Comments

Tim Rowbottom

2009-05-22 16:04:28

I can confirm that there are still a few copies remaining in the Parliamentary Bookshop. I picked one up today at lunchtime, and very nice it is too.

james

2009-05-22 00:00:31

Three quick comments:

Firstly, I'm afraid I still think this is sour grapes. In the run up to 97 I don't remember parliamentary speeches getting greater prominence than Tory sleaze stories but presumably you didn't complain then.

Secondly, the new media are already leading the way. Remember Dan Hannan? You may not have liked the content, but what other political speech has had more coverage in the last year? There is, if anything, more chance these days that a speech will go viral if it resonates with the public mood.

Thirdly, genuine thanks for the tip-off re. the book. I think you've just sorted half my Christmas shopping 7 months early.

Liz

2009-05-21 07:39:07

The Parliamentary Bookshop had a small heap of them last time I went in... price £35.00
http://www.bookshop.parliament.uk/

Mike Barlow

2009-05-21 00:15:52

I was wondering: Who does the Great British public think is the best orator in Parliament, NOW?

My answer is split:

Tony Benn says the right things, eloquently, intelligently, passionately; I think he could have made a great PM, had he been a little more 'crowd pleasing'.

William Hague, is-by far-the greatest speech writer and orator in Westminster, currently. I hate to say that, being a left of centre Labour voter.Though you have to concede the fact that he can write. By crikey, he stands out far above anybody else. GB included. Especially GB, in fact.

What, and who, say you?

Mike

Ian Church

2009-05-20 23:16:26

Thanks for your comments on the book for which I was responsible – the Official Report [Hansard] Centenary Volume – which contains over 40 brilliant House of Commons speeches from the last 100 years. They are landmarks in parliamentary debate, which is today, as you rightly say, so lamentably neglected by the media. The initial print run has been sold out since the book was launched in April, so it is not currently available. However, it is being reprinted and should be available again soon. To order a copy go to the TSO web site – www.tsoshop.co.uk/ . The price is £35. This is not a sales pitch. The book was never intended to make money. All the work on it, apart from the printing, was done unpaid and voluntarily, and that includes the contributors. All we want is to break even and celebrate Hansard’s 100th birthday. I put the idea for the book to Betty Boothroyd when she was the Speaker – I was the Editor of Hansard and she was my boss – and she gave it the green light. That was 10 years ago and I started approaching contributors immediately, which explains why Jim Callaghan and Bill Deedes are included. Hansard is not well-known outside Westminster. But the fact that Prime Ministers past and present and some of the biggest names in post-war and 21st century politics have contributed to it is testament to its importance. But Hansard is important only because of what is in it – the uncensored, uninterpreted, unpre-digested, unvarnished utterances of our elected representatives speaking on our behalf in our House of Commons.

Jane A

2009-05-20 20:55:39

I don't know if the old fashioned media will reform, but I think people are switched off by listening to editorialising of an issue rather than the reporting of it. There are probably more viewers who could pick Robert Peston out of a line up than correctly locate Alistair Darling. I'm all for real investigative journalism but surely the point is *not* to be the story, but to communicate the story.

Not sure you need to "subscribe" to Hansard - if you meant it in the sense of paying to read - their website is free, and every debate, speech and committee is transcribed word for word (some Herculean task to get that done) ; it is possible to go to the source and read it as it was said. I know that won't be everyone's cup of tea, but it is use of modern media to cut out the middle man, and deliver the business of the day direct to those inclined to hunt for it.

Mike Barlow

2009-05-20 20:16:06

"I am myself a man of peace from the depths of my soul".

Who said that?

Not in Parliament, mind, but it was indicative of his nature.

A peace lover, reluctant to commit his countrymen and women, to war.

Deceived by those claiming to be allies, led up the garden path by one very evil dictator.

In history, we regard him as weak and indecisive, eager to appease a bully boy.

Neville Chamberlain.
Again, not in Parliament:
"I am speaking to you from the cabinet room of 10 Downing St. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.

You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed. Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more, or anything different, that I could have done, and that would have been more successful. Up to the very last it would have been quite possible to have arranged a peaceful and honourable settlement between Germany and Poland. But Hitler would not have it; he had evidently made up his mind to attack Poland whatever happened. And although he now says he put forward reasonable proposals which were rejected by the Poles, that is not a true statement. The proposals were never shown to the Poles, nor to us. And though they were announced in the German broadcast on Thursday night, Hitler did not wait to hear comments on them but ordered his troops to cross the Polish frontier the next morning.

His action shows convincingly that there is no chance of expecting that this man will ever give up his practice of using force to gain his will. He can only be stopped by force, and we and France are today in fulfillment of our obligations going to the aid of Poland who is so bravely resisting this wicked and unprovoked attack upon her people. We have a clear conscience, we have done all that any country could do to establish peace, but a situation in which no word given by Germany's ruler could be trusted, and no people or country could feel itself safe, had become intolerable. And now that we have resolved to finish it, I know that you will all play your parts with calmness and courage".

When the world entered its darkest hour, Chamberlain used words of beauty and yet of such sorrow.

That is the thing. The words of our politicians shape our lives, our destinies. Some use words with grace, beauty and refinement, and others use basic, almost ugly, words.

Whatever their form, they decide our futures, our lives, our deaths.

What a travesty that some parliamentarians choose not to honour the mighty position they have been gifted and instead of achieving magnificence, they aim low and take the easy, the greasy, route.

I welcome the re-printing of the book Alistair references, in greater numbers, to make it affordable for the masses, to recall the 'mere words' that have helped shape this country into something worth upholding, worth dying for.

Mike

CPW

2009-05-20 19:24:30

Another piece of dunderheaded self-serving bilge. I do wish you’d give this shit up. It offends all those minds that don’t come here to slap you on the back for you being you.

Anyone with a TV and free digital might have caught 90 mins of the Politics show on BBC2 today and if they were really interested in parliamentary debate they might also have flicked to freeview channel 81 for parliament TV. Coverage is pervasive and doesn’t just - as you suggest - focus on the negative stuff.

That you make out that it does owes more to your own blinkered bigotry than it does to a sense of real frustration with the media. That you are a hypocrite, too, is self evident to anyone with any scruples or a memory that stretches to your pre-Blair days.

One dedicated channel, at least two national programmes (not to mention the regional versions) that cover many aspects of the week’s politics and untold coverage of many sides of the coin in the national press.

I can only think you must think your readership is as blinkered as you are.

Michael

2009-05-20 17:34:27

I have sympathy with this point. For various reasons, I am particularly interested in Welfare Reform. Around 3 or 4 years ago Alan Johnson was the Work and Pensions secretary and released a green paper about Pathways to Work - for a change, this cinderella subject was high on the News agenda. Andrew Marr spoke about it on the 10 o'clock news but I quickly gained the impression he had no grasp of the details and spoke vaguely about the 'politics' of it. It was a fur coat and no knickers performance from the leading political correspondent of the day. The problem is, many politicians colluded with this media portrayal, and voter apathy let them get on with it unchallenged. I used to think the Channel 4 political awards were good fun - over recent years it has become a knees up for the very smug and self-regarding Westminster Village. I'd blame Humphries, Paxman, Marr and Jon Snow for our current mess as much as Speaker Martin or David Chaytor - the old narrative suited their career trajectories as much as troughing MPs.

The expenses scandal may well waken up many in the Commons and in the electorate about what we should be demanding from our democracy. I am reminded of JB Priestley's An Inspector Calls - that we are ultimatley responsible for each other. Let's hope that some good comes from all this. But the rules of engagement are changing. The current politcal mood reminds me of the arrival of the punks who overthrew the old prog rock of the early and mid 70s - maybe we will get a politics that is more lively and energetic and relevant to most of our lives. Maybe.

Em

2009-05-20 14:46:16

There's a listing for it on amazon UK and CA (Ouch! That price tag!)

Here's the link, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-report-Hansard-centenary-1909-2009/dp/0118404636

One can sign up to get an email when it becomes available.

Em

2009-05-20 14:42:40

I hope to find this book somewhere. I'm a bit obsessed with speeches. Own way too many books on the Gettysburg Address alone. Thanks.

George Hall

2009-05-20 12:47:19

It sounds like the kind of book I would love to give people for Christmas. I remember the SMith speech you and Ma Beckett chose - Major the man with the non-midas touch, was it that one? Also agree with the idea that Bevan the best ever. I will email the address you put on re the book but maybe they should think of publishing it more widely

gary Enefer

2009-05-20 12:46:47

Dear AC

I was working too hard for 25 yrs to appreciate some of these speeches. I remember the late and great Robin Cook who showed great skills and integrity.

You have prompted my imagination to look up some of these other speeches -kind of you to marry the events for us too.

Best wishes
gary

Mike Pearce

2009-05-20 12:45:01

Did you hear that man Lyons from the BBC saying why they could not publish all salaries - because it might stop people wanting to work for the BBC? The hypocrisy of these people, all up in arms at what they see as waste of public money on MPs. At least MPs are elected, and we know what they earn. When the BBC reporters come on there should be a box in the corner that gives their salary and expenses for the last year

Peter Farley

2009-05-20 12:33:20

Not surprising that the media focuses on what happens with activity outside Parliament than in the chambers, because that's where decision-making has moved to. The last 12 years have seen a a complete emasculation of the legislature by the pseudo-presidential style of government of the last two PMs. The Commons has been completly by-passed, a process compounded by the continual capitulation to Brussells. What attempts there have been at lawmaking have been poorly thought-out and railroaded through. It's not much of an incentive for inspiring oratory. The fact that the Opposition (or any back bencher) cannot even table a motion for debate without the permission of the Government was probably news to most people only this week. Hardly a cradle for democracy. Power needs to be devolved, not centralised. Unfortunately Socialists just don't get it. The parallels between the EU, the Kremlin of old and the Labour party have been widely made and are embedded in the collective fears of criticism and loss of control. Free speech is anathema to these political dinosaurs. But once you see normal service resumed after the next election you will likely see oratory flourish once again.

Speaking up for Parliament

2009-05-20 11:44:17

Sitting in our kitchen at the moment is an impressive looking tome, its front cover a picture of an empty House of Commons chamber, its five hundred pages a collection of some of the best speeches ever made there.

Even before the expenses row, took off I was dipping in and out of this 'Centenary Volume' which celebrates one hundred years of Hansard, the written account of procedings in Parliament.

It was sent to me because I was one of almost fifty people - mainly Parliamentarians including Prime Ministers, party leaders, Speakers, among them the departing Michael Martin - asked to choose a speech and explain the choice. I went, as did Margaret Beckett, for a stunning Opposition Day debate speech by John Smith in 1993.

John Major, the man on the receiving end of Smith's wit and wisdom that day, opted for Sir Geoffrey Howe's resignation speech which helped topple Margaret Thatcher. The Labour leader defeated by Major, Neil Kinnock, choose Nye Bevan's speech at the Second Reading of the NHS Bill in 1946, while Tony Benn went for Bevan's resignation speech five years later, and Jim Callaghan selected another Bevan speech five years after that, on Suez. Rather cruelly I thought, Nigel Lawson chose a speech by Neil - in the Westland debate in 1986 - as 'an object lesson in how not to do it.' .

Leaf through the pages and you'll find Churchill (several times), Lloyd George, Asquith, Wilson, Macmillan, Thatcher, Keir Hardie, Benn, Denis Healey, Michael Heseltine, Enoch Powell. A speech by Michael Foot is chosen by Ian Paisley, while David Blunkett goes for one by Oswald Mosley. Ted Heath is in there on his opposition to capital punishment (GB's choice), Duff Cooper (David Cameron), Enoch Powell (Denis Healey), Barbara Castle (Patricia Hewitt). Dennis Skinner chose one of his own. Robin Cook is chosen twice - by Michael Martin (arms to Iraq) and by Shirley Williams (his resignation speech over the Iraq war).

There appears to be no price on this book, compiled by former Hansard editor Ian Church, so perhaps it is limited edition. On the inside cover there is an email address for inquiries licensing@opsi.gov.uk .

So why is he going on about a small circulation book with a load of old speeches in it, you ask? Because for all the talk about a need for a new politics, and the media's protestations to care so much for Parliamentary democracy, it is worth asking the question why they cover it so little.

It is one of the paradoxes of our time that we have more media space than ever, but less of it devoted to what happens in Parliament. Political reporters are never off the screens. Politicians mainly on it when saying something that fits the reporters' pre-ordained agenda, or doing something they shouldn't.

It is easy to present the negative side of Parliament, particularly now. But the diminution of coverage of Parliamentary debate, other than the yah-boo of PMQs, has been steadily developing over time.

I am in favour of some of the changes being mooted to clean up the place, clear out the worst offenders, and make Parliamentary reform part of a broader plan to modernise and revitalise politics. I am also in favour of getting more younger people into Parliament too.

But reform of Parliament has to be accompanied by a change in the media attitude that says news about Parliament is only news if it shows itself in a bad light, or that to have a view which chimes with the view of your party leadership is somehow anti-democratic.

There may not be many Churchills or Bevans around the place. But there are good speeches made in Parliament most days of the weeks they sit. We just never get to hear about them. Hardly surprising when daily coverage of Westminster debates has gone and most of the papers have promoted comedy writing and commentary above reporting. So you can only read them if you subscribe to Hansard, which I accept is likely to remain a minority activity.

Also, isn't it interesting how everyone seems to be saying we need more openness and transparency about what the procedures of Parliament ... and welcoming the fact the next Speaker will be chosen by secret ballot?

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Publish date: 2009-10-19 12:31:00

Hating the Mail - a mindset worth having

Publish date: 2009-10-17 11:28:12

A line by line guide to the Mail statement on Gately article outrage

Publish date: 2009-10-16 19:12:36

Hit the Mail where it hurts

Publish date: 2009-10-16 16:36:02

Talking Cameron and Obama with US Democrats. Progressive Convervatism? No, he can't

Publish date: 2009-10-16 10:02:40

Inspired by kids' green passion

Publish date: 2009-10-14 18:24:13

Good news on leukaemia, good news on student activism

Publish date: 2009-10-13 08:24:21

Musings from Bertie Ahern, and how I won the Nobel prize for literature

Publish date: 2009-10-12 09:26:18

Continuing double standards in the media

Publish date: 2009-10-11 11:36:21

The best policies in Cameron's speech were those of Labour Big Government

Publish date: 2009-10-08 17:07:40

Tongues slipping all over the place

Publish date: 2009-10-08 09:00:07

Cameron confuses strategy and tactics and puts Union at risk

Publish date: 2009-10-07 10:29:26

Osborne inspires apathy at BBC Leeds

Publish date: 2009-10-06 16:01:59

Let's see more of the Tory candidates please

Publish date: 2009-10-06 09:23:11

Labour needs to fight on record to stop Tory vandalism

Publish date: 2009-10-05 14:28:40

VacuDave goes all peevish at difficult questions. Bring on the debates

Publish date: 2009-10-04 23:33:52

Lots of joking around in Jersey, though nothing as hysterical as Dave's Europe position

Publish date: 2009-10-03 10:31:22

On The Sun, Obama in Copenhagen and Alistair McGowan on the loo

Publish date: 2009-10-01 10:59:49

Sun switches ain't wot they used to be

Publish date: 2009-09-30 10:17:14

Darling and Mandelson show what I mean by authenticity

Publish date: 2009-09-28 16:28:18

Serious Politics 1 Low Journalism 0

Publish date: 2009-09-27 11:55:54

Media's love for Cameron should be turned into a weakness

Publish date: 2009-09-26 10:30:03

Time for ministers to stand up and fight

Publish date: 2009-09-25 09:40:26

Today's media double standards watch

Publish date: 2009-09-24 09:29:45

Breaking News - GB wins award, Lib Dems face all ways

Publish date: 2009-09-23 09:43:49

Why authenticity is the key to comms, and why Merkel will win

Publish date: 2009-09-22 08:29:13

Why I love NHS walk-in centres

Publish date: 2009-09-21 12:13:03

Here goes with the smoked Salmond

Publish date: 2009-09-20 10:40:21

Breaking News - Cameron's vacuousness an impersonator's nightmare

Publish date: 2009-09-19 11:06:09

Cameron has an army of spin doctors - aka journalists

Publish date: 2009-09-18 10:07:06

On Scottish independence, Cameron's short-termism, and Jimmy Carter being right

Publish date: 2009-09-17 09:56:56

Is Cameron Alex Salmond's Trojan Horse?

Publish date: 2009-09-15 10:13:42

On the TUC, Roy of the Rovers and Anna Wintour

Publish date: 2009-09-14 11:04:46

Memo to Apple boss Steve Jobs

Publish date: 2009-09-13 17:36:31

A day in the life of a (crap) City trader

Publish date: 2009-09-11 17:52:25

Defend record with pride, attack Tories with gusto

Publish date: 2009-09-10 11:06:36

Cameron's Conservatism beyond parody

Publish date: 2009-09-09 10:38:00

On transforned cities, and tales of Princess Di and Laura Bush

Publish date: 2009-09-08 09:45:54

Labour should put minister up against Griffin on Question Time

Publish date: 2009-09-06 12:39:56

School speech the latest source of right-wing frothing at Obama

Publish date: 2009-09-05 08:23:02

More horse's mouth, less Beeb blah please

Publish date: 2009-09-04 22:49:20

Real respect for sport can be Olympic legacy

Publish date: 2009-09-04 09:27:34

First ladies watch out for Japanese bombshell

Publish date: 2009-09-03 10:47:19

TV debate - good idea in theory, but ...

Publish date: 2009-09-02 15:37:43

'No worries' - the new response to thanks

Publish date: 2009-09-01 12:25:19

Tremors of Japanese political earthquake will be felt far and wide

Publish date: 2009-08-30 15:50:54

Pressure on Ed Miliband can help get a climate change deal

Publish date: 2009-08-28 13:39:08

Why Tories and media cannot stomach GCSE success story

Publish date: 2009-08-27 16:03:34

Exposing the absurdity of Chris Grayling

Publish date: 2009-08-26 13:20:19

Joy and beauty and a night of magic

Publish date: 2009-08-20 10:55:11

Twitter NHS backlash good for Obama

Publish date: 2009-08-14 15:44:49

A lifetime's ambition fulfilled

Publish date: 2009-08-08 16:59:02

Breaking the blog-a-day spell as warm up to holiday

Publish date: 2009-07-20 17:44:49

No hiding place from Twitter, me on the bike, JP in DC

Publish date: 2009-07-17 18:17:09

At last - something Obama cannot do well

Publish date: 2009-07-16 10:05:47

Will MPs take the lead in the debate on euthanasia?

Publish date: 2009-07-15 12:30:01

Berlin brothel leads the way to a greener world

Publish date: 2009-07-14 10:57:25

A time for GB to explain the whole picture

Publish date: 2009-07-13 12:37:54

All hail Monty, Jimmy and Collie!

Publish date: 2009-07-12 20:06:36

First triathlon of the summer for me, education award for Fiona

Publish date: 2009-07-12 09:43:06

Of Burnley's friendly and Obama's wandering eye

Publish date: 2009-07-11 12:38:52

Two great early morning moments

Publish date: 2009-07-10 10:27:07

Cameron had better be sure he's right

Publish date: 2009-07-09 11:06:22

Guardian scoop has big questions for press, cops and Cameron

Publish date: 2009-07-08 20:40:54

Divisive legend: Lance Armstrong

Publish date: 2009-07-07 10:38:23

First hug a hoodie, now grab a gay

Publish date: 2009-07-06 12:57:09

Mail on Scumday's wonderful account of Lansley's kipperdom

Publish date: 2009-07-05 13:14:51

Ecclestone undermines his own success with alarming views on Hitler

Publish date: 2009-07-04 14:04:04

When the conmen move more quickly than the council

Publish date: 2009-07-03 10:19:52

Andrew Lansley done up like a kipper

Publish date: 2009-07-02 10:10:52

A day spent interviewing footballers, then being interviewed by a transvestite comedian

Publish date: 2009-07-01 14:47:40

When the power of black eyes fades

Publish date: 2009-06-30 09:24:59

Farewell to Henry Hodge

Publish date: 2009-06-29 20:41:12

Honouring the power of sport to do good

Publish date: 2009-06-29 14:49:42

Andy Murray is a winner. Is that why some Brits don't like him?

Publish date: 2009-06-28 09:19:20

New Parliament will look very different. The younger the better

Publish date: 2009-06-27 17:34:26

Two nice surprises, sad end to day

Publish date: 2009-06-26 09:16:33

Apology from the Spectator on Iraq boosts Henry Hodge fund

Publish date: 2009-06-25 19:57:26

Thanks to Mr Harper on mental health, rebuttal of Mr Hague on Iraq

Publish date: 2009-06-24 23:47:54

Glad to find Eric Cantona in a quiet cinema ...

Publish date: 2009-06-24 00:46:23

By Dave's friends shall we know him?

Publish date: 2009-06-23 11:30:20

The Speaker has to balance tradition and change - but defend Parliament

Publish date: 2009-06-22 11:58:44

Less a blog than an apology for not having done one

Publish date: 2009-06-21 20:07:43

The day Lions skipper Paul O'Connell took my trousers down

Publish date: 2009-06-20 11:48:28

On the Iraq inquiry, Independent article wrong

Publish date: 2009-06-19 20:28:24

Thank you to three readers, now please get involved

Publish date: 2009-06-19 09:13:35

A tribute to a lovely man

Publish date: 2009-06-18 17:19:40

Bad times in Belfast, great day for Burnley, odd statement from Ed Balls

Publish date: 2009-06-18 10:04:47

A plea for five-figure cyber-donations

Publish date: 2009-06-17 07:40:42

On two inquiries

Publish date: 2009-06-16 08:57:39

From India to Iran to Labour wit

Publish date: 2009-06-15 10:13:17

Memories of Princess Diana

Publish date: 2009-06-14 09:54:55

A House Divided?

Publish date: 2009-06-13 02:53:47

A humbling NHS experience, a media row and a good GB speech

Publish date: 2009-06-12 10:48:46

Psychiatrists heading for relegation in 'disease prestige' league table

Publish date: 2009-06-11 10:25:35

The shrinks await

Publish date: 2009-06-10 09:44:16

As Obama fights for healthcare, let's celebrate the record here

Publish date: 2009-06-09 12:52:55

Anger at BNP seats must be turned into activism

Publish date: 2009-06-08 14:11:10

Can today be as frenzied as Friday?

Publish date: 2009-06-07 10:31:04

Take heart from a win in Lambeth

Publish date: 2009-06-06 18:46:40

JP is right there was no proper campaign but Tories still weak

Publish date: 2009-06-05 13:47:20

Do we care more about the NHS or moats?

Publish date: 2009-06-04 00:21:23

Guardian of social justice or attention-seeker?

Publish date: 2009-06-03 10:19:33

Who says Britain can't deliver the best?

Publish date: 2009-06-02 08:08:38

Mainstream has a duty to vote against BNP

Publish date: 2009-06-01 11:03:29

Let Diversity inspire a vote against the hate-filled BNP

Publish date: 2009-05-31 12:24:20

White House whack at UK media well-timed but sure to be ignored

Publish date: 2009-05-30 13:41:00

Elvis has a plan to make MPs King again

Publish date: 2009-05-29 12:09:44

At least there's a campaign on in Italy

Publish date: 2009-05-28 09:04:32

A blow to gay rights and a boost for Cameron's short-termism

Publish date: 2009-05-27 11:27:41

It's my blog and I'll be a big kid if I want to

Publish date: 2009-05-26 23:25:58

Highs feel better after so many lows

Publish date: 2009-05-26 10:13:12

Only one present counts

Publish date: 2009-05-25 11:05:46

Contrast Cheney and Bush

Publish date: 2009-05-24 12:11:45

Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed Britain

Publish date: 2009-05-23 20:49:57

Sport at both ends of the financial spectrum

Publish date: 2009-05-23 09:57:23

Stronger together - whether Scotland or expenses

Publish date: 2009-05-22 10:22:36

Back to Number 10, familiar faces, familiar arguments

Publish date: 2009-05-21 10:14:34

Peace in the Middle East - yes he can

Publish date: 2009-05-19 09:37:35

Breaking news - one frenzy at a time

Publish date: 2009-05-18 10:34:30

Getting a good look at Vince Cable

Publish date: 2009-05-17 09:36:55

How do you solve a problem like Silvio?

Publish date: 2009-05-16 09:32:21

It was the internet wot won it

Publish date: 2009-05-15 10:04:57

There now follows ... a good whack at Cameron

Publish date: 2009-05-14 17:21:28

They got their kit off - so you get your cash out

Publish date: 2009-05-14 07:41:11

Expenses row must not obscure Tory intentions on minimum wage

Publish date: 2009-05-13 16:12:08

We love you Burnley, we do ... what a night

Publish date: 2009-05-13 02:37:17

A tweet cannot express the wonders of TGV

Publish date: 2009-05-12 08:48:31

It's Mind week - Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen Fry

Publish date: 2009-05-11 06:29:15

Hate the Mail, love Obama

Publish date: 2009-05-10 10:04:00

Burnley 1 Reading 0 - a biased report

Publish date: 2009-05-09 21:26:32

MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet again

Publish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19

Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?

Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23

Musings from a sleepless night

Publish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49

Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be righted

Publish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29

Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinks

Publish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02

Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for Cameron

Publish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30

More Mr Benn and Co please

Publish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00

Going Fourth with JP

Publish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41

Journalism - print first, think later

Publish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01

In praise of two poets

Publish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36

JP hits the road again

Publish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11

My night with Eddie Izzard

Publish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25

Explaining the 50p top tax rate

Publish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53

George Best and Martin McGuinness

Publish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35

Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartiality

Publish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56

Guide ro Marathon running part 2

Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34

Good signals on coal and the Olympics

Publish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28

Tips for the London Marathon

Publish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27

Missed the Budget, saw why it mattered

Publish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31

Football good, politics bad. Allegedly

Publish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24

The Great Wall gets greater

Publish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22

Two sides to police story

Publish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54

Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan Boyle

Publish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45

Do muscles have memories?

Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44

Bring back standing at football

Publish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22

When Facebook friends fall out

Publish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16

Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agenda

Publish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16

The spin is all in the prism

Publish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41

A setback, not a crisis

Publish date: 2009-04-13 12:55:19

The real lessons from Damian McBride

Publish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47

Will English always be the dominant language?

Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02

On the pipes and what makes a Scot

Publish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20

John Prescott lazy? NO WAY

Publish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31

David Frost is seventy

Publish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38

The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pm

Publish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31

Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missiles

Publish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24

When a call matters more than protocol

Publish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42

Green Cities Champions League

Publish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53

Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?

Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59

Of Benn and Bono

Publish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16

Memo to Sarko - allez vite a Londres

Publish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17

Happy April Fool's Day

Publish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05

Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpas

Publish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22

Why Kevin Rudd made an impact

Publish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41

Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 process

Publish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28

The Damned United

Publish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04

A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sport

Publish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23

Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed about

Publish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36

A sad sight of the old fearing the young

Publish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07

Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?

Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02

Learning the right lessons from Obama

Publish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15

Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy Ken

Publish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14

Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometown

Publish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09

Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?

Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13

Life beyond Dover ...

Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21

My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20

Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22

Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chess

Publish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13

The Age of Stupid

Publish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13

Is all change good?

Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06

The pressure of being a post-modern sex god

Publish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55

Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with business

Publish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49

Stand up for social workers

Publish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17

Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinner

Publish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25

Start of a new approach from Labour?

Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12

A peace process still strong

Publish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05

Day of destiny for the real footballer of the year

Publish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06

Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in full

Publish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21

Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle press

Publish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37

A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporter

Publish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47

GB - good speech, well delivered

Publish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05

Notes on the environment, a role in EastEnders

Publish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56

She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!

Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59

Some speeches matter more than others

Publish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45

Mental health and the Carling Cup Final

Publish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17

Inside the chocolate factory

Publish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59

GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy Kyle

Publish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36

Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!

Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12

Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?

Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59

Me, Dermot and ten top songs

Publish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19

Names round-up

Publish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39

What's in a name?

Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14

Editing the New Statesman

Publish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36

Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F word

Publish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58

Labour's communications challenge for the NHS

Publish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39

In praise of Keighley

Publish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57

A night at the Emirates

Publish date: 2009-02-17 00:06:51

When marriage is tested

Publish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35

Spare me the myths and the whining

Publish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50

Dave Cameron - is that all there is?

Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55

Boris Johnson: F is for ...

Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10

The Cameron vacuum

Publish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33

Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culture

Publish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47

Eighteen interviews later ...

Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45

Time to talk about Time to Change on Newsnight

Publish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49

So that’s what they mean by online community?

Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51

First blog

Publish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57

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