It was widely declared, especially by this blog, that Boris was a clown, a showman, a liar and incompetent. There were two reasons for this. One was that this was the personna Boris on purpose presented. Second he is evasive over detail when questioned and refuses interviews with forensic interrogators. In fact he appears to […]
To describe the outcome as a disaster for Labour is not an exaggeration. But to describe it as a calamity is. In spite of everything Corbyn received 10.2 million votes, which was better than Milliband 1n 2015, Brown in 2010 and even Blair in 2005. This supports the Labour claim that their manifesto was popular. […]
I am going to start with the Liberal Democrats because they are widely reported as having a disaster. They lost their leader and did not break through except in, I think three constituencies, one in Scotland and two in the south of England. But once again, if you look at the figures, they added 1.3 […]
A lot of stuff is being said by worn out commentators, some of which is just not true. The truth lies in the figures. Here are some interesting ones. There will be more in the coming days but these are the basics mid-morning Friday. That Stonking Great Mandate The total number of votes cast for […]
The country is at last voting after a campaign which lacked sparkle, like the turbulent weather and short winter days. The darkness matching the dark mood in the country. Polls tell us to expect more Johnson Getting Brexit Done. They do not tell us what exactly that means nor, having technically set off from the […]
With a few days to go it is time for undecided voters to make up their minds how they are going to cast their vote and time for tribal voters to reaffirm their loyalty to their party, or to desert it for a greater good. It is also time for this blog to stick its […]
NATO was set up to confront the Soviets and prevent the Communist superpower advancing West. Stalin had managed to occupy and retain half Germany and all of Eastern Europe at the end of WWII. When the Soviet Union collapsed, its own defence treaty organisation collapsed too. The Warsaw Pact was disbanded. NATO was designed to […]
What a mess. In the run up to Christmas we are once again faced with rail strikes which make commuting exhausting and stressful while infuriating everybody except the obdurate franchise holders and the incompetent Tory government, under whose bizarre free enterprise or bust ideology they function. The RMT has right on its side. Every train […]
The Tory media feeding frenzy on Corbyn is in full cry. This is because Tory canvassers are reporting disquiet on working class and suburban doorsteps, votes they must win, lukewarm about their own safety first manifesto. Meanwhile in spite of the attacks on him on every front and ridiculing of his every appearance, Labour maintains […]
It is very unsatisfactory if faith leaders from whatever calling enter into the political debate, the more so when the country is polarised, angry and in the midst of an unprecedented election. Especially if it is directed at specific parties or individuals. Whatever the provocation and however justified the observation or complaint is, such interventions […]