Ben Duckworth
Editor
Ben has been editor of Total Politics since August 2009. He was political editor when the magazine launched in 2008 and was locked in a Downing Street cupboard after interviewing Gordon Brown for the first issue. A Cumbrian born in Scotland, Ben has interviewed political leaders and politicians from Britain and around the world. He now puts most energy into ensuring Total Politics entertains, informs and covers political life in Britain better than anyone else.
by Ben Duckworth / 20 Aug 2009
by Asa Bennett This morning David Cameron sought to reclaim the initiative on the NHS after last week’s partisan debate that has raged between Labour and the Conservatives, and also to draw a line under the Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan’s controversial attack on the NHS on Fox News.
by Ben Duckworth / 20 Aug 2009
By Isabel Chinan The women of Afghanistan have come a long way in the past 8 years from the unjust laws put in place by the Taliban government, but all of these achievements will soon be reversed as President Hamid Karazai legalises rape within marriage.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Aug 2009
by Katy Scholes This morning the BBC ran a story stating that “the cost of running the Houses of Parliament fell by more than £30m last year to just under £500m” this year.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Aug 2009
By Francesca Wilski Today’s call from Tory MP Sir Patrick Cormack, for the doubling of MPs allowances, has been met with cries of opposition from the likes of Liberal Democrat Ed Davey , but is it really that ludicrous of a proposal? Sir Patrick’s comment that “.
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by Ben Duckworth / 18 Aug 2009
by Asa Bennett As part of Labour’s attempt to use the American debate over socialized healthcare and by extension, Britain’s NHS, for political advantage, Health Secretary Andy Burnham has launched a broadside against David Cameron this morning in a Guardian article.
by Ben Duckworth / 18 Aug 2009
By Francesca Wilski, Today, Bromley Council announced its plans to redistribute public money to subsidise private school fees for children whose parents have been made redundant.
by Ben Duckworth / 18 Aug 2009
by Katy Scholes The case of the possible early release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi is highly contentious to say the least.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
By Isabel Chinan The new ‘shock tactic’ drug driving advert has been released by the government today.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
By Francesca Wilski, As a result of countless newspapers reporting that the A levels have been ‘dumbed down’ due to Labour’s education system, the Tories have spoken out about what they think should be done.
by Ben Duckworth / 20 Aug 2009
by Katy Scholes In his debut novel, which Conservative statesman and literary figure was the first man to introduce the word ‘millionaire’ to the English language? CLUE: The novel was first published in 1827.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Aug 2009
By Emily Sutton Which dictator has a waterslide in his garden? CLUE: he is referred to as the 'Dear Leader'.
by Ben Duckworth / 19 Aug 2009
by Asa Bennett Government cynics may be interested to learn that their celebrity appointee, enterprise czar Baron Sugar of Clapton demanded that the government “show its commitment” to apprenticeships and has criticised the government for its “scandalous” record in this field.
by Ben Duckworth / 18 Aug 2009
Answer: Neil Kinnock whilst taking a stroll along Brighton beach with his wife Gleyns Kinnock.
by Ben Duckworth / 18 Aug 2009
By Isabel Chinan Which Labour party leader fell into the sea whilst attending a the 1983 party conference in Brighton? CLUE: He famously said: “I've been so bloody respectable and responsible.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
By Francesca Wilski I don’t know if Gordon Brown would agree with Benjamin Franklin who declared that ‘Diligence is the mother of good luck’.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
We knew they wouldn't be able to resist it.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
Daily Q&A by Katy Scholes Which sweet was emblazoned with the Presidential seal and served up on Air Force One this weekend? CLUE: This candy-coated tradition has been in place since the Reagan Administration.
by Ben Duckworth / 17 Aug 2009
by Asa Bennett It is perhaps lucky for No.
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