Posts Tagged “News”
The Sun story about Chris Huhne that was a total invention (and which the other papers happily copied)
by Stephen Tall on May 19, 2013
Remember that front page Sun story from 13 March? On the off-chance Voice readers missed this exclusive, let’s refersh your memory of the splash: Disgraced MP Chris Huhne was ridiculed on his first day in Wandsworth jail yesterday — after a warder called him to breakfast by yelling “Order! Order!” Only one small problem with [...]
Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Of course the EU has to change”
by Stephen Tall on May 19, 2013
No prizes for guessing which subject Nick Clegg tackles in his latest weekly letter to supporters: Europe. He rattles through the three positions: ‘calamitous outers’, ‘inconsequential renegotiators’ and ‘achievable reformers’. No prizes for guessing which he identifies with the Lib Dems. Over to Nick… I’m writing this week’s Letter to you from Kirkwall in Orkney. [...]
“They’re all mad, swivel-eyed loons”: a top Tory on the Tories
by Stephen Tall on May 18, 2013
Here’s the remark attributed to ‘a member of the Prime Minister’s inner circle’ according to the Telegraph: “There’s really no problem,” the Conservative figure said about the parliamentary turmoil. “The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons.” There is an obvious point [...]
That EU vote: 6 thoughts on what it means for the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour
by Stephen Tall on May 16, 2013
116 Tory MPs last night backed an amendment to the Queen’s Speech and called for an EU referendum bill. Here’s six thoughts from me on what it all means… This wasn’t about Europe (much): this was about Cameron’s leadership The Tory outers/Eurosceptics had already won: David Cameron capitulated in January, conceding an in/out referendum he’d [...]
Lib Dem attitudes to poverty and welfare: 3 interesting findings from today’s Joseph Rowntree Foundation report
by Stephen Tall on May 14, 2013
Three interesting findings from today’s report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) — Public attitudes to poverty and welfare 1983-2011 — carried out by NatCen Social Research, exploring public attitudes to poverty and welfare over the past three decades. 1) Interestingly… Lib Dem supporters are less likely than Labour supporters to believe that people live [...]
Where Ukip won (or almost won) on 2nd May 2013
by Stephen Tall on May 14, 2013
Wondering where Ukip won (or almost won – see below) in the local elections on Thursday, 2nd May? Then here’s a handy graphic and breakdown by constituency… My thanks to Lib Dem Ben Mathis (@binny_uk) for crunching the Ukip numbers, as below. We’ll update the list with any more found… LINCOLNSHIRE Boston & Skegness Con [...]
Clegg leadership plot: Gove’s ‘crazy grenade’ detonates, briefly, before Tories revert to arguing about Europe
by Stephen Tall on May 12, 2013
Hats off to Mr Gove! With the Tory party in its customary state of internecine warfare over Europe, the education secretary used his interview this morning on The Andrew Marr Show to allege a leadership plot to overthrow Nick Clegg. Here’s PoliticsHome’s account: Michael Gove has suggested Nick Clegg’s opposition to increasing childminders-toddlers ratio is [...]
Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Lib Dems remain focused on the things people really care about”
by Stephen Tall on May 12, 2013
Nick Clegg isn’t one for the pomp and pageant of parliament (he’s rather keen to let you know). He’s also keen to let you know that this week’s Queen’s Speech was “designed to build a stronger economy and a fairer society in Britain, enabling everyone to get on in life” (to quote Her Majesty). Over [...]
The double dip recession that never was?
by Stephen Tall on May 11, 2013
Did the double-dip recession ever happen? It looks increasingly possible that it didn’t — the BBC reports the latest revision to the data: A revision by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has cast doubt on the UK’s double-dip recession last year. Revised growth estimates now suggest the construction industry shrank in the first quarter [...]
Vince in not-so-coded call for Lib-Lab cooperation
by Stephen Tall on May 10, 2013
Vince Cable published an interesting piece in the New Statesman last month (I missed it at the time): My advice to young Lib Dems — rise above the tribalism. It’s a biographical reflection on his political journey — from Young Liberal to Mr Wilson’s ‘White Heat’ Labour to the breakaway SDP and finally to the [...]
