“The system has failed”, ran the original headline for the speech write-up chosen by the BBC, though they later changed it. But it has not. Britain has problems, yes. But it is not, in Cameron’s words, broken, however politically convenient it might be for either party to use that as a basis for change. And… Continue reading Vision and denial
Author: robert.marchant
The Centre Left’s conference week highlights
It’s been an eventful week at my first conference in eight years, if extremely mixed politically (I know it’s not over yet, but do you really think it’s worth staying till Thursday? I’m home already). On Sunday the Refounding Labour party reform package was passed, including some difficult-to-justify gender quotas for the Shadow Cabinet, Leader and Deputy… Continue reading The Centre Left’s conference week highlights
Leader’s speech: holding our breath
Let’s get things straight. This is not a make-or-break speech (very few are, as John Rentoul recently pointed out). Only a small number of people, apart from the political media and the usual political anoraks, may even pay this speech much attention, for reasons which are, to be fair, not Ed’s fault at all. To… Continue reading Leader’s speech: holding our breath
The Centre Left goes to Liverpool
So, arrived in Liverpool for Labour Party conference. Writing this in a somewhat, er, basic hotel in Bank Hall, one of the perhaps slightly less beautiful parts of the city (no, it’s not the area in the photo). Which, for the record, I have booked, and to which I have travelled some distance at my… Continue reading The Centre Left goes to Liverpool
The euro paradox: the lesson is better institutions, not less
This week, our sleepy European politicians seem to be waking up to the dangers of the euro crisis: even George Osborne seems to be starting to panic just a little. Aside from the delicious irony of a Euro-sceptic Tory Chancellor arguing for more integration, there are important lessons which we need to be drawing. Britain, it is surely… Continue reading The euro paradox: the lesson is better institutions, not less
The seven-year itch: a cautionary tale of tax, cuts and debt
There was this bloke. And there was this girl. They met, fell in love, got married, usual story. It was a big, special wedding – everybody went. A match made in heaven, everyone said. People came out of their houses to wave as they went to the church. Kind of wedding that fills everyone with… Continue reading The seven-year itch: a cautionary tale of tax, cuts and debt
The boy Miliband done good
So, Ed got boos and catcalls at the TUC – as it happens, catcalls which are, rightly or wrongly, likely to be very useful indeed for his standing in the country, as Jack McConnell points out, showing as it does that he is standing outside of what is likely to be a very unpopular and… Continue reading The boy Miliband done good
Scottish Labour: everyone’s problem
I imagine that, in the run-up to his conference speech – and having had a rather unexpectedly busy summer – Ed Miliband is turning his thoughts to his grand plan for Britain. And rightly – this will be a defining moment for his leadership. But, at the same time, it might be a little too… Continue reading Scottish Labour: everyone’s problem
For your entertainment, an update on the delightful Mr Chávez
I know it’s starting to become a bit of an obsession, but I can’t help myself. Since my letter some time back asking why supposedly respectable trade unionists from the TUC were giving backing to the anti-democratic, constitution-twisting President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, a few more nuggets have surfaced: A few weeks ago, Chávez decided… Continue reading For your entertainment, an update on the delightful Mr Chávez
Labour must never be allowed to get this broke again
Yesterday the Guardian reported that proposed new rules for party funding could result in the Labour Party being “ruined“. But this is only a metaphorical straw landing on a camel with an already decidedly poorly back. Peter Mandelson’s memoirs are interesting for many reasons, but one of the most important is as the first insider… Continue reading Labour must never be allowed to get this broke again