Browsed by
Author: Editor

Was this the right choice to face Salmond?

Was this the right choice to face Salmond?

How will Iain Gray perform as Leader of Labour at Holyrood? The Scottish Labour Party has chosen Iain Gray MSP (East Lothian) to be its new leader, with Johann Lamont as his Deputy. Cathy Jamieson, whom HenryG thought might prove successful, came in second, with Andy Kerr coming third. Gray takes over after the resignation of Wendy Alexander, and will face Alex Salmond across the Holyrood chamber. The question to which we must immediately turn our thoughts is whether Gray…

Read More Read More

Does Joe Biden have a point?

Does Joe Biden have a point?

Would Hillary have been a better choice for VP? It’s been a rough couple of weeks for the Obama-Biden ticket. The stadium finale of the Denver Convention was overshadowed by the historic choice of Governor Sarah Palin by John McCain, the GOP has rediscovered some optimism, and the Republican ticket has taken a lead in the national polls. Much of this is attributed to Palin, who has both energised the Conservative base, and injected some glamour and hope into what…

Read More Read More

Guest slot by Kieran on Obama’s strategic dilemma

Guest slot by Kieran on Obama’s strategic dilemma

Should it be a referendum on Obama or on Bush/McCain? In contrast to early expectations the 2008 Presidential election is proving a very tight race. This is a huge surprise given the political atmospherics. George Bush has approval ratings in the low 30s while 80% of Americans feel the country is on the wrong track. Polls show a generic Democrat beating a generic Republican by double digits. Why then is the race so close and what does this mean for…

Read More Read More

So unpopular, he won’t even be fighting the election…

So unpopular, he won’t even be fighting the election…

Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer … and Haider is back, as an unstable Austria prepares to vote This is going to be an extremely busy autumn everywhere – whether in the US, here at home, or in the rest of the world. The Canadian election will be held on 14th October and was previewed in an excellent guest article by Jack Peterson last Sunday, and New Zealand, although we await a firm date, is less than ten weeks away. Two countries are…

Read More Read More

In the Sunday papers

In the Sunday papers

The leading political stories from today’s papers Once again, a dismal set of stories for Downing Street, as the fin de siecle feel continues for the government, rather like 1995-7. There’s another unhelpful intervention from Tony Blair, courtesy of the usual “well-placed sources”. Brown should consider standing down rather than face the humiliation of an election defeat, says the former PM, while the same article reports that Ruth Kelly is expected to quit in a Cabinet reshuffle expected this autumn….

Read More Read More

Is this optimism justified?

Is this optimism justified?

Or is Chris Hune indulging in a little wishful thinking? Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem spokesman on Home Affairs, has written an article for LibDem Voice that seeks to reassure activists the party will in fact do better at the next election than the prophets of doom suggest. He writes: “The new conventional wisdom at Westminster is that the Conservatives are heading for an overall majority at the next election, and that the Liberal Democrats are therefore bound to take…

Read More Read More

Continuation Thread: Will McCain be overshadowed?

Continuation Thread: Will McCain be overshadowed?

How will he compare to Obama and Palin in his acceptance speech? John McCain has many qualities, but being a big-venue orator is not first amongst them. Having seen Obama put on a remarkable show last Thursday in Denver, John McCain saw his VP pick, Governor Palin, deliver a superb address last night. She managed to enthuse the Convention Center to an extent not seen previously this week, and has received glowing reviews in the midst of a hostile media…

Read More Read More

How should Brown respond to this?

How should Brown respond to this?

Is is time for a McCain-style gamble? Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, has launched another not-so-subtle attack on Gordon Brown, claiming in the New Statesman that Labour “is destined to disaster if we go on as we are” and that “we will not allow that to happen”. In spite of some fairly significant pressing concerns about the Party and the Government, fully a quarter of the article is given over to complaints that the term ‘Blairite’ is being used…

Read More Read More