As any economist will tell you, we live in a world of incomplete information. A change in information can serve as a shock, and change the economic landscape all by itself. But this is also true of politics. Changes in information can also change the political landscape, and Labour has just experienced one of what… Continue reading Labour: juggling with Occam’s razor
Category: elections
Labour approaches a tipping point
“The future is unwritten” said Joe Strummer. He was right. We really can change the future: really. Because politics is driven by people and events. That said, many of these people and events are in turn, whether we like it or not, driven by power. It’s significant that even the word tends to bring to… Continue reading Labour approaches a tipping point
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
To my favourite lightning conductor
The Centre Left has come by the following confidential letter, apparently written in the early hours of this morning following yesterday’s local elections: 10 DOWNING STREET LONDON SW1A 2AA THE PRIME MINISTER 06 May 2011 Dear Nick, Just a quick note: I really wanted to say how sorry I am about the election results. Gutted… Continue reading To my favourite lightning conductor
Cameron: I’m loving your election campaign, Labour
In the Labour Party, we’re very excited about the Alternative Vote referendum. In Westminster, of course, it’s easily crowding out debate on the (not unimportant) Scotland, Wales, Northern Irish and English local elections. Ooh, the Yeses. The Noes. It’s all that analytical, wonkish, procedural stuff that we love to debate. We seem to have spent… Continue reading Cameron: I’m loving your election campaign, Labour