Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Nick Clegg defends five-year fixed-term parliaments
Deputy PM says five-year terms would give governments four years 'to get on and do difficult things'
Nick Clegg has defended plans for fixed-term five-year parliaments, saying a four-year parliament would not give an administration time to govern in the national interest.
Giving evidence to the Lords constitution committee, he said governments tended to be "hamstrung and paralysed" for at least a year before a general election, so a five-year term would allow four years to "get on and do difficult things".
Clegg said: "It's a combination of providing a length of time with which people are familiar and which allows governments at least maybe four of those five years ... to get on with governing properly for the benefit of the country, combined with taking away from the executive this ability to capriciously time the election for nothing more than political self-interest."
Source: Guardian Unlimited (Wed 13/10/2010)
Nick Clegg has defended plans for fixed-term five-year parliaments, saying a four-year parliament would not give an administration time to govern in the national interest.
Giving evidence to the Lords constitution committee, he said governments tended to be "hamstrung and paralysed" for at least a year before a general election, so a five-year term would allow four years to "get on and do difficult things".
Clegg said: "It's a combination of providing a length of time with which people are familiar and which allows governments at least maybe four of those five years ... to get on with governing properly for the benefit of the country, combined with taking away from the executive this ability to capriciously time the election for nothing more than political self-interest."
Source: Guardian Unlimited (Wed 13/10/2010)
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Vince Cable ditches graduate tax option for England
BBC Online's headline this morning - sounds like good news, no....?
Well, "no!" may be the definitive answer for many current and future university students (including yourselves!)
Whilst Vince Cable (pictured right) has just written to LibDem and Conservative party members to rule out a graduate tax, the Business Secretary has certainly not ruled out a "progressive" element within the final fees package. That final fees package is widely thought to include more than doubling current fees of £3,290 per annum to £7,000 or more. Moreover, the repayments on loans to cover these fees are set to be charged at a higher interest rate than at present - with the expectation that high-earning graduates could be charged at an even higher interest rate:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11507537
The final paragraphs of the article (do read it all!) neatly summarise the implications for coalition party policies and ideas:
Well, "no!" may be the definitive answer for many current and future university students (including yourselves!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11507537
The final paragraphs of the article (do read it all!) neatly summarise the implications for coalition party policies and ideas:
...increasing fees threatens to be a major problem for the Liberal Democrats, who made their opposition to higher fees a flagship election issue.I would expect to see more challenges to traditional party policies in the coming weeks and the publication of the Spending Review. Be ready during the October Half Term holiday to dedicate some time to reading the media about these matters....
It will also raise sensitivities for the Conservatives of another squeeze on the middle classes, with the prospect of a three-year degree costing £21,000 or more, plus higher interest repayments on student debt.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Prime Ministers I Have Known...
Parliamentary sketchwriter Simon Hoggart has met every British prime minister since Harold Macmillan. And each has, without fail, proved to have their own idiosyncratic foibles, as he recalls in these extracts from his new book, A Long Lunch. Hoggart's home publication, The Guardian, has some amusing extracts...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/08/prime-ministers-i-have-known
Each provides additional insights into the denizens of Number Ten Downing Street, capturing the personalities and leadership styles of past British leaders.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/08/prime-ministers-i-have-known
Each provides additional insights into the denizens of Number Ten Downing Street, capturing the personalities and leadership styles of past British leaders.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Telegraph: Top 100 most influential Right-wingers
The Telegraph has a very useful Top 100 style presentation on whom they perceive to be the "most inluenntial Right-wingers" in UK politics, with some surprising (or maybe not so surprising!) inclusions:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/8044285/Top-100-most-influential-Right-wingers-25-1.html
(The link will take you to numbers 25-1, but look for further links on the page itself to see the rest of the list).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/8044285/Top-100-most-influential-Right-wingers-25-1.html
(The link will take you to numbers 25-1, but look for further links on the page itself to see the rest of the list).
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Cameron's First Big Mistake? : Child Benefits Cuts for the Middle Classes
The Guardian leads today with reports from the Conservative Party Conference that David Cameron's government could have made its first wrong step with Conservative 'swing' voters...
David Cameron 'sorry' child benefit cut was not in Tory manifesto
Prime minister battles to calm Conservative nerves amid fears government has made first big mistake
Every Prime Minister has their first error of judgement that 'ends the honeymoon' with their core voters... Tony Blair had tobacco sponsorship in Formula One, Gordon Brown had the 10p tax—now it could be that David Cameron has found his! Trouble is, with the results of the Spending Review just around the corner, he could find a few more yet....
David Cameron 'sorry' child benefit cut was not in Tory manifesto
Prime minister battles to calm Conservative nerves amid fears government has made first big mistake
Every Prime Minister has their first error of judgement that 'ends the honeymoon' with their core voters... Tony Blair had tobacco sponsorship in Formula One, Gordon Brown had the 10p tax—now it could be that David Cameron has found his! Trouble is, with the results of the Spending Review just around the corner, he could find a few more yet....
Friday, 1 October 2010
Identikit leaders?
What exactly are the differences between the three main party leaders? That's the question the Guardian attempts to answer (tongue slightly in cheek) in today's edition. Now that Ed Miliband has joined the club, Patrick Barkham notes that all three parties are led by Oxbridge-educated white men in their 40s who are all former advisers. The article takes a closer look at their credentials and tries to tell them apart:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/01/ed-miliband-david-cameron-nick-clegg
Worth a read, both as general background, for party policies in Unit 1 and for insights into leadership style (Executive, Unit 2).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/01/ed-miliband-david-cameron-nick-clegg
Worth a read, both as general background, for party policies in Unit 1 and for insights into leadership style (Executive, Unit 2).
Sunday, 26 September 2010
End-of-Term Report for Labour, 1997-2010
Conference time for the Labour Party in Manchester this weekend... As Ed Miliband steps up by a very narrow margin to take the leadership, Polly Toynbee and David Walker provide an extremely useful overview of Labour's achievements (or otherwise) during their time in government:
"The Labour years: Could have done better" (Guardian, 25/09/2010)
Interesting reading - invaluable for an understanding of the legacy that Ed Miliband is inheriting and the challenges that lie ahead for Labour in Opposition. Can they do better next time around? Read it in full.
"The Labour years: Could have done better" (Guardian, 25/09/2010)
Interesting reading - invaluable for an understanding of the legacy that Ed Miliband is inheriting and the challenges that lie ahead for Labour in Opposition. Can they do better next time around? Read it in full.
Monday, 20 September 2010
The (Conservative) Case Against AV and Reform of the Lords
Philip Norton - now the ennobled Lord Norton of Hull - is a well-known constitutional academic based at Hull University. Lord Norton is a Conservative peer, and his recent defence of the status quo in Westminster elections and the House of Lords is well worth a read. His article can be found at the website Conservative Home:
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/09/philip-norton-neither-a-new-electoral-system-for-the-commons-nor-an-elected-lords-will-fix-politics.html
Norton suggests that the proposed system of Alternative Vote is rather less fit for purpose than the current First Past the Post system. The peer also believes that the House of Lords does the job it is meant to do admirably well. Norton’s final point is that the system isn’t broken, and doesn’t need fixing - it’s only the politicians who really need to change. The article represents an eloquent and concise conservative defence of the existing system—a very useful read for students needing an articulate point of view from which to develop notes.
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2010/09/philip-norton-neither-a-new-electoral-system-for-the-commons-nor-an-elected-lords-will-fix-politics.html
Norton suggests that the proposed system of Alternative Vote is rather less fit for purpose than the current First Past the Post system. The peer also believes that the House of Lords does the job it is meant to do admirably well. Norton’s final point is that the system isn’t broken, and doesn’t need fixing - it’s only the politicians who really need to change. The article represents an eloquent and concise conservative defence of the existing system—a very useful read for students needing an articulate point of view from which to develop notes.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Lib Dem Party Conference Starts Today: Clegg to Tread Carefully
For those of you keep an eye on the party conference season (and that should be all of you!), a reminder that the Liberal Democrat party conference starts today. This is the first of the main political parties' conferences this autumn. It is, of course, imbued with "greater than usual" significance now that the Lib Dems are in a coalition government with the Conservatives.
Expect to see some guarded muttering from the Lib Dem rank and file, as well as a few slightly controversial statements from Lib Dem MPs. The BBC has a convenient round-up of what is likely to occur, together with an analysis of the conference's importance to Nick Clegg and his inner circle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11353862
Expect to see some guarded muttering from the Lib Dem rank and file, as well as a few slightly controversial statements from Lib Dem MPs. The BBC has a convenient round-up of what is likely to occur, together with an analysis of the conference's importance to Nick Clegg and his inner circle:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11353862
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Open House London: 18th-19th September
Open House London will run next weekend, an annual extravaganza of the capital's great buildings, many not usually accessible to the public...
There are some fantastic opportunities for interested students of Government and Politics:
Portcullis House will be open to the public both days between 10 am and 5 pm (free!). This is the modern building opposite the Houses of Parliament which houses the administrative offices of many MPs and their staff. Aside from building tours, published highlights will include architectural displays, showings by the team responsible for Big Ben and the Clock Tower, displays regarding the work of Parliament and an exhibition of the work of Simon Roberts, the official artist to the 2010 General Election.
For more details: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/openhouse/
Also open is the opulent Foreign Office (with the adjoining India Office).... Now this is really something to see, a showcase of Britain's imperial past. Open during the same times as Portcullis House, also free (so why not see both on your day out?), visitors will be able to see the splendour in which Foreign Secretary William Hague and his staff work every day... Enter through King Charles Street, according to the web site.
http://www.londonopenhouse.org/public/london/find/detail.asp?loh_id=907
There are some fantastic opportunities for interested students of Government and Politics:
Portcullis House will be open to the public both days between 10 am and 5 pm (free!). This is the modern building opposite the Houses of Parliament which houses the administrative offices of many MPs and their staff. Aside from building tours, published highlights will include architectural displays, showings by the team responsible for Big Ben and the Clock Tower, displays regarding the work of Parliament and an exhibition of the work of Simon Roberts, the official artist to the 2010 General Election.
For more details: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/openhouse/
Also open is the opulent Foreign Office (with the adjoining India Office).... Now this is really something to see, a showcase of Britain's imperial past. Open during the same times as Portcullis House, also free (so why not see both on your day out?), visitors will be able to see the splendour in which Foreign Secretary William Hague and his staff work every day... Enter through King Charles Street, according to the web site.
http://www.londonopenhouse.org/public/london/find/detail.asp?loh_id=907
George Osborne's Secret Plan to Slash Sickness Benefits...
... is the headline in today's Observer newspaper, above an article well worth reading:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/11/george-osborne-slash-sickness-benefits
It seems that 'somebody' has leaked a letter sent by the Chancellor to the PM, to the Deputy PM and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Ian Duncan-Smith, revealing preliminary details of a plan to greatly reduce the amount of public money given to those currently deemed disabled or too ill to work. A total of £2.5 billion by 2014-2015.
Neither the Treasury or Work and Pensions want to take the blame for the leak—although the article suggests that some in Work and Pensions believe it could well have been the Treasury, in an attempt to 'bounce' them into implementing the plan. If that is true, it proves that political skullduggery never goes away for long!
Fairly explosive news, especially considering that the conference season will open tomorrow with the Trades Union Congress in Manchester—we should expect this leak to take pride of place in the unions' preemptive attacks on the Coalition's Spending Review.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/11/george-osborne-slash-sickness-benefits
It seems that 'somebody' has leaked a letter sent by the Chancellor to the PM, to the Deputy PM and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Ian Duncan-Smith, revealing preliminary details of a plan to greatly reduce the amount of public money given to those currently deemed disabled or too ill to work. A total of £2.5 billion by 2014-2015.
Neither the Treasury or Work and Pensions want to take the blame for the leak—although the article suggests that some in Work and Pensions believe it could well have been the Treasury, in an attempt to 'bounce' them into implementing the plan. If that is true, it proves that political skullduggery never goes away for long!
Fairly explosive news, especially considering that the conference season will open tomorrow with the Trades Union Congress in Manchester—we should expect this leak to take pride of place in the unions' preemptive attacks on the Coalition's Spending Review.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Parliament Returns Early: AV Referendum Bill at Top of Agenda
Parliament has returned early to Westminster this year, reconvening today ahead of the party conference season. The Conservative-LibDem Coalition remains very keen to get through its legislative program.
Top showing is debate on the bill to allow for a referendum for introducing the Alternative Vote system to general elections:
MPs to debate AV referendum as summer recess ends (BBC News)
UPDATE: the same BBC article now summarises the result of that debate in the Commons.... It has now passed its Second Reading with a vote of 328 for and 269 against. As the article also makes clear, however, there is still some way to go....!
Top showing is debate on the bill to allow for a referendum for introducing the Alternative Vote system to general elections:
MPs to debate AV referendum as summer recess ends (BBC News)
UPDATE: the same BBC article now summarises the result of that debate in the Commons.... It has now passed its Second Reading with a vote of 328 for and 269 against. As the article also makes clear, however, there is still some way to go....!
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Blair Speaks Out
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair publishes his memoirs today (September 1st), but not before giving a candid interview and sneak preview to the Guardian newspaper...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/31/tony-blair-gordon-brown-disaster (links to more detailed stories appear on the same page)
Top headline (somewhat predictably):
"I knew Gordon Brown would be a disaster".
Tony Blair defends his decision to involve the UK in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He also expresses regret for the ban on fox hunting and for allowing the passage of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Nothing, however, about his government's failure to complete reform of the House of Lords or adopt a fairer voting system. One wonders why the Guardian didn't report anything on these matters. Stay tuned for more revelations after publication at 8 a.m.!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/31/tony-blair-gordon-brown-disaster (links to more detailed stories appear on the same page)
Top headline (somewhat predictably):
"I knew Gordon Brown would be a disaster".
Tony Blair defends his decision to involve the UK in the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He also expresses regret for the ban on fox hunting and for allowing the passage of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Nothing, however, about his government's failure to complete reform of the House of Lords or adopt a fairer voting system. One wonders why the Guardian didn't report anything on these matters. Stay tuned for more revelations after publication at 8 a.m.!
Monday, 23 August 2010
Electoral Commission: Party donations reach record high in 2010
The Guardian today summarises the findings of the Electoral Commission regarding donations to political parties in the run-up to this year's General Election:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/23/party-donations-record-high
Quick summary:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/23/party-donations-record-high
Quick summary:
Donations to political parties reached their highest level on record around this year's general election, it was disclosed today.
A total of £26.3m worth of gifts were reported by 16 parties as having been received in April, May and June, the Electoral Commission said.
The main beneficiaries were the Conservative party, which got £12.3m, Labour, with £10.9m, and the Liberal Democrats, with £2m. ....
The previous record for quarterly political donations was £20.6m, received by parties in January, February and March 2005 ahead of that year's election.
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