The glamorous life of an MP

My visit to Israel and Palestine this week has strengthened my commitment to a two state solution

By Ian Lucas

Since Operation Protective Edge began in early July, at least 1,360 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, and a quarter of Gaza’s population has been forced from their homes. Two Israeli civilians have lost their lives in rocket attacks, several hundred have been injured, and 56 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Today, the latest appalling loss of life is yet another tragic example of the death and destruction that has resulted from the escalation of this conflict. Of course this […]

Grayling gives speech attacking Labour while his own department publish his failings

You know that a Cabinet Minister’s speech has no positive message when the Tory Press Office Twitter account bothers to livetweet it.And that’s exactly what happened with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling’s attack on Labour spending plans this morning. No, we don’t they got him to do it either. The speech itself was standard fare: lots of attacks on trade unions dressed up as economic commentary. What was interesting was that while he was giving it, the Ministry of Justice released […]

I do not have a vote in the referendum, but I do have a voice

By Stephen Doughty

For me, the debate about why Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom is personal and emotive – but is also about hard facts. We are tied together by bonds of friendship, family and economy in so many ways. My family history – going back some 300 years – is Northern Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh. I was born and brought up in Wales by a Cumbrian mother and a Wiltshire father. I went to university in England, and […]

Miliband’s greatest quality is that he’s willing to have a “bloody good think”, says Dobson

By Conor Pope

Last week, Frank Dobson announced his intention to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 35 years. Today, The Guardian have a candid and, at times, touching interview with the former Health Secretary. In a wide-ranging conversation with Owen Jones, Dobson sounds optimistic about the current state of the Labour Party: he’s “very confident” Labour will win next year’s election and is pleased that the Party has avoided going “a bit 1979″. Ed Miliband has ensured that […]

Is the NHS in crisis? What is going on with our health service, explained

By Ben Nunn

Monday’s front-pages would have made for pretty grim reading in Number 10 and Jeremy Hunt’s office. “Critical: NHS in crisis as budgets cut”, said The Sun.  “Millions shut out of doctors’ surgeries”, added The Times. Headlines about the NHS are exactly what the Conservatives don’t want ten months out from a general election.  Talk to our strengths, not our weaknesses, says Lynton Crosby.  However, as Monday’s headlines showed, this is difficult to pull off in practice. But, behind the headlines and […]