: to signal their intent of winning the
Leveson: A good week to bury bad news
by Grace-Anne Marius / 30 Nov 2012 14:43
Immigration statistics
Official estimates indicated that net immigration to the UK had fallen by a quarter over the past year. Good news for the government, which had taken a strong stance on immigration during the election campaign two years ago. Unfortunately for the coalition, the same report also highlighted that the UK Border Agency (UKBA) had failed to pick up on tip-offs it had received relating to individuals overstaying on student visas. Not
The best of Leveson hysteria
by Charlie Critchell & Josh White / 30 Nov 2012 14:43
Coming on strong:
Given that David Cameron, rightly, seems to believe Lord Leveson’s recommendations are a crock of shit, what was the point of the inquiry in the first place?
This is a defining moment for the Prime Minister, invoking ancient liberties to give a calm, eloquent and robust defence of freedom of speech. It shows that he is, at heart, a classic English Tory who dislikes changing
Alastair Campbell on the Mental Health Discrimination Bill
by Alastair Campbell / 30 Nov 2012 11:15
With less of the fanfare afforded the Leveson Inquiry, and hopefully none of the betrayal of victims by the prime minister, today the Mental Heath Discrimination Bill finishes its passage in the Commons. Government support for it means there is now - hopefully - only a short and painless passage in the House of Lords before it becomes law next year. A success for decency. Progress for the Time to Change campaign aimed at
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Quote of the Day
"The prime minister has said he does not believe that statutory legislation is necessary to achieve the principles outlined by Leveson."
