From broadsheet to outrage factory: the decline of the Spectator and the TelegraphLiberals should care about the collapse of serious conservative journalism. Not because the Spectator and the Daily Telegraph were ever friends to progressive politics (they weren't), but because a functioning liberal democracy depends on a press that engages honestly with reality across the political spectrum. What has replaced these publications' particular brand of reactionary journalism is something considerably worse: reactionary journalism stripped of any pretence to intellectual seriousness. And that is bad for everyone. Let us be clear about what these publications actually were. The Spectator spent much of the twentieth century providing intellectual cover for policies that entrenched inequality ... (more) |
Government bows to Lib Dem pressure on Andrew filesThe Government agreed to a Lib Dem motion to release the files relating to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy back in 2001. The commitment came during a Lib Dem opposition debate yesterday. The debate obviously couldn't focus on any of the legal issues surrounding anyone at the moment, but MPs from most parties took the opportunity to raise their concerns. It's good that the victims and the disgusting misogynist culture came in for criticism, but will this lead to meaningful change? Here are some of the highlights of the debate. It is highly unusual to hear ... (more) |
Reform embracing frackingThe Guardian reports that Lincolnshire's Reform party mayor, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, has courted the head of an American oil and gas dynasty in the hope of bringing fracking to the county. The paper says that documents released under a freedom of information request reveal that when Egdon Resources, a British subsidiary of the US fracker Heyco Energy, announced a major gas discovery in Lincolnshire's Gainsborough Trough last year, Jenkyns reached out personally to the company asking how she "could help with your recent gas find in my county": Fracking was effectively banned in England in 2019 because of concerns it ... (more) |
Martin Stephens remember making The Innocents (1961)It wasn't only Jack Clayton who identified with the themes of The Innocents. Here's Martin Stephens who, at the age of 11, played Miles, remembering the making of the film. He has spoken about his career in general to filminc blog. I can't say that I was a natural actor but what I would say is that I was very directable. If you look at my fifteen, sixteen, eighteen films, whatever it was, you will see that when it was a good director I tended to be reasonably good and when it was a weak or poor director I was ... (more) |
Media spin, 1966 vintageA trivial historic footnote for your delectation. During the 1966 general election campaign, Prime Minister Harold Wilson, one of Labour's most successful leaders, visited the Birmingham Rag Market for a public meeting. The location had been the scene of a famous* public meeting in the 1964 campaign when the then Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home got shouted down. Compare and contrast the media coverage of the time about how this meeting went. Exhibit A: a Labour supporting paper WILSON GETS THE BETTER OF TORY HECKLERS (The Worker) Exhibit B: a Conservative supporting paper HECKLERS GET THE BETTER OF WILSON (Daily Sketch) ... (more) |
It's boom time for bar charts and MRPs (LDN#206)Liberal Democrat Newswire #206 came out last week and you can now also read it in full below. But if you'd like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: Welcome to Lib Dem Newswire #206 and a big thank you to everyone who has already responded to my annual appeal to help cover the costs of producing this newsletter and related activities. This year I've gone for something a little different, and instead encourage you to take out a subscription to the paid-for edition of my weekly newsletter about opinion ... (more) |
Lib Dems to lead debate on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Opposition DayIt's a Liberal Democrat Opposition Day in Parliament today and we have chosen to devote half of it to asking for an investigation on how Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was ever appointed a Trade Envoy and for the Government to publish all the papers relating to his appointment at the time. The motion says: That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to the creation of the role of Special Representative for Trade and Investment and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment to ... (more) |
Ed Davey flattens Nigel Farage on human rightsOn 29 October last year, Nigel Farage put forward his European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal) Bill. You can read his speech in Hansard. This, in full, was Ed Davey's reply: The speech we just heard totally misrepresents the European convention, and the failure of the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) to mention the huge benefits and rights that the European convention has brought to millions of British people says it all. Let me give those attracted by the argument we have just heard one strong reason to think again. Russia under Vladimir Putin is the only country to ... (more) |
Scottish Lib Dems support gaming industryThe gaming industry contributes £188.4 million annually to Scotland's economy and provides 2181 full time jobs but it's been facing some challenges in recent years, not least from funding streams drying up thanks to Brexit. A motion introduced by our candidate and, we hope, future MSP for Inverness and Nairn, Neil Alexander. Neil knows what he is talking about as he worked in the industry for 8 years. By the way, Neil's social media output is the best in the business. Follow him on Instagram here. The motion calls for: Establish regional "hubs" across all areas of Scotland for both ... (more) |
Four years of war has forged Ukraine into a lynchpin for European securitymy Today marks the fourth anniversary of the second phase of Russia's war on Ukraine. Phase one started in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and parts of the Donbas – Putin's response to ordinary Ukrainians' refusal to disavow their European future. Now is a good time to remember why we are supporting Ukraine; not just because it is right but because we must if the liberal order and the rule of law on which it is based is to survive. It is also time to recognise Ukraine as central for Europe's security and prosperity in an increasingly unstable world. ... (more) |