Best of the Politics Blogs

Labour pains

Cliches about the Beatles and miniskirts were being wheeled out, as Labour suffered its worst hammering at the polls since the 1960s - slipping to third place nationally, on just 24% of the vote. The Tories surged to 44%, while the Lib Dems experienced neither great gains or losses. Some blogs, including Guido Fawkes decided to host Live Chats, while the BBC co-opted citizen journalists  read more

Creating a Spink

Perhaps encouraged by last week’s tittle-tattle about UKIP members getting laid, former Tory MP Bob Spink this week joined the anti-EU party, despite apparently having previously rubbished the suggestion. He now sits as their only MP in the Commons.

Rhetorically Speaking provided a little background on the charming Bob, painting a picture which he claims is:

“…possibly not the image of moral values that ... read more

Idol promises

It’s been another rough week for our esteemed premier. After taking a battering over China last week, his visit to America seems to have been overshadowed by the simulataneous touring of a Pontiff. And higher matters were exercising “religio-political” blogger Archbishop Cranmer. Noting Brown’s sign-off “thank you and God bless you all,” delivered at his appearance on American Idol, he wondered whether the Prime Minister’s ease with ... read more

Brown China

The week began with mounting outrage at the behavior of the Chinese government’s “flame attendants,” who had been tasked with ensuring the smooth passage of the Olympic torch through London on Sunday. The sight of these “security thugs” barking orders at Konnie Huq made a few blogger stomachs churn.

The decision of Aussie premier Kevin Rudd to speak out strongly against China’s actions in Tibet prompted comparisons ... read more

The prospect of Harriet Harman facing the combined wits of William Hague and Vince Cable at PMQs this week had much of the blogosphere drooling into their branflakes. Recess Monkey, for one, reported Labour fears that she was going to be toasted.

But it was not the case, and after a strong and spirited clash with Hague, many Tories conceded that she had performed well, even managing to ... read more

Sark-astic Britain

As Mrs Miggins said of the fleeing French aristos in Blackadder the Third: “ooh la la and an éclair for both of us!” The visit of diminutive French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his glamorous other half has caused a stir in Westminster this week, but bloggers saw cracks in the gloss. Iain Dale has not yet been won over by “France’s Thatcher”. Sensing demagoguery in his eyes, ... read more

We’re all doomed?

The prospect of global economic disaster has been keeping bloggers awake this week. A troubling Monday on Wall Street was followed on Tuesday by an admission from the US Treasury Secretary that the American economy is in "sharp decline." Aware that when our cousins sneeze we all end up feeling distinctly sub-prime, British bloggers swung into action. Some interesting analysis was offered at the wittily named ... read more

Booze Up

In his first Budget, Alistair Darling handed down an extra £17 for poor one-child families. Which now buys either a pint of lager or half a pack of cigarettes. Bloggers struggled to find inspiration in either Darling’s announcements or delivery.

Former lobby hack Paul Linford found it “undoubtedly the most politically unexciting Budget since 1997,” while Lynne Featherstone MP thought it was “even more ... read more

Lisbon voyage

The Commons vote on whether Britons should be granted a referendum over the Lisbon Treaty has set keyboards tapping over the past few days. Generating most excitement was the resignation of Lib Dem frontbenchers over their leader's decision to impliment a three-line whip, ordering MPs to abstain. Party activist Linda Jack is among those backing the rebels. On Wednesday she wrote:

"Both David Heath and ... read more

With just two months until the London mayoral election, the campaign trail is picking up pace in the blogosphere.

Earlier in the week, Mike Smithson at Political Betting called the election “by far and away the biggest political betting event in the UK this year is,” despite the lack of polls. But later that day Anthony Walls at UK Polling Report resists the bendy bus analogy ... read more

In the week Fidel Castro declared he would not complete his half century as leader of Cuba, the blogosphere said farewell to the longest ever serving communist leader.

Conservative Party Retile, who fears an “endless hagiographic encomia” from the BBC and Channel 4 following the announcement, writes: “Rather like one of his speeches, you rationally knew it would come to an end at some point, but had trouble really ... read more

As Prince Charles used his address to the European Parliament to outline the need to act on climate change, it was interesting to note the differing views bloggers took depending on their political allegiance.

The Lib Dems concerned themselves with the content of the speech. Wit and Wisdom picks up with the military lexicon used: “The use of such language seems to be missing a trick, as any politician ... read more