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Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

This week sees the publication of Alistair Darling’s memoirs covering the period that he was Chancellor when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. Along with previously published tomes of the like from those who were intimately involved with the “New Labour” Government, it does not make for good reading.

That Gordon Brown was/is a dysfunctional creature with a far greater opinion of his own abilities than the facts demonstrate is by now a “given” and from that arises perhaps the most interesting question of the lot, the one raised by John Rentoul writing in The Independent on Sunday: “Why wasn’t he stopped ? http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-why-did-nobody-stop-gordon-brown-2348855.html

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The ever interesting journalist John Rentoul wrote an article in The Independent on Sunday comparing Clegg with Cameron and in particular, how Cameron understands the necessity of the “impossible promise” that chimes with the public sentiment whereas Clegg doesn’t. As ever, an interesting article that takes an amusing sideways view at the Coalition and well worth a read: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-coalition-doesnt-work-for-clegg-2345088.html

Perhaps what lies behind this is the view that this “Coalition” may well prove to be a one off that will not last beyond this Parliament but it has been an interesting “experiment” none the less that for me has thrown up some surprises.

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There was an interesting article by John Rentoul in the Independent in which he was speculating about any ambitions Boris Johnson, Mayor of London might have for the Tory Leadership. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-what-can-boris-johnson-be-up-to-2319519.html

Whilst an amusing article to breakaway from the rather tedious “hacking scandal” and avoiding writing about the pointless horror inflicted in Norway this Friday by some demented and evil man, it opens up a number of broader and more serious thoughts concerning a rather murky and unknown future for not just the UK but the world as well.

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The latest bit of scandal that has fallen into the hands of the Daily Telegraph concerns leaked papers from the “Desk of Ed Balls” that chronicle his involvement in the coup/negotiations to remove Blair and replace him with Brown after the 2005 Election. These papers include hand written notes by Brown commentating on Blair’s written proposals in a highly derogatory manner.

When approached by the media, Balls was his usual simpering, denying self, a pose we have seen before. Of course there was no plot, these were just part of the normal political negotiations between two people who disliked each other, I was just helping… Yes Pinocchio and what is this really about ?

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Whilst I appreciate that in earning a living political journalists need to make lots of fuss about these things and most certainly some of the average members of the LibDems will be running around in a blind panic fearing carving knives about to cut off their tails, but what happened the other Thursday has little to do with Nick Clegg having been outsmarted by the Tories or making poor judgement calls.

But still the headlines proliferate as in this one from the BBC: ‘Elections will force Lib Dems to face identity crisis’ By James Landale at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13325236

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As I start to write this, not quite all the results of last night’s Local, Celtic National and AV Referendum results are in but way more than sufficient to describe the outcomes and the shape of the “story” if not complete in every detail.

The most obvious headlines focus on just how much of a kicking the LibDems got, how lightly the Conservatives got off and that for the first time the SNP have a majority in the Scottish Parliament. The story for Labour is hardly worth bothering with and as Ed Miliband is such a daft looking bloke, I didn’t want to spoil my banner picture by including him in it.

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Although to be expected from a left leaning newspaper written by and for the “Chattering Metropolitan Classes”, there was an interesting Editorial in the Independent on whether capturing Osama Bin Laden would have been better than shooting him and then burying him at sea. Whilst I think that the Americans were correct, it is a valid question to raise: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-nagging-questions-that-refuse-to-go-away-2278947.html

If you read the article, do read the comments from readers, we seem to have our fair share of ‘conspiracy theorists’ here in the UK today.

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As ever, the Independent in another half baked Editorial advises people to vote YES to changing the voting system from First Past the Post to the Alternative Vote where people vote for the candidates in order of their preference. This is not proper Proportional Representation for those who believe in that, frankly it is just tinkering with the system for no good reason. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-just-say-yes-to-voting-reform-2278567.html

In reality there is a reason which is simply that it was part of the Coalition Agreement and Nick Clegg needed to see the Referendum delivered in order to demonstrate to his own party members that being part of the Government does bring benefits and the achievement of ‘cherished goals’ not otherwise possible by them just being in Opposition. My own prediction is that the “NO’s” will have it tomorrow and the LibDems will have to accept: “Wrong time and wrong place” as a consequence.

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The other day John Rentoul wrote a very interesting piece in The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-rentoul/john-rentoul-david-dear-a-word-of-advice-2275574.html

At his best John Rentoul is very definitely one of the best journalists writing in the broadsheet British Media today, I posted a short note to say excellent and well done stuff… The responses from other commentators was quite amusing which led me to ponder certain other things in our increasingly angry and frustrated society…

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It is still, I find surprising how a news item or story can trigger a sudden and on the surface at least, a new insight into topics I have previously expressed an opinion on. The Independents occasional correspondent in Paris wrote upon the loss of the European Unity Ideal which, you can check out for yourself: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/john-lichfield/john-lichfield-european-unity-is-an-ideal-that-is-being-crushed-by-crude-nationalism-2273768.html

Although not his intention I am sure, it made me realise just how far and fast the ‘argument’ has moved on and at some speed since 2008…

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