The Standard » uk politics

Austerity will increase inequality

Ben Clark — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:12:05 +0000

Austerity is reducing the opportunities for social mobility, for reducing income inequality, for a fair society. The increased class sizes, the removal of Adult and Community Education, the removal of Training Allowances, and many more things National are doing in the name of "austerity" are undermining our society.

Brooks charged with perverting justice

Mike Smith — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:03:08 +0000

Rebekah and Charlie Brooks have been charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to the News International phone-hacking affair. Now it's in the courts, this albatross will hang around Cameron's neck through to the next election.

Firewalls up in smoke

Mike Smith — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:35:58 +0000

David Cameron's defence of embattled Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been called a "firewall" that's failing to hold.

Cameron needs Hunt to stay or else Cameron is the next to go. It is the same for John Key.

As the stench of corruption around John Banks grows, he desperately needs him to stay or else all he loses legitimacy for asset sales and potentially his majority on the issue as well.

Filleted Murdock

Mike Smith — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:46:17 +0000

Stayed up last night to watch Robert Jay QC question Rupert Murdoch at the Leveson enquiry. It was riveting - you can see why top lawyers like Jay are called silks. Murdoch denied, deferred, demeaned, derided and defended but couldn't help himself - ended up with more damage than control. This affair has more legs than a millipede.

ImperatorFish: To Save We Must First Kill

The Standard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:19:04 +0000

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.

The United Kingdom is in recession again. Thanks austerity!

Murdoch did discuss BSkyB with Cameron

Mike Smith — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:11:29 +0000

James Murdoch has confirmed to the Leveson enquiry that he did discuss News International's bid to take over BSkyB with Cameron at a dinner at the home of Rebekah Brooks. Cameron had previously denied this. Also Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, charged with ensuring that the takeover was according to law, was briefing Murdoch on the back channel via his staff. His tenure looks very shaky. Cameron will also be under severe pressure. There are lessons for us as well.

Private Welfare to Work – how well does that work?

Ben Clark — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:15:52 +0000

The government has introduced their welfare changes to parliament. In addition to making mums of 1 year-olds seek paid work in addition to raising children, it introduces private companies profiting from unemployment misery with welfare to work schemes. The UK has been trying this for a couple of years - let's look at how that's going...

Disgusted by the Poor

Bunji — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:40:34 +0000

"The idea that ultimately the poor must help themselves as social mobility grinds to a halt is illogical; it is based on a faith for which there is scant evidence. Yet it is the one thing that has genuinely 'trickled down' from the wealthy, so that many people without much themselves continue to despise those who are on a lower rung."

Inequality: a big issue for our time

Ben Clark — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:43:52 +0000

The Herald looks like it has an excellent series this week, on Auckland: A city divided by income. It’s an issue that has been waiting to be examined in the local context in more depth. It’s been quite a big issue in the UK for a while, with The Spirit Level making an impact before ...

What a riot.

Bill — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:16:49 +0000

A quick post on sentences handed down in the wake of riots in England.

Bell Pottinger: Lobbying unmasked

Bunji — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:36:20 +0000

Investigative journalism (remember that?) has opened up Bell Pottinger, the UK's top PR/lobby firm. Inside they've found some seriously dodgy dealing that goes right to the top of British Government. There's a call for a register of lobbyists and their interests - isn't that something we should have here as well?

Leadership Elections: Getting it Right

Bunji — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:35:01 +0000

In 2005 the UK Conservatives badly lost a third election in a row and their leader announced his intent to resign. But they organised a well-run contest to replace him, and by the time he won David Cameron had gone from unknown outsider to popular public figure, and the once 'toxic' Conservatives were electable again.

Is Key going where Gove’s gone?

Mike Smith — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:33:33 +0000

National's "Future Fund" asset-sale money will be spent on modernising schools we are told. Is the future they have in mind like Conservative Education Minister Michael Gove's so-called "free schools" now being set up in Britain? It would be no surprise if our public assets were sold down by National to pay for private interests to get a stake in the school system here. We shouldn't be under any illusions that the agenda is just short-term.

Ashcroft – the photo-op Key didn’t want

Mike Smith — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:08:23 +0000

Paddy Gower at TV3 reveals Lord Ashcroft, billionaire Tory donor and International Democratic Union treasurer, has come to talk to Key again. Just discussed politics generally, said Key. Politics yes, generally no. Ashcroft's interests are now devoted to polling and blog communication, and he is very interested in our election. Having seen Cameron miss out on a majority, he'll want to help Key to one here.

Cameron cancels Key photo-op

Mike Smith — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:06:55 +0000

David Cameron has cancelled his planned trip to Japan and New Zealand. He is facing a backbench revolt over European Union membership at the same time as he is trying to intervene in the crucial financial summit trying to sort out problems in the Euro zone on Wednesday. Oh well, one less photo op for John Key - perhaps its just as well as Britain's future isn't getting brighter.