By Steve Parkhurst, Senior Editor, USDR.
Looking at the news and opinion out of London each day.
10-26-15
Tory allies win a huge victory in Poland’s elections
Law and Justice now holds the Parliament and the Presidency – so much for critics who dismissed the ECR as a “lunatic fringe”.
10-25-15
Jeremy Corbyn and his crew don’t want to win elections – they want to discredit them
The hiring by Labour’s leader of Seumas Milne, an ultra-Left spin doctor, proves that his aim is to destroy public faith in our democratic system
Vandalise tax credit reform at your peril, my Lords
Whatever you think of George Osborne’s cuts, they have passed a fully elected chamber three times
Corbyn’s purge of the Oxbridge set
How Jeremy Corbyn is building a party of red-brick revolutionaries
George Osborne could yet slip as he climbs the greasy pole to No 10
The Chancellor’s rise to the top is stirring resentment in the Tory ranks
10-24-15
Our top judges have become too powerful – we need to rein them in
Lord Kerr and his 11 Supreme Court colleagues are becoming the unacknowledged legislators of mankind and are undermining the rights of our politicians
Why making money from the poor could do more good for them than aid
The government is helping to – literally – empower some of the world’s poorest people through a truly capitalist project
EVEL shows how we can reform on a small majority
It could easily have been dropped: that it has passed, albeit in modified form, is good news for those who believe in our more radical manifesto promises.
Don’t want cuts to tax credits? Blame Jeremy Corbyn
Thanks to the rashness of Labour supporters, George Osborne is clearly convinced he can get away with anything
Britain’s creative economy owes a debt to our industrial past
For more than a century, titans of the arts have not only risen from the gates of industry, but they have used those roots as springboards
10-23-15
There is no reason in principle not to have a sugar tax
The case against one in practice isn’t to be confused with anti-state rhetoric which is not Conservative in flavour – and turns off voters.
How much extra did the UK have to pay the EU?
There was rightly an outrage when the EU announced last year that the UK along with other member states had to change the basis of calculation for its GDP in a way which meant we then had to pay more money as contribution to the EU budget. The government argued strongly against the gross payment, and many voters thought it unfair that the UK was required to make such a large payment for past years.
Daily catch-up: Tax credits crisis – another month before Osborne acts
Plus the study of history and what the Dutch got in exchange for New York
Left could undermine Labour moderate MPs
There is, in principle, everything to be said for more people engaging in politics, including signing up for membership of the big political parties. But if the surge in membership of the Labour Party in many constituencies, especially in London, is designed to give radical elements the means of deselecting moderate MPs, that is quite another matter.
What Cameron scribbled in a copy of Call Me Dave
Plus: I stand in for a billionaire. Ten years of Pink News. And: the Michael Meacher I knew.
10-22-15
Does May’s closest adviser joining the Vote Leave campaign signal her intentions?
We floated the scenario of her going for Brexit last week. Speculation about her intentions will grow. As will the pressure for Boris to make his mind up.
Controlling public spending
It’s that time of year again when spending is reviewed. Every year I have been in Parliament spending has gone up, and every time all the debate has been about cuts. That’s the way the public sector likes to organise its debates. There are cuts in forecast increases, cuts in real rather than cash spending, cuts in baseline budgets that overstated the spending, and sometimes even real cuts in real activities. Whatever the cuts made total spending goes on upwards and upwards in cash terms, and usually in real terms as well.
Nick Clegg: The Tory assault on housing associations is another betrayal
Attacking providers of affordable housing in the capital shows the Government’s lack of concern for the poor
10-21-15
The one question David Cameron needs to ask the Chinese President during his state visit
Where is Wang Yu?
10-20-15
China is rising as the US declines. Britain can’t ignore this reality
China’s human rights are improving, and this relationship offers the UK opportunities that would otherwise be impossible
In seeking to control spending, Osborne is Thatcher’s heir. He deserves support over tax credits.
Yes, changes could be made to his plans – and probably will be. But the Chancellor is on the right side of a big, vital argument.
Working for your landlord, as I did, is becoming more common. But it sets a very dangerous precedent
What has become obvious in the last few years of Tory leadership is how few rights tenants now have in comparison to their landlords
EVEL has slipped off the radar, but the Government hasn’t solved it
The Procedure Committee’s interim report suggests that the Government will have a fight on its hands to defend its vision for English Votes.
– – – – – –
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
0
0