Stephen Hester’s Bonus

January 28, 2012 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This has been a complete and utter disaster for the Government and shows, once again, questions about Cameron’s judgement, especially in the area of what is acceptable and what is not. It has been good for Ed Milliband who has scored points off Cameron by accusing him of a lack of leadership. The issue is […]

Michael Gove Passes The Test

January 13, 2012 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This blog was very critical of Michael Gove at the outset of his appointment as Education Secretary. My experience of educating an extended family over a span of forty odd years and two terms as a secondary school governor, convinced me that the current problems lay with an unsuitable curriculum, a squeamish approach to discipline, slavish adherence […]

Scottish Independence

January 12, 2012 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This proposition has moved from the fringe of British politics to centre stage. That is good. Scotland is now and always has been, a separate country. Its tribal origin is different to England. It was never conquered by the Romans, nor the Normans. It has its own legal and educational systems. It issues its own banknotes. […]

Ed Milliband

January 11, 2012 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This blog tries to remain impartial in its criticism or praise of party leaders, but it also has a record of giving comfort to those in trouble. We have been recently dismissive of Ed. The time has come to think a little deeper. There is no doubt that Ed’s performance as a barnstorming leader, harrying […]

2012: The Three Leaders

December 31, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

Of the three main party leaders, Cameron has ended 2011 on an unexpected high. He has had a difficult year dogged by judgment questions, made HD by his misplaced loyalty to Coulson and his slow reaction when phone hacking went viral. Libya could have been a disaster, but for the time being appears a success. […]

Labour’s Challenge

December 29, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

The dynamic of politics, as the New Year approaches, is in some ways unexpected. The Coalition remains focused with a clear agenda and policies to give it effect. These policies may not be popular, but there is an aura of firm government and pursuing the national interest, even if there is argument as to what […]

2012: A Wish List

December 28, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

The upcoming year is one of the most difficult to predict in terms of outcome. Instead this blog lists a few things which need to happen. Eurozone We have to have some clarity here. The ECB has come up with some medium term loans for banks which were hoovered up by these cash strapped institutions, many […]

Euro, Debt and Realism

December 19, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

Gradually irresistible logic and common sense are beginning to drive decisions. It is no longer assumed the euro will survive and everybody is now beginning to plan for its demise, if not totally, in its present form. If it does survive all countries remaining in it will have to adopt economic polices and rules set down by […]

Euro: End Game?

December 14, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

The fallout form the Veto continues. Of much greater importance is the outcome of the summit itself. This may turn out to be the last summit at which there was any prospect for the survival of the Euro. Looking back since the crash and especially over the last two years there has been meeting after […]

That Veto

December 12, 2011 By Malcolm Blair-Robinson

This dynamics surrounding this unexpected move by Cameron, taken in the middle of the night, following a long day, are still rather obscure. In the end it looks as if he felt he had to do something to appease the huge eurosceptic wing of his party. It would surely have been better to say that […]