A Brief Word of Warning
Our database server will be switched this evening. Hopefully no-one will notice anything at all… but if we’re down, you know to blame me! Thanks Robert
What’s the Woolas case doing to Labour’s Coulson tactics?
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…
The overnight continuation thread
Was today a foretaste of things to come?
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…
What’s going to be the political impact of this?
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…
Is Harriet the one in tune with Labour voters?
Oldham E & Saddleworth decision – right or wrong? (YouGov) All voters CON voters LAB voters LD voters Right 71 82 65 82 Wrong 7 4 12 `8 Don’t know 22 14 23 10 Should there be laws to stop candidates lying about their rivals? (YouGov) All voters CON voters LAB voters LD voters “It is right that there should be laws†74 86 69 77 “Such laws are a restriction on free speech and risk preventing robust debate†9…
Henry G: EdM’s view on AV is more important than OES
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…
Do Labour MPs think this campaigning was legitimate?
Do they need to put a lid on their fury – and quick? I’m travelling at the moment and have only just caught up with the reports of what happened at last night’s meeting of Labour MPs. According to the BBC’s John Pienaar the comments by Harriet Harman about Woolas have provoked what Labour MPs and ex-ministers call a “mutiny” against the Labour leadership at Westminster. You have to ask are they crazy? For their defence of Woolas can only…