“We can get through this”: Don Brind looks at how coffee cup diplomacy could help Labour MPs work together.

“We can get through this”: Don Brind looks at how coffee cup diplomacy could help Labour MPs work together.

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When I joined the BBC in the 70s one of the senior writers was regarded a bit of legend for having spotted the start of Ping-Ping diplomacy – what the US official historian describes as “fraternization” between table tennis players from the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China during an international competition in Japan. It led eventually to the 1972 meeting between Nixon and Mao. Not quite on the same epic scale but there are signs that a rapprochement…

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It’s time to take a Trump presidency seriously – it could happen

It’s time to take a Trump presidency seriously – it could happen

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This video appears to show Hillary Clinton falling after being taken unwell at a 9/11 memorial service in New York https://t.co/2H0LvuCm6d — Sky News (@SkyNews) September 11, 2016 Events this weekend remind us that the conditions are there for Trump to win says Keiran Pedley. The Clinton campaign needs to get back on the front foot and fast.   Whether you call it a stumble, collapse or storm in a teacup, Clinton’s apparent fainting as she left this weekend’s 9/11…

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5% of voters show they shouldn’t be allowed out of the house unsupervised or be left alone with sharp implements

5% of voters show they shouldn’t be allowed out of the house unsupervised or be left alone with sharp implements

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5% of voter shouldn't leave the house unsupervised @OpiniumResearch finds 5% of voters think Corbyn is right wing pic.twitter.com/1MiELCXEqz — TSE (@TSEofPB) September 11, 2016 Occasionally polling throws out a result that really does make you go wow. Today’s Opinium poll for the Social Market Foundation contains a doozy. 5% of voters think Jeremy Corbyn is right wing, channelling my inner Sheldon Cooper, whilst I subscribe to the “Many Worlds” theory which posits the existence of an infinite number of Jeremy…

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Meet the new boss – what TMay’s first 60 days tell us about how she’ll govern

Meet the new boss – what TMay’s first 60 days tell us about how she’ll govern

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Theresa May has now been Prime Minister for 60 days.  It’s never too soon to start forming judgements.  So what have we learned so far about our new Prime Minister?  Actually, rather a lot says Alastair Meeks. Her new slogan is her manifesto Theresa May’s conversion to grammar schools has attracted a lot of attention.  Her speech is worth reading because it sets out her philosophy. She delivered it in front of the slogan: “A country that works for everyone”…

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Meet Liam Fox, the 21st century Gerald Ratner

Meet Liam Fox, the 21st century Gerald Ratner

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This is the minister supposed to be prompting British business around the world https://t.co/vH1iYbLbRm — Jim Pickard ? (@PickardJE) September 10, 2016 Yes, Liam Fox really said UK business is too fat and lazy. Here's our exclusive transcript https://t.co/4DwsX7xrNo pic.twitter.com/vOKb9QFitE — The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) September 10, 2016 The Guardian reports on a Times story Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, has been attacked by businesspeople and politicians for suggesting British executives would rather play golf rather…

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The Grammar School policy is un-Conservative and will appeal to the wrong people

The Grammar School policy is un-Conservative and will appeal to the wrong people

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The thinking is muddled because the priorities are muddled Theresa May is a grammar school girl.* That personal experience, combined with the success of her career, might well be at the root of her enthusiasm for the system which she so lauded yesterday; many who believe they benefitted personally from a system become advocates for its wider adoption. If so, her enthusiasm is misplaced. Coming into office on a pledge of social mobility, it’s perhaps not too surprising that she’s…

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Last night’s by election round up

Last night’s by election round up

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The Lib Dem fightback continues, this time in the finest city in the known universe, Sheffield. Liberal Democrat GAIN Mosborough (Sheffield) from Labour. — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) September 8, 2016 Mosborough (Sheffield) result:LDEM: 45.6% (+31.8)LAB: 34.1% (-9.2)UKIP: 12.4% (-9.8)CON: 6.1% (-7.9)GRN: 1.8% (-1.3) — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) September 8, 2016 Labour HOLD Yeoman Hill (Mansfield). — Britain Elects (@BritainElects) September 8, 2016 Yeoman Hill (Mansfield) result:LAB: 45.7% (-4.5)MIF: 24.3% (-25.5)UKIP: 17.3% (+17.3)CON: 6.7% (+6.7)IND: 5.9% (+5.9) — Britain Elects (@BritainElects)…

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei, the polling that explains why Mrs May is backing creating more grammar schools

Vox Populi, Vox Dei, the polling that explains why Mrs May is backing creating more grammar schools

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Last month YouGov conducted some polling on grammar schools, some of the polling explains why Mrs May has so publicly endorsed the expansion of grammar schools today, it would be appear people view them as good for social mobility. and they would like their children to go to grammar schools. However the polling also found more people in favour of scrapping existing current grammar schools/or not creating any more grammar schools. This is probably based on the studies that show…

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