Cuts of 40 percent – is this really possible?
See story here.
The AV thread
I’ve taken it down because I’m not confident about my interpretation of the figures on which it was based. I’m on holiday and don’t have access to my notes. Apologies. Mike Smithson
How untouchable is International Development?
Can the ‘no cuts’ line really be sustained? Going in to the election, the Conservatives made a commitment that the NHS and International Development budgets would be protected from any cuts that had to be made should they form a government, a commitment that has carried over into the coalition. To many Conservatives, these didn’t look like the most obvious departments to make the priority. That no doubt was partly the point – to soften the party’s image and to…
Nine Fridays ago the Guardian said “Vote Lib Dem”
Guardian April 30th 2010 The paper stated: “…This time …..the more people who vote Liberal Democrat on 6 May, the greater the chance that this will be Britain’s last general election under a first-past-the-post electoral system which is wholly unsuited to the political needs of a grown-up 21st-century democracy..”
What will the AV referendum do to the coalition?
Will 05/05/2011 mark the beginning of the end? The expected announcement today that the referendum on AV is to be scheduled for the same day as the Scottish parliament, Welsh assembly and English local elections produces the prospect of another Super Thursday when the whole country will be going to the polls. What effect will that timing have? The stated aim is to increase the turnout and it’s likely that there will be more people vote in the referendum if…
Open thread..
Will Liam ever be allowed to forget his famous letter? What’ll this do to his future career? MS
Did Vince lose most from the election’s outcome?
Does his career still have a Big Moment left? In some ways, it’s been a good year for Vince Cable. Most obviously, he’s become one of the first Liberal / Lib Dem cabinet ministers for over 60 years. The problem is that success in politics is a relative business and isn’t measured solely by office. During April he underwent a remarkable transformation from John Maynard Keynes II to Mr. Has-Been, all the more galling for it being largely unnoticed. In fact, the…
Open thread
Picture: Lembit Opik’s post defeat interview on election night. I thought that this was one of the most gracious of the night. If Lembit could stop playing the fool he would be quite a formidable politician. – MS