John Prescott - ‘Titan’ of the Labour Party Dies Aged 86

Nov 21, 2024 | Tributes have poured in for 'titan' of the Labour Party and former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who has died aged 86.

Death of Free Speech - Labour Party’s Proposed Blasphemy Law | Guess the Religion!

Sep 30, 2024

John Major Gives Starmer and His Acolytes Some Advice

One of the best of Conservatives gives our authoritarian prime minister and the Labour Party some sound economic advice.

Labour Wins UK General Election with Keir Starmer to Be Next Prime Minister | BBC News

Jul 5, 2024 | Labour has officially won the 2024 general election after reaching the required 326 seats.

Speaking in central London, the next prime minister Keir Starmer says "change begins now". "It feels good, I have to be honest," he tells a cheering crowd. He adds that the task of a Labour government is "nothing less than renewing the ideas that hold our country together".

Michael Lambert: Starmer Stubbornly Sticks to Disastrous Brexit

Jun 15, 2024 | The Labour Party manifesto was launched this week. Much of it concerned economic growth which will be essential if damaged and neglected public services are to be fixed.

Keir Starmer claims that growth can be achieved whilst ignoring the major reason for our economic troubles which is Brexit He claims he will be able to improve our deal with the EU despite having been told repeatedly that this will not be possible.

Starmer has made it clear that beyond certain funded changes other reforms will only be possible if funded by growth. Outside the EU, the UK will find it almost impossible to grow.


This is an excellent synopsis of the parlous state of the UK economy and its outlook for economic growth under Keir Starmer's leadership. I agree with Mr Lambert's viewpoints TOTALLY. The Conservative Party in recent years has been a disaster for this country; now, the Labour Party is promising to be equally disastrous in so many ways. How can our economy hope to grow after locking ourselves out of the BIGGEST single market in the world, which is right on our doorstep?

When we were in the EU, this country was doing rather well. Have these politicians never heard of the old saying — 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it!? Whilst in the European Union, there was truly nothing to fix!

Nigel Farage really has been the architect of this country's downfall. The man is a bigoted, loudmouthed, troublemaker. History is not going to be kind to that man. Unfortunately we have to live through the nightmare the clown has created. One can but despair. This country's future is bleak indeed.

At no other time in my life have I ever felt DISENFRANCHISED. Now, I do. TOTALLY. There is no decent political party to vote for. I had pinned my hopes on the Liberal Democrats, but Ed Davey hasn't had the courage to promise the country that he would try and take us back into the EU. That is a great disappointment to me, and probably to many other Remainers as well. In fact, in my opinion, he has lost his best chance of elevating his party ahead of the Tories, because I believe that such a move might well have catapulted the LibDems to a powerful position. He would have had nothing to lose by such a commitment, and everything to gain. Again, one can but despair.

I cannot vote for any party that is not committed to our return to the EU. So that leaves me without a say in the future of this country. I find it difficult to vote for a party whose policies I disagree with. The whole thing saddens me. – © Mark Alexander

Keir Starmer: I Will Abolish House of Lords to ‘Restore Trust in Politics’

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: Labour leader plans a new elected chamber after accusing successive Tory governments of handing peerages to ‘lackeys and donors’

Labour would remove politicians’ powers to make appointments to the Lords in its first term.Photograph: Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA
Keir Starmer will abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a new elected chamber as part of plans to “restore trust in politics”, the Observer understands.

In a sweeping constitutional overhaul, the Labour leader has told the party’s peers that he wants to strip politicians of the power to make appointments to the Lords as part of the first-term programme of a Labour government. Starmer said that the public’s faith in the political system had been undermined by successive Tory leaders handing peerages to “lackeys and donors”.

It is understood that Labour will hold a consultation on the composition and size of a new chamber as well as immediate reforms to the current appointments process. Final proposals will be included in the party’s next election manifesto.

It comes after a series of rows over peerages. Boris Johnson made a number of controversial appointments, including his friend Evgeny Lebedev, who owns the Evening Standard. He is expected to appoint political allies and junior aides as part of a forthcoming list. » | Michael Savage, Policy editor | Saturday, November 19, 2022

Our French friends and neighbours got it right way back in 1789! What do we need people to lord it over us for anyway? In the eyes of God, we are all born equal. Liberté!. Égalité! Fraternité! – Mark

Sharon Graham: We Are Witnessing a Horror Story'

General Secretary of trade union Unite Sharon Graham told Sophy Ridge the political situation is like "witnessing a horror story" and insisted the UK needs a change of government.

"It's like watching a film behind your hands and every time you look there's something worse happening," Ms Graham said.

Labour Surges as Tory Fears Grow over Truss’s Tax Cut Agenda

THE OBSERVER: Likely PM’s policies will mean ‘big trouble’, say critics, as Starmer’s energy price initiative boosts him in polls

Liz Truss has been criticised by the former Tory chancellor Kenneth Clarke for proposing tax cuts during a time of ‘enormous public debts’. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Senior Tories have warned that their party will suffer dire electoral consequences under a Liz Truss premiership that fails to address the cost of living crisis, as Labour enjoys a poll bounce suggesting Keir Starmer could be on course for No 10.

Amid signs of mounting panic among high-ranking Conservatives about Truss’s economic policies, several former cabinet ministers told the Observer on Saturday the party would suffer devastating losses in blue and red wall seats unless Truss changes tack, if and when she enters No 10.

After Michael Gove described Truss’s plan to focus on cutting taxes as a “holiday from reality” and announced he was supporting Rishi Sunak, the latest Opinium poll for the Observer gives Labour and its leader a double poll boost, days after he backed a complete freeze on energy bills this autumn. Labour now enjoys its biggest Opinium poll lead in months – eight points – while Starmer has surged well ahead of Truss in the past two weeks when voters are asked who would be the best prime minister. » | Toby Helm, Observer political editor “ | Saturday, August 20, 2022

This woman, Liz Truss, is economically illiterate. That we should even be contemplating entrusting her with the keys to Number 10 is a sad indictment of the British political system. For this cipher to wish to pursue Thatcherite policies at this time of national crisis shows me, and should show you, that she has lost the plot! The very last thng this country needs right now is more Thatcherite policies! It is an overdose of Thatcherism that has helped to land us all in this parlous state we now find ourselves in. For God's sake, don't give that woman the keys to Number 10. Doing so will be the path to this country's ruin. It will also help accelrate this country's place on the list of Third World countries. To borrow Thatcher's well-worn turn of phrase: "No! No! No!" Further, to add insult to injury, that voice of hers! Well! It's bad enough to turn the milk sour! – © Mark Alexander

Opinion: Tom Watson Says PM Is 'Disgraceful' and Calls for Referendum before Election

The deputy Labour party leader said Boris Johnson was 'worse than Thatcher' in a speech at the Creative Industries Federation in London on Wednesday as he called for a referendum before a general election. Watson said: 'There is no such thing as a good Brexit deal' and urged his party to 'unequivocally back remain'

Poll Surge for Farage Sparks Panic among Tories and Labour

THE GUARDIAN: Support for the Conservatives at the European elections slumps to 11%, less than a third of what the Brexit party is polling

Senior Tory and Labour politicians have issued frantic calls to their voters to back them in next week’s European elections after a new poll showed support for Nigel Farage’s Brexit party had soared to a level higher than for the two main parties put together.

The Opinium survey for the Observer places the Brexit party on 34%, when people were asked how they intended to vote on 23 May, with Labour slipping to 21% and the Conservatives collapsing to just 11%. Ominously for Theresa May, support for the Tories at the European elections is now less than a third of that for Farage’s party, and below that for the Liberal Democrats, who are on 12%.

The poll suggests the Brexit party, launched only last month, is now on course for a thumping victory that Farage will, MPs fear, use to back his argument that the UK must leave the EU immediately without a deal. » | Toby Helm and Michael Savage | Saturday, May 11, 2019

Labour Formally Adopts Definition of Islamophobia

THE GUARDIAN: All-party parliamentary group definition says Islamophobia is ‘rooted in racism’

The Labour party has formally adopted a definition of Islamophobia, arguing that it is vital to tackling the rise of far-right racism.

A party spokesperson said its national executive committee had adopted the working definition produced by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims “to help tackle Islamophobia, build a common understanding of its causes and consequences, and express solidarity with Muslim communities”.

The definition reads: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” » | Frances Perraudin | Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Labour Party Leader, Under Pressure, Backs a New Brexit Referendum

THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON — Britain’s opposition Labour Party said on Monday that it was prepared to support a second referendum on withdrawal from the European Union, a shift that could have significant ramifications for the fate of Brexit and for the country’s future.

After the resignations of nine Labour Party members last week, and amid the prospect of more, the party’s leader, Jeremy Corbyn, dropped his longstanding resistance to a second vote on leaving the bloc.

Mr. Corbyn’s support for a new vote is certainly no guarantee a new vote will happen. Still, it will cheer pro-European Britons, who have been fighting to reverse the outcome of the 2016 referendum decision. » | Stephen Castle | Monday, February 25, 2019

Theresa May – Full Interview on the Andrew Marr Show (October 1, 2017) – BBC News

Theresa May discusses Brexit, tuition fees, Boris Johnson and the Labour Party with Andrew Marr.

Tony Blair on Corbyn and the Lessons of the 2017 General Election (Full Interview) - BBC Newsnight

Newsnight's editor Ian Katz speaks to former Prime Minister Tony Blair about Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, the future of the Labour party and the lessons of the 2017 general election.

Angela Eagle on Sunday Politics

With Jeremy Corbyn Elected as New Leader, Britain’s Labour Party Takes a Hard Left Turn

Jeremy Corbyn after being elected leader of Britain's
opposition Labour Party on Saturday.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON - Britain’s opposition Labour Party on Saturday took a remarkable leftward turn, electing as its leader Jeremy Corbyn, a longtime socialist committed to nationalizing key industries, scrapping Britain’s nuclear missile system and reversing the centrist policies of previous leaders such as Tony Blair.

The result of the contest, announced on Saturday morning in London, gave stewardship of the Labour party to the hard left for the first time in more than three decades, a development seen here as one of the most surprising upsets in modern British politics.

As Europe continues to feel the aftershocks of the financial crisis of 2008, voters have been increasingly attracted to the political extremes, with support growing both for socialist parties on the left and nationalist ones on the right. The Labour leadership result could now shift the main opposition party in Britain closer to the types of positions taken by other leftist parties that have become prominent across Europe, including Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

Mr. Corbyn, 66, has been a lawmaker for more than three decades but never served in government, preferring to campaign, often for unfashionable causes, and frequently rebelling against the party line. » | Saturday, September 12, 2015

Ed Miliband Resigns as Labour Leader

THE GUARDIAN: Miliband steps down after admitting scale of election defeat had taken him and his staff by surprise


A devastated Ed Miliband has resigned as leader of the Labour party, saying he is truly sorry for the scale of the party’s crushing defeat.

In an emotional speech, Miliband said it was time for someone else to take over as leader, but called on the party to keep fighting, rather than give in to despair.

“I take absolute and total responsibility for our defeat. I am so sorry for all of those colleagues who lost their seats,” he said on Friday.

He said the party now needed an “open and honest debate” about the best way of rebuilding after the heavy losses, particularly to the Scottish National party. » | Patrick Wintour and Rowena Mason | Friday, May 08, 2015

Palastrevolution in der britischen Labour-Partei

Sechs Monate vor den britischen Parlamentswahlen müsste die Opposition eigentlich alles daran setzen, den politischen Gegner in die Enge zu treiben. Nach viereinhalb Jahren konservativ geprägter Sparpolitik stünden die Chancen gut. Statt dessen bläst die Labour-Partei zu einer Hetzjagd auf ihren Vorsitzenden Ed Miliband.

Tony Blair Iraq Comments: Senior Labour Figures Distance Themselves from Former PM after He Refuses to Accept Blame for New Crisis

THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Sources close to Ed Miliband refused to endorse Mr Blair’s analysis

Senior Labour figures rapidly distanced themselves from Tony Blair after he supported airstrikes on Iraq and Syria – and refused to accept that he should accept any of the blame for the crisis engulfing the region.

He defended his Government’s backing for the US-led invasion of Iraq, insisting it had been right to oust Saddam Hussein and urging military intervention to halt the advance of extremist Isis forces across the north of the country.

The former Prime Minister’s comments, in a blogpost on his website and a series of television interviews, opened fresh wounds within the party over the 11-year-old Iraq war.

Sources close to Ed Miliband refused to endorse Mr Blair’s analysis. One told the Independent: “What matters now is making the judgements rather than seeking to make points about what happened in the past.”

The shadow Foreign Secretary, Douglas Alexander, echoed the Coalition Government’s view that military action is not contemplated. He said: “The truth is that it is the Iraqis themselves who hold the key to resolving this crisis.” » | Nigel Morris | Sunday, June 15, 2014

Ed Miliband: I'm Bringing Socialism Back to Britain

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Ed Miliband has said he is "bringing back socialism" to Britain as he unveiled new plans to strengthen the minimum wage ahead of the Labour Party conference.

Mr Miliband said that David Cameron's government will stand only for the "privileged few" as he promised to deliver an economy that "works for the working people".

He also confirmed his pledge to scrap the spare room subsidy, which he described as a "bedroom tax", and tackle the cost-of-living "crisis".

Unusually for Mr Miliband, he chose not to wear a suit, opting instead for a grey v-neck jumper and jeans. Earlier in the day he took a stroll along Brighton seafront with his wife Justine and his children, Daniel and Samuel.

Mr Miliband said: "We are going to scrap the bedroom tax, that's what I mean by a government that fights for you.

"And we are fighting for all of the low-paid people around our country. One of the proudest achievements of the last Labour government was the national minimum wage, making work pay for people.

"But under David Cameron's Government people are falling behind, the national minimum wage now paying people £20 less after inflation than it did when David Cameron came to office. That's just wrong.

"When we see that happening and when we think about one of the big banks, do we really think they can't afford to pay heir cleaners a bit more?"

It was "wrong" that millions of people "are going out to work unable to afford to bring up their families".

He added: "The Labour government will put it right, we will strengthen the national minimum wage, we will make work pay for the workers of Britain. » | Steven Swinford, Senior Political Correspondent | Saturday, September 21, 2013