Date archive for October, 2009
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Tony Blair and the EU
The question of whether Tony Blair may become the President of the European Council is one that the government should not have allowed to get up and running, let alone endorse.
There will be readers of this site who strongly support Tony Blair and others who are his sharpest critics. But from either perspective there is too little to be gained for Labour from this campaign compared to what it stands to lose.
As this argument goes on Blair risks become a [...] -
Kevin Maguire on the “biggest wrong call since Iraq”
The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire has been updating the links on his blog, including – I’m pleased to say – with a link to this blog.
Thanks to Kevin for the link. To return the favour, here he is yesterday on PMQs and how Cameron’s mistakes on the economy are “the biggest wrong call since Iraq.” -
Armando Iannucci and the knee operation
Via Paul Waugh I came across this interview with The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci, whose comments on the state of the two main parties perfectly summarise the issues facing both of them.
Who will Iannucci vote for? He lets out an exasperated sigh. “I really don’t know. I am honestly at a loss. My natural instinct is to waver between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, but I just worry that politics is failing. And I think people are baffled [...] -
A quick update
This is just a quick update to say that some regular readers of this site (they do exist) will have noticed one or two problems lately – such as a new post mysteriously disappearing. This was caused by some work relating to the server…but all should now be fine. Sorry for the brief difficulty.
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Former Tube MD Tim O’Toole’s tribute to Redmond O’Neill
The former Managing Director of London Underground, Tim O’Toole, posted a comment earlier today paying tribute to Redmond O’Neill, Ken Livingstone’s former director of transport, who died last week.
He said:
“I join with you and everyone who was lucky enough to know Redmond in the profound sense of loss and sadness at his death. How I admired his kindness, his gentle soul and his rigorous mind. You are right that any attempt to sum up his life will be an injustice, [...] -
Gaza appeal not allowed, but Griffin invited onto Question Time
James Macintyre of the New Statesman has drawn attention to the contrast between the BBC’s decision to invite Nick Griffin onto Question Time and its stubborn refusal to air the Gaza appeal earlier this year.
The juxtaposition is extremely powerful. On the one hand the BBC would not broadcast an appeal for innocent Palestinian civilians killed or bombed out of their homes and their infrastructure pounded into rubble; and on the other the leader of Britain’s fascist party is invited on [...] -
Tributes to Redmond O’Neill
On Thursday I posted about the terrible news of the death of Redmond O’Neill. Redmond was Ken Livingstone’s director of transport, and public affairs, and was deputy chief of staff during Ken’s mayoralty. These descriptions, however important, do not do him anywhere near justice.
Redmond was a great inspiration. He could put everyone else to shame with his insight and energy.
His commitment was to the cause of humanity for which he was unrelenting.
It should be said that he loved London and [...] -
Question Time opens the door a little further for the BNP
I had intended to post some thoughts on the BNP/Question Time issue earlier today but time is pressing on and I still haven’t done so.
However it is worth visiting Comment is Free and having a read of Ken Livingstone’s article there, which was published a short while ago.
Ken writes:
Nick Griffin’s performance on Question Time was appallingly bad, but that is beside the point. The BBC has been shamed by this circus. Worse, the corporation has now established the principle that [...] -
Redmond O’Neill
Redmond O’Neill, who I was very privileged to know and count as a friend and close colleague, died yesterday.
I have not worked out precisely what I want to say right now but Ken Livingstone has issued a statement which I have reproduced below and which says a lot of it.
Redmond was one of the best and most extraordinary people I have been fortunate to know. He was completely committed to the capacity of humanity to advance and progress, and he [...] -
Policing controversy – Sir Ian Blair’s memoirs
Sir Ian Blair’s memoirs – Policing Controversy – are due to be published shortly.
Blair was the police commissioner Boris Johnson forced out. Johnson has never given a coherent or adequate explanation of the reasons for Blair’s removal.
Perhaps this is connected to the fact that on the key issue of crime, the Met was delivering – Blair was presiding over a period of significantly falling crime. And over several years, first with Sir John Stevens and then throughout Blair’s period [...]
