Darling: Tory budgeting has a £34bn hole

The Labour Party was near the edge – are we back from the brink?

By Jamie Audsley

Let’s be honest, every now and again you’ve taken a peek over the edge….the edge of the Labour party’s collapse.  And as the cliff edge has got steadily got closer, peeking has become like that itch you just can’t leave alone. If you can summon up the nerve to teeter on the edge and stare down the cliff face,  the scars of the Blair-Brown era emerge: declining membership; an exiting of talent; an experience for those who’ve stayed that remains [...]

Ed (re)defines the squeezed middle

In a wide-ranging speech last night in Sheffield, Ed Miliband sought to explain what he means by the squeezed middle – and what he should have said when he was questioned about it months ago: “When John Humphrys asked me what I meant by the squeezed middle, I should have said this: The squeezed middle are working people. People bound together, now as in the past, by a set of values. The value of working hard. Whether it is in [...]

Prezza for Police Commissioner?

According to the Hull and East Riding Mail: “Lord Prescott said: “I want the opportunity to continue my public service to the region with a mandate from the people to protect the community and target criminals. “I feel that after proudly serving as a local MP for 40 years and as a cabinet minister for 10 years, I have the experience to listen to the public and help be their strong voice in supporting the police and holding them to [...]

A big moment for the NHS – and for blogging

By Mark Ferguson

Today marks a big moment – not just in British blogging history, but in British political history. The decision by cabinet ministers to go to ConHome calling for the health bill to be dropped is a breach of collective responsibility, that much is clear. That they have briefed ConHome anonymously makes very little difference – Tim Montgomerie is a scrupulous character who can be taken at his word. These cabinet ministers, whoever they are, are angry. And they want this [...]

Is there a thin blue line for the new Police and Crime Commissioners?

By Jon Harvey

The process to select candidates for the new Police Crime Commissioners is underway. The Labour Party NEC will be long-listing at the end of February. The Liberal Democrats have, I understand, said that they do not intend to field candidates from a nationally organised position but will offer support to local parties taking the initiative. In the past, the Conservatives have declared that they will be hosting open primaries but no news is yet emerging on when and where these [...]