Gus O’Donnell, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary, has today broken with the protocol that serving civil servants should avoid public comment on matters of political controversy, by warning of the threat to the unity of the UK posed by Alex Salmond‘s … Continued
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Ed Miliband and the usual suspects
Steve Van Riel Centreground Political Communications A below-par PMQs and a few bad headlines: the start of Ed Miliband’s difficult second year. It will very likely dissipate over Christmas but with even more enthusiasm than following previous wobbles, the cry … Continued
Giving disunity a bad name
Steve Van Riel, Consultant, Centreground Political Communications The Conservative Party is united and happy with its position on Europe. For two decades, that has seemed so unlikely it could have been included as one of the Biblical signs of the … Continued
Getting it wrong about David Cameron and Europe
I have to confess to a fundamental political mistake. It is one that I know many others, of all parties and none, will have made and will now be wrestling over with their conscience. But that does not make the … Continued
Is the second year always tough for opposition leaders?
Steve Van Riel, Consultant, Centreground Political Communications With only two weeks left of the Parliamentary year, Ed Miliband’s thoughts must already be turning to 2012. The first of January represents day 463 of his leadership, one third of the way … Continued