Saturday Diary: A Little 'Present' From Dude
- 17 Oct 2011
*“Wow, congratulations!” That was the two word text I sent to Norwich North MP Chloe Smith when I heard of her promotion to the dizzying heights of Economic Secretary to the Treasury last Friday. It’s quite a meteoric rise for a 29 year old in only her third year in Parliament...
The Question Eurosceptics Will One Day Have to Answer: Are They in the Right Party?
- 17 Oct 2011
Earlier today I tweeted… “Can anyone identify a single EU power this government has repatriated so far? Taps fingers waiting…” Needless to say, a good few hours later I am still waiting. And that is partly why Conservative MPs are so annoyed by the government’s stance on the...
Why Liam Fox Is In Trouble
- 11 Oct 2011
The fact that supporters of Liam Fox, like Tim Montgomerie, are openly talking about his likely successors, demonstrates just how deep in the doo-doo the Defence Secretary is in. In some ways this is one of those political squalls all politicians go through at some point in th...
Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle
- 11 Oct 2011
The big test of any reshuffle – either in government or opposition- is this: does it make the top team stronger or not? On balance, I would say that this reshuffle does indeed make Ed Miliband’s team stronger, especially from the point of view of getting on the media. That may...
EXCLUSIVE: Fox Didn't Discuss Buckley Knighthood With Harvey Boulter
- 9 Oct 2011
Liam Fox has made clear that he thinks there are some deeply suspect motives on the part of those who are trying to bring him down. I wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that at the time, but I am now beginning to build up a pretty good picture. And it ain’t pretty. It all seem...
EXCLUSIVE: Fox Didn't Discuss Buckley Knighthood With Harvey Boulter
- 9 Oct 2011
Liam Fox has made clear that he thinks there are some deeply suspect motives on the part of those who are trying to bring him down. I wasn’t quite sure what he meant by that at the time, but I am now beginning to build up a pretty good picture. And it ain’t pretty. It all seem...
Weekend Diary: I'm Going to be a Stand Up Comedian Iain Dale reveals he's a
- 8 Oct 2011
Well, that’s the party conference season over and done with for another year. I’m beginning to question the point of them to be honest. I went to all three this year for work related reasons and looking back, and given the choice, I wouldn’t have bothered with any of t...
Why Foxy Foxy Is In Trouble
- 8 Oct 2011
The fact that supporters of Liam Fox, like Tim Montgomerie, are openly talking about his likely successors, demonstrates just how deep in the doo-doo the Defence Secretary is in. In some ways this is one of those political squalls all politicians go through at some point in th...
Diary: Could I Be a Standup Comedian?
- 8 Oct 2011
Well, that’s the party conference season over and done with for another year. I’m beginning to question the point of them to be honest. I went to all three this year for work related reasons and looking back, and given the choice, I wouldn’t have bothered with any of t...
The BBC Cuts: Hit The Weakest Where It Hurts
- 8 Oct 2011
Anyone would think someone had died. No, it was just the screams emanating from the BBC once reality had set in and the BBC management announced how it was implementing its 20 per cent cuts. In typical BBC fashion they have gone for the soft targets and put off the difficult d...
Thoughts on Ed Miliband's Reshuffle
- 7 Oct 2011
The big test of any reshuffle – either in government or opposition- is this: does it make the top team stronger or not? On balance, I would say that this reshuffle does indeed make Ed Miliband’s team stronger, especially from the point of view of getting on the media. That may...
The Top 100 People on the Right 2011
- 6 Oct 2011
Governing is a hell of lot tougher than opposition. Governing in Coalition, doubly so. The pace of change set by the coalition has been intense. Not content with merely cutting, project Cameron has also been about reform. Root and branch change that will do a lot more than mer...
Labour Conference Diary: Why Liverpool Is Ghastly
- 27 Sep 2011
There is always one politician who goes totally over the top and loses credibility at a party conference. We all remember Michael Portillo’s ‘Who Dares Wins’ speech in 1996. Last week it was Tim Farron’s turn. This week Ivan Lewis has covered himself in glory by sugges...
Labour Conference Diary 2011 - I Find Liverpool a Ghastly City
- 27 Sep 2011
There is always one politician who goes totally over the top and loses credibility at a party conference. We all remember Michael Portillo’s ‘Who Dares Wins’ speech in 1996. Last week it was Tim Farron’s turn. This week Ivan Lewis has covered himself in glory by sugges...
The Top 100 People on the Left 2011
- 27 Sep 2011
Many he might turn to for advice are leaving the stage. The old guard gradually gives up. One by one they slip, after the temporary spotlight of memoir publishing, into respected backbench obscurity. Jack Straw and Alan Johnson both move out of the top 100. Alistair Darling cl...
Tuesday LibDem Conference Diary
- 20 Sep 2011
Sarah Teather has been wandering round the conference with a face like thunder. As well she might. Her off colour jokes about the Chancellor, George Osborne, went down like a lead balloon among the delegates here, but what should worry her is the reaction of Nick Clegg, who, I...
LibDem Conference Diary: Day 1
- 18 Sep 2011
Listening to many of the speeches both on the platform and on the fringe at this conference, you could be forgiven for forgetting that the LibDems are in government. Their whole attitude indicates an oppositionalist attitude which may make them feel better, but won’t g...
The Top 50 Liberal Democrats 2011
- 18 Sep 2011
If the opinion polls prove accurate - the last three showed the Liberal Democrats on 10% - this might be the last time we can find enough elected Liberal Democrats to form a viable top 50. The stark reality they face, and the internal debate that is now raging, is reflected in...
Top Ten Things To Be Overheard At The LibDem Conference
- 17 Sep 2011
Don’t you think Danny Alexander’s a bit of a Tory? Isn’t it terrible all this new security? I’d rather risk being bombed. Well I don’t care what anyone says, I’d happily take Chris Huhne’s speeding points. Don’t mention the AV referendum. ...
Top Ten Things Overheard at the LibDem Conference
- 17 Sep 2011
Don’t you think Danny Alexander’s a bit of a Tory? Isn’t it terrible all this new security? I’d rather risk being bombed. Well I don’t care what anyone says, I’d happily take Chris Huhne’s speeding points. Don’t mention the AV referendum. ...