On May 4th, the electorate go to the polls in 27 non-metropolitan county councils in England, 7 unitary councils in England, one metropolitan borough in England (Doncaster), while every local seat in Scotland and Wales will be contested. Given how many local seats the Lib Dems lost in the last parliament, combined with Lib Dem excitement around local […]
Archives for March 2017
Why the leftie Brexiteers are so odd – and so at odds with themselves
Arthur Scargill, the old trade union boss, unexpectedly popped up in the news again yesterday. The reason being, he had given a pro-Brexit speech in which he said that leaving the EU would allow Britain to re-open the coal mines. “We were not allowed to subsidise pits under EU rules unless we were closing them […]
Why the Eurosceptics should oddly be an inspiration for progressives
So today is the day. Article 50 and all that. We knew it was coming, and here it is. What I’d like to take time to talk about will seem odd to some of you. But here goes: what the Eurosceptics have achieved should inspire today’s progressives in one particular way, which is this: regardless […]
Here’s the saddest thing about Corbyn’s leadership of Labour
There are many things to lament in regards to Corbyn’s stewardship of Labour. The destruction of the possibility that any party other than the Conservatives will be able to win a general election for the next generation, for instance, and all of the problems that brings (for the Conservatives as much as anyone else). But this […]
Len McCluskey is supposedly giving Corbyn 15 months to turn things around. So what happens in summer 2018 then?
Over the weekend Len McCluskey gave an interview on Pienaar in which he talked a lot about the importance of workers’ rights being protected during and after the Brexit process, the need for stronger unions in order to battle coming mechanisation, how key it is to return Britain to full employment…..I’m kidding, of course, he actually complained […]
Keir Starmer sets out “tough new conditions” for Labour to back Brexit deal – please, give me a break
Easily the most annoying thing about Corbyn’s time as Labour leader (and that is saying something) has been the moves to look like the party won’t block Brexit for any reason while simultaneously vowing to be tough on May’s Brexit plans. It has meant that nothing Labour has said or done since June 23rd of […]
What many pine for – a mythical past – cannot return, Brexit or not
Since June 23rd of last year, people have gone to town arguing for their version of why people who voted Leave did so. Some are sure it was all about immigration; at the other end of the spectrum, it was just a chance to give Cameron and Osborne a kicking. Of course, reality is more […]
Until centrism can unite around a single figure and/or force, it will continue to lose ground
I chaired an event at Lib Dem spring conference in York last weekend. It was about 2017 and the challenges ahead. During the Q&A, one chap from the audience asked me “who is the main figure that centrists can unite around?” – the fact that even he, a Lib Dem activist, didn’t think it was […]
Could Galloway win Manchester Gorton? Could the Lib Dems win it?
Labour have finally picked their candidate for the Manchester Gorton by election, probably set to take place on May 4th alongside the local elections, but who the hell knows. Given they now have a candidate in place, I don’t see why Labour wouldn’t one, want it over with as soon as possible; two, on that […]
Mhari Black had a point about Scotland v London. But her statements’ omissions were telling
Mhari Black has been facing a lot of flak on social media for the things she’s being saying about Scotland in relation to London and the two places’ relative political power. This tweet from her summarises her position to date: “Scotland has 59 MPs. London has 73. The second largest country in the UK can […]