Lunchtime List No.32

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

Tuesday 24th February, 2009

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COMMENT OF THE DAY:

“I’d urge everyone not to spend too much time worrying about Melanie Phillips. She is the Hyacinth Bucket of columnists – she thinks nobody is as clever, tasteful, moral, intelligent well-informed as she is. She doesn’t like anybody or anything. She is a professional misanthrope.” Alan Giles

The best comment of the week wins a bottle of House of Commons champagne!

ON LABOURLIST NOW

We take a peek at Chris Mullin’s brilliant new snapshot into political dealings in the early 21st century, to be released soon.

Who’d’ve thought Melanie Phillips might get a modicum of support from Labour people? But she did, and here’s the evidence.

If you’re new to LabourList, have a dig around some of our earlier articles under the ‘Recent Posts’ section, or under each contributor.

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. ***

If you haven’t already, check out the forthcoming Progress conference, to be held this Saturday in London. Click on the image below for more information.

HOW DO WE CONTNIUE TO IMPROVE OUR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS DURING THE RECESSION?

The government has said bailout assistance will have to depend on the company’s circumstances.

With plans to save Royal Mail under further scrutiny this week, Unions are showing their opposition to the plans to part-privatise.

Lords have put forward an idea for the NHS to pay for treatment in other EU countries in cases of immediate need.

Nicholas Timmins argues that private stakeholdings may be the way forward for struggling projects.

Rachel Sylvester in the Times shows how this could be extended to find new investment for schools and welfare.

RACE AND THE MET

More bad news in the polls, but LabourList stil says now is not the time to be disheartened.

Doreen Lawrence says police racism continues ten years after the inquiry into her son Stephen’s murder.

Paul Boateng looks at the problems in the Met then and now.

Herman Ouseley, former chair of the Commisson for Racial Equality, says public Britain is too white.

Ali Dizaei, President of the Black Police Association, says there is a new plague: postmodern racism.

Lawyer Dan McCurry takes an insider’s view of how the Met got to this point.

GUANTANAMO

Binyam Mohamed has released an emotive statement in the wake of his release from Cuba.

David Aaronovitch looks at the history and prospects of freedom in the age of terror.

Mary Dejevsky in the Independent takes a harder line and calls for more responsibility from citizens oin return for rights.

FINALLIST

Bankers have had the temerity to “demand” a pay rise. A pay rise?

Katherine Griffiths thinks about how we might shape banks to come out of the recession stronger.

Steve Richards in The Indpendent celebrates the return of heated debate and hungry characters in the cabinet.

Dave Cameron has downgraded his commitment to civil liberty saying “it’s the Conservatives you’re dealing with now.”

Tessa Jowell thinks Labour needs a rethink on the language of aspiration.

Boris takes us, and his kids, through a selection of his favourite DVDs.

An amusing look at the development of the acronym for the Department of Business.

Hopi Sen looks at more general acronym crimes.

Mind the gap! Street art has never been so terrifying.

Great pictures of the Obamas with Arnie at their first White House formal dinner.

If you’re after a full Oscars review, The Times has the best coverage.

HERO of the day: Gail Trimble, for her brains but also for her integrity in turning down Nuts magazine.

ZERO of the day: Gmail. For messing up all of our mornings. And afternoons, probably. In fact, most of you probably won’t read this till Wednesday.

~ THE BIG ONGOING DEBATES ~

LIB LABBERY

Sunder’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.

Later, Cruddas questions the rogue Blairite sections of the Party.

Steve Richards asks where are the leaders in the supposed leadership contest.

Meanwhile, ultra Blairite Philip Collins criticises the government and Luke Akehurst responds.

Benjamin Wegg-Prosser argues that the “do-nothing Tory” line is not working.

John Prescott has a go at Matthew Taylor.

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

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