Welcome to a new era in the Conservative party: The post-Bullingdon period

Welcome to a new era in the Conservative party: The post-Bullingdon period

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May’s cabinet should give us a pointer to the direction the party will go One of my favourite quotes from the former CON leader, William Hague, is that the Tories are “an absolute monarchy, moderated by regicide”. For there’s no doubt about the level of power and influence the leader has over policy, preferment, and the whole direction of the party. Unlike Labour there is no powerful NEC to get in the way. The leader is everything as we’ve seen…

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Why the eligibility rules for Labour’s election could help Eagle more than Corbyn

Why the eligibility rules for Labour’s election could help Eagle more than Corbyn

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Polling expert Leo Barasi of the PB/PM podcasts puts his case Why I think, contrary to the smartest Labour journalists like Stephen Bush, the rules on eligibility for the Labour leadership election help Eagle, not Corbyn: It’s indisputable that pre-2015 members are much more pro-Eagle (or whoever the anti-Corbyn challenger is) than members who’ve joined since May. Eagle wins easily among older members, as YouGov’s latest poll shows. Despite that, the poll has Corbyn beating Eagle 50-40 among all members –…

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Corbyn will be on the ballot

Corbyn will be on the ballot

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Corbyn is on the ballot – Labour rebels lose by four. — George Eaton (@georgeeaton) July 12, 2016 "I'm delighted" – @jeremycorbyn speaks to supporters after NEC vote https://t.co/K6pbNn362q https://t.co/d1l511GqXV — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 12, 2016

Corbyn’s future – the wait goes on

Corbyn’s future – the wait goes on

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Labour’s NEC is deciding whether Corbyn can be on the ballot in the coming leadership election without having to secure the nominations of 51 MPs and MEPs. There are conflicting views on the legality under the party’s rules. The NEC have been meeting all afternoon and it is understood that it has decided that the vote should be by secret ballot. This could take hours. If Tom Watson wins & forces Corbyn to find nominees to stand, it will have…

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Guest slot from CycleFree on “Uniting the country”

Guest slot from CycleFree on “Uniting the country”

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In her first words on learning that she is the new Tory leader and will be PM in 48 hours, Mrs May said: “We need to unite our country and … we need a strong, new positive vision for the future of our country – a vision of a country that works not for the privileged few, but that works for every one of us.” Guff, you might say, the sort of guff that all newly elected leaders come up…

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The Leadsom candidacy is a reminder that those seeking high office must expect the highest levels of scrutiny

The Leadsom candidacy is a reminder that those seeking high office must expect the highest levels of scrutiny

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And you need very good media advisors who you take notice of In the end I was rather disappointed that Andrea Leadsom pulled out because I could have seen her performing much better than expected. Her views on social issues might not be mainstream but could well have appealed to large parts of the older middle class men who make up much of the party membership base. She’s also personable and quite a good communicator. Importantly Leadsom was the one…

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Another contender enters the LAB race which could be drawn out for months

Another contender enters the LAB race which could be drawn out for months

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Owen Smith enters the LAB race https://t.co/Szhsj2CA19 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 11, 2016 UPDATED: Corbyn looks as though he’ll struggle to get an “assisted place” Labour sources: Labour commissioned legal advice to be presented to NEC tomorrow to show Corbyn needs 51 MP/MEPs votes to get on ballot. — Darren McCaffrey (@darrenmccaffrey) July 11, 2016 What a contrast with the speed & efficency of the Tories The big news of the day pic.twitter.com/CWI99wWJlj — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) July 11,…

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Corbyn v Eagle will decide whether LAB continues to be a parliamentary party

Corbyn v Eagle will decide whether LAB continues to be a parliamentary party

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By Southam Observer(Joff Wild) who has rejoined the party after a long absence The sudden end of the Tory leadership contest and Theresa May’s imminent appointment as the country’s new Prime Minister has made the Labour leadership contest – now confirmed following Angela Eagle’s collection of over 50 nominations from MPs and MEPs – even more important than it was previously. Given the slim Tory majority and the potential Brexit deal blocking ability that recalcitrant right wing Tory MPs currently…

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