"And then he said..."

We return to find our hero still in conversation with the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, following the Mingster's keynote speech last Thursday. Will he ask a difficult question or will he roll over and have his tummy tickled? Read on to find out…

[Read more →]

If you need any better illustration of the promising effect of Thursday's Lib Dem announcements, it's the way it's suddenly open season on the party on certain right-of-centre blogs

[Read more →]

It's a funny old world when the replacement of a media-conscious young leader with a silver-haired patrician is the cue for the first ever free-for-all interview between a party leader and a bunch of bloggers.

[Read more →]

So Ming scored a direct hit at PMQs today, then. He must have done, because everyone's saying he did.

[Read more →]

So, let’s see if I’ve got this straight.

[Read more →]

Chris is winning! No – Ming is winning! Bloody hell – just count the votes already.
Edit: Some interesting commentary at politicalbetting.com suggests that neither paper (but particularly the Graun) took much care to check the people they were polling were party members and therefore entitled to vote. There’s also some suggestion that it would have [...]

[Read more →]

Whole books have been written on the ideal qualities of a leader: the ability to inspire – coolness under fire – broad strategy combined with tactical nous – high principles tempered by low cunning – luck, as well as judgement. Fewer have been written about the failings that leaders must avoid – even though one [...]

[Read more →]

Well said that man!
“David Cameron’s flip-flops on policy expose his inexperience. He’s still a novice. A leader with L-Plates.
“So while Conservatives may think that youth, inexperience, and naivete are the answer to their problems; I say they are not the answer to the country’s problems.
“Tomorrow’s Britain needs leaders of experience, proven good judgement, who people [...]

[Read more →]

I was phone canvassed by the Campbell campaign yesterday and the combination of that and some conversations I've had with members in my local party suggest exactly why my favoured choice for leader isn't waltzing home unchallenged – why, in fact, he is quite likely to lose to Chris Huhne.
It's not his age, or his [...]

[Read more →]

I believe that two things are going to happen in British politics over the next few years.
Firstly, when Blair goes there will be a backlash against young, slick media-friendly politicians. Gravitas and dourness will be in, charm and twinkling smiles will be out. It's been brewing for years and it'll take just one spark for [...]

[Read more →]