Graham Stringer, a career Labour backbencher who represents Blackley and Broughton in Greater Manchester, now faces a deselection process in his constituency. Enough members in his CLP are annoyed with Stringer for having sided with the government in a series of votes on Brexit. He joins fellow Eurosceptic Labour MPs Kate Hoey and Frank Field […]
Archives for August 2018
Would a centrist, anti-Brexit Labour Party really be way ahead in the polls right now?
The idea that a more centrist, and more crucially an openly anti-Brexit Labour Party would be way, way up in the polls (10 points? 20 points? I’ve heard as high as 30 this morning) over the Tories has become an article of faith amongst a certain political set. Equally, this tends to get shot down […]
A review of Corbyn’s “media and tech firms are evil” MacTaggart Edinburgh speech
Having been in transit the last few days at a hectic pace, travelling from Germany to France to Luxembourg to Belgium to France again, I mostly heard about Corbyn’s speech in Edinburgh on the topic of the future of the British press through Twitter. Having proven an unreliable news source, I wanted to read the […]
Brexit, Italy and what the emotional heart of Leave is really about to the true Brexiteer
I am on an extended tour through the continent with my wife and three small children. To add perspective to the following story, they are six, four and one. So, you know, small kids. We have taken in France, Italy and now Austria, where I write this article. Throughout this adventure, I have learned some […]
What does the Observer poll showing a Remain lead in seats really mean?
A few days ago – I think it was only a few days ago at least. I’m on an extended continental holiday – a large sample poll came out via The Observer which showed that in terms of seats, Remain was now ahead. Some of you may recall the analysis of what would have happened […]
This could be the last moment of relative calm in British politics for a while
In the thick of silly season 2018, what dominates British political headlines? Everyone is bored of Brexit, and little is happening on that front that will be even nominally newsworthy until September. Luckily, several of the wacky characters at the forefront of UK politics have decided to step into the breach. News outlets search for […]
The view of Brexit from France
I, like many, have chosen to holiday on the continent this year. I say many because France is even more packed with Brits than usual this year. It makes sense: this is the summer to do it, as we literally have no idea whatsoever if we’ll be allowed in without some shitty American-style visa hassle […]
Getting rid of Jeremy Corbyn is fraught with peril for the Labour Left – let’s count the ways
As the anti-Semitism scandal within the Labour Party spins out of control, reaching new, ridiculous heights, palace intrigue appears to be rearing its head at long last. John McDonnell has tried to take the whole thing a lot more seriously in what appears to be an attempt to show leadership. Granted, it wouldn’t be difficult […]
Is the Labour Party on the verge of splitting for real this time?
Dan Hodges’ article last weekend was about how twenty or so Labour MPs were finally ready to walk away. What shape this would take, the article was unclear about. New party? Resign the whip and sit as independents, hoping to one day return to planet Red? The Hodges piece wouldn’t specify. It makes me wonder […]