Lunchtime List No.29

~ The best and most relevant stuff in today’s papers and on the web ~

Thursday 19th February, 2009

Make sure you sign up to our Twitter feeds: @LabourList and the one from our editor @derekdraper.

COMMENT OF THE DAY:

‘The problem with trying to ban any peaceful march or political party which you may not like or agree with is that it is a restriction of freedom, and a further move towards a Totalitarian state. What you really have to address, as the French did with Le Penn, is why people are turning to the BNP. The truth is that it is in desperation at the failure of the other 3 viable parties to address key issues in our country and society.’ Doug Giles

The best comment each week will receive a bottle of House of Commons champagne!

ON LABOURLIST NOW

John Prescott writes his first blog for LabourList on the success of his petition to cap bankers’ bonuses.

Labour’s leading light Chuka Umunna posts in support of Harriet Harman and the good work she does for the Party.

A piece from Unite’s Tony Woodley, on BMW.

Derek Draper and Alex Hilton laid their differences to rest yesterday and agreed – in spite of their disagreements – to fight together, as comrades.

Tom Miller asks whether the BNP should be allowed to rally through the streets of Liverpool.

There is also a piece from Tom on the future collectivism in the digital age.

And, on LabourList, PR week looks at Labour’s improved web strategy and how LabourList contributes.

While rabid right-winger and Council cutter Harry ‘Fibbs’ is upset with us. No great loss there.

We’ll have several more posts going up throughout the day, so stay posted.

*** Make sure you comment on the posts that interest you and if you want to post let us know. ***

THE CAMERON VENEER

Dave says ‘I will be Thatcher Mark II.’ And that includes getting nastier on immigration.

But even his own donors have launched a ‘scathing attack’ on him.

And he calls his bicycle stunt ‘one of dozens’ of mistakes he’s made as Tory leader.

Alan Johnson goes over how Cameron is the typical, spending cuts, right wing Conservative.

FOREIGN POLICY

Obama is bringing a softer edge to US foreign policy. The Independent says this could lead to results in the Middle East.

But Britain is unlikely to send further troops to Afghanistan to support the new American troop ‘surge’.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary John Hutton outlines British policy further in an interview with the FT.

And Peter Oborne asks what did the FCO know about torture? Andrew Rawnsley looks over the moral and strategic failures of torture.

David Miliband answers some of these questions in his interview with the New Statesman.

FINALLIST

John Cruddas calls for the curbing of the rogue elements and anonymous briefings on the Labour right.

After his four-letter burning of coffeemakers yesterday, Starbucks climbs down from its critique of our economy (beware the link – the BBC website is having a well publicised bad day!) Meanwhile, Alastair Campbell revisits his fondness of good swearing.

A licence to print money!? But what is quantitative easing, and will it work?

And will the budget bring tax cuts and a grand bargain into the, er, bargain?

There’ll be no let up for tax havens.

Howard Dean is coming to the UK to support a political conference – but for which party?

The FT shows us how this recession was partly a relic of the Tories not doing more in the 1980s and 1990s.

Watch out teachers: Big Brother comes to the classroom.

Barack’s Web revolution 2.0.

Hapless Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, at 6’9”, has been looking down on his interns in more ways than one. We’ll have a post on this this afternoon.

Polo: is this really the new game of the working classes?

Don’t get water on the popcorn! Special effects splash down in our laps.

Recess Monkey does what it does best – exposing Tory hypocrisy.

HERO of the day: John Cruddas, or raising important debate about the future of our movement.

ZERO of the day: Dave Cameron. Do we really need another Thatcher in Britain?

~ THE BIG ONGOING DEBATES ~

LIB LABBERY

Sundar’s original New Statesman piece.

Luke Akehurst said no thanks.

Nick Clegg’s views on what matters in a coalition.

LABOUR STRATEGY

Jon Cruddas raises questions about Labour’s strategy.

Ultra Blairite Philip Collins criticises the government and Luke Akehurst responds.

John Prescott has a go at Matthew Taylor.

This follows on from recent articles in the FT and Ben Brogan’s blog. Hopi Sen and Don Paskini have both chipped in.

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