What a difference the whips make…

Nick Clegg can’t remember name of Lib Dem candidate in seat they’ve held since 1983

We knew it would happen eventually, but 99 days before the election? At some point during every election, a party leader forgets the name of one of their candidates when speaking to the local press. Nick Clegg may have set a new record by fumbling up a full 12 weeks before voters go the polls. In an interview with the Aberdeen-based Press and Journal, the Deputy PM referred to the Lib Dem candidate for Gordon as “Justine” Jardine. Her name, […]

Labour could gain more support with anti-austerity message, poll finds

YouGov’s polling for the Times Red Box looks like it could have the keys to Labour’s election success. Or, at the very least, an indicator of what gain us a little more support. They’ve done this by probing three particular areas – austerity big business and international relations – to see what policies would garner Labour the most support. The first and arguably most topical question given anti-austerity party Syriza’s electoral success in Greece on Sunday is what direction those […]

Full text: Labour’s NHS motion in the Commons today

Labour are holding an Opposition Day debate on NHS funding today (it’s happening right now in fact: you can watch it here). Shadow Chief Secretary to Treasury Chris Leslie is leading the debate for Labour, who before the debate began said that the health service was “in crisis” and “cannot survive another five years of David Cameron.” The full text of Labour’s motion today is: That this House notes comments from leading doctors and nurses that the NHS is in […]

PMQs Verdict: It’s two blokes shouting at each other, what’s that got to do with my life?

By Mark Ferguson

Last week Ed Miliband was quite candid about PMQs, when he said: “Watching me and David Cameron shout at each other once a week on Prime Minister’s Questions isn’t very enlightening for anybody, let’s be frank about it. It probably massively puts people off politics if they’re watching it because they think: ‘It’s two blokes shouting at each other, what’s that got to do with my life?’” This week Miliband and Cameron headed to the chamber to prove how accurate […]

Alternative budget for London: Labour would cut fares, freeze council tax and fund a 1,000 extra police officer

Labour members of the London Assembly today revealed their alternative budget for the capital, which places an emphasis on helping Londoners with the cost of living. Labour’s budget spokesperson on the assembly, John Biggs AM, will publish the budget, which the party say is fully funded. The document comes as a proposed alternative to Mayor Boris Johnson’s city budget for his final year in office. Labour amendments include: – Funding 1,025 extra police officers on the street, equivalent to 33 more […]