Diet Labour, Mr Creosote and the dream-catchers
by Stephen Tall on September 29, 2005
“Nations aren’t built by dreamers. They rise by the patient courage of the change-maker. That’s what we have been in New Labour: the change-makers”. (Mr Tony Blair, 27th September, 2005). It used to be joked that New Labour was a (…)
Tesco: every little helps (except after death)
by Stephen Tall on September 25, 2005
Browsing the Tesco Clubcard site on a Sunday night (as you do), I was relieved to see that the FAQs covered all the essentials. For example: “One of my relatives has died – Can I change the card to my (…)
Matthew d’Ancona makes sense…
by Stephen Tall on September 21, 2005
… Not a headline I thought I’d be likely to write. However, Mr d’Ancona has written a terrifically perceptive and judicious article in today’s Torygraph analysing the Lib Dems’ current prospects. Leaving aside his silly swipe that the German election (…)
A perpetual party of protest?
by Stephen Tall on September 21, 2005
This year’s Lib Dem conference has been a frustrating paradox. There is an honest disagreement in the party between those, like me, who believe the private sector can deliver key public services equitably and at lower cost, both of which (…)
The Lib Dems’ growing pains
by Stephen Tall on September 20, 2005
Of course, Norman Lamb’s splendidly liberal proposal to save the Post Office was widely expected to be defeated. And so it came to pass. Or rather didn’t. The party still has a little growing up to do, it seems, before (…)
Time our political hacks grew up
by Stephen Tall on September 19, 2005
“Ditch Kennedy if you want to be taken seriously, say voters” urges The Times. “Kennedy gets personal endorsement: 58% want him to continue as leader” retorts The Guardian (sorry, theguardian). Well, I’m glad that’s all clear then. Nothing symbolises better (…)
How to save the post office and Royal Mail
by Stephen Tall on September 18, 2005
I’ve been banging on about the poor quality of the local postal service since I started blogging nine months ago. But I’m never very happy complaining – much better to use your energy positively. So I was very pleased to (…)
Thanks theguardian: no more Amazon jungle
by Stephen Tall on September 14, 2005
Well, I’m still not wholly convinced by the new-look theguardian (c) – their front-page after England captured the Ashes just so missed the mark (left). I mean, I know they’re trying to eschew the self-counsciously studenty SHOUTING front pages the (…)
Oxford Mail: City Council’s £1m ‘black hole’
by Stephen Tall on September 14, 2005
Today’s Oxford Mail picks up on the story I reported here last week about the failure of the City Council to make £1 million in promised savings. Under the headline, ‘Council faces budget cuts’, the Mail rightly warns of the (…)
Ashes to Ashes, funk to funky, we’re all major cricket junkies
by Stephen Tall on September 12, 2005
The cost to business has not been totted up – I imagine it will run into hundreds of millions of pounds in lost productivity. First, there is the cost of work simply not touched. I tried to get my head (…)
