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ollie

2010-05-06 14:42:36

I don't admire anything whatsoever about Brown.

for resilience, read self denial. for depth, read bloody minded stubborness.
Those are NOT the traits of leaders.

s chapman

2010-05-06 12:34:42

Re Pat James - I did not criticize you for being gay - It just got very boring that you kept telling everyone you are..

Stevo

2010-05-06 12:19:48

At this time of the worse bias I have ever witnessed in the media (How ironic that if they win the Tories will decimate the BBC) this site remains the place for truth.Thank you Alastair-keep the faith!

s chapman

2010-05-06 12:17:35

Reason I visit the site is purely for humour...I mean some of the regular bloogers on here really should be on stage and I seriously would pay cash to see them.
AC your hissy fits on here are just lege...cheers mate you are hilarious...in a black comedical way.
Bye bye Labour

Sally

2010-05-06 10:30:41

Thank you for yesterday’s excellent blog which said it all and was also most revealing of your involvement during the last weeks. Thank you for all your efforts.
Gordon just got better and better throughout the campaign and stronger and stronger. We live in exciting times. I was going to say, just think how good it would be if he had had, on top of all that, the media backing that the Tories have had, (but with the media that we‘ve got, maybe not.)
I don’t know how you two and your families survive, and have survived, the constant unmitigating pressure from the media. The BBC in particular is now so powerful and unchecked that they have got to the stage of telling out and out lies, or perhaps they always did, but their fate one day surely awaits them. I don’t understand how anybody in cabinet since 1997 has withstood the daily media onslaught. I don’t think they can have survived it entirely. Every tiny mistake swooped on and magnified, every tiny criticism picked on, you know the rest. People have been pilloried over nothing. But I digress, except to say; I think Tony has not quite survived. Whenever I see him on the box these days, I think his face looks angry and, frankly, anybody’s would, given what he has had to put up with and after all the good things that he did for us, the people. I feel sorry when I see him like that and I think it is about time the media said sorry, too.

When I put the TV on the other night, I was livid to see that I had missed most of the ‘Newsnight’ where Jeremy interviewed Gordon Brown. I watched the last few minutes, at once struck by Jeremy’s untypical body language which was slightly turned in towards Gordon, listening for once without heckling, interested, almost deferential. Blimey. I was in time for Jeremy’s last question, which asked Gordon about the public not liking him. Gordon looked unfazed and his response was perfect. Great stuff!

Just for the record, I was thinking of voting tactically (for the Lib Dems), because in Uxbridge, where I live, the Tories have always got in at every general election since 1921, apparently, except in 1945 and 1966. Even in 1997, they still got in by a narrow margin of 724 votes, which I remember. I reckoned the Lib Dem vote might be a lot bigger this year, given the undeniable charms of Nick Clegg, (and Vince Cable and Shirley Williams) and they might keep the Tories out. But when looking up these figures yesterday on the internet, I was struck by how big the Labour vote has always been, notwithstanding. I will, of course, vote Labour.

Brian Hughes

2010-05-06 09:21:20

Vote Labour

Kayode Olatuyi

2010-05-06 02:26:41

Did you hear that?
A BBC political editor said in his report tonight - "...if the polls were to be believed...blah blah blah".
Really??? Were these no the same people who took the polls as gospel truth a few week ago? Now that it seems that people are sticking by policy instead of fluff.

Now it's D-day!
Call me unrealistic, but somehow, I feel we'll wake up to some Friday morning surprises.

Jock Menzies

2010-05-06 02:20:43

Anyone writing a history of Britain’s 2010 election campaign would conclude that it was not won by a public mood in favour of electing a Conservative government. There has been no significant switch in public attitudes and ideological orientations. Rather the election had been won as a result of one of the most vicious and sustained media campaigns against a sitting government and its leader seen in any Western democracy. If anyone doubts this view then I suggest a simple exercise. Go online and examine the political coverage editorials, op-ed pieces, stories and images in any of the leading British newspapers during any week in the past twelve months.

This overwhelming level of bias has been present at a time when Gordon Brown has had not only a national but a major international role in steering the world through the worst financial crisis since the 1930’s and has been at the forefront of international humanitarian initiatives. These efforts led to him being named World Statesman of the Year in 2009 (a fact generally met with derision in the British press). Nationally, he has presided over unprecedented drops in the UK’s crime rates- down even in the midst of a recession by a further 7% this year. He has ensured record levels of investment in the UK’s health services, education and policing. These are verifiable and, one would expect, newsworthy facts, but Britain’s newspaper editors are remarkably reluctant to reveal them to their readers.

Instead, a few months after Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as PM, the major British newspapers have been intent on destroying him, with stories and images carefully selected to characterise the PM as `useless’ and `failing’. This tendency has not been confined to the leading right wing newspapers such as the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and the Conservative supporting Sun, Times and Sunday Times. An examination of the content of the ostensibly left-of-centre Guardian suggests that in 2009 only two out of hundreds of op-ed pieces (besides occasional contributions by government ministers) were favourable to the PM- one by the Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman and one by the Spanish PM Zapatero. Meanwhile the newspaper's editors ran an overt and sustained campaign to remove Mr Brown from office.

It is an understatement to characterise the coverage of Mr Brown as disrespectful. There are innumerable examples including stories that Mr Brown had been `snubbed’ or otherwise undermined by the US President trailed by the British press prior to meetings with Mr Obama. In responding to an alleged snub on 28th April last year White House spokesman Robert Gibbs dismissed it as completely untrue and added, `stop reading those London tabloids’. What he had not noticed was that the story had been generated and run by journalists from the broadsheet Guardian newspaper. In the US comparable treatment of a major political figure would be met with a furious response and major national debate. There are bodies such as the Project for Excellence in Journalism that systematically monitors press bias. The motivations and interests of those engaging in it would be the subject of scrutiny and controversy.

The 2010 election has recently seen the emergence of some discussion on the political role of Britain’s press, unsurprisingly largely confined to the internet. A serious national debate on the press’ motivations and influence is both necessary and long overdue.

Britain’s democracy depends on it.

Bar Bar of Oz

2010-05-05 23:35:01

No-one ever doubted GB's resilience. The relentless 10 year campaign he ran from the Treasury redoubt to undermine and destroy first PM and then TB was more than evidence of that. So were the thugs around him. The UK Citizens speech was the speech he could have made to launch his election campaign in 2007 - the one in which he went to the people for a mandate. Instead he and the thugs turned David Cameron overnight into a credible alternative prime minister.

So true about the progressive left majority. But Nick Clegg is the natural leader of that now. Miliband and co forfeited when they were too cowed to challenge the Brownites back in 2007.

Clegg has been the saving grace for the centre left in this campaign.

David Kingston

2010-05-05 23:32:39

With record numbers of voters saying that they are undecided, tomorrow will be a very uncertain day. In 1992, the undecideds wavered and stayed with the party they were used to in government. As a result a close election turned into a relatively comfortable Tory victory. The same could happen again tomorrow with a significant Labour comeback leaving GB the leader of the largest party and staying in No 10.

George Woodhouse

2010-05-05 23:26:50

Getting rid of Brown would probably have won it for Labour. But maybe thats the point - no one wanted to deal with the Brown created chaos so they have left it to the Tories. Such cynicism can only have been caused by the actions of our political masters.

Phil Watson

2010-05-05 23:26:00

Alastair,

Bless you and thank you for all of the work you have done to try to stop the Tories regaining power. I can well remember the eighties-the huge social divisions, widespread youth homelessness, the poll tax, inner city riots, the destruction of the mining communities and the exacerbation of the problems in Northern Ireland. I often contrast this with the minimum wage, tax credits, the creation of childrens centres, a better nhs, investment in schools,the greater acceptance of gay people, peace in Northern Ireland and the regeneration of the former mining communities and so much more. Labour has achieved so much - we should feel proud and have hope and confidence that the British people will not want to go back to those dark days.

pat rogers

2010-05-05 22:34:06

I heard Micheal Gove on the Today programme. If I had been a die hard Tory it would have been enough to make me change my mind. Thoroughly unpleasant.I was shocked.

Jonny Hobman

2010-05-05 21:34:25

Hello Labourites. On your watch various catastrophes have befallen the electorate. We've had uncontrolled immigration.

The expenses scandal demonstrated that most MPs are in politics to make money and not for the betterment of our country. GCSE/A-level exams are not helpful discriminators of the intelligence of our children (how long before the A** grade?). Admittedly NHS waiting lists have improved. This has been at the expense of an incredible expansion in the number of managers in employment to ensure that all the targets are met.

Mr Campbell and all others in Labour constantly harp on about Lord Ashcroft. What about Labour being beholden to the trade unions? And also Labour's little probity breach in 2006 with cash for honours.

I admire Gordon Brown as a decent and principled man. In fact I feel sorry for him with respect to Mrs Duffy. I'm sure the other leaders have made similar remarks off the record.
Labour should have given the leadership to the engaging and intelligent David Milliband a long time ago.

The attack on a biased media cheapens you. For years you have used the media as an outlet to spin your message. For the Guardian to turn away from Labour surely illustrates the profound failings of your party better than the positive outpourings from News International.

We are the end of a political cycle.
Vote Tory!

Trevor Taylor

2010-05-05 20:22:57

It amuses me to read the Tory bloggers on this site, like their party they are good on rhetoric but hopeless on detail and policy. On top of which their vindictiveness knows no bounds. Keep going guys!

Neil_

2010-05-05 18:24:24

The last debate followed by the sppech to Citizens UK seems to have turned the tide in Labour's favour. Gordon Brown seems really fired up and the clips of his speeches the news are showing are coming across really well. All these undecideds are holding out against Cameron -why? He has not conviced them yet and he will not do so today. These are Labour voters waiting to come back. People admire the way Brown just keeps on going despite all the unfairness

Dave C

2010-05-05 18:19:22

Final comments while we wait for Decision Day. The Tories have been rattling on about "Broken Britain".
If you re run Gordon Browns Manchester speech then you can clealry deduce that it was Thatchers babes wot broke it and this Labour Party which has worked tirelessly to fix it. The Tories have always blamed those least able to defend themselves and resented every effort to improve standards for those not of their persuasion. When looking at Clegg and Cameron visiting modern schools and hospitals
it struck me that there should have been a backdrop of "sponsored and built by the Labour Government.As for Cleggs 13 wasted years he would give his right arm to claim half of the Liberal and socially just measures of the last ten years or so.

Dave

Jake Regan

2010-05-05 18:10:28

I think the reason you are starting to get more Tory supporting visitors is for the pleasure that can be derived from reading your desperate attempts to put a gloss on Labour's appallingly bad campaign.
There are 2 or 3 likely outcomes to the election and you know that you will be screwed in all of them.
Nobody falls for your bullshit anymore so sell as many of your old books whilst you can as you may have to start doing some real work soon.

Bernie

2010-05-05 17:03:23

AC -- would love your reaction to this which I've just seen on the BBC live Election page: '1554 Tom Whipple at The Times has an unusual take on the Conservatives' plans for a national voluntary youth service. He writes: "For Mr Cameron's plans to work - for teenagers really to learn leadership and responsibility - they must be allowed to make mistakes. As a corollary our society must accept an absolute certainty: children will die. And that is a good thing. Young people must confront danger."' Evidently it's on Mr Whipple's blog.

Nick

2010-05-05 16:43:09

@ Nicki

With respect, one of the faults of the Left over the years has been the impression given off that they are somehow morally superior. In truth, all politics and all parties are a mixture of good and bad ideas, and good and flawed people.

It really grates to hear the soon-to-be-defeated likes of Campbell and Polly Toynbee trumpeting this week that 'of course' their beliefs and values are superior. To who's ? The electorates ?

Chris lancashire

2010-05-05 16:29:01

@Simon: You obviously didn't read the whole of the FT's endorsement. The FT doesn't do endorsements on the basis of buggins turn. The endorsement came because they judge that the Conservatives have the best policies to deal with a massive debt and a record defecit - a defecit which is structural and running at £40bn p.a. even when we weren't in recession.
And frankly, Brown has no plan, no policy no vision of how to deal with this - other than keep on spending - ye gods!

Graham Jones

2010-05-05 16:27:38

It's been quite a journey this election. We have seen what is on offer from the parties, and the policies reflect the values of the parties, but in particular the leaders.
We see a fair deal for everyone from Labour, while ensuring the recovery is secured by continued support and steady stewardship. In Gordon Brown we see a leader with principles and values, which are ingrained with fairness, human compassion and a drive to fight for the all the British people.
From the tories we see, a programme to slash and burn; cutting the support for growth in the eceonomy and decimating public services. They will introduce a tax doctrine, that will devastate families up and down the country. These families work tirelessly, to give their children the chances they never got under Thatcher and Major. Part of the tory tax doctrine, is to reward the filthy-rich donors who funded their campaign with huge tax breaks, under the silent understanding of you-scratch-my-back-and-i'll-scratch-yours. These are the values of David Cameron.
Like Ross Kemp, I have nothing against Nick Clegg. He seems a decent guy. But I have a big problem with his policies. How can he claim to lead a progressive party, when the will cut lifelines to families fighting to provide their kids with more choices for the future. By withdrawing child tax credits, they would send the standard of living plummeting. This would lead to a decline in not just child education, but child health. It would leave a legacy of poverty, in every corner of the country. While I wish for an end to nuclear weapons, it can only happen with international agreement. That means standing strong against Iran and North Korea, while still offering them the hand of friendship, in a nuclear free future. Mr Clegg is again mislead on immigration policy. It is an open invitation for other countries to swamp Britain with their burden. Immigration is a necessity of life, and Britain prospers under a manageable system. The Labour proposal is not only fair, but will probably become a future model for the rest of Europe. It has a proven record in Australia. Mr Cameron can't give answers on his proposals, because they don't have a properly thought out policy. They only have rhetoric, to play on peoples fears.
Cameron has other sinister designs on British society. It is no coincidence that Sky news, have shape-shifted into a mirror image of the Fox news channel, who shoe-horned the Noe-cons into power at the hanging chad election of 2000. They now have their sights on No 10.
Do we really want 'the crazies' of the right running Britain? Of course not. But that is precisely what will happen if Cameron gets in. We will no longer have a free press. The BBC will disappear under a Murdoch cloud, and democracy will be the loser. It will be a tyranny for free thinkers. The fundamentalist christian right will move in, and take over our schools. These are not threats, they are facts. Google Philippa Stroud, and you will get a flavour.
Britain is a tolerant country, with values that are shared by the moderate religious and the non-believers. There is no room for ideologies that we ditched in the dark ages. We have built a free, progressive and altruistic society to be proud of, and we have to defend those values at the ballot box. I will be voting Labour.

Dave C

2010-05-05 16:21:38

Great to see our Gordon in full flow.Hope that as he finishes he ridicules Camerons use of Change (He is no Obama!!!!!!)

The change he wants is just enough to keep the Lords and its Hereditary Peers.What role they have in the 21st Century is beyond me.And of course to ensure that Tory Party backers are fully repaid and more for their "selfless" dontation to our democracy.

Also eto expose the "we are all in this together" as ususal with the Tories some are going to be in more than others.

Nicky

2010-05-05 15:59:26

@ Patrick: I agree with what you say about how Tory commenters do their side no favours. It's the sneering tone and sheer tabloid-fed nastiness that's so off-putting - anybody wavering about whether the Tories maybe aren't so bad very quickly get a reality check by reading the pro-Tory comments here and elsewhere. Glad to hear you sorted out the problem with getting harrassed via email. Just shows exactly what sort of person you're dealing with here.

Can I also say thanks to Olli for his always interesting comments - it's great that someone in Finland is so well-informed about UK politics! It often takes somebody from outside to see things really clearly.

James Davis

2010-05-05 15:48:59

Have had Elbow's 'One day like this' going through my head all day thinking about tomorrow, it would make a great campaign anthem - any plans to use?

Simon

2010-05-05 15:39:33

@chris Lancashire. I heard the FT explain their tepid endorsement to Cameron as "we often switch our allegiance - now it is the Tories' turn.". I am afraid this comment is a bit rushed 'cos I am about to go out and deliver a leaflet in Sheffield. Here the Cameron campaign is non-existent (he forgot there was a railway between Leeds and Birmingham) and Clegg has stalled ('aim high' is his mantra ... and miss). The Labour Campaign has found a voice through Gordon Brown's passion now the job is to amplify and explain - today, tomorrow AND the days after. Make sure the social media momentum of the last week is maintained through sites like this.

joannie

2010-05-05 15:24:38

I had recorded This Week with Andrew Neil & co to watch. I started wathcing it and have just switched it off. Did anyone else watch this? I know, AN is usually full of himself,interrupting here there and everywhere with his pet, Portilla, but OMG this week it was absolutely AWFUL. Please tell me others noticed. Caroline Flint was on instaed of Diane and AN hardly gave any space at all to Caroline to talk (the only woman ofcourse)and when she did, he just raised his voice and either talked right over her or interrupted her to diasgree BEFORE she had even made her point. It was absolutely obnoxious, SO partisan and just downright rude; I couldnt believe my ears. Did anyone else notice? To her immense credit, she remained polite, did not raise her voice or retaliate. She was obviously just there as a foil for AN to mock or interrupt and put down. I mean, who would be a politician and suffer treatment like this? AN showed he thought nothing, absolutely nothing, of her. He gave her no more than 60 seconds on any point before he jumped in to squash her. I know what AN is like but this was the worst I have ever seen him. Absolutely terrible. I have a law exam coming up and can hardly concentrate now I am steaming ... Going off to simmer down now.

Andrew Williams

2010-05-05 15:10:55

Leading economist Paul Krugman on The Economist and the FT's endorsement of Cameron:
"Why Endorse The Tories?

Yglesias is right. For sure, Gordon Brown — like the Rubinites here in America — made the great mistake of buying into the promises of high finance. But is there any doubt that a Tory government would have done the same?

And I understand the sense that Labour has been in office too long. If I were British, I might well consider voting Lib Dem.

But in the current crisis, Brown’s policies have been sensible, whereas the Tories wanted to slash spending in the face of recession, which would have been disastrous. And The Economist agrees — then endorses the Tories.

Is The Economist of the belief that there will be no future crises? That this gigantic failure of judgment in the face of a defining moment for economic policy offers no hint about how well the Tories will perform in dealing with other issues?

It’s utterly bizarre."

Nick

2010-05-05 15:00:58

As the BBC political correspondent has just stated on The World At One, Labour has only one club left in its bag. And that is to scare people.

Judith Haire

2010-05-05 14:54:47

There's too much anmnesia about and people need to be reminded that a Tory government is synonymous with disaster. In recent weeks GB has shown even more what a fighter he is and has been the most fluent and the most genuine There's only one way to vote tomorrow. Please.

Chris lancashire

2010-05-05 14:22:20

He certainly does have his faults - record defecit, deepest recession (NOT global) since 1930s, gold sold for a £7bn loss, the list is endless. And no, it's not a biased media. Ask yourself why the former Labour supporting Times and FT (Not a Murdoch rag) have switched to Cameron - it's because Brown has no vision, no policies and no idea how to get out of the economic hole he's dug.
And since you raised Iraq - I, like the Conservative opposition, supported the Iraq invasion because we believed a Government that told us a Middle East madman had nuclear weapons that could be deployed in 45 minutes.

Kathy

2010-05-05 13:58:45

I don't agree with you Alistair. The Tories have been slowed down by the Clegg bounce. If Nick Clegg hadn't been in the debates, the Tories would be walking it now. I think it is a good thing that people are offered alternatives to look at and after 13 years of New Labout people have definitely had enough.On these Labour blogs all you hear is bias by the media cries but I watch BBC and Sky News and read various Newspapers and the most biased of them all is The Mirror and particularly Kevin Maguire. In reply to Patrick James, I too came from Northern Ireland and I would challenge him that all Northern Irish people are homophobic. I personally, do not care whether you are gay or not, I believe you should be treated equally as we all should. However, every time someone makes a remark or something is discovered in their past a huge outcry erupts from the gay community. They then proceed to tar everyone connected with that person with them same brush. Are you really naive enough to believe in Labour Supporters there are no homophobes.Live and let live is my motto and treat people as you find them.At the end of the day we will all vote as we want and that is how it should be. We must agree to disagree and respect other people's opinion not abuse them for them. Good Luck to you Patrick I wish you well in the future and to all the people on this Blog, whatever the outcome we must accept and live it.

Mark Wright

2010-05-05 13:48:31

For all GB's faults the one thing I have learnt during this campaign more than anything...is that he really means it.

I believe him when he says he's not interested in making money at such time as he steps down. I believe him when he says he's driven by his passion for social justice. I believe him because when he stumbles he just gets up and carries on fighting. We need someone like that right now running our country.

And if he is no longer Prime Minister after this election it may only be in the fullness of time that we as a nation realise what we had. We'll look back not in a year's time, or maybe not even 2, but as we work our way through the challenges we as a nation face in this new decade one thing will become apparent...we needed him.

Wouldn't it be good if we all realised this now?

Simon Ellis

2010-05-05 13:39:51

We need to see more of Tony Blair! He is a great vote winner! Gee, can we get his pal Georgie Bush to come along and say howdy folks too. Yo!

Peter

2010-05-05 13:19:02

I've just heard the Cameron PM interview and he comes across as an absolute shambles. At one point he claims "all shadow cabinet members are de facto community leaders" before correcting himself "I'll try that again..." It reminds me of the Prescott Breakfast TV interview he didn't realise was live, just not as funny.

Patrick James

2010-05-05 13:13:31

Those Alf Garnett like Conservative party supporters that turn up at blog comments and forums on the 'net do massive harm to the Conservative party I believe so I welcome them.

Any floating voter that reads their posts, seeing their seething anger for the world, will immediately be put off voting for them.

One of the Alf Garnett's that posts here tracked down an email address for me on the web and sent an email criticising me for my saying that I'm gay. That shows you what kind of people they are :)

I immediately created a rule in my email client to delete all emails from my email account.

I grew up in Northern Ireland so I am used to homophobic stuff and when I see it I just laugh :)

olli issakainen

2010-05-05 12:24:16

Nick Clegg peaked too early. David Cameron peaked too early. Gordon Brown peaked at the right time with over 30% of the voters still undecided. Momentum is with Labour!
Kevin Maguire of the Mirror wrote that Labour is in far better position than it could ever have hoped for a year ago.
British government did not cause the global economic crisis. The Tories financialised the economy in the 1980s. They launched the neoliberal hegemony.
Gordon Brown saved Britain and the world from depression. Had the Tories been in power during the recession, banks might have collapsed and people might have lost their savings.
Debt was taken for a reason. The deficit is not high because of excessive spending.
The 2010 general election is not about choosing between different variants of mangerialism. It is a big choice election. The choice is: recovery v. Tory risk and the welfare state v. Cameron´s "visionary" Big Society.
Labour has sensible policies. Labour will get the recovery right and safeguard public services.
Labour is the only choice. Labour has best values.
Impartiality is over: vote Labour!

spooney

2010-05-05 12:10:09

AC - last night GB gave 55 reasons why people should vote for Labour. There is just one reason not to vote for change and for Cameron - because if you do it will all end in tears - and the grotesque chaos of a tory government.

Ben G

2010-05-05 12:08:29

Agree about Gove. He has gone from voice of reason to vicious Tory Boy. His Today interview was like something out of Harry Enfield.

Jude

2010-05-05 12:00:25

Too true, Alastair. The news blackouts are a scandal. Thank God for Twitter! I am getting most of my election info from there.

Alan Quinn

2010-05-05 11:57:01

Out on the knocker again last night in Bury South and no detectable attraction to Dave.
Despite:

A third term Labour government.

A recession.

A mass billboard campaign paid for by the tax dodger.

The supine BBC so scared to death that a Tory government will butcher them that there is no scrutiny of Dave. He gets told he's "on a roll", GB is asked personal questions about his health.

The press in Dave's pocket.

BUT.....he can't get into the 40% bracket in the polls. If Dave dosen't get a majority, questions will be asked.....

Nick

2010-05-05 11:46:32

As a Conservative activist who has 'door knocked' in recent months, here are three Strategic Lessons for Alistair Campbell as to why they are about to lose. Badly.

1. No over -arching theme to Labour's campaign, just a tired re-heating of the now defunct Brown/Balls tribal dividing lines. The Electorate stopped listening some time ago in my experience. Ed Millibands's horrible car crash of an explanation over the tax credit lies on Newsnight yesterday is a prime example of why this strategy has failed.
2. The feeling that it is time for change, and that Labour is a busted flush ("they have had long enough" very often heard).
3. Chronically poor Labour leader- as bad as Foot, and far worse than Kinnock. Brown's complete inability to "connect" with the English middle class/private sector has been the death knell of Labour for a couple of years.
Labour will look back with incredulity in years to come that they allowed such a woeful leader to lead them in an election. Brown as a politician is no better than Oliver Letwin, someone else with a big brain but a complete inability to articulate. Would the Tories ever have made Letwin leader. He would have been a 1000/1 shot.

Simon

2010-05-05 11:42:06

I assume this means you won't now be publishing the uncensored version of your diaries soon after the election (ie with all the bad stuff about GB)as you wouldn't want to profit from an attack on GB.....

Roger O'Donnell

2010-05-05 11:22:08

I have been a labour supporter since I knew what politics was and grew up in west ham north the first labour seat in parliament. I have not been a fan of Alastair Campbell over the years, especially all the shit around Iraq BUT during this election I have realised like me he is full of conviction and like me in this because he cares. That is the difference in the last few days of the election. It is now about conviction and deep seated belief, something that neither the Tories or Liberals have in any way what so ever. They are in this for self interest, Cameron and Clegg dont really care about anything other than their self interest and self image, something you cant accuse GB of.

I havent been a fan of GB either but I in these last few days, when it really counts and as AC says totally against the odds and with all the media against him his beliefs and the truth are coming to the fore and thats what matters. He is showing that he is a man who is in politics for the right reasons and how passionately he cares. I am proud to be a socialist and all that it means, happy to support GB and realise I was wrong about AC. This is the party of the people and for the country.

Richard

2010-05-05 11:17:46

Your apparent resilience in a collapsing awful campaign is also quite impressive, though I wonder if that is what you really feel.

Just wondering how on Friday in the face of the facts you are going to persuade us it was actually a Labour victory?

apptme2theboard

2010-05-05 11:12:20

Speaking of avoiding answering questions, is there any truth to the rumour that Philippa Stroud has taken out an injunction to prevent further reporting on the Observer story at the weekend?

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He has his faults, but my God you have to admire GB depth and resilience

2010-05-05 11:04:45

When there are so many undecided voters, the last stages of the campaign matter more than any other.

I imagine most visitors to this site made their minds up some time ago. Since starting this blog, the majority of comments here, on Facebook and Twitter lead me to believe that most have decided to vote Labour. Hardly surprising.

The recent increase in Tory-supporting comments has given me heart though. Because it says not that my regulars are switching, but that the Tories are getting jittery.

No wonder. They had the best imaginable playing field going into an election. A parlous economic state. Politics reeling from an expenses scandal. A government that has been in power for 13 years. A Prime Minister with low ratings who has survived a series of coups against his leadership, and the batterings of a media so far up David Cameron's backside it is a wonder the nation's journalists can breathe, let alone live with themselves. The biggest negative poster campaign in modern electoral history which, allied to the media's slavishness, allows Cameron to pretend he is fighting a positive campaign. Ashcroft's millions pumping out direct mail into the home of every key voter in every key marginal. Two difficult and unpopular wars dominating the agenda in recent months (one of which, Iraq, the Tories are now seeking to exploit, despite supporting it at the time, in their desperate pitch to Lib Dem supporters).

I could go on and on. Suffice to say that if the Tories were any good at all, at policy, at strategy, at campaigns, they would have rested easy in their beds last night, rather than careering round the country annoying bakers and fishmongers.

They have seen a poll lead fritter away because they have been hopeless on policy, and because their campaign has been all about avoiding questions rather than answering them.

If there are any Labour supporters who know undecided voters out there, get onto BBC iplayer and sit down and let them hear David Cameron on the PM programme last night, or Michael Gove on the Today programme this morning. These people could be running the country by the day after tomorrow. They have had four years to think through answers to straight-forward questions. This was a double car crash, live on radio.

When you distil Cameron's message from his carefully staged, beautifully manicured pit stops, it is basically that he is going to roll up his sleeves. I am sitting at my desk. I have just rolled up my sleeves. It was easy. Running a country isn't.

He has had the wind blowing on his silken-skinned back every day of this campaign. Allegations of Andy Coulson involvement in criminal phonehacking. News blackout. Tory candidate praying to cure gay people of their disease. News blackout. Bizarre ramblings of Labour candidate in unwinnable seat. Sky/Sun/Mail multilple orgasm. Polls which show momentum to Cameron (including those conducted by the Aussies who ran the Michael Howard/DC campaign of five years ago) - lead the news with them. Polls showing momentum slipping back. Bottom of page 2.

And yet with all that, his message has weakened not strengthened. The question marks have grown not diminished.

Despite the battering over a period of months, despite the skewed polls claiming GB had lost TV debates he won, despite the awful day lost to his meetings with Mrs Duffy, despite everything that has been thrown at him, GB was not just standing last night, but standing tall and giving another brilliant and passionate speech, packed with reasons to vote Labour and stop the Tories.

I do not pretend to be as close to GB as I am to TB. Nor can I claim we have not had major disagreements down the years. We have. Nor can I say there have not been moments when I have willed him to do things he is not doing, or not do things that he does. And yes, there have been moments in the past few months when I have wished I could escape the political bubble for good instead of being drawn back in to the point where the campaign has been close to a full-time occupation again. All that is true. But the pull of Labour is strong, and this I know: if I had to choose between GB, David Cameron and Nick Clegg for PM, then it has to be Gordon every time. Heaven knows he has his faults - everyone does. But my God you have to admire the resilience and the depth of a man who just will not stop fighting for what he believes in.

The speech to Citizens UK, now one of the most viewed events of the campaign, and last night's to a party event in Manchester, were streets ahead of anything Cameron or Clegg have delivered. The recital of Labour achievements alone - not to mention the role the Tories played in trying to stop them from happening - should be enough to give people pause for thought. The forward agenda was strong. The attacks on the Tories were powerful because they were rooted in what we know about past Tory governments and current Tory policies. 

Nor should anyone forget the role he played in steering Britain from recession to a recovery which has the FT today reporting that whoever wins the election will inherit an economy already showing signs of strong recovery, with manufacturing and exports growing at the fastest rate for 15 years. Cue news blackout.

There has been the usual criticism of Labour's campaign, inevitable when we have been lagging in the polls. But when you compare the difference in resources, the biased media and all the rest of it, the voice of the leaders has been as important as anything else. GB is finding his voice superbly as the campaign closes. The campaign has shown there is a progressive majority in Britain today. With Nick Clegg fading, the last two days have shown that Labour remains the best option for ensuring Britain stays on the road to economic recovery, and the path of progressive politics.

*** Buy The Blair Years online and raise cash for Labour http://www.alastaircampbell.org/bookshop.php

Archive

Capello and Rooney interviews the highlights of France/Uruguay coverage

Publish date: 2010-06-12 09:51:57

Even at Queen's, I'm thinking big ideas for George and Danny

Publish date: 2010-06-11 19:53:22

Helping George and Danny with cuts: Part 2

Publish date: 2010-06-10 14:06:12

My part in the cuts consultation: Part 1: end charitable status for private schools

Publish date: 2010-06-09 12:09:25

Cameron using Libs to do what he wanted to do all along

Publish date: 2010-06-08 11:07:03

In praise of Margaret Beckett and Malcolm Tucker

Publish date: 2010-06-07 12:28:46

An everyday tale of modern journalism, plus All-Time Premier League team

Publish date: 2010-06-06 11:45:22

Making Hay while the sun shines

Publish date: 2010-06-05 11:12:03

Cameron right to go to Cumbria

Publish date: 2010-06-04 14:32:34

All alone in my own BBC studio

Publish date: 2010-06-03 14:52:39

Return to dialogue of the deaf is lasting damage

Publish date: 2010-06-02 10:23:12

And the winner is ...

Publish date: 2010-06-01 10:43:35

ConDem sense of humour bypass never happened under Labour

Publish date: 2010-05-31 14:07:49

Cameron/Clegg will be regretting their expenses sanctimoniousness

Publish date: 2010-05-30 10:38:16

I fear Laws will be victim of Cameron ruthless streak

Publish date: 2010-05-29 11:40:59

Thanks to the Con-Dems for making Question Time such fun

Publish date: 2010-05-28 02:01:03

Osborne has Lib Dems pretty much where he wants them

Publish date: 2010-05-24 11:50:59

Time to Change Street-Porter's silly but prejudice-reinforcing views on depression

Publish date: 2010-05-21 12:19:18

Thumbs up for Wenlock and Mandeville

Publish date: 2010-05-20 10:11:10

Humourless Laws facing both ways with ease. And where is Nick Clegg?

Publish date: 2010-05-18 10:17:24

Why I love the NHS even more than ever

Publish date: 2010-05-17 18:05:11

A bit of ENT on the NHS

Publish date: 2010-05-17 11:06:17

Charles Kennedy speaks for many Lib Dems

Publish date: 2010-05-16 14:18:11

Italian interview on Dick Clamberon, TB, GB, Murdoch inter alia

Publish date: 2010-05-15 13:45:54

Lib Dem desertions coming thick and fast. Business not impressed with Clameron

Publish date: 2010-05-14 11:21:41

As Dick Clameron love-in begins, brilliant Martin Argles photos more powerful than words

Publish date: 2010-05-13 12:39:17

Random House announce publication plans of AC diaries

Publish date: 2010-05-12 17:23:12

Fight to get Labour back in starts now

Publish date: 2010-05-12 10:18:21

What's changed and what hasn't after yesterday?

Publish date: 2010-05-11 08:29:25

In the circs, Labour's campaign was superb

Publish date: 2010-05-08 11:12:25

Cameron as Obama - you have to laugh - then vote Labour

Publish date: 2010-05-06 16:00:36

Big Society no laughing matter - but enjoy the film!

Publish date: 2010-05-04 09:34:04

GB at his best at Citizens UK, fired with passion and conviction

Publish date: 2010-05-03 18:40:35

Polls show race wide open. Tax credits massive issue with women

Publish date: 2010-05-03 11:38:46

Cameron has media stitched up, but public still doubtful

Publish date: 2010-05-02 11:36:33

Clegg poem gives foretaste of Tory/Lib coalition

Publish date: 2010-05-01 18:34:02

TV debate polls not what they seem

Publish date: 2010-05-01 09:20:27

All still to play for. GB won. DC not answering. NC on wane

Publish date: 2010-04-30 11:02:03

After all the fuss of yesterday, it is still the economy, stupid

Publish date: 2010-04-29 17:00:44

GB mortified at bigot comment. Visit was human not political

Publish date: 2010-04-28 16:56:13

All returning to roots as decison day looms

Publish date: 2010-04-28 12:46:55

Eton fags not the only ones looking forward to life under Dave

Publish date: 2010-04-27 15:47:36

Guest blog from a candidate in Tory-Lib council land

Publish date: 2010-04-27 09:16:11

Only one leader talking policy today amid confused Tory tactics

Publish date: 2010-04-26 19:27:54

Clegg over-reach and cuddle up to Cameron both mistakes

Publish date: 2010-04-26 11:41:32

Exposed: Tories and Lib Dems desperate to avoid policy debate

Publish date: 2010-04-25 15:22:21

On Elvis, soft Lib Dems, Tory unfairness and silly Labour briefings

Publish date: 2010-04-25 09:06:16

Feeding defeat talk waste of time. Fight to win

Publish date: 2010-04-24 10:19:02

Even their own polls say GB did better than they're saying

Publish date: 2010-04-23 15:42:51

Now let's have less process more policy

Publish date: 2010-04-23 10:03:27

Press Clegg-bashing not helping Cameron. Debate should be on policy

Publish date: 2010-04-22 12:33:25

Clegg's debate strategy hardly new honest politics

Publish date: 2010-04-21 12:48:09

More policy on the telly please

Publish date: 2010-04-20 19:03:23

As Cameron revises body language, focus should be Lib Dem policy

Publish date: 2010-04-20 10:25:50

Cameron junks broadcast - is he morphing into John Major?

Publish date: 2010-04-19 14:56:02

Come on Dave and Nick - stop the carping

Publish date: 2010-04-19 09:49:59

A friendly letter to David Cameron

Publish date: 2010-04-18 10:24:08

Clegg rise good news for the campaign

Publish date: 2010-04-17 10:02:47

The election landscape has changed. Exciting times

Publish date: 2010-04-16 14:45:39

Clegg wins on style, Brown on substance, Cameron on shallowness

Publish date: 2010-04-16 01:32:41

Bring on the big debate. And don't miss Eddie Izzard tomorrow

Publish date: 2010-04-15 18:58:37

Cameron's preference for process over policy in pre debate blather

Publish date: 2010-04-14 15:59:32

Black hole plus DIY public services - Cameron's second manifesto

Publish date: 2010-04-13 10:37:52

Never mind 5 more years of GB. It's three more weeks of DC people worry about

Publish date: 2010-04-12 11:16:02

Ashdown spot on about Tories' Sarah Palin moment

Publish date: 2010-04-11 12:10:44

London Marathon the best of British

Publish date: 2010-04-10 12:37:42

Pressure needs to be kept on Tories over NICs

Publish date: 2010-04-09 13:15:17

Tories wrong on recession wrong on recovery

Publish date: 2010-04-08 11:47:59

Cameron's deception goes beyond the businessmen

Publish date: 2010-04-07 19:55:22

Labour's greater scope for positive campaign

Publish date: 2010-04-06 13:14:53

Cameron uncut - message matters more than money

Publish date: 2010-04-05 11:33:17

Key election questions remain the same and the answer is still Labour

Publish date: 2010-04-04 17:43:56

Osborne should heed his own words

Publish date: 2010-04-03 16:01:39

The 25th Hour

Publish date: 2010-04-02 11:13:31

Hardly surprising if business prefers tax cut to waste

Publish date: 2010-04-01 11:43:48

Tories really ought to listen to TB and Mr Kaletsky

Publish date: 2010-03-31 09:59:37

TB's return to fray a reminder of Cameron strategy failure

Publish date: 2010-03-30 10:44:34

A chance to design Labour's next poster

Publish date: 2010-03-29 09:47:29

Right pledges, at the right time

Publish date: 2010-03-27 11:32:06

Can't wait to hear what George's tax wheeze is

Publish date: 2010-03-26 14:55:00

Darling credible, Mandy exciting, Tories panicking over ads

Publish date: 2010-03-25 11:21:25

Today is all about credibility

Publish date: 2010-03-24 09:38:11

Obama's win good news for politics everywhere

Publish date: 2010-03-23 10:11:13

I take my hat off to a genius briefer

Publish date: 2010-03-22 17:21:23

With Hague disabled, Labour team v Tory team even more important

Publish date: 2010-03-19 11:43:25

Tory lack of clarity gets candidates jittering

Publish date: 2010-03-18 10:12:25

Is Kate Winslet's split more important than Michael Foot's funeral?

Publish date: 2010-03-17 11:38:52

Why Sir Trevor did no favours for Cameron

Publish date: 2010-03-16 10:57:18

Support the Street Kids World Cup

Publish date: 2010-03-15 11:25:17

Bumping into Peter M on the fundraising campaign trail

Publish date: 2010-03-14 00:27:35

Adonis shows the way on transport, and debates

Publish date: 2010-03-12 12:22:05

The record needs a better hearing - Labour and Tory

Publish date: 2010-03-11 08:50:51

What happened to the detoxification of the Tory brand?

Publish date: 2010-03-06 12:00:38

Support, activism and hope returning to Labour

Publish date: 2010-03-05 09:46:34

Happy Birthday Lord Ashcroft HB2U

Publish date: 2010-03-04 10:59:48

Michael Foot ... above all else a lovely man

Publish date: 2010-03-03 14:22:46

Elvis support for Labour lifts the mood further

Publish date: 2010-03-03 10:16:30

Hoovergate - the rebuttal amid hope of Labour win

Publish date: 2010-03-02 13:00:35

At least Britney knows what she is singing about

Publish date: 2010-03-01 10:57:28

News blackout on Olympian success story

Publish date: 2010-02-28 14:52:49

Kseniya Simonova's got talent

Publish date: 2010-02-27 21:14:58

Debate expectations in a good place for GB and Clegg

Publish date: 2010-02-26 10:21:53

We all agree - Carlisle is cleverer than DC

Publish date: 2010-02-25 11:59:11

On News International phone-hacking and Cameron

Publish date: 2010-02-24 09:40:08

GB, temper or not, a better leader for Britain than DC

Publish date: 2010-02-23 10:24:48

Cameron inquiry call says more about him than GB

Publish date: 2010-02-22 15:15:59

Some great stuff in The Observer today

Publish date: 2010-02-21 11:00:46

Game definitely on. If polls narrow more, Tory jitters set in

Publish date: 2010-02-20 14:35:40

Cameron so right about pigs in pokes

Publish date: 2010-02-19 09:12:50

How twitter is changing balance of power in film indsutry

Publish date: 2010-02-18 12:00:19

Thanks for the thanks. Is online shopping not always like this?

Publish date: 2010-02-17 10:44:30

There'll be another New Big Idea along in a moment

Publish date: 2010-02-16 09:53:22

People may listen more to the political GB having heard the personal GB

Publish date: 2010-02-15 13:11:57

Happy Valentine's Day. My present to you is Jacques Brel

Publish date: 2010-02-14 12:06:54

A celeb fest in my weekend of culture

Publish date: 2010-02-13 10:38:58

Alan Johnson right to stand up for security services

Publish date: 2010-02-12 14:27:56

Time to turn up volume on sport schools revolution

Publish date: 2010-02-11 10:17:54

Let's give Cameron a Doris Day moment over Ashcroft

Publish date: 2010-02-10 10:29:05

Time for Maya's voice to be heard amid the non-tears

Publish date: 2010-02-09 09:04:22

Marr needs to explain his 'sexed up' question re casualties

Publish date: 2010-02-08 13:55:36

On GB's tears with Piers, and my emotional moment with Marr

Publish date: 2010-02-07 16:04:56

On NI, Tory fears of Labour spinsters, and headbands in sport

Publish date: 2010-02-06 10:00:25

Daily Mail tells truth shock horror

Publish date: 2010-02-05 08:54:36

Welcome to the virtual Maya launch party

Publish date: 2010-02-04 10:38:44

Public ahead of press on the mess that is Cameron

Publish date: 2010-02-03 13:52:26

Cameron winning on media support but losing on leadership

Publish date: 2010-02-02 10:47:50

Buy The Blair Years and raise cash for Labour

Publish date: 2010-02-01 09:00:00

A lesson in campaign mindset from young Labour students

Publish date: 2010-01-31 13:14:19

Media tweets show the real agenda

Publish date: 2010-01-29 21:18:59

TB made a judgement, and is defending it well

Publish date: 2010-01-29 14:04:38

On inequality, special advisers, Ireland, and TB/Iraq

Publish date: 2010-01-28 13:45:08

Message machine Mandelson on form today

Publish date: 2010-01-27 12:15:42

Only one place to be tonight

Publish date: 2010-01-26 09:20:26

Cameron and tweeting ought to be natural fit

Publish date: 2010-01-25 11:55:58

Big bucks campaigning not what it's cracked out to be

Publish date: 2010-01-24 10:28:57

A life in unemployment statistics

Publish date: 2010-01-22 09:39:21

Learning the wrong Iraq lessons for Afghan war

Publish date: 2010-01-21 10:24:46

Denis MacShane MP on the rewriting of history re Iraq war

Publish date: 2010-01-20 10:44:07

Darling v Gove, Osborne and help the rich squad is No Contest

Publish date: 2010-01-19 10:12:27

Dacre's Downfall

Publish date: 2010-01-18 03:30:21

Rebutting the good and the bad, and support from football fans

Publish date: 2010-01-17 12:45:38

Mandela is a great man, Invictus a great film

Publish date: 2010-01-16 08:54:48

Is Paul Dacre hiding a guilty secret that explains his deranged paper?

Publish date: 2010-01-15 09:56:24

What's the real fight to be had?

Publish date: 2010-01-14 10:20:20

On Owen Coyle and Brian Laws

Publish date: 2010-01-13 18:27:58

Thanks to friend and foe alike for helping yesterday go by

Publish date: 2010-01-13 08:49:25

So far so good in campaign to remove discriminatory law

Publish date: 2010-01-11 09:48:15

Thanks to Will Hutton for talking sense on 'class war'

Publish date: 2010-01-10 12:56:48

In defence of airbrushed posters

Publish date: 2010-01-09 16:45:29

Fire is always best turned on the Tories

Publish date: 2010-01-07 15:41:19

On Hoon-Hewitt and John Prescott

Publish date: 2010-01-07 00:55:10

Sad and baffled to see Coyle go

Publish date: 2010-01-05 16:26:05

Cameron's wobble the product of his team saying what their audiences want to hear

Publish date: 2010-01-05 10:50:58

New Tory slogan - if you've got the cash, splash it on crap ads

Publish date: 2010-01-02 12:11:18

And the musicians of the decade were ... The Beatles and The King

Publish date: 2009-12-31 18:52:25

Prepare for avalanche of Ashcroft posters for Tories

Publish date: 2009-12-30 15:06:06

Here's Good Luck to you, Mrs Robinson

Publish date: 2009-12-29 12:22:42

One man's White Christmas joy is another's football disaster

Publish date: 2009-12-24 13:36:05

My favourite fact of the day - a French decimal time system

Publish date: 2009-12-23 16:48:00

A few crisis management tips for Eurostar

Publish date: 2009-12-22 11:49:35

Do we need same approach to booze as smoking?

Publish date: 2009-12-19 09:13:28

Prepare for tears, tantrums and an imperfect but miraculous Copenhagen conclusion

Publish date: 2009-12-18 10:23:03

London 2012 and Copenhagen today ... different approaches to tight deadlines

Publish date: 2009-12-16 11:13:21

Tiger cut off at the knees. I bet he'll be back

Publish date: 2009-12-14 11:03:17

Cameron Shameron on the need for new laws to clarify Ashcroft tax status

Publish date: 2009-12-13 17:06:56

When poor mental health creates great art ...

Publish date: 2009-12-12 15:21:13

Giggs gets my Sports Personality vote, but I'll miss the big moment

Publish date: 2009-12-11 13:56:15

Tough day for Labour, but tough questions for Tories too

Publish date: 2009-12-10 10:03:13

Alistair Darling's quiet authority key part of recovery.

Publish date: 2009-12-09 11:03:25

Clegg risks squeeze as election nears

Publish date: 2009-12-08 15:30:58

Copenhagen really matters. Guardian front page sets scene well

Publish date: 2009-12-07 10:26:33

Four years on, what do we think of Cameron's leadership?

Publish date: 2009-12-06 13:55:17

Boris and Waddles, an everyday tale of Tory croneyism

Publish date: 2009-12-05 09:53:35

The Speaker's wife is a credit to him, and spot on about Cameron's Toryism

Publish date: 2009-12-04 10:52:37

PMQs win for GB was a direct result of Cameron's strategic failure

Publish date: 2009-12-03 08:21:10

Cameron's conkers add to his problem with serious opinion

Publish date: 2009-12-02 10:59:45

Sarko at risk of riling Obama and GB. Cameron on conkers

Publish date: 2009-12-01 10:29:48

The life and death of the man who made the link between exercise and health

Publish date: 2009-11-28 11:37:29

Even top Tories think Dave and Co can't do piss up in a brewery

Publish date: 2009-11-27 20:51:29

Well done BBC Inside Sport. Shame on media for news blackout on Coulson bullying case

Publish date: 2009-11-26 13:59:57

Well done BBC in Mental Health Media awards. Looking forward to Inside Sport on depression tonight

Publish date: 2009-11-25 10:26:22

BBC main bulletin blackout on leaders' speeches bizarre

Publish date: 2009-11-24 10:17:48

Business right to be worried about Tory axe on RDAs

Publish date: 2009-11-23 10:17:12

Why should Brown and Cameron apologise for being seen to pay tribute to the war dead?

Publish date: 2009-11-22 11:12:38

Beware climate change denial dressed up as 'commonsense'

Publish date: 2009-11-21 12:54:27

Something for the weekend - a long lazy blog lifted from interviews

Publish date: 2009-11-20 12:35:23

If France and FIFA won't act on Thierry Henry, let's have a boycott of Gillette razors

Publish date: 2009-11-19 10:09:00

Never in the history of human taxation has so much been promised from so many to so few

Publish date: 2009-11-18 18:32:39

Tories far from 'effete and unfamiliar' when it comes to twisted tax priorities

Publish date: 2009-11-18 09:52:12

Two very different stories of depression

Publish date: 2009-11-17 17:17:11

Congrats to Ellie on PPB campaign, and Willy Hague on getting van Rompuy

Publish date: 2009-11-17 11:40:14

Private schools worse than State schools - unless it's drugs you're after. Discuss

Publish date: 2009-11-16 12:10:25

Fiona Millar 5 Toby Young 0

Publish date: 2009-11-15 13:18:38

Where we fight we win

Publish date: 2009-11-13 11:22:00

Good luck to Number 10 on 'lobby' review. And a big NO to the other PR

Publish date: 2009-11-12 14:39:11

Robert Enke RIP. May his death increase understanding of depression

Publish date: 2009-11-11 17:59:53

On the exploitation of grief to get Gordon

Publish date: 2009-11-11 08:59:01

Why Tories are not home and dry, and wrong to call GB callous

Publish date: 2009-11-10 13:00:20

Labour needs more of the winning mentality

Publish date: 2009-11-09 10:30:44

The scandal of friendship and the shame of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Publish date: 2009-11-07 10:53:53

US clarity of strategy required for full explanation on Afghanistan

Publish date: 2009-11-06 10:31:48

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

Publish date: 2009-11-05 10:58:46

Congratulations to David Cameron and Trevor Kavanagh

Publish date: 2009-11-04 10:34:36

Is there a Sun blackout on Cameron's dumping of 'cast iron guarantee' on Europe?

Publish date: 2009-11-03 20:37:04

Johnson seems to get it on immigration. Right on advisors advising too

Publish date: 2009-11-03 11:58:59

Public opinion on climate change - the public might be the problem

Publish date: 2009-11-02 11:37:23

In praise of Stephen Fry, who should tweet or not as he sees fit

Publish date: 2009-11-01 09:29:34

John Sergeant spot on re TB. TB's Olympics legacy. Liam Gallagher's generosity

Publish date: 2009-10-30 11:50:44

Conservative contortions on Europe and Blair

Publish date: 2009-10-29 11:44:12

Two-jobs Osborne suffering credibility deficit

Publish date: 2009-10-28 09:14:22

Canaries win AC spin award with dark nights productivity survey

Publish date: 2009-10-27 09:41:48

Blair - dead big in Japan!

Publish date: 2009-10-26 17:21:17

No complacency, variants on a theme

Publish date: 2009-10-24 09:48:46

Griffin may have been dreadful, but there can be no complacency

Publish date: 2009-10-23 11:57:29

Margaret Hodge MP on how to fight the BNP

Publish date: 2009-10-22 16:48:39

Thanks to Charlie Falconer and Dominic Grieve - yes, I know he is a Tory

Publish date: 2009-10-21 17:24:18

On Biscuitgate, barmy Tory policy, and BNP v Generals

Publish date: 2009-10-21 10:36:15

More on Obergruppenfuhrer Dacre, Biscuitgate and Bullingdon Conservatism

Publish date: 2009-10-20 12:16:37

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