Monday, 25 February 2008
More trouble in Parliament
British politics and the house of commons are facing a new problem...what to do with the commons speaker Michael Martins.
There is great pressure for him to step down from his position after his spokesman, Mike Granatt, resigned last Friday. His reason; because he was misled about the use of taxis by Mr Martin's wife, and gave the wrong information to a journalist. Apparantly Mrs Martins has used more than £4000 on taxis, an innapropriate use of the public's money, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is investigating this. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Mr Martins has apparently used more of the public's money innapropriately.
This is another problem British politics doesn't need, especially after the Conway problem.
Benedict Brogan from the Daily Mail comments in his blog that there is a similarity between this situation and the situation before Blair stepped down as Prime Minister. He said: "There's something of the Blair saga about the predicament Michael Martin finds himself in. When the former Prime Minister was under fire and facing calls to quit in favour of Gordon Brown, there were always those who cautioned a period of silence. Only when things were quiet and he was not under pressure, we were told, would Mr Blair agree to go. What he wanted was to be able to leave at a time of his own choosing, without appearing to be frog-marched to the exit by his enemies in the Commons and the media. Lay off and he'll do the right thing, that was the idea.
Mr Martin is in the same boat. There is no shortage of MPs, including Labour ones, who don't think much of him as a Speaker, and rather wish he would do Parliament a favour by taking his peerage and shuffling off the stage."
(Source: http://broganblog.dailymail.co.uk/2008/02/silence-and-the.html)
But with comments from members of the Commons such as "he's got a problem" the Government and other MPs don't want to make a definate decision. Gordon Brown declared he was a "very very good" speaker in the Guardian today, and David Cameron described the attack on Mr Martins as a "witch hunt". So the position of the house of commons is unclear.
But there is great pressure from the British media and the public for him to resign after this latest scandal.
There is not only a scandal with his wife's spending of the public's money. Mike Smithson said:
"This follows the row over him claiming a second-homes allowance on his constituency house in Glasgow – even though he has no mortgage on it and he is provided with what is described as a “lavish grace-and-favour apartment in the Commons"...Will he survive? I would not bet on it but you don’t get to progress in Glasgow Labour politics without being tough."
(Source: http://politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/24/will-martin-survive-the-expenses-row/)
This latest episode does not improve the public's faith in today's politics.
There is great pressure for him to step down from his position after his spokesman, Mike Granatt, resigned last Friday. His reason; because he was misled about the use of taxis by Mr Martin's wife, and gave the wrong information to a journalist. Apparantly Mrs Martins has used more than £4000 on taxis, an innapropriate use of the public's money, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is investigating this. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Mr Martins has apparently used more of the public's money innapropriately.
This is another problem British politics doesn't need, especially after the Conway problem.
Benedict Brogan from the Daily Mail comments in his blog that there is a similarity between this situation and the situation before Blair stepped down as Prime Minister. He said: "There's something of the Blair saga about the predicament Michael Martin finds himself in. When the former Prime Minister was under fire and facing calls to quit in favour of Gordon Brown, there were always those who cautioned a period of silence. Only when things were quiet and he was not under pressure, we were told, would Mr Blair agree to go. What he wanted was to be able to leave at a time of his own choosing, without appearing to be frog-marched to the exit by his enemies in the Commons and the media. Lay off and he'll do the right thing, that was the idea.
Mr Martin is in the same boat. There is no shortage of MPs, including Labour ones, who don't think much of him as a Speaker, and rather wish he would do Parliament a favour by taking his peerage and shuffling off the stage."
(Source: http://broganblog.dailymail.co.uk/2008/02/silence-and-the.html)
But with comments from members of the Commons such as "he's got a problem" the Government and other MPs don't want to make a definate decision. Gordon Brown declared he was a "very very good" speaker in the Guardian today, and David Cameron described the attack on Mr Martins as a "witch hunt". So the position of the house of commons is unclear.
But there is great pressure from the British media and the public for him to resign after this latest scandal.
There is not only a scandal with his wife's spending of the public's money. Mike Smithson said:
"This follows the row over him claiming a second-homes allowance on his constituency house in Glasgow – even though he has no mortgage on it and he is provided with what is described as a “lavish grace-and-favour apartment in the Commons"...Will he survive? I would not bet on it but you don’t get to progress in Glasgow Labour politics without being tough."
(Source: http://politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/24/will-martin-survive-the-expenses-row/)
This latest episode does not improve the public's faith in today's politics.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Obama versus Clinton
Over the last week in the US election battle, all the luck seems to be in the Obama camp. The demogaphics that Hillary Clinton was hoping to appeal to; women, blue-collar workers, older voters, and Latinos, are jumping ship and backing Barrack Obama.
On the blogging site Tingog.com it says: "Let’s be honest, the spectacular shows that Barack Obama puts out in state after state is quite tremendous and inspirational on so many levels." but it goes on to say, "I am reminded of how she truly is a leader when it comes to those personal interviews. She may not be as good as Obama during those speeches, but give me Hilary any day when it comes to those one on one sit downs." (Source: http://www.tingog.com/politics/the-seesaw-battle-between-obama-and-clinton.html)
The outcome of who will become the Democratic candidate is still unsure, but with his "Change You Can Believe In" slogan and his charismatic speeches he is winning over many states in the US.
But some closing words she said at the Democratic candidates' debate this week may save her. She spoke from the heart, almost admitting defeat, saying: "No matter what happens in this contest, I am honoured to be here with Barrack Obama. Whatever happens, we're going to be fine" ( written by Rupert Cornwell in the Independent on Sunday, Sunday, February 24, 2008, pg. 26, "Could that unguarded moment save Hillary?")
In a blog titled "Hilary Clinton Death Watch, Sunday Update" there is an exert from today in the New York Times. The reporter, Patrik Healy, said: "To her longtime friends, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sounds unusually philosophical on the phone these days. She rarely uses phrases like “when I’m president” anymore. Somber at times, determined at others, she talks to aides and confidants about the importance of focusing on a good day’s work. No drapes are being measured in her mind’s eye, they say. And Mrs. Clinton has begun thanking some of her major supporters for helping her run for the Democratic presidential nomination. “When this is all over, I’m really looking forward to seeing you,” she told one of those supporters by phone the other day." (Source:http://belowthebeltway.com/2008/02/24/hillary-clinton-death-watch-sunday-update/)
If she survives on March 4th in Ohio and Texas the next big test will be on April 22nd, in Pennsylvania, the last major state to vote. But at the moment the Clinton camp isn't looking very strong, and they know it.
On the blogging site Tingog.com it says: "Let’s be honest, the spectacular shows that Barack Obama puts out in state after state is quite tremendous and inspirational on so many levels." but it goes on to say, "I am reminded of how she truly is a leader when it comes to those personal interviews. She may not be as good as Obama during those speeches, but give me Hilary any day when it comes to those one on one sit downs." (Source: http://www.tingog.com/politics/the-seesaw-battle-between-obama-and-clinton.html)
The outcome of who will become the Democratic candidate is still unsure, but with his "Change You Can Believe In" slogan and his charismatic speeches he is winning over many states in the US.
But some closing words she said at the Democratic candidates' debate this week may save her. She spoke from the heart, almost admitting defeat, saying: "No matter what happens in this contest, I am honoured to be here with Barrack Obama. Whatever happens, we're going to be fine" ( written by Rupert Cornwell in the Independent on Sunday, Sunday, February 24, 2008, pg. 26, "Could that unguarded moment save Hillary?")
In a blog titled "Hilary Clinton Death Watch, Sunday Update" there is an exert from today in the New York Times. The reporter, Patrik Healy, said: "To her longtime friends, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sounds unusually philosophical on the phone these days. She rarely uses phrases like “when I’m president” anymore. Somber at times, determined at others, she talks to aides and confidants about the importance of focusing on a good day’s work. No drapes are being measured in her mind’s eye, they say. And Mrs. Clinton has begun thanking some of her major supporters for helping her run for the Democratic presidential nomination. “When this is all over, I’m really looking forward to seeing you,” she told one of those supporters by phone the other day." (Source:http://belowthebeltway.com/2008/02/24/hillary-clinton-death-watch-sunday-update/)
If she survives on March 4th in Ohio and Texas the next big test will be on April 22nd, in Pennsylvania, the last major state to vote. But at the moment the Clinton camp isn't looking very strong, and they know it.
Saturday, 23 February 2008
The Rock
It came out this week that Northern Rock has been nationalised. Certainly the shareholders are angry at chancellor, Alistair Darling, whose image and name has taken up many column inches over the last week. But how has the media reacted the news?
Nick Robinson from the BBC posted on his newsblog the political damage: "very serious for the chancellor who, whether he is to blame or not, is now associated with the first nationalisation in decades and the first run on a bank in over a century. serious for the prime minister who has been first to adopt a policy it's clear he was desperate to avoid and took months before taking. the damage to the Labour Party is unpredictable since it may turn out the N word is not as toxic as as was assumed." He suggests reputational and financial damage has taken place. (Source: Nick Robinson, BBC online, February 17, 2008, 11.28pm)
The media have painted the Labour Party, the chancellor, and Gordon Brown in a bad image. The Rock's latest problem is another downfall of the Labour Party.
One aspect that didn't impress the media and the House of Commons was the actions of shadow chacellor, George Osbourne. "George Osbourne's attack on on the chancellor's handling of of the Northern Rock crisis seems not to have impressed his peers. The collective view from the corridors of power is that it was the shadow chancellor who and Not Alistair Darling who came off worse following today's Commons statement." (Source: Deborah Summers, Guardian Unlimited, February 18, 2008, 6.31pm)
From the television and radio news broadcasts the average person doesn't understand the implications of nationalisation, especially the younger population because nationalisation hasn't happened in their lifetime. But the big worry is whether Northern Rock be able to repay tax payers guarantees that apprarantly run into billions of pounds.
Nick Robinson says: "It may be years before the true scale of any loss is clear." (Source: Nick Robinson, BBC online, February 17, 2008, 11.28pm)
It was a bad week for British banking.
Nick Robinson from the BBC posted on his newsblog the political damage: "very serious for the chancellor who, whether he is to blame or not, is now associated with the first nationalisation in decades and the first run on a bank in over a century. serious for the prime minister who has been first to adopt a policy it's clear he was desperate to avoid and took months before taking. the damage to the Labour Party is unpredictable since it may turn out the N word is not as toxic as as was assumed." He suggests reputational and financial damage has taken place. (Source: Nick Robinson, BBC online, February 17, 2008, 11.28pm)
The media have painted the Labour Party, the chancellor, and Gordon Brown in a bad image. The Rock's latest problem is another downfall of the Labour Party.
One aspect that didn't impress the media and the House of Commons was the actions of shadow chacellor, George Osbourne. "George Osbourne's attack on on the chancellor's handling of of the Northern Rock crisis seems not to have impressed his peers. The collective view from the corridors of power is that it was the shadow chancellor who and Not Alistair Darling who came off worse following today's Commons statement." (Source: Deborah Summers, Guardian Unlimited, February 18, 2008, 6.31pm)
From the television and radio news broadcasts the average person doesn't understand the implications of nationalisation, especially the younger population because nationalisation hasn't happened in their lifetime. But the big worry is whether Northern Rock be able to repay tax payers guarantees that apprarantly run into billions of pounds.
Nick Robinson says: "It may be years before the true scale of any loss is clear." (Source: Nick Robinson, BBC online, February 17, 2008, 11.28pm)
It was a bad week for British banking.
Monday, 4 February 2008
Introduction to my politics blog
Im new to the interactive world of blogging, but considering nowadays journalists are no-one now without their own blog, I thought it would be a good idea to start my own blog about the complicated topic of politics. Initially I was daunted about what I could write about, considering all the established political bloggers on the internet, but I realised politics is everywhere. It affects our homes, our education, our jobs, our leisure time; basically whether we like it or not, it is important to understand politics as it affects every part of our lives. So Im spoilt for choice at what I write about, whether it be local politics from my university city of Preston, or my home town of Bury St Edmunds, or national politics from Westminster, or even international politics from across the pond in America and beyond. Considering everything that has happened this week in the news; from Barack Obama's increasing succes in the US election campaigns and the Kennedy's deciding to support him, to Jacqui Smith admitting she didn't feel safe walking Britain's streets at night, it should be an interesting few weeks analysing the politics from the international and national news. Im now dedicated to transforming into a political blogger geek!
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