For a while, in my teens I played Dungeons and Dragons. I realise that this is shaking your faith in me as the king of cool, but I did. What I was really into was books; JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, ER Eddison, HP Lovecraft, MR James. Michael Moorcock. Epic, scary and weird. Even Robert E… Read More Jeremy Corbyn | Dungeons and Dragons | Why Labour keeps losing
I’ve spent the last few weeks pointing out the worst bits of the three main parties manifestos, and telling you are rubbish they all are. It’s the last weekend of the campaign so here are the policies I would have picked instead, and along the way show how client politics distorts tax and spending decisions… Read More Vote Chadwick | Framwellgate Moor Bolshevik Party Manifesto
The Tory manifesto is a small, but significant shuffle to the left. In fiscal terms it is probably their most left wing manifesto since Ted Heath, maybe even longer. The headlines are all about spending on health, education and social care: These spending commitments are great, and position to Tories much closer to the centre… Read More Conservative Manifesto | a shuffle to the left
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 Americans aren’t coming to privatise the NHS | Immigrants aren’t coming to take your job | Stop being gullible
In all of the excitement about the Labour Manifesto we seem to have forgotten that the LibDems also put their proposals forward too. Which might be a metaphor for a campaign full of sensible proposals but strangely forgettable. The LibDems overall fiscal frameworks is slightly tighter than Labour, but using similar rules. The LibDems want… Read More The LibDems | Great policies, but can you be bothered?
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 Labour Manifesto | All a bit Jim Callaghan