James Macintyre's Blog, page 7

The fight between the Miliband brothers: an update

On real differences, foreign affairs, "pandering" and the key question of this contest.

This is by way of an unscientific, inconclusive and incomplete collection of thoughts on the Labour leadership after several weeks abroad during what may have been the calm before the storm of the Labour leadership and its conclusive stages.

It is not rocket science to say the race is now strictly between the brothers, David and Ed Miliband, about whom you can read at more length here.

What is much less c...

What exactly did the Bank of England governor tell Nick Clegg during the coalition talks?

Did the establishment ensure a Tory-led government?

Back in May, I speculated in a piece about the breakdown of Labour-Lib Dem coalition talks, on whether "establishment figures" -- such as, say, the governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King -- may have leaned on Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, with a view to ensuring a Conservative-led government.

My punt came at a time when some rather odd incidents were occurring, such as a Facebook page with hundreds of supporters urging Clegg not...

What exactly did the Bank of England Governor tell Nick Clegg during the coalition talks?

Did the Establishment ensure a Tory-led government?

Back in May, I speculated in a piece about the breakdown of Labour-Liberal coalition talks, on whether "Establishment figures" -- such as, say, the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King -- may have leant on Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, with a view to ensuring a Conservative-led government.

My punt came at a time when some rather odd incidents were occurring, such as a Facebook page with hundreds of supporters urging Clegg not to g...

Cameron is right to talk up Turkey's EU membership

The Tory right, and some in Labour, are getting Turkey's human rights record the wrong way around.

David Cameron is currently in Turkey, encouraging trade links, amid speculation that the Prime Minister is in favour of Turkish membership of the European Union.

The very idea is being described as risking "fury on the Tory right", with the Conservative MEP Roger Helmer insisting: "British voters won't stand for Turkish membership -- nor will other EU states."

The argument is that that the...

The coalition makes welcome U-turn over rape

Men will not be granted anonymity.

The government is denying that it is a U-turn but it is -- and a very welcome one, at that. The surprise (and, frankly, bizarre) plan by the Conservative-Liberal coalition to grant anonymity to men accused of rape in England and Wales has today been reversed.

It may be belated but it is the right decision, and one that, with luck, will bring closure to the controversial issue. The right-wing media have long portrayed some rape victims as liars and yet the ...

The coalition's welcome U-turn over rape

Men will not be granted anonymity.

The government is denying that it is a U-turn but it is -- and a very welcome one, at that. The surprise (and, frankly, bizarre) plan by the Conservative-Liberal coalition to grant anonymity to men accused of rape in England and Wales has today been reversed.

This may be belated but it is the right decision and one that, with luck, will bring closure to the controversial issue. The right-wing media have long portrayed some rape victims as liars and yet...

Why the

Criticisms from Tory right are useful for Cameron and Clegg.

The theme of anger aimed at the coalition from the Tory right is becoming such common currency in Westminster that even John Redwood has been forced to deny joining a "Brokeback Club", named after David Davis's remarks attributed to Lord Ashcroft, comparing David Cameron and Nick Clegg to the two gay cowboys in the Hollywood film.

In reality, such rumblings play straight into the hands of the Cameron and Clegg camps, who seem...

Do the Lib Dems still have a voice, or have they been smothered?

Cameron should allow coalition partners room to breathe

The Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron's out-spoken and open comments on the BBC's World at One, in which he says his party is providing "cover" for the "toxic" Tories, give a rare glimpse of the mind-set of quite a few Lib Dem MPs, many of whom are starting to think about their seats amid tumbling poll ratings. Farron, to be fair, has always believed the coalition is an awkward ideological fit, but a number of other Lib Dems at...

Labour

The harsh timing of the NEC

Labour's leadership hopefuls must write two victory speeches they may well never deliver

The harsh timing of the NEC's accouncement.

Spare a thought for the Labour leadership contenders. Not only are they having to endure some 56 hustings in total over this long summer (while they compete with a brand new coalition government for media attention) but, a source in one camp has just told me, they face another ordeal altogether.

Voting takes place across the different elements of the party and its affiliated bodies between 16 August to 22 September, with the result announced by...