‘Progressive coalitions – a traditional heresy in a modern setting’
'A progressive coalition appeals to the "chattering classes" but las little appeal to the British people argues John Spellar.
John Spellar
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‘Why Labour must oppose the Three-Vodafone merger’
A merger between Vodafone UK and Three UK was announced in June. If the deal goes ahead, Vodafone will own 51% of the combined entity, with CK Group, owner of Three, owning the remaining 49%. Both companies will appoint three out of six…
From healthcare to immigration, Britain isn’t working under the Tories
Before Margaret Thatcher's election victory in 1979, the Tories produced a devastating poster, which read: "LABOUR ISN'T WORKING." It went down in adland legend. It showed a long, snaking queue leading to a sign, which said: "UNEMPLOYMENT…
Proportional representation? Bad tactics, bad strategy and bad for Britain
Australian Labor PM Paul Keating used to say that good policy is good politics. Since UK Labour's battering by the electorate in 2019, the comfort blanket policy for many is a resurgence of enthusiasm for proportional representation – which…
Deliver, don’t dither. Labour must drop its obsession with constitutional issues
The pandemic has turned the world upside down in the ways we work and live, and many of those changes will endure. However, in some cases, traditional methods have been shown to be more effective than fashionable ones. Even Matt Hancock…
Covid must be handled with effective risk management, not erratic risk avoidance
COBRA met this week for the first time in about four months. What took so long? This isn't just a question of ignored process. It may be a clear indication as to why the handling of Covid-19 has been so erratic: proper processes for…
Predatory venture capitalists took over our care homes. This profiteering cannot continue
The shockingly high levels of deaths in our care homes appears to be one of the biggest scandals of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK. A comprehensive and thorough inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic will no doubt come…
Tony Blair is wrong – Labour should have nothing to do with the Lib Dems
Back in the day, on the old London Labour Party executive, I used to say that my degree in politics and economics was of much less use then a degree in psychology would have been. That thought has regularly reappeared in recent years as the…
John Spellar: City short-termism cons the taxpayer and is bad for British business
Carillion’s collapse shows the need for strong regulators to prevent unsustainable businesses from leeching off taxpayer, writes John Spellar. The fallout from the collapse of Carillion could have a destructive economic impact across the…
Spellar: The Tory right are not hostile to the NHS because it fails, but because it works
Owen Patterson’s call to “break the consensus surrounding the NHS”, in his recent speech at his own think-tank – is nothing more than a smokescreen to re-open a debate around the marketisation of the NHS, as opposed to a mere altruistic…
Eric Pickles’ proposals to suppress voter turnout are Trumpesque
The case of Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets should never be allowed to happen again. But it was an isolated incident and Lutfur is – despite Ken Livingstone and Christine Shawcroft’s best endeavours – no longer mayor and has been replaced…
John Spellar: The people have spoken. They don’t want electoral reform
It always amazes me that at every moment of political uncertainty someone always decides to bring up the ridiculous idea of tinkering with the voting system. It is disappointing that my colleagues Clive Lewis and Jonny Reynolds cannot…