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Should “innocent until proved guilty” apply to all? As the divide within Labour over Woolas continues there’s a furious attack by the New Statesman’s Mehdi Hasan on those Labour figures who are suppoprting the ex-immigration minister and former NUS president. Looking at the reasoning of the Woolas defenders Hasan writes: “Innocent until proven guilty” is not a good enough defence – as Labour keeps reminding David Cameron over his communications director, Andy Coulson. “The Woolas debacle has rendered null and…

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SkyNew picture gallery Could the students spark off wider violence? It’s become almost fashionable in recent times to contrast the lack of action on the streets in Britain with that seen so often across the channel particularly in France. It’s almost as though we are suggesting that the Brits are somehow superior because they don’t act like continentals. Well that view has taken a hammering today in more ways than one. The pictures do look shocking and, clearly, this would…

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How important is the student vote? As promised the NUS has launched its campaign of protests against student fees with a threat to unseat Lib Dem MPs. The situation is developing and the question is what will be the impact politically? One problem the NUS have is that they might be good at demos they have never shown the serious resolve to get students onto the electoral register and out to vote It’s that grunt work that could make them…

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There Is No Alternative To Leadership On AV The first big challenge facing Ed Miliband’s leadership will not being Oldham and Saddleworth by-election which, thanks to The Speaker, has incredibly been delayed. The pressing internal political challenge facing the new leader is clarifying and confirming Labour’s position on the Alternative Vote. Last Friday Andy Burnham, Labour’s election co-ordinator chose to announce that the Labour Party won’t now be campaigning in favour of the Alternative Vote during the referendum. This is…

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Welcome to Jonathan’s new Sunday Slot Sunday nights are Labour night! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing posts from a left wing perspective. Hopefully this will compliment our excellent right wing posters such as David Herdson. To start, we need to face facts. The left faces a significant challenge today. Since the late 1990s, we have suffered reversals. We hold power in just three out of the ten democracies below. Where the left are still in power, they…

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Hope you can make the next PB gathering Thanks to Fat Steve for once again organising this. We are having an informal get-together at the historic Dirty Dicks pub opposite the main entrance to Liverpool Street station. The time and date: a week on Wednesdsay at 6.30pm There’s no need to book but it does help if those who are coming can email Steve at Londonevent@politicalbetting.com It was a great gathering in March before the election – see you there….

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Read the fecking judgement first Click on the panel above to download the 57 page judgement in the Woolas case. It’s a good read and those who bother should avoid contributing to the crazy debate that’s developing over the implications – much of which is based on ignorance. This is the specific law, section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, that the court decided had been breached by Mr Woolas:- (1) A person who, or any director…

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