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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

“George Wassouf used to be good, but now he sounds like a cow. I blame drugs,” Ahmad quips, and puffs on his nargilee pipe. When he jokes about the Syrian music scene, the 26 year-old student is animated. But when politics are discussed his voice becomes a low and measured whisper.

As you sit, drinking tea on a warm evening in Damascus, it is easy to forget that you're in [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 paying for their [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]