Tag Archives: UK
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
Conference Day 2: The Child Benefit Anomaly
Every single cut is going to hurt someone. And nobody likes the ones that hurt them. I have a daughter and another child on the way. At conference today we got the news that the Child Benefit of … Continue reading
Filed under Center right, Centre Right, Conservative Conference 2010, Economy
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
Did you hear the one about the Pope?
It’s now been a couple of weeks since the Pope’s visit to the UK, so I feel safe to stick my head above the parapet now passions have cooled. Let’s start with a disclaimer, I am not religious. If asked … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Filed under Center right, Election, Politics, UK, UK Politics
Out Of All Proportion – The Huge Surge in Support for PR
The British are a funny lot. Currently there seems to be a parallel consensus that: Our voting system last week produced the farce of secret smoke-filled room deals where people horse trade this-bit-and-that-bit of their manifesto for a seat at … Continue reading
Filed under Election, Politics, UK, UK Politics
