By Steve Parkhurst, Senior Editor, USDR.
Looking at the news and opinion out of London each day.
11-9-15
Jeremy Corbyn was no Michael Foot at the Cenotaph – but remember, it could all be an act
Despite critics, the Labour leader did well at Remembrance Day. It seems the hard Left has concluded it’s wilier to go through the motions
The graph that shows why Hunt is right about a Seven Day NHS
The BMA is a trade union that uses public pressure to bargain for higher wages. I don’t begrudge you that. But NHS reforms have to be fair to patients, too.
Angela Merkel’s stance on refugees means she stands alone against catastrophe
The German chancellor’s open-door policy remains, despite compromises. Her challenge is to convince her European counterparts to follow her lead
11-8-15
Britain trusts its spies too much – even when they’re threatening our freedom
It is deeply worrying that the government could soon have the legal right to snoop on the private activities of all law-abiding citizens
Here’s the stark reality ministers need to take on board: the health service needs at least £4bn more a year between now and 2020 to avoid disaster
11-7-15
Cameron must rediscover the will to wage war
The Prime Minister’s insistence on Parliamentary consent – which he does not need – for operational decisions is crippling Britain’s capacity to act decisively.
The House of Lords’ porn debate was another reminder of how desperately we need more young people in Parliament
At one stage it appeared that the only porn experienced by peers was ‘an extraordinary exhibition of erotic Japanese prints’ at the British Museum last year
11-6-15
Reforming child benefit – and other alternatives to the tax credit cuts
Tax rises are not the only other way to find £4.4 billion. Here are two spending cuts that Osborne could do instead.
I’m working class, the son of a refugee … and a Conservative. Here’s why
I’ve been shouted at, kicked and called an Uncle Tom for my political views. But my Iranian roots mean I respect the Tories’ openness to ideas
Thatcher probably wouldn’t have wanted her clothes hung in the V&A anyway
You never hear a man praised for his power dressing. Only for his power
11-5-15
Junior doctors are victims of an NHS that’s broken beyond repair
The rest of the world has more sensible healthcare funding – so the medical brain drain will get worse
For the betterment of capitalism: Osborne and Montgomerie at the Legatum Institute
Yesterday saw the launch of our former editor’s new report, Prosperity for All. Here’s our account of it.
London will lose its pull if we don’t act on housing
What will central London be like in 2050? Someone asked me that recently, and I thought of the blown-out egg I turned into an Easter decoration as a child. It was painted in dazzling colours — beautiful, even — but empty. The best bits, yolk and white, had been drained out with the prick of a pin.
11-4-15
Daily catch-up: Tony Blair, what a loser – Corbynite denialism revisited
The remarkable legend of recent political history, plus why Britain may vote to leave the EU
Grayling and Duncan Smith exchange fire with SNP
Also: Crabb warns constitutional fixation risks paralysing Welsh politics; Scottish Labour splits party on Trident; Scottish education policy under attack; and more.
Hold the front page! Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour has done something that’s not completely mad
Andy Burnham has demonstrated that some people in the party are more interested in politics than having tea with extremists
11-3-15
How David Cameron can stop his party tearing itself apart in public
The PM needs to use the bully pulpit of Downing Street to remind his MPs who is in charge
Hague’s great achievement. The 20th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act takes place next week.
It deserves to be honoured as part of the great tradition of Conservative social reforming legislation.
A single market is not a free market
160 countries around the world are not members of the EU but they are able to trade quite successfully with EU member countries. The main aim of the Stay in campaign is to terrify UK voters into thinking if we leave we uniquely will be unable to sell into the EU single market. Those who like Europe are so unpleasant about our partners in Europe as to think they will spite us on exit.
For immigration to work, migrants should be encouraged to settle
For proof it works, we need to look to Canada – and reward those who integrate with British citizenship
More house-building requires consent, not force
Unless they’re headed off, difficulties at the ballot box threaten to bog down the process.
– – – – – –
Across The Pond is edited daily by Steve Parkhurst. Steve is a political consultant, a writer at his blog as well as a Senior Editor here at US Daily Review. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveParkhurst