PM4PM? If so, it’ll be the Lib Dems’ fault
by Stephen Tall on July 31, 2009
Yes, the silly season has started right on cue, with ‘mounting speculation’ (newspaper code for: 2+ journalists writing the same thing) that the next Labour leader might be none other than Baron Mandelson, of Foy in the County of Herefordshire and of Hartlepool in the County of Durham. This is, of course, utter rubbish, as everyone who’s written up the notion has been forced to concede. But IF the impossible were to occur, and Peter Mandelson were to ascend to Number 10, he would do so thanks to one man, Liberal Democrat peer, Lord (Andrew) Phillips of Sudbury. Stephen Tall explains why.
Expelled Tory MEP reveals fascist links of Tories' new Euro leader
by Stephen Tall on July 31, 2009
Lib Dem Voice has covered before the growing embarrassment to the Tories of David Cameron’s decision to withdraw his party from the centre-right grouping in the European Parliament, the EPP, and to establish a new right-wing grouping with an eccentric, (…)
Daily View 2×2: 31 July 2009
by Stephen Tall on July 31, 2009
Welcome to this, the final summer edition of LDV’s Daily View – the feature will return again at the beginning of September, as will the various members of the LDV editorial collective. 2 Big Stories Treasury select committee slams Government’s (…)
Where next for Lembit?
by Stephen Tall on July 30, 2009
There’s a slightly plaintive piece in today’s Independent’s Pandora column under the self-explanatory heading, ‘Opik’s plea to Clegg: use me’. The paper quotes the Lib Dem MP for Montgomeryshire saying: I’m certainly available to the party in any way they (…)
Lib Dems' £550k deficit, 8.5% membership drop, and other facts from the party's annual accounts
by Stephen Tall on July 30, 2009
The Electoral Commission has just published online the latest sets of financial accounts for the main parties, including the Liberal Democrats, for the year end 31 December 2008. Stephen Tall has waded through its 28 pages to unearth a few of the sexier snippets.
Peston's posers: where next for our mixed economy?
by Stephen Tall on July 30, 2009
The BBC’s business guru Robert Peston poses the question over at his blog, If markets don’t work, what will? He identifies three recent examples of public authorities – the treasury, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and Ofcom – alleging that (…)
48 hours left to vote in the Total Politics top blogs poll
by Stephen Tall on July 29, 2009
Yes, that’s right folks, you have until midnight this Friday to cast your votes in the Total Politics poll of Top 10 favourite blogs. This year, the poll is being co-promoted by Lib Dem Voice, LabourList and Iain Dale’s Diary. (…)
Time for a heated, televised debate?
by Stephen Tall on July 29, 2009
De facto Deputy Prime Minister Lord (Peter) Mandelson has hinted that his boss might be ready to debate Nick Clegg and David Cameron in the run-up to the general election. The London Evening Standard has the story: In an exclusive (…)
Birmingham Ladywood Lib Dem PPC loses judicial review
by Stephen Tall on July 27, 2009
The Birmingham Mail has the story: … a city councillor [has] failed to overturn a judge’s ruling that he “scurrilously” tried to smear a Labour opponent when giving evidence in an election court. Coun Ayoub Khan, who is his party’s (…)
Daily View 2×2: 29 July 2009
by Stephen Tall on July 29, 2009
2 Big Stories Kingman steps down from UKFI As the Press Association reports: The company responsible for the taxpayer’s stakes in ailing banks saw a leadership shake-up as chief executive John Kingman announced plans to step down. Mr Kingman, who (…)
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