Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, writes about his new documentary for BBC Radio 4 on international summits. “I spent ten years as Tony Blair’s chief of staff enduring EU, NATO, G8, Commonwealth and … Continued
Author Archives: adrian
NEARLY A THIRD OF TORY VOTERS READY TO VOTE FOR INDEPENDENTS IN NOVEMBER’S POLICE COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS – POLL
A new opinion poll of adults in England and Wales who will be having elections for Police Commissioner, commissioned by Centreground Political Communications, carried out by pollsters ComRes, shows how the parties stand in the run up to police commissioner … Continued
Further reflections on the London mayoral result
Every British poll since 1997 has been billed as the “first internet election” but the 2012 London mayoral contest might have the best claim yet. The decisive factor in the result was the voters’ assessment of the characters of … Continued
An open memo to Ken Livingstone
To: Ken Livingstone You and I have history. So your first thought on reading this memo maybe to ask why on Earth I am offering you advice on your campaign. But in the end Labour blood is thicker than … Continued
Leanne Wood’s threat to Welsh Labour
Leanne Wood‘s election as leader of Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales may not generate many waves in Westminster but it is likely to be seen as something of a shock in many parts of Wales. Not because of … Continued
Prime Minister’s Questions, 8 February
Predictably Labour leader Ed Miliband chose to pressure the Prime Minister on health, writes Adrian McMenamin. Equally predictably the PM avoided answering any of Miliband’s questions – generally about how health professionals have turned their backs on the government’s health … Continued
Prime Minister’s Questions, 25 January
Harold Macmillan (pictured) was supposed to detest Prime Minister’s Questions so much that he was sick before every session. Supermac versus Harold Wilson was surely a real clash of heavyweights, though sadly no audio, never mind film, record exists. David … Continued
Battle is joined over Scotland’s future
This last week has illustrated two points about the forthcoming Scottish referendum on independence – that David Cameron and the Conservative party are in a poor place to lead the pro-UK campaign and that some leadership is better than none … Continued
Ways to win a referendum on Scottish independence
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