Common Endeavour » Phil Cowley

Morning roundup, Wednesday 22nd April 2009

Sadie Smith — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:39:07 +0000

It's Budget day, and everyone has a view. Read our faves here (in no particular order): Nick Robinson, Don Paskini, the Telegraph has some odd facts about Budgets passim, and the Guardian;
Following the announcement that the Gord plans to reform MPs' allowances in precisely the way everyone in the opposition parties and right-wing media was demanding, there has been much harrumphing from these quarters that Brown has done just that. Iain Martin of the Telegraph has a hilarious take on how this is an affront to the independence of Parliament which has already been much eroded by Evil NuLab (a myth wearily, and periodically debunked by the wonderful Phil Cowley of Revolts), and Iain Dale has received a deputation from his Total Politics staff asking if they can all have an overnight allowance too. Why? Is Shane Greer commuting from Aberystwyth or something?

Olly's Onion's is predictably funny on Ahmadinejad's thoughts on the nature of Israel and contemporary Zionism and Craig Murray is just predictable;
Anton Vowl on finding an even bigger nobber than Littlejohn. Le roi est mort, vive le roi!
Paulie, resident of this parish, examines the danger posed to society and justice by having too many cameras in public places;
Tory Troll finds that Rape Crisis Centres are no longer a priority for our beloved Mayor of London;
... and because he was my former boss and this deserves wider circulation: Victoria Derbyshire interviews John Mann MP from the small bedroom in Waterloo that comprises his second home. Well worth watching if only for the suspicion evidence of a student-esque quick-the-parents-are-visiting cleanup when Ms Derbyshire bravely opens the wardrobe.

Sadie Smith — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:15:49 +0000

Yesterday's PMQs is the subject of much discussion: Fraser Nelson gives a passable impression of an online orgasm, whilst the Times' Ann Treneman welcomes the return to normal service;
Revolts' Phil Cowley has a good couple of posts analysising the rebellion over the Welfare Reform Bill and the shenannigans surrounding the UK Youth Parliament saga;

Signs of ennui at the Telegraph as James Kirkup tries to flog the decomposing horseflesh that is the is-there-going-to-be-a-snap-election non-story;
Paul Linford examines the 2007 Deputy Leader election, and looks to Labour's future;
The latest ICM poll for the Guardian reports no change for either the comrades or the Bullingdon massif (30 and 42 points respectively), but Nicky Clegg's lot seem to have gained two points. Must be the haircut;
Much hilarity from the Standard's Paul Waugh (here and here) over the Labour Party's answer to Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh;
The Daily Mail has some unstated opinions for those mums who selfishly aren't anorexia-ing themselves down to a size zero as soon as they've fired out their contribution to the next generation. Edifying;
... and Rachel Sylvester in the Times warns the Tories that real political character comes out under pressure. So be afraid, be very afraid.

Sadie Smith — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:05:09 +0000

RBS reports record losses of £24.1bn. There's more here and here, but it will all be alright as long as Sir Fred Goodwin's gives up his mahoosive pension. This would fill up that hole AND leave enough for trebles all round for the taxpayer - except he won't, will he? Selfish bastard. This is certainly the impression you would have got had you, like me, listened to the searing economic analysis that makes the Today programme the agenda-setter it is;

Lord Ashcroft's missus finds she's got a bit of loose change to the tune of quarter of a million quid knocking around in her Chanel purse and gives it to that most noble cause: the Tories. Would it pass the Daily Mail test, d'you think?;
Speaking of the Mail, that noble organ of record has a horrifying story about how The Paedophiles are watching YOUR KIDS through their internet screens;
Phil Cowley's predictably excited about the Heathrow Ten Minute Rule Bill vote, and gives his view here. Different strokes, eh?
Cath Elliott's a bit perplexed by Amnesty's latest poster campaign. So are we, come to think of it;
The Liberal Conspiracy has A Dummies Guide to the Cabinet and How it Works;
... and Paulie comes up with the ultimate definition of a liberal: a Tory who's been arrested. Class.