Best of the Politics Blogs
A boxer and a vegan head for Norfolk
Posted by Paul Evans - 13 July 2009 13:47
The eclectic range of candidates for the Norwich North by-election and a reminder of Alan Patridge's journalistic prowess in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
Normal for Norwich
This week the candidates in the Norwich North byelection were been formally announced, although it makes little difference to the parties who have already been campaigning for weeks. The race to fill the seat vacated by Dr Ian Gibson has attracted a clutch of independents, including a former welterweight boxing champ and Craig Murray, whose campaign we have previously noted on Best of the Politics Blogs.
...Gay pride and prejudice
Posted by Paul Evans - 03 July 2009 20:25
Ben Bradshaw's verbal assault on Tory homophobia, the bloggers' boycott of Iranian state TV and the shocking notion of a gay Thatcherite in our weekly round-up of the political blogs.
Pride and Prejudice
"If gays vote Tory they will rue the day very soon,” cautioned Chris Bryant darkly. His comments followed Ben Bradshaw's attack on the Conservatives, warning that a deep strain of homophobia persists in their ranks. The Culture Secretary bares the scars of a nasty and prejudiced general campaign in Exeter 12 years ago, when his oddball Tory opponent Dr Adrian Rogers accused gay people of leading “deviant ...
More corruption, more laws
Posted by Paul Evans - 26 June 2009 16:50
The return of Labour's much-missed pledge card, Craig Murray's buoyant election campaign and Italian dystopianism, in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
Cleaning up with Pledge
Our old friend Tacitus said that “the more corrupt the state, the more laws”. As the flood of astonishing claims finally began to dry up, this was the week when party leaders sought to stamp their authority on the expenses scandal by hammering their tribes into line with rules and diktats. Usefully, this will eliminate the need for any of them waste time searching for a ...
Mesopotamia on the mind
Posted by Paul Evans - 22 June 2009 16:14
Brown's Iraq inquiry, the unmasking of Nightjack and the B52s' Mesopotamia in our weekly round-up of the political blogs.
Inquiring minds
"There will come a time when it is appropriate to hold an inquiry," the prime minister wrote to the Fabian Society's Sunder Katwala last March. The clarification was welcome, but with the inquiry's establishment this week has come discontent sufficient to unite even Justin McKeating and Iain Dale.
Katwala, who had originally called for a public inquiry, noted on Next Left Ed Balls' remark that ...
Still the mad parliament?
Posted by Paul Evans - 12 June 2009 13:43
The 'magisterial' John Bercow, Betty Boothroyd's sharp tongue and why Venezuela has banned Coke Zero, in our weekly round-up of the political blogs.
Field day
The first identifiable speaker of the House, Peter de Montfort, presided over what became known as the “mad parliament”. He was slain in battle, a casualty of the violence that made order in 13th century England.
Less noble, if no less intriguing, the race to succeed the toppled Speaker Martin has exercised citizen journalists this week. Among the most under-rated blogging MPs, Newport West's Paul Flynn ...
Will Sir Alan fire Gordon?
Posted by Paul Evans - 05 June 2009 15:58
Gordon Brown's woes, the triumph of Hartlepool's Monkey and Sir Alan's cabinet appointment in our weekly round-up of the political blogs.
Alea iacta est
“In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have the most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.” - Tacitus
Following the exit of the Home Secretary, the departure of Hazel Blears as minister responsible for local government, on the eve of the local elections seemed to indicate that the Rubicon had been crossed – Brown's removal from office was a matter of “when”, not ...
Euro-ignorance and opportunism
Posted by Paul Evans - 01 June 2009 11:25
The European elections, the photogenic Lebanese and The Byrds' tribute to politicians in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
Not talking Europe
With polls showing Labour trailing in a miserable third place, excitement grows in the blogging community that next Thursday could finally prove the sucker punch that knocks out the prime minister. On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, James Forsyth speculated:
“If the Labour press were to decide Brown has to go because otherwise the party could die, Brown would be in dire trouble.”
But on ...
Snouts in a scandal
Posted by Paul Evans - 15 May 2009 13:00
MPs' expenses, the great grime renaissance and Canberra's Budget lock-in in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
Febrile swine
Members shuffle around Westminster with the air of cheating spouses whose indiscretions have finally been exposed. They keep their eyes down. Some look like they’ve slept in their clothes. You’d almost start to pity them… yet it’s difficult to forget the reason they’re in the doghouse.
We’ve been forking out for their chandeliers.
In the case of David Heathcoat-Amory, we have literally been ...
A perpetually benevolent state
Posted by Paul Evans - 08 May 2009 09:56
Don't know much biology
DNA, according to top boffins and Joe Strummer, is “all coded in the initial phase”. There's no escaping it. And nor should there be according to Harriet Harman, a former legal officer for Liberty, who claims that those who set themselves in opposition to the government retaining our biological essence are “putting themselves against justice”.
The government's almost mockingly modest plans to slim down their ...
Ghurkas and more
Posted by Paul Evans - 01 May 2009 16:16
The plight of the Gurkhas, Obama's 100th day and Jarvis Cocker in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
Ayo Ghurkali!
Nick Clegg had a storming week. In just one day he managed to “own” (as the kids say) over Gurkha resdiency at PMQs, achieve his party's greatest ever parliamentary victory and meet Joanna Lumley. In his day, Ashdown might have conversed with the heroes in Ghurkali before flying off in a helicopter – but Clegg can still be quite pleased.
Reflecting on the party's campaigning success, ...
On expenses
Posted by Paul Evans - 27 April 2009 11:33
MPs' expenses and the South African elections in our weekly round-up of the political blogs
The wages of sin
These are grim times indeed. While I'm re-using my tea bags three, sometimes four times, MPs get their tea in golden cups from John Lewis. Their spouses watch movies at my expense, while I have to listen to the radio because my telly is on the blink. It's not right, is it?
Worry not though – the prime minister has come to the rescue, dramatically pre-empting ...
Fantasy Commons?
Posted by Paul Evans - 17 April 2009 09:20
On sober reflection As McBride tumbled from grace, Guido Fawkes claimed another scalp and took the opportunity to enthusiastically excoriate the craven Lobby. It's enough to make the political classes turn to drink.
Sadly though, those poor soon-to-be jobless dipsomaniacs in Westminster and Whitehall (names shortly to be revealed on my new blog, 'The Red Rug') may find themselves hoisted by their own petard, as ...
A run in with the law
Posted by Paul Evans - 14 April 2009 10:06
Quick Exit It wasn’t the finest week for the boys in blue. When not pointlessly trying to reprimand me for helping myself to the unsold newspapers outside Starbucks, they appear to keep busy by knocking the public around and fatally undermining their own dawn raids. The Guardian’s release of video footage showing non-protester Ian Tomlinson being pushed to the ground, after which he suffered a ...
Black humour in Scotland Yard?
Posted by Paul Evans - 03 April 2009 11:13
The gathering of the clans
Glencoe was the sight of the massacre of the MacDonalds - so it was perhaps not the most prudent name for the police operation to manage demonstrations marking the convergence of G20 leaders on London this week. Black humour in Scotland Yard perhaps?
On the eve of the protests, Socialist Unity predicted police brutality. Recalling Gleneagles, John Wright wrote: “It was inevitable that ...
A brotherhood of bloggers...
Posted by Paul Evans - 27 March 2009 12:53
A thin silver pencil
I was pleased to knock back some free plonk at the Orwell Prize debate on Wednesday, at which the shortlist for the inaugural blog award was announced.
The wonderful Alix Mortimer was first “dumbfounded, and a little shuffly,” in response to her shortlisting – and then irked by Nick Cohen's eccentric behavior during the subsequent debate. Ignoring the proposition (that political parties ...
