Posts Tagged “andrew rawnsley”
Andrew Rawnsley on the Lib-Lab flirtation that could yet get serious
by Stephen Tall on January 12, 2014
Well worth reading Andrew Rawnsley’s column in today’s Observer – Labour is blowing kisses at the Lib Dems. But don’t buy a hat yet – taking a look at Lib-Lab relations in the light of Ed Balls’ much commented on chumminess with Nick Clegg. He rehearses two points familiar to readers here. First, that almost […]
Miliband vs McCluskey: 2 points that strike me about the Labour/Unite row over alleged candidate selection rigging
by Stephen Tall on July 7, 2013
Looking in from the outside, albeit as a former Labour member myself, two points strike me about the Labour/Unite row over the alleged attempt by the union to rig the selection of the party’s general election candidate in Falkirk. What’s the opposite of nominative determinism? Asking on behalf of Unite. — Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July […]
Your essential weekend reader — my personal pick of the week’s must-reads
by Stephen Tall on January 5, 2013
It’s Saturday evening, so here are twelve thought-provoking articles to stimulate your thinking juices culled from all those I’ve linked to this last week. You can follow me on Delicious here. Political predictions: as the year ends, what does 2013 hold for the main party leaders? – Andrew Rawnsley sanely assesses the 12 months to […]
Andrew Rawnsley’s must-read article on the state of the Coalition in 12 tweets
by Stephen Tall on July 15, 2012
The Observer’s Andrew Rawnsley has a must-read article today examining the state of the Coalition, highlighting the contrast between the Lib Dems stalwart support of the government and Tory MPs’ flakiness. Equally, echoing my post today on why it’s more (…)
David Cameron’s a hostage to his party and the right-wing press. Thank goodness for Nick Clegg
by Stephen Tall on December 12, 2011
The shockwaves from David Cameron’s decision to reject the proposed ‘Merkozy’ EU treaty is still shaking politics. The UK stands isolated from the other 26 member states. Tory Eurosceptics and, early polls suggest, a majority of the British public think the Prime Minister has played a blinder, ‘sticking up for Britain’. This is difficult territory […]
Disagreeing with Andrew Rawnsley: I’m sorry, but Ed Miliband is the very definition of cautious
by Stephen Tall on September 25, 2011
Ever since Alan Watkins’ death, the political commentator to whom I turn first and whose opinion I value most is Andrew Rawnsley. But that doesn’t mean I always agree with him, and today is a case in point. Here’s the (…)
Who are the Lib Dems ‘unconventional men (or women) whose mad ideas make us think’?
by Stephen Tall on July 31, 2011
Andrew Rawnsley, writing in today’s Observer under the surprisingly un-PC title In praise of unconventional men who make us think, sticks up for those iconoclastic thinkers who challenge their parties’ conventional thinking, citing as paragons the Tories’ Steve ‘Big Society’ Hilton and Maurice ‘Blue Labour’ Glasman: Conventional is not a description you could apply to […]
What can the Lib Dems do about the Coalition’s ‘Northern problem’?
by Stephen Tall on June 26, 2011
Andrew Rawnsley in today’s Observer highlights a key issue for both Coalition partners, in particular — the Tories’ failure to make any kind of advance in the north, and the Lib Dems’ difficulties in retaining our popularity there. With the exception of William Hague, Eric Pickles and two Lib Dem Scots, the cabinet is a […]
What can the Lib Dems do about the Coalition’s ‘Northern problem’?
by Stephen Tall on June 26, 2011
Andrew Rawnsley in today’s Observer highlights a key issue for both Coalition partners, in particular — the Tories’ failure to make any kind of advance in the north, and the Lib Dems’ difficulties in retaining our popularity there. With the exception of William Hague, Eric Pickles and two Lib Dem Scots, the cabinet is a […]
3 to see: Lib Dem #GE2010 campaign coverage (11/4/10)
by Stephen Tall on April 11, 2010
Pushed for time, but want to keep up-to-date with how the campaign’s going? Here are today’s must-reads ….
Nick Clegg launches policies for families (Lib Dems)
As the Tories launched their tax-war on widows, working couples and jilted wives, Nick Clegg was spelling out his priority: “We will cut taxes for all working families on low […]