One of the lesser known parts of a UK General Election are the meetings between the main opposition party and the civil service. In the months approaching a potential change in Government the main opposition party presents it’s programme for government to the civil service. Sometimes, like 1997, this is a detailed programme … Read more
I am not a conspiracy theorist, although I love conspiracy theories. Ever since the X Files I have been fascinated by them. I don’t, however, feel the need to believe in them. Except maybe for one political conspiracy theory, about how someone might rig a UK General Election. In 1985 the Representation of the People Act was … Read more
Predictions A Conservative MP will be found guilty of rape/violent sexual assault A Conservative MP will defect to Reform The Conservatives will defend several by-elections and lose all of them (*see below) There will be a UK general election in May. Labour will win with a small, but working majority. There will be widespread Russian … Read more
“Just remember how you felt on that dreadful morning of June 10th, just remember how you felt then, and think to yourselves: June the Ninth, 1983, never ever again will we experience that.’” This was Neil Kinnock’s first speech to Labour Conference as leader. He had started the process of taking the Labour back from … Read more
The old myth that foreigners are coming to take your jobs has a new rival – Americans are coming to steal the NHS. Both are equally silly. Why the immigration myth is nonsense One of the great myths spread by right wing politicians is that somewhere in the world there is a hoard of foreigners … Read more
The Labour Party manifesto came out today and helpfully they have produced a “Grey Book”, which sets out the financial framework for an incoming Labour Government. The financial framework is typical of Labour under Corbyn; lots of sensible, well thought out, pragmatic policies, mixed in with bat shit crazy stuff, and middle class fiscal fads. … Read more
This is a quote from Jeremy Corbyn at today’s launch of Labour’s election manifesto. A completely nationalised NHS, with no scope for private sector involvement. I realise that this is an emotive issue for many, but when the NHS was set up by the Attlee Government it was established with a mix of public and … Read more