I don’t hate Tories. I’m sorry if this is a terrible admission for a Labour man, but there it is. I think that their values are different from mine; really, I merely want us to win and them to lose. And there are some things which do, and should, transcend party politics. We should be… Continue reading Why Tories should worry about David Cameron
Category: Tories
Public sector pay: the Chicken Licken model
As part of the Budget run-up, on Friday Britain’s labour movement was convulsed at the thought of the latest Osborne proposal: that national public sector pay rates might be scrapped. But, before we join the voices of the major trade unions and the TUC who are, understandably, trying to look out for their own interest… Continue reading Public sector pay: the Chicken Licken model
Welcome to the 2010s: the era of reactive, populist, say-anything politics
What has David Cameron done so far, which has marked him out as a prime minister? The answer is, surprisingly little, as John Rentoul observes in theIndependent on Sunday: “…the Prime Minister seems unformed. He is adroit at reacting to events, but not so good at making them happen.” But that does not mean he… Continue reading Welcome to the 2010s: the era of reactive, populist, say-anything politics
Smart people learn from their enemies
The furore over last week’s defection of former Labour staffer, Luke Bozier, to the Tories provides a convenient excuse for a closer look at the party that he has just joined. Not with a view to doing the same, you understand – it’d be a cold day in hell for most of us – but… Continue reading Smart people learn from their enemies
Two reactions to extremism
Compare and contrast: a. Tory MP, snapped next to man dressed as Nazi, sacked. b. Labour MPs invite real, declared anti-Semite to speak at Westminster: still in post. I am no fan of the Tories, but…something’s not right here.
The coalition is on life-support
“Mummy, what is that man for”? This exquisite, though probably apocryphal, comment from a small child has been variously said to be about many politicians over the years, including Herbert Asquith. But Asquith’s successor a century later, Nick Clegg, may suddenly be finding that a real and painful question, as he reflects on the wreckage… Continue reading The coalition is on life-support
Cameron’s history notes 1: Achilles, revisited
Last week, David Cameron had a bad week. But it’s important to understand what kind of a bad week. He’s had not a defeat, but a sour victory in the Commons against his own rebels; but so did Tony Blair on two memorable occasions – Iraq and tuition fees – when he feared he might… Continue reading Cameron’s history notes 1: Achilles, revisited
Tell people to eat less? Yes, that’ll sort out obesity
Delighted to announce my first-ever guest piece at the New Statesman: see it here.STOP PRESS 29/10/2011:My fine fellow blogger Emma Burnell, whose piece on personal experiences is linked in the article, has recorded this short film for Andrew Neil’s Daily Politics.
Where the Tories are weak
While we are still in the throes of reforming our Party (although that debate is pretty much over, it seems) and defining our policies, we are in some ways a little hamstrung. However, there still is one thing that we can do well on an everyday basis: be a good opposition and attack the government.… Continue reading Where the Tories are weak
Much obliged, m’lord Ashcroft
On discovering, via Tim Montgomerie’s Saturday piece, that Michael Ashcroft (former Tory Deputy Chairman has commissioned a report into the future of the Labour Party, one’s immediate reaction is that it was exceptionally kind of him. After all, as Montgomerie points out, the party is not exactly awash with cash at the moment to do… Continue reading Much obliged, m’lord Ashcroft