Rats in a Sack (and not understanding AV!)
The Cooper and Burnham camps have traded blows over their views on Mr Corbyn and their place in the contest. A spokesman for the former said on Monday that Mr Burnham should “step back and leave it to...
View ArticleBritish left vulnerable to hunger after welfare reforms, warns Justin Welby
Initially I read the above Guardian headline as referring to the “British Left” being vulnerable before realising that it was about something far more serious – or something that should be more...
View ArticleLabour won’t find its soul by navel gazing
… last year’s election defeat could be reduced to two key factors – Labour’s failure to pay enough attention to “economic competence”, and the fact that “the public did not perceive Ed Miliband as a...
View ArticleThe Crisis of Indirect Democracy and its Consequences
Indirect democracy is a fragile child. In effect we say we (“democratically”) elect representatives to a body that then “does governing for us”. This is in stark contrast to direct democracy – which in...
View ArticleTrump and Brexit
I would like to write him off, but Trump did win the Republican Nomination even though so many commentators said he was a joke. Why did he win the nomination? He has plugged into something that most...
View ArticleEnemies of the People
The country is split; horribly horribly split. This week’s High Court judgement has opened the split even more. But dig deeper and it is not a Brexit vs Anti-Brexit split. It is a deeper and more...
View ArticleReasons to be Fearful – 1,2,3
Putin May Trump Possibly in that order! Putin Putin is the most dangerous because even though his objectives are very clear (respect for him within Russia, and respect for Russia outside Russia) there...
View ArticlePressing the Button for Point of No Return
I am watching as my parliament seems to be taking the most stupid decision that I have seen them take in my lifetime. (498 Votes for – 114 Votes against – 38 abstentions) No this is not a decision to...
View ArticleAn Outside View
Sometimes it is sobering to read an outsider’s view of you. Today is one of those days. It does not help that I am already feeling depressed and not able to see a positive future. Some people say that...
View ArticleA Failure of Parliamentary Democracy – the ongoing tale
We are being failed by Parliament - which is meant to be the corner stone of our Representative Democracy. But it is not representative and consequently it is questionable if it is democratic
View ArticleThinking the Unthinkable
What to do if convinced - the country is going in the wrong direction - you have no #democratic agency - you believe an informed majority would agree with you - you are not a military #dictator in...
View ArticleOpen Letter to Pod Save the UK
Dear Coco & Nish I have just been listening to your podcast, Is Keir Starmer a Kid Starver? (Crooked Media: Pod Save the UK 20/07/23) and was struck by the juxtaposition of your obvious concerns...
View ArticleThe Constituency Link
The idea that FPTP should be retained to "maintain the constituency link", is a fiction. Systems like STV reinforce the link with constituents and their constituency by bringing better representation...
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