Category Archives: UK coalition

Congratulations Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton MP

Posted on March 1, 2013 by ianmacfadyen

Congratulations to Eastleigh by-election victor Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton MP. Prime Minister David Cameron is struggling to find a positive spin on his Conservative Party’s relegation to third place, but he could follow the example of Bob Servant, Independent, after … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberal Democrats, Politics, UK coalition, UK Prime Minister | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Deputy Prime Minister’s response to Leveson

Posted on November 29, 2012 by ianmacfadyen

10 out of 10 to the Deputy Prime Minister.  He supports Lord Justice Leveson’s report and understands public concern.  He gave a bravura performance in answering MPs’ questions, dealing with each question that was put and not dodging, as most … Continue reading →

Posted in Deputy Prime Minister, government, Hacking, Leveson, Leveson Report, Politics, Press, Press regulation, UK coalition, UK Deputy Prime Minister, UK Government, UK press regulation, UK Prime Minister | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

PM missing the point

Posted on November 29, 2012 by ianmacfadyen

A generous 7½ out of 10 for the Prime Minister, when he could so easily have got 10. Lord Justice has not proposed removing press freedom by legislation. He is not pointing the way across a Rubicon or advocation a … Continue reading →

Posted in government, Hacking, Leveson, Leveson Report, Politics, Press, Press regulation, UK coalition, UK Government, UK press regulation, UK Prime Minister, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leveson

Posted on November 29, 2012 by ianmacfadyen

I like what I heard in Lord Justice Leveson’s impressive statement. Like most people commenting I have yet to read the report (it will take a while), but the proposals he summarised in his statement seem right. Will the vested … Continue reading →

Posted in government, Hacking, Leveson, Leveson Report, Press, Press regulation, UK coalition, UK Government, UK press regulation, Uncategorized, Whitehall | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Veto!

Posted on December 10, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Prime minister David Cameron’s veto at the EU summit in Brussels leaves the UK isolated in a way that has no precedent. His “veto” is a refusal not to take part in discussions which are going to go ahead without the … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Council, Eurozone, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3rd Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 8, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

As he heads to the EU summit in Brussels, will the UK prime minister, David Cameron, be thinking about the London Conference nearly 80 years ago, also called to resolve an international financial crisis and avoid a further recession? That … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Council, Eurozone, government, London Conference 1933, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2nd Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 7, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Here is common sense and leadership from justice secretary Kenneth Clarke in today’s Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5606a946-201a-11e1-8662-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1fomGwuZY. (You may have to register to read it, but registration is free). He was a good minister to work for, as I recall. Also … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, government, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition, Uncategorized, Work-life balance, Working Time Directive | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 6, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

David Cameron’s threat today to veto any new EU treaty (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16048131) confirms the worst.  Of course he is right to defend the United Kingdom’s interests and not to sign any treaty that does not accord with our interests (although as … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 6, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Why is the UK taking no part in solving the Eurozone crisis? Why was the UK prime minister not at the summit in Paris yesterday, when President Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Merkel of Germany met? The financial crisis affects … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, Politics, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Immigration

Posted on November 8, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Is it not a delicious irony that it is a Conservative home secretary on whose watch immigration checks were scaled back apparently without ministerial sanction so that she does not now know how many people were let in improperly? We … Continue reading →

Posted in government, Immigration, Politics, UK coalition, Uncategorized, Whitehall | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment