Browsed by
Author: Editor

What would public ownership of rail signal about Miliband’s Labour?

What would public ownership of rail signal about Miliband’s Labour?

Comments 0 Comment

Henry G on whether the party is on the right lines John Major’s decision to privatise British Rail is probably one of the least popular privatisations of the Thatcher-Major years. I don’t know anyone who enjoys rail travel in this country anymore. The tickets are extortionate, the services are fragmented and the feculent odours of Virgin Cross Country train is not quite the private sector innovation the public were promised. Yet for 13 years New Labour saw next to no…

Read More Read More

Can the SNP and Greens work together in the pro-independence campaign?

Can the SNP and Greens work together in the pro-independence campaign?

Comments 0 Comment

James Kelly on the pro-independence campaign If there is to be a Yes vote in the Scottish independence referendum, a prerequisite is surely that the Yes campaign itself is as broadly-based as possible, and extends well beyond the SNP’s ranks. The potential is certainly there – the Scottish Green Party is supportive of independence, and its charismatic leader Patrick Harvie attended the Yes launch, where he was accorded virtual parity with Alex Salmond. The Scottish Socialist Party will also be…

Read More Read More

Henry G Manson looks at the PM’s tax avoidance responses?

Henry G Manson looks at the PM’s tax avoidance responses?

Comments 0 Comment

Has he walked into a trap that could have been avoided? I was surprised to see the Prime Minister wade into smug comic Jimmy Carr’s tax affairs. It was clearly going to be a short-term populist move to speak of “morally wrong” tax affairs, but it seemed strange. He’s not the only one. In his Budget this year George Osborne went further calling tax avoidance “morally repugnant”. These are strong words and no doubt they both believe the public will…

Read More Read More

Greece June 2012 – Election Night Special

Greece June 2012 – Election Night Special

Comments 0 Comment

Wikimedia Commons Is this the most important election ever? It’s often heard from politicians seeking votes that “this is the most important election for a generation” – I have yet to hear an election being described as “not terribly important”. But today’s poll in Greece can be justifiably described as critical and potentially historic. Can a new government be formed this time, and will the country be continuing with the bailout in some form with ND/Pasok or taking a radically…

Read More Read More

How London Voted

How London Voted

Comments 0 Comment

Wikimedia Commons Sean Fear reviews the Mayoral and Assembly elections The London Mayoral election was closer than expected. Boris Johnson finished up beating Ken Livingstone by 44% to 40% on first preferences, and by 51.5 to 48.5% on second preferences. This was closer than the polls had predicted. It was nonetheless, an impressive performance for Johnson to hold on, when Labour were making sweeping gains across the country. Johnson is almost unique among Conservatives, in being able to appeal strongly…

Read More Read More

Europe’s “Super Sunday” Election Special

Europe’s “Super Sunday” Election Special

Comments 0 Comment

Wikimedia Commons Leaked exits via Belgium/Switzerland say Hollande 52.5-53 Greece: will ND + PASOK give a majority for the bailout? Welcome to what’s a bumper night for European elections and a very important one for the continent’s politics. In France, first polling stations don’t close until 5pm UK time and the last ones at 7pm, but if the exit polls leaked via Belgian and Swiss media are to be believed, then Francois Hollande has won a comfortable victory in the…

Read More Read More

France 2012 Round One – Election Night

France 2012 Round One – Election Night

Comments 0 Comment

Wikimedia Commons Leaked results show Hollande doing well overseas The first French polling stations close at 6pm local time tonight (5pm UK) and the last two hours later, but already there have been leaked unofficial results via Swiss media which show Socialist challenger Hollande doing well in the French overseas territories (the DOM-TOM) in the Americas, with swings of about 20% in Guadeloupe. It’s expected that Hollande and Sarkzoy will progess comfortably through to the second round in two weeks’…

Read More Read More