UK Politics

  • Westminster Week: Outward focus

    Wednesday

    The Sudanese descent into civil war has taken up newsprint and also makes it into the Commons Chamber as part of an urgent question. Julian Lewis MP (New Forest East/Conservatives) asks if regional powers are likely to be able to intervene in the conflict. Hamish Falconer MP (Lincoln/Labour), a Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the FCDO, declines to answer for internal policy reasons. It’s another case of Parliament being looked to by the world for answers.

    The Royal Gallery in the Lords Chamber is a good way to scope out the work of the nations Upper House for the first time. The presence of school and college-aged groups is a boon for the fortunes of the House, in its relevance and ongoing work. It often finds out more than we expect, and knows more than we’re comfortable with. This makes it a valuable tool if not a resource for democracy in the UK.

  • Call for information: Lobbying fraud

    In a stunning exclusive for Conservative News Site, a so- called “Lobbying Specialist” accused of profiteering by activity in Parliament has now been spotted.

    A suspect alleged of political interference seen here in Reading, Berkshire.

    She’s said to have implicated herself into policy development circles for decades. It involves private meetings and separate discussions with party staff and Civil Servants.

    Any information relating to this individual must be passed to a relevant public body. It will be used to build an accurate case, if one exists.

  • The Conservatives are showing signs of revival

  • Hamas has found friends in the UK

  • Polanski is a crazy firebrand

    The new leader of the Green Party is certainly making waves, but only amongst the membership. His crazy way about politics is hardly endearing to the wider public. He has all sorts of views, far beyond the cosy confines of climate righteousness and into the deep end of an ongoing liberal rights saga. The maelstrom is overwhelming at times and it’s as populist as his targets.

    Zack Polanski speaking at his party’s annual conference in Bournemouth (via YouTube).

    The right way ahead for him is shouting to the rooftops about the same issues as before. He may be able to pump a room but the doorstep is a much different encounter. He needs to find warmth in his soul to counter the arguments people already have. The UK public is dead set against many of the policies he chooses to trumpet, and have long harangued those promoting their worth.

  • Your Party vs. Citizen ID

    The leaders of Your Party have said they oppose the introduction of “Digital ID” cards as a legal requirement. It’s a policy due to be announced today.

    It’s not gone down well with the liberals in UK politics. It’s the same story. The civil liberties argument rests on an assumption the UK state is overzealous.

    It doesn’t ring true. The events at Dover suggests apathy is a bigger problem. The case is for a new generation of enforcers, and they need the tools to do it with.

  • The politics of sympathy is waning

    There’s only so long a complaint can be made until it’s not the issue anymore. There are deeper realities at work that take precedence over momentary concerns. A crisis cannot last a lifetime in politics either. It’s been a while since many of the earlier issues the Left hacked away at slipped out of view.

    This is the troubling fact many on the liberal side of politics now face. They can’t shout for much longer. They can’t expect a hearing forever. It’s got to be government that does it. The crowd has to return home. The lifeblood of much else is lost otherwise.

    However, the determination of those on the anti-State side is a hard nut to crack. Their vigour is misinformed and it makes it difficult to negotiate. Their methods are routes of attacks and so compromise is futile. If people think life and death happens overnight there isn’t much room for a middle ground.

  • Starmer has a new front at the top

    The exit of Angela Rayner MP (Ashton-under-Lyne/Labour) has led to a huge upheaval at the top table by the Prime Minister. He’s made some key changes to his top team.

    His new Deputy is David Lammy MP (Tottenham/Labour), also Justice Secretary. This brings closer another heavyweight as he navigates a difficult Parliament.

    Yvette Cooper MP (Pontefract, Castleford, and Knottingley/Labour) is now Foreign Secretary. It’s not immediately obvious why, considering her previous brief as Home Secretary.

    Shabana Mahmood MP (Birmingham Ladywood/Labour) is now Home Secretary, taking over the Home Office during the Dover Crossings crisis. This is a short straw for her.

  • Dorries defects to Reform

    Nadine Dorries, a former Conservative MP, says she’s defected to Reform UK. It’s a move that further strengths the top tier of the party.

    It may help to bolster the chances of the upstart in a future general election. The evidence so far is the party benefits by such support.

  • The Green Party is out of focus

    The Green Party is a renegade feature in UK politics. It strikes out to represent green issues without apology. It campaigns hard even without the limelight.

    Its lack of prominence means that new things like GB Energy – a Government-owned sponsor of renewables – don’t hit home as a specific win for its way of politics. The truth is, however, green is still on the agenda. It must be to the credit of this party.

    The problems scale out from there. The lack of direction – or focus – in the green movement in the UK is telling in a plethora of names and eccentric events that don’t bite as hard as some hope.

    The slogans, signage, and statements of the mainstream must feel like a whitewash. It’s must look like a denial of the truth. However, their truth needs to come across as more than a feeling and much more like a purpose.

    The success of Mothin Ali, for example, joining Rachel Millward as Deputy Leader of the Green Party yesterday, shows that progress is being made. Ali is an avid gardener and political activist, making links using his local roots.

    This makes sense because it shows what green politics can be locally when so much of the national debate is narrative of back and forth accusation.

  • New Green Party leader elected

    London Assembly member Zack Polanski is the new Green Party leader. Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward both join him as Deputy Leaders.

  • An election today would change things

    If an election is held today, the result may be telling of how the main parties in the Commons are struggling to get through to ordinary people.

    Labour might end up with a much reduced majority, as it’s said, and therefore less authority. Its Plan for Change would stall.

    The Conservatives might not even rise above its 121 last time, but Labour losses might tip it over – if it’s lucky.

    The rise of Reform UK is subject of speculation, but its tally would probably fall far short of its greatest hopes.

    The Liberal Democrats are strong, but its dreams of a heyday are far off and it would probably return a decent outcome.

    If the argument is over handling of issues, the Government can tout its raft of announcements, but one good idea may sink it yet if it gets through to people.

  • Corbyn’s Your Army will march to defeat

    The Jeremy Corbyn controversy continues. His latest attempt to make a success of leadership qualities is Your Party.

    This is a Left-leaning Parliamentary party geared toward those who like to preach at us in public.

    The trouble is Your Army marches into a battlefield of larger competing forces.

    It fails in firepower. The argument for our intervention is based on not-too-distant failed attempts.

    The star power of Corybn is a far cry from the dusty halls of power. It’s in these people fall on their swords.

  • The EU isn’t our paymaster – but it’s powerful

    The EU is a forgotten dream for the few who wanted it. The rest saw better opportunities in its networks – and corridors of power.

    Yet the 2016 referendum unleashed the UK.

    The result separated us from its constraints – and confines – but not its influence.

    It’s more powerful than we are.

    However, the shortcomings of its rule are our old arguments. The position it still has realigns ours.

    The global map offers zero space for our dominance now.

    We have to manage our own affairs.

    We’ve got to be hardworking, keep our place in the world, and be sovereign.

  • Corbyn’s politics is threadbare

    Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North/Independent) is a politician of experience but his politics has lately been vague.

    His Labour roots have given way to a popular sort of radicalism. It espouses great truths yet no solutions to modern problems are forthcoming.

    He preaches from a pulpit that has no further reach but the converted.

    His invitation to the Left to join a new party is a daring escapade. It could pay dividends, or lead to a further impoverishment of politics.