A problem Number 10 has now is that, given Allegra Stratton has gone, why shouldn't everyone yucking it up in the room with her also go? She wasn't the only person audibly laughing on the t… (View Post)

Yes. Although an important difference is that neither a Con/Lib nor Lab/Lib coalition was particularly feasible long term in Feb 1974. There was some courting of Thorpe, particularly by Heath to try … (View Post)

This is absolutely right. 2010 had a few elements - a dire need for a stable government in the context of failing bond auctions and economic meltdown, electoral maths that meant no stable coalition w… (View Post)

The best result for Labour at this by-election would have been a Labour win. The second best would be a Tory defeat. Presumably Starmer's reasoning, looking at Labour's position in the poll… (View Post)

On topic (vaguely), I'd like to share my argument that 2000 Miles by the Pretenders is NOT a Christmas song, even though it is routinely treated as such. It was written about the death of a memb… (View Post)