Now, it takes a lot to make me indignant. Not at all partial to political witch-hunts or vicariously excited by the whiff of scandal. Non-plussed by the expenses scandal, thought David Laws foolish but not corrupt, same about Mandelson, couldn’t care less about Clarke or most of the myriad scandals which nowadays surround the political… Continue reading The New Politics (reprise) – Huhne’s Reagan Defence
Author: robert.marchant
Labour’s poll lead: soft or hard?
Steel yourselves. Labour has had a single-figure lead in the polls for a while, but the principal question has always been: is it, like Kinnock’s in the 80s, a soft lead; or a real one? Well, the election results of a couple of weeks back were not great, but yesterday’s/MORI results suggest a considerably bleaker picture. First… Continue reading Labour’s poll lead: soft or hard?
Observations on “A Journey” II: school segregation
For those who need a respite from Obama-itis, another in my occasional series of interesting things which have come out of Tony Blair’s A Journey (cue rising hackles for some readers). Well, as it happens, I want to tell you something I disagree with him radically about. So, for those of you who think me a slavish Blairite, sorry… Continue reading Observations on “A Journey” II: school segregation
Looking to 2014, not 1974: the case for spending limits
During the last two weeks, pieces by Uncut regulars Atul Hatwal and Peter Watt seem to have caused something of a controversy in Labour circles by suggesting that Labour keep to Tory spending limits. Peter’s piece was followed by a passionate defence of the current position by LabourList’s Mark Ferguson; not to mention a more… Continue reading Looking to 2014, not 1974: the case for spending limits
TUC’s Brendan Barber writes back to me about Chávez
TUC responds to Rob Marchant on Chávez Oh yes, with all the posts of the last week I forgot to mention: I finally got a response from the TUC’s Brendan Barber, explaining why it is backing the rather unspeakable Chávez regime in Venezuela (you may remember I wrote an open letter to him on 23 April,… Continue reading TUC’s Brendan Barber writes back to me about Chávez
The Lib Dems: Readiness To Govern, 101
For the nth time in the last few days, the Lib Dems have shown themselves thrown by the basic politics of government; as opposed to opposition, where they were supremely comfortable. Whilst our own reaction to scandal, in cases such as Phil Woolas, has sometimes been unnecessarily brutal – throwing someone out of the party… Continue reading The Lib Dems: Readiness To Govern, 101
Scottish independence: time for a homage to Catalonia?
“Seismic shift”, “game-changer”, and a number of other dreadful clichés have been used to describe the SNP’s win last Thursday. It was certainly an important result and, apart from during the final weeks, a rather unexpected one. It has also led to a number of reaction pieces, ranging from the Telegraph’s alarmist “Don’t let the… Continue reading Scottish independence: time for a homage to Catalonia?
We must learn to make hard choices, or fail
There are four types of election result. Ones that are undeniably good. Ones that are undeniably bad. Ones that are on balance good, but look otherwise. And ones that are on balance bad, but look otherwise. The most dangerous ones, obviously, are the last. There is a risk that, like an alcoholic, you don’t notice,… Continue reading We must learn to make hard choices, or fail
Bizarre Electoral Love Triangle
Good, and perhaps important observation from John Underwood at Labour Uncut last week that, rather than we, the Lib Dems are now the primary target for the Tories. The Tories can win few seats from Labour, because we’re pretty much down to our strongholds anyway. But they are now eyeing hungrily their coalition partners after the… Continue reading Bizarre Electoral Love Triangle
So, farewell then, progressive majority
Feel a tad vindicated today. You may remember that back in January the Centre Left first blogged about the so-called “progressive majority” which Ed had made the centrepiece of a Guardian article and a speech to the Fabians. We had (somewhat controversially) asserted that it didn’t actually exist, and that we should concentrate our fire… Continue reading So, farewell then, progressive majority