Monthly Archives: May 2017

‘Britain’s Labour Party is seeing a flood of new members. That’s why it’s in such trouble.’, Washington Post, 10 May 2017

Posted on May 31, 2017 by

Whether you look at the opinion polls or at the beating it’s just taken in a slew of local elections, Britain’s Labour Party is in a lot of trouble. Theresa May, the country’s Conservative prime minister, called for an early general election next month. … Continue reading →

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‘What matters for Labour is not the general election but what happens next’, New Statesman, 19 May 2017

Posted on May 31, 2017 by

A handful of recent polls suggest Labour is doing better than many expected at the start of the campaign.  Whatever the reason, though, the gap between it and the Conservatives is still a yawning one.  Bluntly, it remains the case … Continue reading →

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‘Theresa May announces dramatic re-think on “dementia tax”‘, 22 May 2017

Posted on May 22, 2017 by

In a hastily-scheduled (and totally-hypothetical) media appearance, Mrs May said the following: ‘Governing is about making hard choices but it’s also about listening and, wherever possible, about building a national consensus. In the last few days it’s become clear to … Continue reading →

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Theresa May’s offer on ‘workers’ rights’: how does it stack up against past Tory governments?

Posted on May 15, 2017 by

Most Conservative governments in the 20th century couldn’t really be said to have positively increased workers’ rights.  Indeed, some of them actually eroded them – most obviously the Thatcher government but also, one could argue, the Baldwin government (with its post- … Continue reading →

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‘Lights, camera, discussion? The role of televised debates in modern elections’, Centre for Public Impact, 26 April 2017

Posted on May 5, 2017 by

Theresa May, it would appear, has poured water on the idea of televised leader’s debates during the ‘snap’ UK general election she’s just called.  Depending on your point of view, this means either that she is ‘running scared of the … Continue reading →

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‘Corbynism might not actually end – even if Labour loses the election’ (with David Jeffery), The Conversation, 26 April 2017

Posted on May 2, 2017 by

Because the general election looks set to produce an impressive win for the Conservatives, its main interest lies not in the result itself but in the result of that result. The House of Commons will look very different on June … Continue reading →

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‘Theresa May is surfing a wave before tide finally goes out’, Sunday Business Post (Ireland), 23 April 2017

Posted on May 2, 2017 by

Let’s not over-complicate things. Prime ministers only call an early election if they need to or because they’re sure they’re going to win. In Theresa May’s case, both things apply – and in spades. May could probably have made it … Continue reading →

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