I am going to start with the Liberal Democrats because they are widely reported as having a disaster. They lost their leader and did not break through except in, I think three constituencies, one in Scotland and two in the south of England. But once again, if you look at the figures, they added 1.3 […]
A lot of stuff is being said by worn out commentators, some of which is just not true. The truth lies in the figures. Here are some interesting ones. There will be more in the coming days but these are the basics mid-morning Friday. That Stonking Great Mandate The total number of votes cast for […]
The country is at last voting after a campaign which lacked sparkle, like the turbulent weather and short winter days. The darkness matching the dark mood in the country. Polls tell us to expect more Johnson Getting Brexit Done. They do not tell us what exactly that means nor, having technically set off from the […]
Far further left than you think. He is neither Tory nor socialist. He is a populist. Which means he is first about Boris and next about ordinary people. He is from the establishment in wealth and education, but far too maverick to be part of it in the embedded sense. His entire Downing Street machine […]
NATO was set up to confront the Soviets and prevent the Communist superpower advancing West. Stalin had managed to occupy and retain half Germany and all of Eastern Europe at the end of WWII. When the Soviet Union collapsed, its own defence treaty organisation collapsed too. The Warsaw Pact was disbanded. NATO was designed to […]
What a mess. In the run up to Christmas we are once again faced with rail strikes which make commuting exhausting and stressful while infuriating everybody except the obdurate franchise holders and the incompetent Tory government, under whose bizarre free enterprise or bust ideology they function. The RMT has right on its side. Every train […]
The Tory media feeding frenzy on Corbyn is in full cry. This is because Tory canvassers are reporting disquiet on working class and suburban doorsteps, votes they must win, lukewarm about their own safety first manifesto. Meanwhile in spite of the attacks on him on every front and ridiculing of his every appearance, Labour maintains […]
It is very unsatisfactory if faith leaders from whatever calling enter into the political debate, the more so when the country is polarised, angry and in the midst of an unprecedented election. Especially if it is directed at specific parties or individuals. Whatever the provocation and however justified the observation or complaint is, such interventions […]
With the Manifestos all out, the contest will begin to move beyond the soundbite/ cheap headline stage to real issues. If the Tories manage to hold the Brexit line, that is getting it done is everything and little else matters, they will win a majority. At the moment polls show them on course for this. […]
Jeremy Corbyn is entirely right to adopt a neutral position in a Brexit referendum, if he becomes prime minister. Harold Wilson did just that in 1974. His cabinet split, as did the country, but after the result everyone was united behind the outcome to accept the revised terms of membership and remain in what was […]