Have Labour and Burnham screwed up the Hannan opportunity?

Have Labour and Burnham screwed up the Hannan opportunity?

Why did they fail to capitalise on the Tory-Hannan open goal? The events of the past couple of days have underlined what is becoming increasingly apparent: Labour never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I’ve been trying to do a piece on this them but have just discovered the Soho Politico blog which is making all the points I was trying to write but only better. “Labour should have just sat back and watched the reaction to Hannan from…

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Could this new party affect voting in university areas?

Could this new party affect voting in university areas?

Can they repeat their Swedish successes here? I’ve written before about the Piratpartiet in Sweden, but this week saw the announcement that the Electoral Commission has added to its register of political parties in Great Britain “The Pirate Party UK”. For those not aware, this is an offshoot of the Pirate Party International which aims to reduce the burdens of onerous copyright restrictions (essentially supporting filesharing and reducing duration of copyright), combat the surveillance state, and support freedom of speech….

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The NHS: Who really, really, really cares most?

The NHS: Who really, really, really cares most?

Isn’t this all getting a bit ridiculous? At last the weekend but I fear that we won’t see the end of the “we care most about the NHS” race amongst British politicians. Cameron, back from holiday, was fast off the mark slamming the comments by Tory MEP Daniel Hannan and, of course, arranging suitable photo ops of him with smiling and apparently enthusiastic nurses. Meanwhile with their leader, Gordon Brown, still on holiday in the Lake District it was left…

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In spite of last night are Anne’s days numbered?

In spite of last night are Anne’s days numbered?

St Albans Review Will Dave dare risk losing the seat to the LDs? It’s been a tough return from vacation for David Cameron. For as well as the Hannan business to contend with he’s also got Anne Main. The immediate response of Ladbrokes to last night’s controversial decision by St. Albans Conservatives not to de-select their MP was to make the Lib Dem the 2/1 second favourite in the seat. On the face of it that’s a very tight price…

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Is Daniel Hannan giving traction to a Gordon recovery?

Is Daniel Hannan giving traction to a Gordon recovery?

How dangerous for the Tories are his US comments on the NHS? It is no accident that in his first act following his return from holiday that David Cameron has emailed party supporters with a strong defence of the NHS. For he more than anybody realises that what is central to decontaminating the Tory brand is to get his party fully behind the health service. In speech after speech Cameron has stressed that the NHS is safe in Tory hands…

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Is this a 100% denial that Mandy won’t stand?

Is this a 100% denial that Mandy won’t stand?

Why doesn’t he mention the change of law that’s going through? This is the video clip of Mandy denying that he has plans to stand for the Labour leadership using a form of words, incidentally, that were deployed by Michael Heseltine repeatedly ahead of the ousting of Mrs. Thatcher in November 1990. His reason – that he is a life peer and “In this country if you are made a life peer it’s for life. It’s like a life sentence”….

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