Category Archives: Uncategorized

‘Tim Yeo’s deselection: Is this the start of a Tory Spring?’ Telegraph, 5 February, 2014

The result of the ballot of local members was decisive. After a long and bloody deselection battle with his constituency association, the sitting MP had to admit defeat. Tim Yeo, Suffolk South, February 2014? No. Nigel Nicholson, Bournemouth East, 45 … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Picking up on populism: playing with fire, or putting out the flames?’, Policy Network, 15 January 2014

The centre-left is still missing a popular critique, particularly on the economy. Picking up on populism may be playing with fire but, done carefully and, dare one say, responsibly, it could very well do social democrats more good than harm … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four reasons Ed Miliband is still a good opposition leader, Guardian, 16 January 2014

Ed Miliband’s numbers are bad – so bad that apparently anyone presenting on polling to the shadow cabinet isn’t allowed to talk about them. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s doing a bad job as Labour leader. Nor does it mean his … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Alan Bown’s Ukip polling only tells half the story, Telegraph, 18 December 2013

I’m not entirely sure how Ukip’s latest sugar-daddy, Alan Bown, has chosen the constituencies in which he’s commissioned polls, but they were presumably picked because they’re easily portrayed as precisely the sort of seats the Tories need to hold on … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How the countryside could lose David Cameron the 2015 general election, Telegraph, 1 November 2013

Quite how they conducted their poll, I’m not sure – they never got back to me.* But the Countryside Alliance is claiming that around a fifth of its members have fallen out of love with the Conservatives. And not just because … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Get a sense of humour: the Tories and Coalition, Spectator, 5 October 2013

Like so many pundits before me, I had earnestly hoped never to begin a piece on coalitions by quoting Disraeli.  But since I was asked by Bright Blue and the Electoral Reform Society to join Mrs Bone’s husband, as well … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What was the point of the party conferences? The Conversation, 2 October 2013

“War – huh. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing”, sang Edwin Starr back in the sixties. Most people say the same about party conferences. They take up half a week. They cost a fortune. They don’t actually decide anything important, especially … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

For his speech, David Cameron will surely lean on ethos, pathos and logos, Guardian, 2 October 2013

The pressure is on. David Cameron’s closing speech to his party’s conference will be his eighth as Tory leader, and his MPs and grassroots supporters are hoping that he can top Ed Miliband’s effort in Brighton last week. While they are bound to be … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What happened to Tory modernisation, Telegraph, 30 September 2013

As David Cameron finally delivers on his promise to recognise marriage in the tax system and announces yet more action on immigration and welfare, it seems like a good time to ask whether – despite the valiant efforts of commentators … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cameron and the Conservatives: a start of term report, PSA Blog, 27 September, 2013

Assurances over the summer that David Cameron was well on the way to healing relations with some of his backbenchers (via a combination of Number Ten BBQs, economic recovery and the PM’s support for the EU Referendum Bill) look a little optimistic … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment