Come & See a Live 'For the Many' Podcast at Podcast Live on 7 April!
- 22 Mar 2019
Let me tell you about something, which I think is really exciting. Throughout my political career I've tried to do things which enhance political engagement. I opened a political bookshop, I have run two political publishing companies, I was one of the first in the UK to start...
Why Jonathan Dimbleby Will be Missed on 'Any Questions'
- 17 Mar 2019
Could you do 'Any Questions' this week?" emailed the AQ editor, Lisa. "Love to," I thought. Then came the sting. "It's in Carlisle," she said. "Bugger," I thought. I'd already agreed to do Good Morning Britain that morning at 6.15am. "Of course," I said. "Carlisle? Not a probl...
Who Will be the Next LibDem Leader (And Does it Matter)?
- 17 Mar 2019
One of the many mysteries of British politics is why on earth the LibDems are still languishing at under 10% on the polls, given they are the only political party in the UK to have a united and understandable position on Brexit. They have 48% of the electorate to woo, b...
Theresa May Is Heading For a Big Defeat - What Happens Next?
- 12 Mar 2019
This time yesterday I published THIS blogpost, saying it was time that Theresa May realised the game was up and that she should depart the stage. A few hours later she was on her way to Strasburg and by 11pm it looked highly likely she was about to pull off the impossible and ...
Theresa May's Days Are Numbered - The Game is Up
- 11 Mar 2019
Back in September 1992, the evening of Black Wednesday (or White Wednesday as many of us came to call it) when Britain crashed out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism, the then Prime Minister, John Major, called Kelvin Mackenzie the editor of The Sun and joshed: "Kelvin, I hope you...
When a Tweet Should Have Waited: Will Self v Mark Francois
- 9 Mar 2019
There I was, about to start watching 'Politics Live' yesterday, when my partner walked in and said "Fern Britton is on 'This Morning' talking about her new book". Some years ago I interviewed Fern about a novel she had written and we ended up getting on like a house on fire. S...
On International Women's Day Here are 10 Women Who Have Inspired Me
- 8 Mar 2019
I thought about how to mark International Women's Day on this blog. I could have done something worthy about women in politics or lack of women on the radio, but in the end I've decided to do something personal and pay a bit of a tribute to some of the women in my life who've ...
"There's no Place for Tories in Black Activism" Says Black Academic
- 5 Mar 2019
Last night on our Monday Night Panel on LBC, we discussed the state of race relations in this country. It was overall a really interesting hour long discussion with Trevor Phillips, Anjum Peerbacos and Dr Kehinde Andrews. There was, however, one exchange which left a nasty...
Should We Feel Guilty Listening to Michael Jackson Songs?
- 3 Mar 2019
Two weeks ago, the Vatican held a much heralded conference on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. The Pope said some condemnatory words, it featured a lot on TV news bulletins, a communique was issued and two days later all the cardinals went home. PR job done. What is singul...
The 1964 General Election Campaign Video Collection
- 2 Mar 2019
Campaign speech by George Brown Quintin Hogg on Labour Conservative PEBs 1964 - Conservative (5 October 1964) 1964 - Conservative (9 October 1964) 1964- Conservative (13 October 1964) Labour Party PEBs ...
The 1979 General Election Campaign Video Collection
- 1 Mar 2019
Conservative PPB - January 1979 Denis Healey Confronts Trade Union Leaders - 18 January 1979 Jim Callaghan's 'Crisis, What Crisis' Press Conference TV Eye interview with James Callaghan - 9 February 1979 Tonight on the No Confidence Vote - 28 M...
Interview with the 'Brexit Comic'
- 1 Mar 2019
Here's a somewhat bizarre interview I did with The Brexit Comic for their latest issue. Er, enjoy... Will we be leaving the EU this year? If I knew the answer to that question, I could make a lot of money. My gut feeling is that the government is going to have to in...
Seven People I'd Love Never to Hear From Again
- 1 Mar 2019
There are some people who just annoy the hell out of us. Often for no apparent reason, but often because they are incredibly irritating, supercilious, arrogant and sometimes just not very nice. I'm sure I'd figure in some other people's lists of this nature - in fact, judging ...
The Quiet Rise of Andrea Leadsom
- 28 Feb 2019
Back in June and early July 2016 there seemed to be a real possibility that Andrea Leadsom could succeed David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. She reached the run-off against Theresa May, having scored 83 in the first round of voting among Conse...
Alberto Costa Should Be Given His PPS Job Back
- 27 Feb 2019
I've spent most of the afternoon in Parliament catching up with a few people but not, of course indulging in any sort of gossip whatsover. You know me... While I was there I found out that Alberto Costa had been sacked as a government PPS. 'That can't be right,' I thought. ...
How Labour's 'People's Vote' Decision Was Made
- 26 Feb 2019
Imagine the scenes in the Opposition Leader's office yesterday morning... I have... JC: "Christ Seumas, this PLP meeting tonight is going to be pretty awful. They're going to monster me about the Zionists." SM: "I always think in these circumstances about what Stalin wou...
The 1966 General Election Campaign Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
Ted Heath campaigning Jo Grimond campaigning The election in Stockport Hecklers Heckling documentary Election night in Hull Pathe Election Night BBC Election Night Coverage
The 1910 General Elections Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
Vote for George Lansbury 1910 Election in Southport BFI Footage (including Home Secretary Winston Churchill) BBC Parliament Programme on the two 1910 elections BONUS - The 1912 Suffragette By-Election
The 1970 General Election Video Collection
- 24 Feb 2019
ITN Profile of Edward Heath First Time Voters Report from Glasgow Cathcart How to vote - a public information film BBC Election Night Coverage Robin Day flirts with Miss Janet Fookes David Dimbleby Interviews Harold Wilson the morni...
We Are Moving Towards a 'Total Eclipse of the Government'
- 23 Feb 2019
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks I really need you tonight Forever's gonna start tonight I'm torn. This morning, three cabinet ministers wrote an article in the Daily Mail which was in total opposition ...