Why Team Corbyn might be on a loser attacking the trustworthiness of BBC journalists

Why Team Corbyn might be on a loser attacking the trustworthiness of BBC journalists

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The real problem, surely, is Labour’s poor media operation The whole reshuffle affair has dominated the headlines for far too long and that’s not been good for the image of Corbyn’s Labour. As Damian McBride was saying in the PB/Polling Matters podcast yesterday the art of a reshuffle is to have it largely completed before word starts seeping to the media. Instead we have had speculation going on for weeks so what should have been a 48 hour maximum story…

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Germany’s inherited war-shame is in danger of eating itself

Germany’s inherited war-shame is in danger of eating itself

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But the consequences of Merkel’s madness will be felt Europe-wide Germany paid a heavy price for the world wars. Only during Angela Merkel’s chancellorship were the loans for WWI reparations finally paid off. That cost, however, pales into insignificance compared with the legacy of the second War. The human and material losses were of course disastrous but perhaps the most lasting legacy was psychological: the national shame of the past and the consequent and reflexive determination – craving, even –…

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Why the decline of the BNP is good news for Farage’s UKIP

Why the decline of the BNP is good news for Farage’s UKIP

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The news this afternoon that the BNP is no longer officially a political party has been dismissed by party officials as an oversight. The move has, apparently, been caused by the failure of the party to send in the fee of £25 by the the due date with the result that it has been removed from the official list. This means that BNP candidates won’t use the party’s name, description or emblems on ballot papers. But it’s expected that things…

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Not in my name: Alastair Meeks looks at Corbyn’s leadership style

Not in my name: Alastair Meeks looks at Corbyn’s leadership style

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No compromise on issue regarded by him as matters of principle In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the burning topic of the day – literally, on occasion –  was religion.  In England, the cutting edge of religious thought was found among what we now call the Puritans.  This label was originally in fact a catch-all term of abuse for a variety of different hardline Protestant groups and not one that those so labelled would have welcomed.  One of the seminal…

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EXCLUSIVE: PB/Polling Matters Podcast with Damian McBride

EXCLUSIVE: PB/Polling Matters Podcast with Damian McBride

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Gordon Brown ex-senior advisor on what’s happening within Labour On the first PB/Polling Matters podcast of 2016 Keiran and Rob are joined by former special adviser to Gordon Brown, Damian McBride. Damian talks through his reactions to this week’s reshuffle, how political coups work and his advice for Jeremy Corbyn’s team. Keiran talks us through some of the polling and asks how much this reshuffle really matters and the team take questions from listeners about this week’s events, Corbyn’s future…

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The real cost of Corbyn’s reshuffle — Labour is talking about itself not what voters care about.

The real cost of Corbyn’s reshuffle — Labour is talking about itself not what voters care about.

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Donald Brind – from a Labour perspective I woke up this morning to hear a devastating critique of the Chancellor George Osborne’s record on the Today programme. Under him “we haven’t rebalanced the economy towards manufacturing, exports and the regions .. fixing the roof when the sun shines never happened.” A perfect script for the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell you might think but this was, in fact, John Longworth, head of the British Chambers of Commerce speaking. He had just…

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Just one local by-election tonight – a LAB defence

Just one local by-election tonight – a LAB defence

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Botchery (Lab defence) on Carlisle Result of council at last election (2015): Conservatives 29, Labour 20, United Kingdom Independence Party 2, Liberal Democrats 1 (Conservative majority of 6) Result of ward at last election (2015): Labour 822 (33%), Independent 725 (29%), Conservative 516 (21%), United Kingdom Independence Party 345 (14%), Green Party 75 (3%) Candidates duly nominated: Rob Curry (Con), Stephen Sidgwick (Lab), Jack Paton (Ind) Result of ward at past elections (1999 – 2011) 2011: Labour 720 (50%), Independent…

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Ex-Brown spinner Damian McBride reckons 200 LAB MPs will revolt to oust Corbyn

Ex-Brown spinner Damian McBride reckons 200 LAB MPs will revolt to oust Corbyn

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Damian McBride describing what he sees as the inevitable coup against Corbyn – from Times pic.twitter.com/TVjBwNAwCn — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 7, 2016 Any questions for a PB/Polling Matters podcast he’s recording tonight? The former Gordon Brown aide, Damian McBride has added his thoughts about Labour’s leadership situation in an article in the Times. An extract appears above. McBride, probably more than anyone, knows about attempted coups in the party and was instrumental in fending a few off while working…

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