Category archive for ‘Simon's Blog’ 
-
Labour’s great night in the borough elections
Congratulations to the many newly elected Labour councillors. It’s a fantastic result that’s changed the local government map in London. Here’s a quick summary of how Labour did in London in the borough elections.
Labour now control seventeen London boroughs, up 8. The Conservatives control eleven, down three. The Liberal Democrats hold two, down two. There’s no overall control in two boroughs, down five.
Labour has gained Brent, Camden, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow, Hounslow, Islington, Southwark, Waltham Forest.
Labour won Barking, completely wiping out [...] -
Labour in London exceeded expectations
“Labour has done much better than expected in London”
David Dimbleby, BBC Election Results programme, 7th May 2010
I didn’t have time to post this yesterday, but here’s Tessa Jowell’s comment on the London general election results, where Labour held a succession of seats that were predicted to be going from red to blue. That’s in addition to the succession of local government victories in London that have seen Labour take back council after council.
Tessa Jowell said:
‘‘From the results that have been [...] -
A lash-up with Cameron is bad news for LibDems
BBC News 24 is running spin – clearly from the Liberal Democrats – that Gordon Brown had an angry conversation with Nick Clegg last night. Immediately the BBC has got onto the issue of whether Gordon Brown should go.
But the root of this is more likely not a serious attempt to get the Labour party to agree to a putsch against its leader. It is far more likely to be explained by the difficulties Nick Clegg is having in persuading [...] -
Maximising the Labour vote
The Guardian today carries a letter opposing the Guardian’s editorial backing for the Liberal Democrats.
The letter’s signatories say:
“Your editorial (1 May) makes clear that neither a Tory government nor a Tory-Lib Dem partnership woube considered by the Guardian as the best outcome. We, however, strongly believe that your conclusion – vote Liberal Democrat – is deeply flawed and undermines the possibility of stopping the Tories coming to power. Given the current position of the main political parties in opinion polls, [...] -
Crossrail is on the ballot paper
-
Guardian economics editor draws a different conclusion…
The Guardian’s endorsement of the Liberal Democrats has had plenty of coverage, but its economics editor is taking a different view of the issues in the election.
Larry Elliott breaks ranks with his paper’s editorial line today, backing Labour as the party offering the best prospect of social justice.
Of course, Larry Elliott is critical of Labour. He sets out what he thinks Labour has got wrong, and where it has been right.
But he also he openly questions the paper’s recent editorial decision.
“It [...] -
Only Labour MPs will keep the Tories out
What’s wrong with the Guardian’s editorial endorsing the Liberal Democrats is that it poses an issue that it then does not answer, because it cannot, without its whole line unravelling.
“For now, however, the cause of reform is overwhelmingly more likely to be achieved by a Lib Dem partnership of principle with Labour than by a Lib Dem marriage of convenience with a Tory party which is explicitly hostile to the cause and which currently plans to redraw the political map [...] -
May Day greetings
I’ve not been blogging very much: an election campaign is a busy-enough time without giving vent to my own thoughts as well. But with a few days to go to polling day I hope to get back in the swing again soon. Watch this space as they say.
In the meantime, I’m pleased to say I’ve posted my vote for a Labour government today, on May Day. It’s my sixth general election vote and although every single one of them has [...] -
Follow Labour in London
The London Labour party is now on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the party in the capital here on Twitter and catch up with news from Labour in London here on Facebook.
-
Support UpRise
UpRise is the grassroots movement dedicated to bringing back the Rise anti-racist festival. Rise – in its original form, Respect – was initiated by the trade unions and then revived under Ken Livingstone’s mayoralty. It became Europe’s largest anti-racist festival and London’s biggest free gig, standing firmly in the tradition of Rock Against Racism.
Anti-racism isn’t a luxury for a city as diverse as London, it’s a necessity, built on the importance of keeping the city together and promoting understanding and [...]