The Google image search result for “Tony Blair jail”
If you type “Tony Blair jail” into Google Image search the above picture of Blair in the Oval Office is the ninth result. Mike Smithson
Did Gordon move too quickly on the race hate laws?
Has his reaction to BNP trial made John Reid look more liberal? Gordon Brown is not yet Prime Minister yet his widely reported call for tougher race hate laws following the dismissal of the BNP case has been widely seen as a Government policy statement – an impression that was reinforced by other cabinet minsters rushing to back up the man most likely to be their future boss. Yet the person on whose territory this is, the Home Secretary, John…
Will Gordon be happy with Alan Johnson’s website?
Is the Education Secretary planning a big double-cross? With great fanfare yesterday Alan Johnson launched his campaign for Labour’s deputy leadership with solid statements of his support for Gordon Brown as leader and his belief that the Chancellor should get the job unopposed. Johnson also launched his deputy campaign website and a rather different picture starts to emerge. For the materials on show do not look as though they are from a man who is content to be a number…
Sean Fear’s local election column
The Muslim vote Clementswood in Redbridge is one of the most strongly Muslim wards in London (31%, according to the 2001 census, a proportion which is likely to have risen since then). It was also, until last night, one of Labour’s safest wards in the Capital, giving Labour a majority of nearly 1,000 in May. Last night, the Liberal Democrats, who came fourth in May, won a by-election there, on a gigantic swing, perhaps indicating that Muslim voters are turning…
Will the loans inquiry finally determine the exit date?
How long before Blair is interviewed? There are worrying reports for Tony Blair in the Independent this morning about the way the police inquiry into the “cash for honours” affair is progressing with suggestions that one member of the Downing Street staff is proving “extremely helpful to the investigation”. In his report Andrew Grice quotes a source with knowledge of the police inquiry as saying “Only two ministers knew when a system of secret loans was set up. One was…
Alan Johnson confirms he won’t be standing
Gordon’s coronation comes one step nearer The Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, this afternoon confirmed what has seemed likely for a few weeks – he will not be standing against Gordon Brown in the coming Labour leadership contest but will run for the deputy job instead. His position had seemed in doubt following the October Populus poll when he did not seem to be making a mark compared with Brown against Cameron. In this month’s Populus Poll Gordon’s position against Cameron…
Why have a hospital when you can have a “Health Village”?
Surely this isn’t the way to shore up marginal seats? Before I came on holiday I was cycling past what I thought was part of my local NHS hospital when I noticed the above sign outside. Gone were the boards saying “Bedford Hospital – North Wing” and in their place were these for what is now, apparently, our local “health village”. Now I have no idea what a “health village” is but clearly it is not a hospital because if…
Punters rush to bet on Betfair’s confusion
The money is going on the independents being classified as Dems As the argument goes on over how Betfair will settle the “Senate most seats market” we now have the extraordinary spectacle of much more money being gambled on this issue than the election itself. Overnight a further £100,000 was traded in this market taking the total to nearly £240,000. Amazingly in all the months leading up to Tuesday election less than £50,000 had been bet. With the Democrat victory…