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You are here Home | Topics | Britain
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October 08, 2005
By George, I think they've got it!
If Martin Kettle (one of the more sober Guardian columnists) is to be believed, it looks like the Tories may finally have worked out exactly what Tony Blair did to them in 1997. Though he makes an important distinction between the forces of conservatism massing on the banks of the Rubicon and actually crossing them, it does look like the UK might be on the verge of having its first serious opposition in eight, if they make the right choice. [more] October 05, 2005
Giant Public sector lumbering forward
Not the usual gripe about Northern Ireland's employment being sixty per cent reliant on public sector funding. Samizdata picks up a BBC report that says the dymnamic is at work in Britain. A clear opportunity for forward thinking Tories to take on future PM Brown? October 04, 2005
Do the Tories actually like the electorate
There's no doubt that this week's conference in Blackpool is the most important of the big three in Britain. As Phillip Stevens points out in the FT (subs needed): "British democracy has suffered grievously these past few years from the lack of an effective opposition. Try as it may, the BBC’s Today programme is insufficient substitute. So we must hope the Tories are serious". [more] October 03, 2005
How the Tories might just win next time..
Written for the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Simon Kuper has written an outstanding analysis of the challenges facing them. Worth reading by anyone involved in politics. Especially if you're a member of any of Northern Ireland's former 'big fish' parties! [more] September 07, 2005
Irish head the 'New Britons' list...
Interesting figures from the IPPR think tank on the birth places of immigrants to Britain (ie, UK minus NI). The detail is here, complete with maps. The Top Five countries are as follows:
Rep Ireland: 494,850 August 26, 2005
Past the 50 million mark (England's population that is)
In today's Independent there is what some of us might regard as a fitting, if belated, tribute to Malthus' theory of population control. In the 1830's the population of the larger island to the East, taken as a whole, was 10 millions. That of its smaller neighbour was 8. It's interesting to speculate what the combined population of both parts of the island of Ireland would have been if there hadn't been immigration due to the famine ? [more] August 15, 2005
Guy Fawkes anniversary party?
Given recent events in London and the general mood re the 'war on terror', it's probably unlikely that the origianl plans to do something in the Palce of Westminster. However York seems to be more than happy to celebrate one of its most famous sons.... [more] August 12, 2005
Historic murder trial
London-based Irish World reports on an historic murder case where for the first time ever someone will stand trial in Britain for a murder that took place in Ireland. [more] July 22, 2005
Heath: important but not missed...
According to Brian Feeney, it was the grim year of 1972 that changed the trajectory of Ted Heath's Northern Ireland policy from backing Unionists to seeking a long term accomodation with the Catholic minority. In the end he seems to have suffered the worst of both worlds. In Feeney's view, he ended up being resented by both sides. [more] More 'activity' on the tube As they say 'it's all go over here'. I presume we will be hearing more from Ms. Hoey. [more] July 21, 2005
London bombs: the blame game continues
With a second round of bomb attacks on London: none asgoing off, there is considerable heat being generated over the vexed question over the primary cause. Dodgblogium links to Matthew d'Ancona's attack on Ken Livingston's remarks on Radio Four yesterday. [more] July 20, 2005
London's Mayor Blames Middle East Policy
Not sure how many of you were up bright and early this morning and heard Ken Livingstone's interview on R4's Today programme where he spoke very candidly about his views re the bomb attacks on 7th July. [more] July 19, 2005
Ted Heath dies
A bit late, but it would be wrong to let the passing of Ted Heath on Sunday go without marking it. Reputedly a lonely man at the end of his life, he retained little interest in politics after leaving the Commons after 51 years as an MP. His refusal to move up to the Lords alone marked him out as a unusual figure on the Tory benches. In NI he pleased few having, in the space of less than a year, brought in internment and pro-rogued the Stormont parliament. Bloody Sunday also occured on his watch. Brian Walker considers his contribution. [more] July 11, 2005
Blanket descriptions not helpful nor accurate...
In today's Guardian ex nun and Islamic specialist, Karen Armstrong, argues that using blanket terms such as 'Muslim terrorists' is not only inacccurate but counterproductive and urges a more informed opinion/analysis of islamic religion which is not a monolithic entity as we would like to believe. [more] July 09, 2005
A pint for the London emergency services?
Nosemonkey, along with a few other Brit Bloggers did a great job keeping readers up to date on Thurday and after. Now, after an approach by a US reader who wanted to do something directly for the people involved in the clear up and rescue operations, he's offered to buy several pints for some of the police who were on duty that day on behalf of his remote readers. He also has details of the official appeal funds. Rumour Mill: Algerian connexion to bombers? We are hearing that one of the main lines of inquiries on the London bombers is that the bombers may have been a team from Algeria, who entered Britain through France. It is further rumoured that the French police have a presence in Britain to help track the surviving bombers down - they're thought to be part of a cell that the French busted a couple of weeks ago. NB This remains a rumour at present, but we recommend you keep an eye on the UK papers tomorrow for confirmation or denial of an Algerian link. July 08, 2005
London death toll between 50 & 100
The BBC is now revising its previous low overnight estimate, and is now saying that the final figure for those who died yesterday morning will not be less than 50 (the figure the Italian interior minister gave early yesterday afternoon - thanks BK) but will not top 100. Livingstone: the power of a free society... Even Ken Livingstone's most ardent political opponents would find little in his emotional speech yesterday in Singapore, before returning to London, to argue with. It got particularly powerful towards the end, when he addressed the bombers directly: [more] July 07, 2005
London Helpline number...
Casualty hotline number for those with friends or relatives in London this morning - 0870 1566 344. Blair to return to London... It seems Tony Blair is to leave the other leaders at the G8 meeting in Gleneagles to return to London. Of the 1000 Metropolitan officers on duty in Scotland several specialists may be picked out to return to the capital. Blair is expected to arrive back in Scotland this evening. Update: BBC saying it looks like it could be Al Queda. Nothing definate though. As Pete says, keep your eye on Neil McIntosh for fresh news and the extraordinary wikipedia. And Blair's statement. Update to the update: BBC have just repeated Ansa's report that 50 have died without confirming it. A previously unknown group has claimed it for Al Queda. London shuts down...Given I was in London only yesterday (thus the pacity of blogging from me) this morning's news has a greater shock value. Now it seems the tube network is effectively closing down. The death toll is likely to rise during the day, but current estimates are about 20. It appears at least one bus has been ripped apart in Russell Square. It looks like a co-ordinated attack on London's transport infrastructure. Up-date: We're hearing via the BBC that all public transport in Croydon has closed. Mainline stations are being closed too. And the M25 is said to be choc-a-block with people trying to get away from the city. June 17, 2005
The professionalisation of party politics
An interesting and uncommonly informative leader from today's Guardian, which urges the Conservative Party not to rush to the business of being Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition too quickly, but rather to cogitate further on the reasons for their current position, and on how they might get out of it. [more] June 06, 2005
Honey I shrunk the Scots?
Has Accountability Bloke (aka Mel Dubnick) has found some evidence of strains in the Kingdom? Some Scots are not happy with the new map projection which seems to shrink the physical size of Scotland on the new BBC weather forecast. Another fiendish conspiracy hatched in the South East of England? (Well, actually the Met Office headquarters is now firmly ensconced in the West Country) May 26, 2005
Devolution is the name of the game...
Tom Griffin of the London-based Irish World looks at the current state of devolved politics in Britain and Northern Ireland and argues that " Today, devolution is the only real integration, because ironically, Britain itself is becoming more nationalist and less unionist" [more] May 24, 2005
Quote of the day...
From the BBC Magazine today: "Stuttering, meandering and generally pointless speeches go down well with us old boys"Veteran MP Nigel Evans on advice to new members May 22, 2005
Tories: the once and future government?
As follow up to the excellent analysis and discussion on this thread, the Today programme yesterday announced their survey of Tory Party Chairmen which seems to signal a willingness to let the party's MP's have a greater say in who leads them after Michael Howard. Michael Heseltine said the party's voluntary activists were 'not representative of the middle ground that we have got to regain if there's a chance of a Tory government'. His tip was Ken Clarke on the 'left' of the party, but the internal money is going to David Davies. Here's the rest of the field. New rules announced tomorrow. May 18, 2005
Will they or won't they?
Veteran Labour politican Tony Benn has suggested that Sinn Fein should take their seats in Westminster. He fully understands their abstentionist position but he thinks now is th right time and it would make political sense. He himself has had problems with swearing an oath of allegaince to the Queen and argues that the oath of allegiance should be to one's constituents. Will his words fall on deaf ears? May 16, 2005
Sinn Fein not the only MPs not to take oath
The ever informative Guy Fawkes' blog has a little snippet that there might be another MP not taking the oath to Her Majesty. Not this time an objection to the 'British Queen' but the erstwhile "Member for Baghdad Central & Bethnal Green" is off in America defending himself against allegations and will not be back in time to take his oath. He therefore faces a £500 fine and the vacation of his seat should he set foot in the Commons. Maybe like the Members for West Belfast, Newry & Armagh, Fermanagh South Tyrone, Mid Ulster and West Tyrone he'll just be content with his offices and expenses at Westminster. BBC's objectivity criticised In today's Guardian an ex BBC reporter (Robin Aitken) accuses the Beeb of 'institutionalised leftism'' and also thinks that the UUP got a rough ride at their hands. He doen't make any specific reference to BBC NI... May 13, 2005
Strange bedfellows or new best friends.....?
A bit of speculation in yesterday's London Evening Standard (Londoner's Diary page) where 'Gorgeous George' (Galloway) will sit when the House of Commons resumes and he doesn't have many options. I have transcribed the article verbatim as not all news stories/articles have links. " More trouble for George Galloway, after he latest allegations about Iraqi oil vouchers. The new MP for Bethnal Green may hav won a seat in the Commons - but where does he sit? he is plainly not welcome with his former Labour colleagues. Nor wit the ories or Lib Dems. The likely poutcome? Siting with the Rev Ian Paisley and the DUP. What perfect bedfellows. (Londoner's Diary - The Evening Standard 12.05.05) |
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