Johnson/Cummings propose moving the House of Lords to York

Johnson/Cummings propose moving the House of Lords to York

Johnson plans to move House of Lords to York – Sunday Times https://t.co/vJRqP277zU pic.twitter.com/JsIO78cNmE — Reuters (@Reuters) January 19, 2020 If not London then York is as good as it gets There’s a single column story on the front page of the Sunday Times that reads like one of those spoofs you see on April Fools day suggesting that Johnson wants to move the Lords permanently to York. The paper’s Tim Shipman reports: “The prime minister last week ordered work…

Read More Read More

Infrastructure: the Conservatives’ necessary but misplaced priority

Infrastructure: the Conservatives’ necessary but misplaced priority

The Custard Factory is one of Birmingham’s more striking developments.   Its current incarnation is as Birmingham’s answer to Shoreditch (a question that probably did not need asking).  Its history, however, stands as a warning to the government, a warning that it almost certainly will not heed. The Custard Factory’s name is not, like so many new developments, the product of a random buzzword generator, but a simple statement of its origin.  Until 1964, Bird’s Custard was manufactured on that…

Read More Read More

Milwaukee mayhem: the Dems could well be heading for a contested convention

Milwaukee mayhem: the Dems could well be heading for a contested convention

Why the usual rules don’t apply in 2020 Fictional America political dramas love a contested convention, where two or more candidates turn up still in hope of gaining the nomination, with all the trading, arguing and general politicking (and, in fictionland, often rather more than politicking) that implies. In reality, it doesn’t happen like that. Presidential primaries have an inherent instability about them which in recent decades has generally ensured that both parties’ candidates are secure in their place months…

Read More Read More

Starmer edges up further in new YouGov leadership poll

Starmer edges up further in new YouGov leadership poll

New Labour leadership polling for @thetimes Round 1KS – 46%RLB – 32%JP – 11%LN – 6%ET – 3% Final RoundKS – 63%RLB – 37%https://t.co/JrHoW89WKs — Chris Curtis (@chriscurtis94) January 17, 2020 Punters move back to Starmer who’s heading for a 70% chance once again This from the Times shows how the poll has it going round by round. Mike Smithson

A Toxic Culture?

A Toxic Culture?

In March 2017 PC Keith Palmer was killed while defending Parliament from a terrorist. In August 2019 PC Andrew Harper was killed while investigating a suspected burglary. These are only 2 of the 50 police officers killed between 1990-2010. Few of us face the risks ordinary police officers run. This does not excuse what is set out below. It does explain why it is so necessary, if their work and sacrifices are to be worthwhile and the public gets the…

Read More Read More

My 123/1 LD leadership bet

My 123/1 LD leadership bet

Bath MP @Wera_Hobhouse tells our political correspondent @davidbevanwood that she might run to become the next leader of the Liberal Democrats. ??? pic.twitter.com/nwsoob8yp9 — ITV News WestCountry (@itvwestcountry) January 16, 2020 Bath LD MP Wera Hobhouse indicates that she might run for Swinson’s old job One of the key things about political betting is that when you see an opportunity you have to seize it fast. As we all know the Lib Dems were reduced by one seat to 11…

Read More Read More

The Conservative intake of 2019 (Part 2 of 2) – the new MPs to keep an eye on

The Conservative intake of 2019 (Part 2 of 2) – the new MPs to keep an eye on

Last time we looked at the new Conservative intake in aggregate.  This time we’re picking out a few who look set to make an impact, some for the right reasons and some for the wrong reasons. Many new MPs have scrubbed their social media squeaky clean. This might well be smart when looking to get elected. It is going to make it harder for them to stand out from the crowd.  As Oscar Wilde said, the only thing worse than…

Read More Read More

The Shock Of The Blue – The new Conservative intake of 2019 (Part 1 of 2)

The Shock Of The Blue – The new Conservative intake of 2019 (Part 1 of 2)

The Conservatives secured a thumping mandate at the general election, getting 365 MPs in the new Parliament, up from the 317 that Theresa May managed in 2017. This increase of 48, however, actually masks a much greater turnover. 109 of those 365 MPs were not in the last Parliament. More than one sixth of the new Parliament is comprised of new Conservative MPs. Most of these MPs are relatively unknown.  They will, however, play a critical role in this and…

Read More Read More