The Joy of Six 1421"There was little to no interaction between the three groupings at conference. The main hall hosted debates that were stitched up months ago, when the delegate line-up was elected, and the fringe events largely confirmed prejudices, instead of challenging them. 'This is why we were right all along,' was the lesson learned by all three groups."Seth Thévoz argues that Labour is split into irreconcilable factions. Leo Litra and Gabrielė Valodskaitė say the success of Maia Sandu's pro-EU party in Moldova's parliamentary election holds three valuable lessons for protecting votes from Russian meddling in the future - whether in Moldova or ... (more) |
50 gems from political science: Phil Cowley's new bookThe latest episode of Never Mind The Bar Charts features podcast favourite Phil Cowley talking about his new book, The Smallest Room in the House. It is crammed full of fun yet useful insights from political science. Listen to us talk about Simon Cowell, fish and chip shops, riots, the rise of AI, potholes and more: Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it. Show notes All the fish and chip shops in the UK. Distribution of passport ownership. Causes and Consequences of Electoral Violence 1832-1914. Philip Cowley on Bluesky. Read a ... (more) |
Kosovo Election preview[IMG: View of Pristina] Today, Kosovo returns to the polls in local elections that carry outsized symbolic weight, especially in the capital Pristina. Across 38 municipalities, voters will elect mayors and municipal assemblies - a ritual of grassroots democracy that also doubles as a referendum on national parties and their grip on power. Kosovo gained independence after decades of tension under Serbia, a brutal war in 1998 - 1999 , a decade of UN administration and finally a unilateral Declaration of Independence in 2008 - which whilst wildly recognised by most Western States including UK, France, Germany, USA and most ... (more) |
My Saturday night sacrificeI was reminded yesterday by the chairman of Gateshead West Lib Dem branch that I had promised to check out a venue for our members' annual dinner. Having heard of the awards the Soho Tavern in Kibblesworth had received, I had suggested this was the place to book. However I had to check it out and make a recommendation to the branch executive which meets this week. So I had to sacrifice my (more) |
More pics from the Ryton action dayJust a few more photos from the Lib Dem action day in Ryton yesterday. (more) |
Jerskin Fendrix: Beth's FarmJerskin Fendrix (AKA Joscelin Dent-Pooley) is an English composer and musician best known for his film music. Beth's Farm is a track from his second album, Once Upon a Time in... Shropshire, which was released on Friday. He described its genesis in an interview with The Quietus: "I wanted to write about Shropshire for a long time. And because I was living there from a very young age, I felt so strongly and so sensitively about just the place itself, the nature of it. The forests, the landscapes, the nature of light there, and the animals. But it was all ... (more) |
Mathew meets...Carl Cashman Part 2: My Lib Dem life[IMG: Mathew Hulbert and Carl Cashman resplendent in yellow] In this second part of my interview with Liverpool's Lib Dem Council Group leader Cllr Carl Cashman, we look at how he got interested in the party and his political philosophy. I asked him why the Lib Dems? Fundamentally I'm a Liberal and quite a lot of people forget that in this day and age and they align themselves with a party because of the colour tie they get to where or it's going to do well or because they think that's the party for the working class or that's the ... (more) |
Latest PollBase is out, with all the British voting intention polls since the 1930sWith the end of another, rather interesting, quarter, another update to PollBase, my database of British voting intention opinion polls since the 1930s is now up. It includes the first PM approval ratings from 1938 and first national voting intention scores from 1939. Download the new version here. As well as another three months of data, changes this time include: Various additions and corrections to data from Stonehaven for the 2024 Parliament. P.S. For the very latest polls, see my polling scorecard and for the history of polls, how to spot the good from the bad and what the future ... (more) |
Tom Arms' World ReviewTo lose one prime minister is considered careless. To lose two is incompetence. Three is starting to look like a crisis of leadership. Five in two years is beyond comprehension. Such is the sad tale of French president Emmanuel Macron as Sebastien Lecornu leaves the Hotel Matignon even before he has a chance to deliver his inaugural address to the National Assembly. The root of Macron's evils is, of course, money. But it is further complicated by the thirst for power by France's far left and far right and the president's inability to communicate the necessity of living within one's ... (more) |
Perth Road - 1987 #dundeewestendWith thanks to SJ Bogue and Dundee Memories, Gilbert Grossett's butcher shop on the Perth Road back in 1987. (more) |