Category Archives: Uncategorized
Shock! Horror! Britain is Crap With Snow!
“[…] for Northerners snow is something to skive for and go sledging in while for Southerners it is a ‘national emergency’.”* *Slightly misquoted from the book “Pies and Prejudice.” By Stuart Maconie – The first dump of proper snow each … Continue reading
Filed under Indulgent, Uncategorized
Student Tuition Fees: The Weird Thing
When tuition fees were introduced in Labour’s first year in office I actually marched on Parliament in protest. At the time I had just completed my Masters and was clinging on for one last year as my University’s Student Union … Continue reading
Filed under Centre Right, Economy, Education, Uncategorized
Sir Philip Green: Great Report – Wrong Conclusion
We don’t need a Ministry of Paper-Clips, Open Data is the Answer. Sir Philip Green’s report on government spending is now online. Unlike most Government reports it’s a succinct thirty page slide deck in big print that can be read … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, Politics, UK, UK Politics, Uncategorized
Labour’s Bonkers Shadow Cabinet Selection
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I suppose that line could be New Labour’s epitaph. However, it’s still alive and well in the party’s internal democracy. As with the leadership election rules, the system for selecting their … Continue reading
Filed under Politics, UK, UK Politics, Uncategorized
Reflections of a Delegate – Conservative Conference Day 1
The 2010 Conference was always going to be a tough one to pitch. Jubilation at being a party of Government rather than opposition was always going to be balanced by disappointment that we didn’t win outright and the sobering reality … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Ed Miliband and the Battle for the Centre Ground
British Politics is a curious thing. Elections are won in the UK by convincing people who describe themselves as ‘of-the-centre’ to vote for you. You don’t get committed right or left wingers as swing-voters. The hardcore left will vote … Continue reading
Filed under Election, Politics, UK, UK Politics, Uncategorized
Conservative Party Chairmen’s Briefing to West Midlands Associations
About 70 Conservative party members – mainly of a mixture of Association execs, PPCs and the like – yesterday attended the West Midlands ‘Meet the Chairmen Briefing’ with Baroness Warsi and Andrew Feldmen at the Richo Arena in Coventry. I wouldn’t … Continue reading
Filed under Centre Right, Politics, UK Politics, Uncategorized
NHS Direct: A Public Service Cut or Public Service Improvement?
It was with a little sadness that I noted the announcement of the closure of NHS Direct. It was a service I used myself twice. Once they saved me a trip to the doctor and left me reassured. Once they advised that … Continue reading
Filed under Center right, Health, Politics, UK, UK Politics, Uncategorized
Cloned Cows in Food-chain: Where’s the Beef?
One story in the press this week that had me frustrated was coverage of the revelation that two cows born from a cloned parent had their beef enter the UK human food-chain. The tone of all the coverage was outrage. None … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Labour: Substance on Cuts?
If, like me, you are starting to tire with Labour’s repeated claim that they are the “party of substance over soundbite” in this election then you will probably appreciate this interview for exposing how shallow that claim really is when … Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
