Labour looks destined to sit out the next 10 years in political wilderness February 14, 2020 On Monday Lord Michael Ashcroft published a detailed and searingly honest critique of the Labour party’s failed 2019 election. Based on polling and focus groups of former Labour voters, he painted a picture of a party that had drifted so far away from the values and aspirations of ordinary people that its drubbing was inevitable. [...]
I’m finally convinced – a Grexit really could happen June 11, 2015 The prospect of Greece leaving the Eurozone never really seemed to be on the cards, even during the darkest days of 2011 and 2012. There were two reasons for this: firstly, the ease with which the country and its creditors could kick the can down the road. This was helped by the relatively small size [...]
Judge in haste and repent at leisure – Editor’s Letter May 21, 2015 News lives in the now. Sprinting from drama to drama, we rarely have the leisure to turn and look back. But sometimes a clear picture only comes into focus with the help of hindsight. This week provided two instructive examples. First, a report marking the 10-year anniversary of the liberalisation of Britain’s antiquated drinking [...]
Burberry’s Christopher Bailey proves elusive again – Editor’s Letter May 19, 2015 When the fashion retailer Burberry unveils its full-year results today, it will be unsurprising if its chief executive and chief creative officer Chris Bailey keeps a low media profile, leaving the task of answering reporters’ questions to his finance director, Carol Fairweather. Bailey himself rarely makes an appearance in front of the media to [...]
It’s time for David Cameron to make unpopular decisions – Editor’s Letter May 14, 2015 Today the hard work begins. After a few days where the Conservatives still seemed to be in full campaign mode, setting out their blue collar pitch for 2020, David Cameron’s speech in Scotland brings the hard decisions he faces in this Parliament back to the forefront. Rightly so. This government has a once-in-a-generation chance to [...]
Honour the unknown voters who just saved Britain’s bacon – Editor’s Letter May 11, 2015 The General Election did prove one piece of conventional wisdom right. There is a bubble in London, out-of-touch with the rest of the country. As it turns out, the ones living in it work for the Labour party. An almost audible sigh of relief from the City on Friday ended the last delusions of [...]
General Election 2015 results: Only David Cameron can lead Britain now – Editor’s Letter May 7, 2015 Back in 1992, when the Conservatives denied the polls to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the May number one hit was Please Don’t Go. If the astonishing exit poll is right, Britain has echoed its sentiment again, calling on Cameron to stay in Number 10. But in truth, David Cameron was always the [...]
The harsh reality of flash crash trader Navinder Sarao’s waiting game- Editor’s Letter May 6, 2015 Is it just me, or is Navinder Sarao, the flash trader accused by US authorities of making £26m through illegal share deals, being harshly treated? Yesterday the young man, also known rather judgingly by the media as the Hound of Hounslow, was sent back to Wandsworth prison for a third time after failing to put [...]
General Election 2015: Time to wake up – this vote matters – Editor’s Letter April 30, 2015 I don’t understand people who believe this campaign has been interesting. Day after day we have pored over motionless polls. Any hope of intelligent debate has long been drowned out by the relentless hammering of talking points. Interesting? Outside the bubble of Newsnight-devotees, too much politics still sends most people to sleep. In 2010, the [...]
The Garden Bridge needs our support – Editor’s Letter April 16, 2015 An eyesore and a vanity project, un-English and out of keeping with the times… that was, once, the contrarian view of St Paul’s. Thankfully, Sir Christopher Wren ignored the critique of its “heavy arches” and accusations of Popish design, going so far as to hide the works behind screens so his controversial vision could succeed. [...]