The week outside Westminster
A round-up of the week’s politics from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Yearly Archives: 2010
Hague’s actions on Europe not his words will show where he really stands
If we are to take something positive from William Hague’s speech yesterday, it is that senior Conservatives seem to have got the message that Britain’s role in the European Unioin is important. However, it has also exposed the emptiness of what the Cameron government has to offer on the international stage.
Labour should support a “Yes” vote on AV
With a date now set for a referendum on switching the electoral system to the Alternative Vote, a debate will no doubt rage inside both the Labour and Conservative parties as to how they should campaign.
Politics Summary: Friday, July 2nd
Several papers cover the news, broken by Left Foot Forward yesterday afternoon, that there will be a referendum on the Alternative Vote next May. The Guardian reports that the “coalition government is to test its unity” with the move. Theytest
AV referendum to be announced next week & held in May
Left Foot Forward understands from a source close to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that the timetable for the promised referendum on AV will be announced next week, and that the referendum itself is most likely to be scheduled to coincide with the May 2011 Local Elections.
UK voters call for talks with Taleban – as Taleban say no
Three-fifths of the British public believe the government should enter negotiations with the Taleban, as it emerged this morning that the Taleban themselves are unwilling to negotiate.
Time to fix the food chain and prevent further rainforest destruction
Surprisingly the meat and dairy industry produces around 18 per cent of the world’s climate-changing gases; cows, pigs and chickens in our factory farms are pumped full of high-protein feed to make them grow quickly and produce large yields.
Ed Miliband: Scottish Labour should be free to formulate its own policies
Labour leadership hopeful Ed Miliband has called for Scottish Labour to be allowed to formulate its own policies free from interference from London and attacked David Cameron’s ‘respect’ agenda with the devolved bodies in a visit to Edinburgh yesterday.
Economic update – July 2010
George Osborne delivered his first budget on June 22nd, describing it as ‘unavoidable’, ‘fair’ and ‘progressive’. In fact, it was none of these. An ‘emergency’ budget was not needed, whether to calm financial markets or for any other reason.
Politics Summary: Thursday, July 1st
Secret documents released yesterday show the “grave reservations” of Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith about the legality of war.