Before the election, the received wisdom was that the new government would not have much of a honeymoon. The thinking went that the anti-politics mood was so strong and the cuts required so deep, that there’d be no May ’97 style moment. But the coalition has changed all that. One poll shows a 60 percent approval rating for it. The coalition is also getting a positive response from the international commentariat. Most of today’s New York Times op-ed page is given over to praising it. David Brooks says that the coalition might become a ‘model for all... Here are some of the posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson offers reasons to hope amid the misplaced optimism, and comments that Brown saved the worst till last. James Forsyth reveals who missed out on Cabinet, and watches the coalitionpass the easy bit with flying colours. Peter Hoskin argues that the coalition’s first test will be the emergency budget, and critiques the Tory campaign. David Blackburn urges the Tory right to put up and shut up, and believes that... As it happens, Lord Hurd is quite complementary towards David Cameron and his role in organising the coalition. Here's the actual quote: But it's worth considering another angle to a Byrne leadership bid. A They know government from the outside, from the sidelines, from parliamentary questions but not from the inside. It will be really interesting to see how the Cameron-Clegg government copes not just with the issues where they can set the agenda - like police reform - but where the... Britain is being governed by a duumvirate. Britons may not understand how two-headed government works; but Russians should have no trouble at all. They have long been accustomed to a two-headed form of government. Perhaps at the next UK-Russian summit, the quartet of Cameron, Clegg, Putin and Medvedev can swap tips. Clegg’s importance to the Conservative-Liberal government will transform the previously honorific role of deputy Prime Minister. He will retain the right to fire Liberal Democrat ministers, if not directly then by threatening to remove... Two articles, though, are particularly indicative of the tensions that the government will face. Interviewed in the Sun, David Cameron has to...Friday, 14th May 2010
Cameron's surprise honeymoon
JAMES FORSYTH 7:09pmThe week that was
6:16pmStephen Timms MP stabbed
DAVID BLACKBURN 5:02pm
The Sun is reporting that former finance minister Stephen Timms has been stabbed during a surgery at his constituency office in East Ham. A 21 year-old woman is being detained. Timms has been taken to hospital. His condition is not thought to be life-threatening. More to follow. Hurd weighs in on the 55 percent debate
PETER HOSKIN 4:30pm
Plenty of eyes on the Tory grandees at the moment. I mean, the right of the party isn't exactly delighted with the LibCon coalition - so the search is on for figureheads to lead the resistance. Which is why Andrew Neil's interview with Douglas Hurd on Staight Talk this weekend is worth paying attention to."I think it was a brave thing to do. It might have gone terribly wrong,
...Who will be Labour's cuts candidate?
PETER HOSKIN 2:41pm
As Guido and Jim Pickard have pointed out, Liam Byrne's article in the Guardian today reads like the launch of a leadership bid. But if it is, then it's not a well-judged one. Amid some sensible points about Labour's demise, there's too much "if we'd have done what I said" bravado which, I imagine, won't go down well with the party faithful right now. A bit like pouring vinegar on an open wound.When will the government be mugged by reality?
DANIEL KORSKI 1:21pm
One of the most interesting questions is whether the Tories and the Lib Dems will be able to move from the talking points to the action points. Besides Ken Clarke, Francis Maude and William Hague none of the ministers have any previous government experience.Why fraternal rivalry will be good for Labour
PETER HOSKIN 11:36am
With the Sun reporting that Ed Miliband is going to stand for the Labour leadership, it's probably a good time to dig out Anne McElvoy's profile of theMiliband brothers for the Sunday Times last month. To my mind, its opening neatly encapsulates the choice between the wonkish one and the slighty-less-wonkish one that Labour may have to make:"When David and Ed Miliband were teenagers, their north London household rang to the chatter of some of the most prominent left-wing names of the era: Tony Benn, Tariq Ali,
...Government, Russian-style
DANIEL KORSKI 10:36am
Правительство, в русском стилеIn the foothills of Brown's debt mountain
PETER HOSKIN 9:16am
After the sunshine of the Downing St rose garden, the gloom of the public finances. This morning's newspapers are full of stories about the tax hikes and spending cuts that our coalition government is looking to introduce. The Sun and theTimes dwell on yesterday's forecast for a rise in VAT. The Guardian outlinespossible cuts to middle-class benefits. And there's plenty more besides.
Saturday 15 May 2010
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