Our Guest Editor for the next few days is…

Where Labour now stands on rail – and what the NPF must decide

By Mark Ferguson

Nick Robinson reported earlier this evening that “Labour will soon unveil a promise to change the law to allow for the part re-nationalisation of the rail network.” Except that’s not exactly the case. Tomorrow the National Policy Forum (NPF) will begin meeting in Milton Keynes for their all important three day meeting. Once there delegates will be voting on a wide range of potential Labour Party policy positions – rail will be one of those areas discussed tomorrow afternoon. Sources […]

Boris’ economic advisor wants to hike interest rates to 6%

  Gerard Lyons, the Chief Economic Advisor to Boris Johnson, has today said that interest rates should be raised to “5 or 6%” – an increase that could see the price of mortgage payments in London double to over £4,000 a month. The Governor of the Bank of England has said that he would like to see rates return t 2.5% in time, but when questioned by London Assembly Members, Lyons said: “I would sooner be five or six [per […]

Carers and Labour’s vision for Whole Person Care

By Barbara Keeley

In 2015, an incoming Labour Government will face an NHS with a funding crisis and a social care system that has been scaled back so far that in most areas adult social care will only be available to those with the highest level of needs.  The NHS has had no real-terms growth since 2010, once allowance is made for funding transfers to social care. One Nation Labour has a vision of providing whole person care which will integrate NHS and […]

Who is this mystery Cabinet Minister?

This is the official Cabinet website. Do you notice anything unusual: Who is “Michael Walker”? He wasn’t mentioned at all during the reshuffle. Is this another name for Grant Shapps? The public should be told…

Ed Miliband urges Israelis and Palestinians to “return to the negotiating table”

Over the past 9 days violence in both Israel and Palestine has increased, leaving an estimated 227 Palestinians and 1 Israeli dead. With the latest rumours of a ceasefire between the two sides proving false, Ed Miliband has called for both side to return to the negotiating table: “The terrible events unfolding in Gaza and Israel have already led to the loss of hundreds of lives. It is imperative that the firing of rockets into Israel must cease. Like any country, Israel has the right […]