If Andrew Gilligan’s blog is to be believed (I admit, a not entirely moot point), we learn, via the excellent Harry’s Place, that Val Shawcross, Ken’s running-mate in the London mayorals, has commented on the former’s lack of wisdom in his choice of friends the extremist Al-Qaradawi, and his comments to Jewish journalist Oliver Finegold… Continue reading Hats off to Val Shawcross
Month: December 2011
The best of 2011 – who’s Number One?
Just in case you missed them first time around, here were the best-read posts of 2011 at the Centre Left: 5. UCU and the siren call of “my enemy’s enemy” – written after the union’s extraordinary, Kafkaesque decision, on being accused of anti-semitism, to rewrite what anti-semitism means. 4. The New Politics (reprise) – Huhne’s Reagan… Continue reading The best of 2011 – who’s Number One?
2012: A year to fix the party
As our leaders sit back and take stock during the holidays, they might reflect, not just on the daily parliamentary grind against Cameron and the coalition, but of something else: of the time that opposition affords parties to deal with their own problems and, in dealing with them, help show their fitness to govern. They’re… Continue reading 2012: A year to fix the party
And the winner of the 2011 “Reagan Defence” Award is…
…a late entry, the irrepressible CNN talk-show host Piers Morgan, for apparently having forgotten most of his life as editor at the Daily Mirror during yesterday’s Leveson inquiry hearings. He beat off stern competition, however, from News International’s Les Hinton (also forgot about phone-hacking during Leveson) and of course the government’s very own Chris Huhne (forgot about any… Continue reading And the winner of the 2011 “Reagan Defence” Award is…
Two reactions to extremism
Compare and contrast: a. Tory MP, snapped next to man dressed as Nazi, sacked. b. Labour MPs invite real, declared anti-Semite to speak at Westminster: still in post. I am no fan of the Tories, but…something’s not right here.
It’s the financial markets, stupid
‘The real game’s not over here’ – Lou Reed What is the main thing driving the urgency of a solution to the euro crisis? Why, the financial markets, of course. Not because they should be calling the shots, but just the obvious reason, that you need to keep them on board in times of crisis… Continue reading It’s the financial markets, stupid
The coalition is on life-support
“Mummy, what is that man for”? This exquisite, though probably apocryphal, comment from a small child has been variously said to be about many politicians over the years, including Herbert Asquith. But Asquith’s successor a century later, Nick Clegg, may suddenly be finding that a real and painful question, as he reflects on the wreckage… Continue reading The coalition is on life-support
Flynn: tolerating the intolerable
Last week, two things happened which produced condemnation by our politicians. Jeremy Clarkson appeared on national television threatening to shoot strikers in front of their families. And Paul Flynn MP, interviewed by the Jewish Chronicle, spoke against having a Jewish ambassador for Israel, after suggesting in Parliament that he might be working for a foreign… Continue reading Flynn: tolerating the intolerable
Miliband the seer, Miliband the invulnerable
Last Thursday, Ed MIliband was speaking at the IPPR on the economy, doughtily willing that Labour’s alternative can soon be heard again, in light of Britain’s increasingly dreadful prospects. In spite of the response of many commentators, that here was a battle he couldn’t win, his words indicated that, on the contrary, he genuinely believes… Continue reading Miliband the seer, Miliband the invulnerable