The Tensions Between the Green Party and the Trade Union Movement…
The Tensions Between the Green Party and the Trade Union Movement… By Jane Watkinson Whilst the right like to claim that Ed Miliband is a union symbol of the ‘ Old Labour’ movement, it is clear from his recent actions, he is definitely not ‘ Red Ed’ . Ed has tried his upmost to distance [...]
Union News
UCU We’ll start with my own union, UCU, who’s annual congress happened recently. I couldn’t make it myself but as well as attacking the government’s points based immigration system and backing international solidarity with and a fund for Haiti there was strong opposition to cuts and in defence of jobs and places, and, of course, [...]
The Labour Manifesto – sponsored by BUPA
It was presumably concern about whether party political events were allowed on NHS property that led Labour’s media team to tell BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that the “Hospital site where Lab manifesto is being launched is still owned by the firm that built it so the party is not breaking any rules.” But of course that [...]
Healthcare win shows Obama is no West Wing fan
Today’s news that the House of Representatives has passed an amended version of the healthcare Bill promised by Barack Obama shows an interesting contrast with the achievements of the Clinton administration. And of course, with the fictional administration of Jed Bartlett in the West Wing. When I wrote a blog post about how I dislike [...]
Ken Livingstone hints at endorsement of Tony Juniper (but couldn’t possibly comment)
Fans of House of Cards will recognise it immediately. When asked whether he was urging Cantabrians to vote for Green candidate Tony Juniper over Labour’s Daniel Zeichner, Ken Livingstone cannily replied: “If I sit here all night you will not get me to say it. It would make life so difficult.” Or, as Francis Urquhart [...]
UKIP and the Culture War
I was surprised to find that Godfrey Bloom, the UKIP MEP for Yorks and Humber had been running his re-election campaign on the basis of climate change denial. This seemed odd to me. I thought that UKIP were a party promoting withdrawal from the EU. But then you should never judge a party by its [...]
Why I hate the West Wing
I have a terrible confession to make. For someone who enjoys his politics, is intrigued by interpersonal interaction and has a, possibly undue, interest in public administration I hate the West Wing. I’m possibly the only person with this set of interests that can’t stand the programme. It’s not because I dislike the actors, the [...]
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