Five policies to fix the political class
The main political parties have all been jostling to respond to the ‘cost of living crisis’. But they’ve all failed to respond to the underlying issue - that in the eyes of voters, the political class lives on another planet. Here are five proposals that might help.
Tales from the party conferences: The Conservative Party – or the Potemkin Party
In the final part of our three-part series, Guerilla Policy goes to the Conservative Party conference – and wonders where all the ‘hardworking people’ are.
The poisonous politics of reducing unemployment
“The easier political answer to the unemployment issues is to pull the fiscal and legislative levers. …And job done. Only it isn’t.” Writing in advance of George Osborne’s speech to the Conservative Party conference, Puffles laments that politicians are avoiding answering the difficult questions about unemployment.
Tales from the party conferences: “Britain can do better” – but can Labour?
In the second of a three-part series, Guerilla Policy goes to the party conferences to examine the political class up-close. Here we look at Labour Conference and the claim that ‘Britain can do better’ - but can Labour?
Chris Huhne, rehabilitated. Too bad for everyone else.
“The appearance of Chris Huhne’s weekly column is now a serious irritation. He is a crook, a liar and a cheat. His greatest talent is blaming others for all of that.” Kate Belgrave shares a few thoughts on the return of Chris Huhne and a few people she has met who’d love to be welcomed into genteel society as well, but never will be.
10 things I want to hear at the Labour Conference
“That time of year is coming when once again I dare to hope that Labour will become I party I can support again. It’s a hope that is pretty forlorn, and has been for many years, but I seem to be unable to stop myself from dreaming of the possibilities.” Paul Bernal sets out 10 things that he hopes to hear at Labour Conference.
Tales from the party conferences: The Liberal Democrats (or is it the Coalition Party?)
In the first of a three-part series, Guerilla Policy goes to the party conferences to examine the political class up-close. First, the Liberal Democrats - and the question of ‘whose conference is it anyway?’
What are the Lib Dems for?
“For about fifty years, until Nick Clegg agreed to a coalition with the Conservatives, probably most people would have agreed that LibDems or Liberals, the third party in UK politics, were “for” providing an alternative to Labour or the Conservatives…” Jane Carnall poses the question what are the Lib Dems for in an era of coalition politics?
Who is Chris Grayling?
“You can tell it’s the party political season because suddenly all hyper-ambitious politicians find lots of reasons to grab the media limelight. So it is that Chris Grayling seems to be relentlessly popping up saying all sorts of attention-grabbing crap…” Jim Brown considers who is the real Chris Grayling.
The political class: If the Government’s approach to policymaking seems deliberately bad, that’s because it is
A new book on government blunders highlights how the ‘professionalised’ political class increasingly lacks the practical experience required for wise decision-making. Will they listen to its advice?
The political class: The UK is more than one nation, but you wouldn’t know it from think tanks
Many years after devolution, and only a year before the referendum on independence for Scotland, it appears as if the Westminster political class remains reluctant to acknowledge that the politics of the UK has changed significantly. Like the BBC’s weather map, it’s surely time they corrected their rather odd perspective on the UK.
The Coalition’s pernicious lobbying bill
“Through the injection of such ambiguity the power of the state to enroach upon and manage society is gradually enhanced. That is why constant vigilance is required.” Alex Marsh is concerned about what the Coalition’s Lobbying Bill will mean for campaigning charities.
The political class: Are right-wing think tanks really victims of bias - or unduly privileged?
The Thatcherite Centre for Policy Studies has published a report complaining that the BBC exhibits its supposed liberal bias in the way it describes different think tanks. But the real bias exhibited by the BBC and others is the favouring of political class insiders over other voices.
“Shout louder”? Labour, your voice should be audible from Space!
“Get a grip. Decide who you are and what you are for. Decide what sort of a country and People you want Britain to really be. Speak from principles and logic.” Juxtaposed challenges Labour to speak up and speak louder.
The political class: What is Ed Miliband’s problem?
There’s been no shortage of advice offered to Ed Miliband over the past couple of weeks. Here’s a bit more: your problem is the political class you come from and remain trapped within, specifically its defunct and discredited ideas of ‘leadership’. Make a radical break from these and you might stand a chance.
Shadow politics: Three reasons why public services feel increasingly less public
In the shadow politics, public services feel increasingly less public - from the development of policy to the delivery and regulation of services - in a way that may come back to haunt the political class itself.
Wealth inequality in UK now equal to Nigeria, UN report
“The self-reliance rhetoric from the current government might be the hardest to swallow yet, considering that so many key figures in the austerity onslaught wouldn’t know self-reliance if it smacked them in the face.” Scriptonite Daily explains how something’s trickling down - but it’s not wealth.
The political class: ending the old politics requires a radical think of the role of political parties
In our continuing series on the political class, we suggest that the depth of the crisis of legitimacy being experienced by the mainstream political parties requires a radical rethinking of their role in contemporary politics.
The NHS at 65: the Coalition are retiring our public health service
The National Health Service (NHS) celebrates its 65th birthday today. While coalition politicians cut ribbons, they are also busy cutting the lifelines that make the service viable. Ceaseless scare stories, never ending costly reorganisations, rampant commercialisation and privatisation, and deliberate loading of unsustainable debt onto hospital balance sheets. It is time for a reminder of what […]
Take the red pill
“Take the red pill. Get real. You can’t have a pay rise till you up your game.” Wendy Bradley argues that as public servants, MPs need to prove their worth to receive a pay rise - and wonders what would be in their performance objectives.