As is traditional at this time of year (well, we did it last year and thought, what the hey), the top five best-read posts from the year at the Centre Left: 5. Diane Abbott and her odd generalisations Even before her now-notorious tweet asserting that “white people love to play divide and rule”, her disturbing views… Continue reading The best of 2012
Month: December 2012
A Labour Christmas carol
It was Christmas eve, 2012, and Ebenezer Miliband lay in his bed, thinking of how his little hardware shop was faring in the middle of this perniciously cold winter. Business had been difficult, and here was a man generous to a fault. Perhaps too generous, some said. Debt was high everywhere in London that year,… Continue reading A Labour Christmas carol
Stop the War Coalition’s comments about Newtown reveal a burning hatred of America
After the indescribable horror of the fourth mass shooting this year in the US, the world’s media and commentators have been pretty much united in their sympathy for victims and urging of the American government to push for change. United, that is, aside from one UK protest movement. Yesterday a friend pointed out Stop the… Continue reading Stop the War Coalition’s comments about Newtown reveal a burning hatred of America
Osborne lays the trap. Enter Labour, not walking but running
The weekend before last, I watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the classic kids’ film of my own childhood, with my five year-old for the first time. When the famous “child catcher” scene came on, and the children were being tempted into the evil Kiddy Catcher’s van with sweets and lollipops, it ended with genuine, heartfelt… Continue reading Osborne lays the trap. Enter Labour, not walking but running
We might as well get used to the Royals – they’re not going anywhere, any time soon
If you’ve been living on the moon for the last four days, you may just not know about the royal baby. The news has predictably sand-blasted UK news schedules and obscured the traditional staples of murders, celebs and, quite possibly, a third World War (I didn’t catch the later bulletins). And, at these times, we… Continue reading We might as well get used to the Royals – they’re not going anywhere, any time soon
Three lessons for Labour to avoid learning from Rotherham
My second piece for the Independent is here.