Why does the UK handle budgets like this?Another budget, and another set of parliamentary debates - and newspaper comments - that will generate much heat but very little light about the choices Britain faces in raising state revenue and funding public services. Since Margaret Thatcher used revenues from North Sea oil and receipts from privatization to fund current spending through asset sales rather than higher taxes, Britain has been stuck with a false self-image that we can be a country of both lower taxes than our continental counterparts and comparably generous public services. Brexit of course, with its consequences in in depressing economic growth, has made the ... (more) |
The Coffin Mill of old #dundeewestendThis is a great historic photograph of the entrance to Pleasance Court - 'the Coffin Mill' - before it was converted to housing. (more) |
Government in turmoilThe Independent reports that Labour MPs are said to be plotting to oust Sir Keir Starmer, despite the prime minister welcoming rebellious backbenchers back into the fold. The paper says that the plot has its origins in the despair about the party's poll ratings and concern that the government may break Labour's manifesto promise not to raise income tax to fill a hole in the public finances, suggesting that there is mounting discontent among Labour backbenchers: While a challenge against the prime minister is not thought to be imminent, a number of MPs, cabinet ministers and party strategists told The ... (more) |
Streetgate Remembrance displayThank you to Planting Up Sunniside for the Remembrance display in Streetgate. (more) |
Whickham South and Sunniside action dayWe had a team of 10 in Whickham South and Sunniside today to deliver our latest Focus newsletters. My original plan was to do one edition for the whole ward but we had too much to report on. So we had two editions instead, one for Sunniside and the villages and one for Whickham South. Thanks to everyone who helped. Most of the ward is now delivered. We have a small number of patches still (more) |
High Flying Around: Memories of the 1960s Leicester Music Scene Volume II by Shaun KnappIn Leicester this afternoon, I called in at the launch of Shaun Knapp's book High Flying Around: Memories of the 1960s Leicester Music Scene Vol II. As the publisher's website says: High Flying Around Volume II continues the remarkable story of Leicester's 1960s arts and music scene via the people who were there. Their memories and reminiscences bring back to life the buildings long since demolished, the groups who packed out the venues and the people who filled the halls and clubs. Find out how some of the biggest names in music performed in some of Leicester's smallest and long-lost ... (more) |
Fail Safe: the film overshadowed by Dr. StrangeloveI've popped up on a movie podcast: A 1964 film about accidental nuclear war from a legendary director and featuring a German scientist with homicidal ideas? That's right, it's Dr Strangelove... hang on, no, it's Fail Safe. Overshadowed on release because of a lawsuit from a rival film (you can guess which), this parable from Sidney Lumet has come to be regarded as a classic, with fans including George Clooney. The Ocean's 11 star couldn't be with us to make the case for it himself, so we're joined by a man known to many as the Clooney of British politics, ... (more) |
Observations of an Expat: Court with a BackboneIt has been a bad week for President Donald J. Trump. He was overwhelmingly trounced in every election held this week. The Democrats exceeded all expectations. Then Pope Leo criticised his human rights record. A former chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said that his missile attacks on Venezuelan boats were a "crime against humanity". The government shutdown entered a record week and Transport Secretary Sean Duffy warned that he would have to start cancelling flights. But perhaps the most impactful event occurred not at the polling stations but in the dusty and cerebral corridors of the US Supreme ... (more) |
Latest voting intention and leadership ratings opinion pollsWelcome to my summary of the latest national voting intention polls for the next general election, along with the latest MRP projections and party leadership ratings. If you'd like to find out more about how polls work, how reliable they are and how to make sense of them, check out my book, Polling UnPacked: the History, Uses and Abuses of Political Opinion Polls, or sign up for my weekly email, The Week in Polls: General election voting intention polls PollsterConLabLDGrnRefLab leadFieldwork Opinium 17% (-1) 20% (nc) 12% (nc) 11% (-1) 33% (+3) -13% (vs Ref) 5-7/11 GB Find Out Now ... (more) |
Sheep in nappy spotted on Polish high-speed trainThe judges were in no doubt: Notes from Poland wins Headline of the Day. There will, as they observed, be dancing in the streets of Kraków tonight. (more) |