Category: Politics

Charles Moore – now I know what it is like to have been ‘savaged by a dead sheep’

My comments on the Tories efficiency claims have clearly hit a nerve. The Conservative fundamentalist commentator Charles Moore lashed out in the Daily Telegraph:

“The BBC quickly found a man called Professor Colin Talbot, represented as an impartial expert but, in fact, a critic of the Conservatives (study his own website attacks on free markets, if you don’t believe me), to pass judgment. Naturally, he didn’t like the “cut”.” Continue reading “Charles Moore – now I know what it is like to have been ‘savaged by a dead sheep’” →

How Big an “Ask” Are the Tories Efficiency Plans?

Today David Cameron has been saying all day that the Tories efficiency savings amount to asking the government to save ‘£1 in every £100 that it spends’ and this is obviously ‘do-able’.

On one level this is true, but only: Continue reading “How Big an “Ask” Are the Tories Efficiency Plans?” →

The Great Ignored? That’ll be The Big Deficit and The Big Market then.

The launch of the General Election campaign yesterday was most notable for what was not said, rather than what was. Continue reading “The Great Ignored? That’ll be The Big Deficit and The Big Market then.” →

Gordon Brown’s Letters

I detest even having to blog about this – the Sun’s manipulation of a grieving mother of a dead British soldier today is disgusting.

But, let’s be very clear. Gordon Brown lost the sight in one eye when he was a kid, playing Rugby. The sight in his other eye is adequate, but not brilliant. Continue reading “Gordon Brown’s Letters” →

BNP Supports Polish Pilots?

Today’s controversy over the far-right British National Party using images from the British Armed Forces to promote themselves has one rather ironic element.

The BNP has featured the Spitfire on their literature as an symbol of the Battle of Britain – the air clash between the UK and Germany at the start of the war. Continue reading “BNP Supports Polish Pilots?” →

MPs Expenses – the missing mortgage money issue

So – MPs expenses are back, but this time with a slightly more complex plot.

Former civil servant Sir Thomas Legg has been accused of retrospective re-writing of the rules in calling on MPs to repay anything above certain set limits for things like cleaning their second homes. Continue reading “MPs Expenses – the missing mortgage money issue” →

PS – Eye Witness: Gordon’s seemed fine to me

I sat next to Gordon Brown at the Chequers seminar (Sat 10/10/09) as he he took copious notes – he was clearly having no problem writing, so I don’t know what all the fuss is over his eyesight?

Is Ideology Back in British Politics?

The central message from Labour’s conference in Brighton is that “ideology is back” in British politics.

Emphasising differences on the economy, the financial crisis and public spending, Labour has sought to depict an ideological gulf between themselves and their Tory opponents. Labour is the party of public service – the Tories of markets. Continue reading “Is Ideology Back in British Politics?” →

There Will Be Blood – But We’re Not Sure How Much Or When

A couple of days ago we asked the Phi100 Panel of Westminster ‘insiders’, which includes, leading politicians, policy, and media figures, about realistic targets for reducing the UK’s burgeoning public debt. Continue reading “There Will Be Blood – But We’re Not Sure How Much Or When” →

Hacked Off – The Met and the Tories

The latest scandal to hit British politics is the widespread alleged wire(less) tapping of phones by News International (Rupert Murdoch’s) News of the World (NoW).

The political dimension is focused on the Tories – their Communication supremo Andy Coulson is the former Editor of the NoW who resigned over – the same allegations. Continue reading “Hacked Off – The Met and the Tories” →