Tag Archives: Politics
The Daily Cost of Servicing Our Debt
This diagram graphically represents the size of our daily spending on servicing our debt in comparison with our daily spend on other areas. It is a sobering reminder ahead of today’s budget of why eliminating the structural deficit must … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, UK, UK Politics
Put the armour on. 2011 is going to Hurt
Happy New Year. Or is it? The reality is that 2011 is going to be pretty miserable for the whole country. Any honeymoon period for the Coalition (if there was one) is up. The reality of austerity measures are kicking-in. … Continue reading
Filed under Economy
Insider View of Coalition Negotiations
On Tuesday I attended a fascinating seminar at Portcullis House on the nuts and bolts of the Coalition negotiations in May. The speakers were Lib Dem David Laws and Tory MP Rob Wilson, both of whom are peddling their respective … Continue reading
Filed under Centre Right, Politics, UK, UK Politics
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
Pakistan Floods: The Politics of Aid
Why has the international community been so slow to help Pakistan? There is no doubt that that there is a genuine disaster underway. Some 20 million people have now been affected and reports suggest somewhere between 1600 and 2000 people … Continue reading
Filed under Indulgent, Politics, UK Politics
Speed Cameras: A Muddled Debate
The press this weekend has been full of coverage of news that the government intends to slash spending on speed cameras. This has predictably spawned gigabytes of commentary in the forums and the blogosphere – take a look at this … Continue reading
Filed under UK Politics
Gove’s Nightmare Week – A Lesson For The Coming Months
Michael Gove had, to put it mildly, an uncomfortable week. I can understand the frustration and rage that schools in Sandwell must have felt thinking their new build project had a green light to find out the next day they … Continue reading
Filed under Education, Politics, UK, UK Politics
The Brutal Budget?
Well, I’ve just watched George Osborne come of age. The ‘light-weight’, ‘inexperienced’, ‘young’ Chancellor gave an assured performance that will do wonders for his poor reputation. It should also dispel some of the prejudice that still exists about the modern … Continue reading
Filed under Center right, Centre Right, Economy, Politics, UK, UK Politics
“Bloody Sunday”: The Lesson For Politicians
Back in the early 1990’s as part of my University Degree I briefly studied the Irish troubles. I declare no deep expertise – but one thing I am sure of is that even as late as the end of the … Continue reading
Filed under Centre Right, Indulgent, Iraq, Politics, UK, UK Politics
Does Birmingham Need to Call in Independent Election Observers?
An account of day touring Birmingham’s polling booths – uncovering widespread irregularities – including rescuing a hapless Lib Dem – finding campaign literature inside polling booths – voters locked out of stations – people being ‘helped’to vote – Do we … Continue reading
Filed under Center right, Election, Politics, UK, UK Politics
