Politics

Read about the latest UK political news, views and analysis.

Saturday

James Forsyth James Forsyth

The Tories should accuse Brown of perpetrating a fraud against the public  

The Irish no vote provides the Tories with a golden opportunity to make Gordon Brown’s trustworthiness the defining political issue of the summer. Brown stood in 2005 on a manifesto that promised a vote on the European Constitution he then reneged on that promise; the Lisbon Treaty is nowhere near different enough from the constitution to justify going back on that manifesto commitment. When Brown did this he was popular enough to ride out the ensuing storm. Now, the situation is very different. David Cameron’s statement on Friday night was strong, accusing the government of the “height of arrogance” for pushing on with ratification. But on Wednesday when the House of

James Forsyth James Forsyth

A Coffee House challenge

The split between the Westminster Village and the public at large over whether David Davis’s resignation was a moment of madness or an act of profound principle is rapidly becoming the story. Matthew Parris turns his attention to it with his typical eloquence in his column in The Times today. Most people in Westminster think that Davis has made a huge mistake because they can not see how he keeps 42 days and his fight against it in the news 10, let alone 100, days from now. Indeed, his resignation has already been eclipsed as a story by the Irish no vote. I suspect that the fuel strike will push

Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Unprecedented actions?

Is Davis’ action really unprecedented? The latest issue of The House magazine has a piece by Vernon Bogdanor, perhaps the best politics academic in Britain. He names all previous by-election candidates, almost all of which changed party and believed they had a moral duty to seek a new mandate (Quentin Davies take note). Duchess of Atholl, 1938, Conservative to independent, Richard Acland, 1955, Labour to independent. Dick Taverne (now-Lord Taverne), 1973, Labour to Democratic Labour. Bruce Douglas-Mann, 1982, Labour to independent SDP. Of the above, only Taverne kept his seat. Bogdanor says the closest comparison is when 15 Ulster unionists resigned in 1986 over the Anglo-Irish agreement, ie to reinforce the

James Forsyth James Forsyth

Union of denial

Denis MacShane, the former Europe minister, was not a happy man as he did interviews yesterday about the Irish no vote and his piece in today’s Times is a mixture of anger and denial. He starts by dismissing the no votes against the constitution in France and Holland and the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland as mere “local difficulties” when set against the broader ambitions of the European project. He then indulges in some sophistry to try and dismiss the democratic importance of the Irish vote. Ireland represents 1 per cent of the EU’s total population and some old-fashioned democrats may feel that 1 per cent does not

The Spectator

Zero tolerance for Tory sleaze

‘What gets me,’ said David Cameron in a speech to the CBI last November, ‘is the deliberate extravagance committed by the people at the top of the government machine, the administrators and managers and quangocrats who administer public money.’ He went on to name Home Office officials who had blown £800,000 on taxis in a year, the MoD, which spend £2.3 million on a headquarters for itself while soldiers in Afghanistan had to do without their proper kit, and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, which ate its way through £1.6 million in just six months on hotels and conference centres. It was a fine and timely speech by the Conservative

Friday

Alex Massie Alex Massie

David Davis: Principled Troubador or Egomaniac?

Everyone agreed that David Davis’s resignation yesterday was extraordinary political theatre and that it would be a rash man who predicted its consequences. Some pundits were prepared to acknowledge the bravura  – even the foolhardy courage – of Davis’s decision to risk ridicule and disaster on a supposedly quixotic personal crusade but, as the presses rooled and Friday’s editorials and analysis columns were pinged onto the internet, something remarkable happened: after a day spent wondering how brave a man must be to predict the consequences of Davis’s actions, the Westminster press corps and its gaggle of pundits and metropolitan swells came to a single conclusion: David Davis must be mad.

Alex Massie Alex Massie

These People Are In Your Government

How can you tell if David Davis is right? Easy! As Mr Eugenides says, just look at these reactions:: JACQUI SMITH, HOME SECRETARY Faced with a crucial decision on the safety and protection of the British public, the Conservatives have collapsed into total disarray on what is their first big policy test since they have come under greater scrutiny. David Cameron must come clean on what has really happened and why David Davis has really resigned. DAVID BLUNKETT, FORMER HOME SECRETARY David Davis’s behaviour is a pure piece of political theatre, even more bizarre than John Major resigning as leader of the Tory Party in order to stand again against

The Spectator

The week that was | 13 June 2008

Some highlights of the week on Spectator.co.uk: David Davis is taking CoffeeHousers’ questions. Ruth Dudley Edwards responds to the No campaign’s victory in the Irish referendum, Neil O’Brien gives his thoughts on the referendum result. Fraser Nelson outlines the passion of David Davis, and watches Brown struggle through his latest press conference. James Forsyth picks up on the concern surrounding Dominic Grieve’s appointment as shadow home secretary, and suggests that men of goodwill disagreed about 42-day detention. Peter Hoskin wonders whether David Davis will achieve anything, and asks whether we should blame the DUP for the Government’s victory over 42-day detention. Stephen Pollard offers his thoughts on 42-day detention. Melanie Phillips thinks the death of

Peter Hoskin

Could Brown offer a referendum?

Here – thanks to Politics Home – is what Cameron has to say on the No camp’s victory in the Irish referendum: “The Treaty is now dead … It would be the height of arrogance for Gordon Brown to press ahead with the Treaty – if this is not dead, then we need a referendum in this country so we can put the final nail in the coffin.” He’s right, of course.  It would be the height of arrogance for Brown to press ahead with the Treaty.  And we do need a referendum in this country, as we always have done.  I suspect we’ll get the worst of all possible outcomes though – Brown will

James Forsyth James Forsyth

Barroso tries to come to terms with defeat and fails

Watching the BBC broadcast of Barroso’s press conference you realised how the EU just can not compute any result that does not go its way. Barroso said that he respected the Irish decision but then kept on insisting that the 27 EU members would have to find a way to ratify the treaty anyway. It really is quite comic. One wonders how many times the ideas embedded in the Lisbon Treaty will have to be rejected by the voters before the European elite finally gives up on trying to impose them on us. By my count, these ideas have already gone down to defeat three times—the referendums in France, Holland

Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Let’s drink to the Irish

Eight decades ago, Britain gave Ireland back her sovereignty. Today, it seems the people of that glorious country have returned the favour. It’s too soon to know for sure if the “no” vote has prevailed, but all indications appear so. Yet again, the EU project has failed; unable to pass the tiniest bit of democracy from the European people. This tells you all you need to know about its true nature. There is something odious about a politicians’ project whose success depends on its ability to circumvent the people they purport to represent. For years their central deception has been encapsulated by the question: “do you want more powers to pass

Neil Obrien

Ireland votes no, now what’s next?

1) This was a vote against the Treaty, and against deeper EU integration This was indeed a vote against deeper integration.  The political class are already spinning that it was stuff about abortion, an unpopular government – all the same old claims.  But look at the polls and the top reasons for voting no – they are all perfectly reasonable.  Here is the list of the top reasons from the last Irish Times poll “Can you tell me why you have decided to vote no on the Lisbon Treaty?” 30% I don’t know what I’m voting for/ don’t understand it 24% To keep Ireland’s power and identity 22% To safeguard

The Spectator

Across the site

Don’t forget to check out the responses – from across Spectator.co.uk – to the events of the past few days. Both Stephen Pollard and Melanie Phillips are sceptical about David Davis’ actions.  Whilst Clive Davis remains in the “‘don’t know’ camp” on 42-day detention. Also, over on Trading Floor, Tim Worstall gives his thoughts on the No campaign’s victory in Ireland. And, if Kelvin Mackenzie does decide to stand against David Davis in Haltemprice & Howden, it won’t be the first time he’s run for political office.  He wrote an article for The Spectator on what motivated him to to stand in the recent local elections.  You can read it here. 

Ruth Dudley Edwards

Even the Eurocrats won’t be able to ignore this vote

I’ve just had a joyful phone call from Kevin Myers, one of the very few Irish journalists who was on the ‘No’ side.  I was fearing the Irish vote would just be ignored, but Kevin, rarely an optimist, convinced me that the Irish electorate won’t stand for being told – as in the case of their vote against Nice – to vote again and give the right answer; and the turn-out was so high that it legitimizes a very clear result.  What’s more, the Irish Taoiseach is not popular and times are hard, so riding roughshod over the voters is not an easy option. This is not a good time

Peter Hoskin

Put your questions to David Davis

The man of the moment – David Davis – has kindly agreed to a Q&A session with Coffee House.  So, post your questions for him in the comments sections below.  And, in a week-or-so’s time, we’ll pick out the best ten and put them to the former shadow home secretary.  He’ll get back to us all a few days later.  And the commenters whose questions are chosen will all win Coffee House t-shirts and copies of the special 180th Anniversary issue of The Spectator. Time to get posting…

James Forsyth James Forsyth

Brown tells Sarkozy that he’ll plough on with ratification regardless

Mark Mardell has just reported that Gordon Brown has phoned Nicolas Sarkozy and told him that he would continue with ratification even if the Irish vote no. One wonders what part of ‘no’ these people don’t understand. Brown is in a total pickle here. The Irish no is going to revive anger in this country about being denied the referendum that all three political parties promised us. Brown’s personal ratings are about to take another battering. Hat Tip: Open Europe 

Ruth Dudley Edwards

Ireland: Know hope

The counting started at 9.00 and the Nos are daring to hope as the famed Irish tallymen report many working class and rural areas voting against Lisbon.  As against that, the prosperous classes came out in force to vote Yes in smart areas of Dublin and leafy Kildare.  Turn-out is in the late 40s which can be argued to favour either side.  We might know by lunchtime.

James Forsyth James Forsyth

A Grieve set of issues

David Cameron wasted no time in appointing Dominic Grieve yesterday but it might be a case of act in haste, repent at leisure. I’m picking up considerable concern in Conservative circles about Grieve’s appointment for the following reasons. 1). It unbalances the front bench: If one thinks of the Tory front bench as a see-saw, David Davis and William Hague balanced out David Cameron and George Osborne. While Cameron and Osborne were young, southern, privileged, modernisers, David Davis and William Hague were more experienced, sat for northern seats, came from humble backgrounds and were perceived as traditional Tories. Replacing Davis with Grieve, a barrister who was educated at Westminster and