Comments

David Kingston

2009-11-06 00:25:11

Referenda always seem to me to be excuses for politicians lacking the bottle to take unpopular decisions and not willing to defend their views. I expect the people I elect to do what they think is right and allow themselves to stand up to public scrutiny. Why should we elect MPs and then expect to vote on the issues that they want to duck?

@jlocke13

2009-11-05 19:22:05

Alastair, I thought your french was better than that... what he said was pathétique ..which means sad not pathetic.!

Boudicca

2009-11-05 18:57:49

No. He's wrong, period. Being French has got nothing to do with it.

Labour promised a Referendum in it's last Manifesto and blatently broke that commitment. It is Labour's fault that Cameron has had to adjust Tory policy and it is Labour's fault that Euroscepticsm has and will increase in the UK as a result.

The EU (and Labour and the LibDems) should realise that conniving to deny the British people their Democratic right to decide on the future of their country will not improve people's attitude to the EU. The anger at Labour's betrayal is widespread and won't go away.

Carl Gardner

2009-11-05 17:57:58

I think the opportunity for Labour here is to show the Tories as just the same as they were in the nineties. Bill Cash is still there, Teresa Gorman and the others are now being played by Dan Hannan and Douglas Carswell, and the Referendum Party has been replaced by UKIP. Cameron is in the John Major position. I think if the parallel between then and now can be established in the public mind it could have a political effect much broader than on the issue of Europe alone.

Em

2009-11-05 16:08:48

With Europe, the Tories remind me of those republicans who believe creationism should be taught in science class, that Obama was born in Kenya and/or his healthcare scheme is a plot to kill old people. Mention Europe and the Tories take complete leave of their senses, forget all common sense and pragmatism. Complete toddlers.

I know the Europhobic part of the electorate is counting on the Tories but the Tories are morally wrong to cater to them. This is bad for Britain in so many ways and Europe leaders are smart to make their impressions known before the next UK election.

Stephen

2009-11-05 15:43:33

This was "Call me Dave's" Clause 4 moment and he bottled it.
It's as simple as that.

botogol

2009-11-05 14:47:02

Alastair, this sort of stuff frogs... nazis.. it's really beneath you. Cameron actually made quite an important speech yesterday with some quite big policy statements that you could have written about. Instead you sling some mud and innuendo.

many of your posts regret the lack of respect that people have for politicians and political discourse - but sometimes, you know, you contribute to that. Which is a shame. You should grow up.

(BTW - I actually like you!... keep up the blog, but you can do better than today's post)

Charlie Reynolds

2009-11-05 14:38:33

Compare and contrast:

"It is a good treaty for Britain
and for the new Europe.We will put it to the British people in a referendum
and campaign whole-heartedly for a ‘Yes’ vote"
Labour Manifesto 2005

"If the Lisbon Treaty is not yet in force at the time of the next general election, and a Conservative Government is elected, we would put the Treaty to a referendum of the British people, recommending a 'no' vote. If the British people rejected the Treaty, we would withdraw Britain's ratification of it.

But if the Treaty is in force we will be in a different situation. In our view, then, political integration would have gone too far, the Treaty would lack democratic legitimacy in this country and we would not let matters rest there."
(Conservative Party Policy pre-Euro elections)

Alistair - the more you attempt to point out Cameron's failings the more you make me feel like supporting a political party for the first time in my life. Cameron appears to be doing exactly what he promised. Labour point to the change of the Treaty name from a constitutional one to another name as evidence that the promise does not apply. However the substance of the treaty is exactly the same and the effects as great. Why no referendum for us?

Far from being a problem for Cameron - this is starting to look like a vote winner to me.

As for the old barmy army of 'pull us out' - they have gone over to the bonkers UKIP. In the end UKIP look like they have done the Tories a favour.....

Charlie Reynolds

2009-11-05 14:17:47

I don't think Lellouche could have done any better for the Tories. He seems to sum up all the British hate about Europe. He thinks there is only one way forward on Europe and that it is his (the political elite). He thinks that a constitution (because that is exactly what it is) can never be changed even if the people think it should be.

There is a very important place for the European Union but it has now become so distant to the views of the people of Europe that it has ceased to be democratically accountable. If the people get the decision wrong then they must vote again until they get it right.

The gravy train at Westminster is nothing compared to that of Brussels and Strasbourg. This needs to be stopped but I feel completely powerless to do anything about it. At least at Westminster the politicians have had to face up to their own troughing.

The European Union brings many advantages to all member states but it has many failings. It needs fundamental reform.

Gordon Brown signed the Lisbon Treaty in a quiet corner trying to hide the fact after failing to give the British people the only opportunity we could realistically have had to vote on it. He and Labour knew the vote would be a NO. They decided against a referendum on this basis alone. Shame on Blair, Brown you and the whole of Labour.

Simon Gittins

2009-11-05 12:01:40

Lellouche's ramblings emphasise exactly why we should be allowed a referendum on Europe. Do we really want to hand over more control and be dictated to by people like Lellouche ?

Katie

2009-11-05 11:46:53

A teensy little thing like democracy never got it the way of a Labour career, did it?
Not just the way you shit on us over the Lisbon referendum [I would have voted yes, but you lot decided for me and I object to that], but the way you shits drove a scottish tank over our democratic rights and now we have Scottish, Welsh and NI MPs imposing Auld Enemy policies and Tartan Taxes onto only the English citizens in the UK.
McLabour are finished. You're all arseholes.

Craig, Oxfordshire

2009-11-05 11:46:00

I'm sorry everyone. I can't help but laugh. This whole sorry charade tells you everything you need to know about our next government.

1 Their leader, the Right Honourable Member for Witney, Oxon, does not control his party.
2 Wee Willy Hague is a juvenile, odious little twerp still trying to resurrect the only thing he understands - his ill-fated "Keep the Pound" election campaign in any way possible
3 The Tories are still largely frothing-mouthed Euro-sceptics with little else that interests them. Ref Daniel Hannan
4 The Right Honourable member for Witney, Oxon, has already shown the most heinous trait of all PM's. Blaming the previous lot rather than accept his own stupidity.
5 To turn this into a "it's all Labour's fault" story, as Mr Coulson has done, much to the delight of the Right wing press, shows that his alleged super-human media control skills amount to nought more than doing deals with future proposed legislation. Hence Mr Murdoch Junior's plans to destroy the BBC will be fully carried out by the Right Honourable member for Witney, Oxon in return for his media company's support. Hence we will effectively be governed between 2010 and 2015 directly by Mr Murdoch Senior + Lord Ashcroft.
6 The Right-wing press - Mail, Graph + Murdoch group especially - must have some rather good deals in the bag with the Right Honourable member for Witney, Oxon based on their ignorance of just how weak the Right Honourable member for Witney, Oxon now looks.
7 The electorate (including the Right-wing blogosphere - although even Paul Staines has published condemning posts of the Tories today) are spectacularly naive to even countenance that the Right Honourable member for Witney, Oxon will do anything other than push an outdated, Thatcherite ideology propped up by the demands of Mr Murdoch, Mr Dacre and Mr Ashcroft that will take this country back 30 years and isolate us from the upper echelons of international decision making for ever at the same time as deepening an already cruel recession.

Graham Parker

2009-11-05 11:44:19

Is it not more a case that Cameron is taking the myopic view because he wants to appeal to an increasingly more euro-sceptic British voting public and to hell with what France and Germany think?

To my mind he seems to be taking a leaf out of Henry VIII's book in sticking his fingers up to European dominance in the hope of appealing to the great English sense of isolationist pride.

Unfortunately I'm not sure the voting public will see beyond the next election and to the consequences of Cameron's EU policies. They, like he, will simply deal with that when it comes; first thing first, grab power and then deal with the fall out.

Kat Waters

2009-11-05 11:42:49

After watching Cameron's press conference yesterday I did wonder whether he is a)incredibly stupid b) incredibly naive or c)incredibly sly. Nothing he said he would do in the next parliament or the one after that he would actually be able to do. I'm not sure that any member of the EU wants a 'federal' Europe - all will put national interests over and above other those of other members. But we live in a globalised world so it makes sense to try to work together on those issues, surely? Know I'm preaching to the converted, but I worry soundbites go further than critical thinking...

Charlie

2009-11-05 11:33:15

@AC "...After all, the Tories will say over their steaks in their clubs....."

Where are the stereotypical Labourites meanwhile? 'living in t'paper bag at bottom of septic tank'?

You can take the man out of the Daily Mirror, but you can never...... Even the ghastly Maguire could do better than that!

Trickie Dickie

2009-11-05 11:27:32

Has anyone ever really expalined just why the Tories are so strung up on Europe? Yes all other parties have their concerns and members who hold strong views. However why is it such a Tory skeleton?
It cant be just the "little Englander" mentality.
If we were to withdraw completely, our only world leading industry is banking which in the state it is in now would soon be swallowed up by the French, Spanish, German or even Dubai. Isolation and sitting on the margins of Europe would see this country rapidly punching its own weight.....at feather weight.
The US would reveal its relationship is really only sentimental as we would have no influence and no levers to pull for them with the mainland.
Why dont they just decide to hold an internal referendum on Europe and the majority view wins the losers leave the party and fight on their own ticket?

@jlocke13

2009-11-05 11:24:36

What DC appears to have forgotten is that since 1964 European law has primacy...so he can pass as many sovereignty bills as he likes but in the end the will of Europe will prevail....However the main thing to remember is, if GB had held the referendum as promised we would not be in this mess as the great UK public would have voted no.....So Alastair..let the people speak!

Charlie

2009-11-05 11:24:25

@AC "..... the British public should continue to reflect on whether a weakened, marginalised, loathed Britain is what they really want to vote for."

Labour have managed to achieve this already. Blair and Brown have ceded huge amounts of British Money and Power to Brussels, conveniently side stepping their own Manifesto pledge in the process.

We dont need an "Iron-Cast" Guarantee to know where the true blame for this fiasco lies.

Jack Frewer

2009-11-05 11:10:07

Spot on that this goes back to Thatcher. Heath took us in and some have never forgiven him. But none have had the balls to stand up and say we should get out. So they pose and they pander and all the time they limit our ability to tailor change to suit our own interests. He is not a leader. He is someone who muddles through day to day, but sounds good doing it

Charlie Provan

2009-11-05 11:08:02

It might help Cameron to have Hannan outside the tent. He is one of the few Tories outside the top team of three or four who seems able to generate publicity, but could become very irritating, and it maybe is better to have him outside, I don't know. Reading your diaries I always felt eg Clare Short would have done you less damage as a carping critic on the outside - join the club - than a voice with seeming authority because Blair wanted to keep her in

Harriet Johns

2009-11-05 11:05:43

Pierre Lellouche ... why can't our ministers have names like that? Le Louche - would be great for sleaze headlines

Dick the Prick

2009-11-05 11:03:43

If Europe is sooo democratic and such a lerverly institution - then how can it be advantageous to have a British President? What difference does it make? Are you saying there is undue influence, that decisions are made by cabal, by hat tips and nudges, by friendship rather than reason. Pray, oh sage of our time, how does one square that patent disregard for anything approaching good governance?

Move along, nothing to see...blah blah blah.

Just because he is French doesn't mean he's wrong

2009-11-05 10:58:46

David Cameron will be thinking he has just about got away with his Europe fandango. MEP Daniel Hannan resigns from a job few knew he had ... this is a low damage count.

Cameron may even be taking some comfort from the fact that the noisiest criticism of him appears to come from a Frenchman. Nothing like the Frogs to get the blue blood boiling.

But it would be a mistake. Because the comments of Pierre Lellouche, France's Europe minister, will represent the view, more or less colourfully, of President Sarkozy. They represent also, at least in part, the views of other European leaders who have frankly been bemused by Cameron's stance on Europe, most recently his outspoken efforts to undermine Tony Blair's chances of becoming the first President of the European Council.

The charge Labour must make stick against successive Tory leaders is that in failing to settle the Europe issue within their ranks once and for all, and in forever being in thrall to Thatcherite Euroscepticism at its most extreme form, they have allowed division to create weakness which in turn has harmed their influence.

Cameron parades as an agent of change yet on this issue, the change has not even reached the cosmetic levels of his other changes.

This is less important in Opposition than in government, but if Cameron becomes PM, then the influence diminution becomes a real problem.

So, given how much of a Prime Minister's work is tied up with Europe, it is worth taking a proper look at what Lellouche, like Cameron a conservative, has to say.

Cameron's plans, outlined yesterday, are 'pathetic.' They will not succeed 'for one minute.'

Easy to dismiss as the ramblings of a Frenchman. After all, the Tories will say over their steaks in their clubs, the Frogs have always been jealous of us ever since we saved them from the Nazis.

But Lellouche is a confirmed and committed Anglophile, one who goes on: 'It's just very sad to see Britain, so important in Europe, just cutting itself out from the rest and disappearing from the radar map ... This is a culture of opposition ... It is the result of a long period of opposition. I know they will come back but I hope the trip will be short. They are doing what they have done in the European Parliament. They have effectively castrated UK influence in the European Parliament.' (This is a man charged with the art of diplomacy speaking here, not me).

He said he had told William Hague directly that their policy was one of marginalisation. Heavy stuff, and however much Hague says, as he did last night, that Lellouche does not speak for majority political opinion in Europe, I think he will find he does.

It is one more reason why, when Lellouche appears to be taking for granted the advent of a Tory government, the British public should continue to reflect on whether a weakened, marginalised, loathed Britain is what they really want to vote for.

It sounds ok after a few drinks, with a bit of xenophobia flowing. But in an ever more interdependent world, where the benefits of being in Europe far outweigh the disadvantages, it won't be very funny if it happens.

Deep down, I think Cameron knows that. But with the still mad party he leads, he cannot work out how to make it any different.

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Biscuitgate and Susan Boyle, no win territory for GB

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

Speaking up for Parliament

Publish date: 2009-05-20 11:44:17

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

Blog

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