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Perhaps the most enduring part of Ed Miliband’s conference speech 10 day ago wasn’t the energy policy he outlined, but his charge against David Cameron.
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Standing up for your Dad isn't particularly strong, I assume the Cameron and Clegg would do the same, especially if it was from someone recognised as an enemy.
Criticising a friend is far braver. Having a go at the Guardian or Mirror would be brave. That's why the proof of the pudding will be in what he says/does about Len and Unite.
Kinnock took on Militant, the Badger took on the "forces of Hell" and Brown, Ed has ... we wait to see.
Poll impact thus far has been almost negligble. Ed may well get a bounce in the next MORI Leaders' ratings. But it's bread and butter politics that seals political fates. And an ever recovering economy isn't going to help the reds.
What next, maybe he'll go totally leftfield and hate on Norman Tebbitt
But the ultimate battle here isn't versus the press, it's versus the Tories. And Labour aren't the underdogs there, so why break from convention? Presumably they felt they were in danger of becoming the underdogs.
Also, Mike, I really don't think party political sloganeering such as "Strong against the weak, weak against the strong." really belongs in a PB leading article. I appreciate Henry's views and the expertise he brings to the site, but there ought to be a line somewhere.
Is it? Whats the evidence for that? Genuine question.
Remind me again, which party was it who's last leader hosted sleepovers for Rebekah Brooks at Chequeres, and who's last leader but one is godfather to Rupert Murdoch's child?
"siding with the richest earners to cut their income taxes"
Quick question, yes or no answer please - are taxes on richest earners higher or lower now than they were during the entire period Labour were in office?
"to imposing the ‘bedroom tax’"
Remind me again, which government was it that first introduced the "bedroom tax" for private sector properties?
"Whatever the strengths or limitations of such a policy, it looked hideous and Labour need to draw much more attention to it."
And there we have Labour in a nutshell. It doesn't matter if a policy is good or bad or helps or damages Britain - the important thing is whether it can be used as the basis of a smear. And these are the people who want to lecture us about decency and standards in public life?
Jeremy Hunt @Jeremy_Hunt
Shocking revelations on @andyburnhammp’s attempts to cover-up failing hospitals. We’re legislating to make sure this can never happen again.
He seems to be more suited to and comfortable being a guerrilla fighter than articulating a coherent strategy for government, a conference speech that had nothing to say about the economy, welfare, immigration and education was testimony to that.
It's also way to soon to jump to any conclusions about how successful his strategy is. If the 2 opinion polls out today show anything it's that there is all to play for and continued economic improvement can surely only benefit the Tories.
It was not intended, I am sure, but the man in the cartoon bears a rather unflattering resemblance to my father. Will you please issue an apology and ask your resident cartoonist to desist.
I also think the picture of the rodent is demeaning, and implies that he cannot write properly. Again an apology would be in order.
Whilst about it, can you please apologise for not apologising sooner, and issue further apologies to all your other PB posters who you have insulted in the past, or are likely to insult in the future.
Thank you
Ed Dacre-Smith
Grant Shapps is a total twerp, I can't believe he is comparing an accusation of tax avoidance (which is legal, just a bit grubby), with an accusation of basically being a traitor to ones (adopted) country.
PB's commentariat are a pretty smart lot for the most part - so naturally tend more to the right.
The Henry Friday article is always an injection of lefty claptrap to even things up a bit. That's fair dinkum.
This week we have, for example, learned that Ed is:
Bold
Decent
Bold
Unconventional
Innovative
Smart
Sensible; and
Successful
See? We didn't know that before. We also learned that David doesn't necessarily lose. This may be an interesting topic of conversation in the Miliband family.
Or has better things to do with his time.
Dacre appears to be playing by his own rules. Not dancing to Miliband's tune is clearly winding a few people up.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2013/10/why-has-question-time-become-just-a-repository-for-needy-egos/
Now maybe he could succeed where Kinnock failed, but in that situation the FT, Times, Telegraph, Mail, Sun and Express will oppose Ed. He will only have the much smaller circulations of the Independent, Guardian and Mirror backing him although even the Guardian and Independent might waver in their support.
But of course papers matters less now, but the one with the largest online presence in the UK is the Mail.
Labour's Josie Channer stands down over parking fines
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-24391278
A Labour parliamentary candidate has stood down after it 'emerged' she owed more than £2,000 in parking fines and late payment fees.
So who leaked all this to The BBC and the local papers? Was it a disgruntled union member?
Has there been a more emetic sight than Alastair Campbell touring the radio and TV studios lecturing the world on moral probity? I can’t think of one, offhand. The BBC, an institution he once tried to destroy, if you recall, is more than happy to shove him on air whensoever he feels like it. I assume that this is because, like Campbell, they are intent on turning the Daily Mail-Miliband farrago into a post-Leveson issue about the nature of journalism. As some of us said at the time of Leveson, the metro-liberal left does not really give a toss about intrusion into the lives of drug-addled slebs. It wishes instead to stop newspapers saying stuff with which they fervently disagree. David Sillitoe’s piece for the BBC last night confirmed this; and if the BBC can make use of Alastair Campbell for this purpose, then so be it.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/rod-liddle/2013/10/alastair-campbell-moral-arbiter-pull-the-other-one/
Confident enough to wager
(Not that PB Tories should ever wager with each other!)
EdM is placing himself on the side of the little guy and against those who wield excessive and unaccountable power in our society. The energy companies, the press barons, the bankers - Ed will take them on.
The most obvious comparison is with Margaret Thatcher's position in the 1970s and 80s - she took on the unions, the nationalised industries, closed shops in the professions, all of which were seen at the time as over-mighty and oppressive. And a very successful strategy it was too.
http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9039871/why-britains-economy-will-overtake-germanys/
Huzzah!
Huzzah for immigration.
“Dacre's close relationship with Gordon Brown is a curious one, given that the Prime Minister epitomises many of the values the Daily Mail most detests, but it is well-established and, according to Brown's political allies, based on a genuine friendship. All their conversations are conducted privately, without aides or spin doctors present, and only Brown's wife Sarah and their two boys, of whom Dacre is 'incredibly fond', are party to their discussions. Dacre has been close to Brown since he was Chancellor, and shares his sense of moral purpose, despite disagreeing strongly on how the country should be run.”
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/nov/09/paul-dacre-daily-mail.
The other peons and taxpayers can go take a jump.
David v Goliath ?
More like powerful elite vs robber Baron.
What would dear old Ralph think of that?!!!
BBC bias at work again. Try and find their writeup of Andy Burnham's culpability in gagging the health watchdog. Go on.
I think you have got this spot on. Ed and Labour will gain from taking on various interest groups, which most of the public may have a cynical view about. The Tories can continue to battle against their usual enemies, but actually this is just firming up the left of centre vote. Labour can win a small majority with 35% of the vote, because of the lack of boundary changes, UKIP taking votes away from the Tories and tactical voting by Lab/Lib voters against the Tories.
This article has gone completely over my head.
Could someone like Southam Observer explain to me in simple words what Henry is going on about?
"Labour are dismissing the issue as "the latest stage of an on-going Conservative Party smear campaign against the last Labour Government. These old, unfounded allegations have already been answered in full."
A statement from the Party insists that: "no evidence has ever been produced to suggest anything other than that Ministers acted properly at all times."
I am expecting Pork and his backers to put in a bid.
"So far, 410,000 people have opted out of receiving child benefit, generally because they earn and will continue to earn a taxable income of more than £60,000 and therefore would not be entitled to the payment.
Another 490,000 people have registered for self-assessment, which means that they would need to complete a tax return online by the end of January. They receive the total amount of child benefit, but then repay some of it in tax.
That leaves 195,000 people who need to take one of the two options - to register for self-assessment or opt out of receiving child benefit."
"A homeless man who became a hero in his hometown of Boston after turning in a backpack full of money is benefiting from another good deed, one that he inspired. Three weeks ago, Glen James discovered an abandoned backpack at a Boston strip mall. He peeked inside and found a passport — and more than $40,000 in cash and travelers checks.
“I noticed a lot of hundred-dollar bills, and I said ‘Oh my goodness, this has to get back to its rightful owner,’” James recalled to NBC’s Kerry Sanders.
James turned the bag over to Boston police, who rewarded his scrupulous action with a plaque and a civil ceremony. More than 500 miles away in Midlothian, Va., Ethan Whittington read about the story online. He decided the good Samaritan deserved more than a plaque, so he started an online campaign to help James. The effort has raised more than $148,000 from people around the world. A trust has been created to help with tax issues and to ensure the funds are used specifically to help James and not get spent on drugs or alcohol." http://www.today.com/news/homeless-man-never-expected-148k-reward-returning-40k-8C11336422
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3u4EFTwprM&feature=youtu.be
But...are you genuinely suggesting Labour opened the doors for long term economic reasons? As opposed to short term electoral benefit reasons. Really?
The reality is that a LT economic benefit is positive collateral fallout from the ST/MT economic disaster Labour gave us.
Indeed - who require more benefits, social care and pensions - immigrants or computers & robots ?
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear...
If this stuff had come out into the open in April 10, would there have been an even smaller number of Labour MPs in The Commons?
Labour love Ponzi schemes.
They employ lots of people
It has diversity strategies
The jobs are secure
What else do you need?
"The Prime Minister was “strong at standing up to the weak, but weak at standing up to the strong.”
I missed that slogan. It's excellent and well worth a few 48 sheets. thank goodness Labour are spending some money on talent again.
In the words of Red Adaire "If you think its expensive to hire professionals to do the job wait until you hire an amateur"
"Pupils at a London primary school were shocked after a UFO appeared to have crashed into their playground.
An officer guarded the 'crash site; at North Harringay Primary School while an apparent forensics officer took samples behind a police cordon. Only half the craft was visible after apparently smashing into the tarmac and children were allowed closer to inspect the UFO after samples had been collected.
However the UFO was not in fact a spaceship which had suffered a stall over the capital, but was part of an event designed to promote creative writing. The flying saucer was actually built by a parent, while local officer, PC Glyn Kelly, offered his time to make the scene appear even more realistic. >> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/shock-and-awww-ufo-crashes-into-london-primary-school-playground-8858451.html
If there is any justice they will all vote Tory, in gratitude at Osborne fixing the economy left completely fecked by Labour. That would be supremely ironic on so many levels...
http://t.co/hZDtTOBgAE