Archive for January, 2009
By Tribune Web Editor /Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
BUSINESS Secretary Peter Mandelson was taken to task at a breakout session of the Fabians’ new year conference last weekend over his infamous assertion that he was “relaxed” about the wealthy getting even more filthily rich. His sardonic defence was that the remark was qualified with “provided they pay their taxes”. But Peter, as one [...]
Orwell’s son breaks his silence
By Tribune Web Editor /Tuesday, January 27th, 2009George Orwell’s son Richard Blair has decided to break the silence of a lifetime to write the story of life under the banner of the author and former literary editor of Tribune.
By Tribune Web Editor /Monday, January 26th, 2009
QUESTION: how many black and ethnic MPs does it take to make a racially-balanced House of Commons? Answer: 54. That’s why, on the day of Barack Obama’s inauguration this week, the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Labour campaign (BAME) launched a “54 Group” aimed at increasing minority representation and offer specialised training courses for aspiring candidates. [...]
By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, January 25th, 2009
ONE special relationship that may not be long for this world is Our Man in Washington’s with the new administration. Former Foreign Office satrap Nigel Sheinwald has been caught out being most undiplomatic about the new super-hero in the White House. After the inauguration this week, the Ambassador to the United States was heard touring [...]
Joan Smith: Deflated PM looks to the past – he’s so last century
By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, January 25th, 2009SO GORDON BROWN bounced and what happened? More banks crashed. Oh, and he made an environmentally and electorally indefensible decision on a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Is everyone happy now?
Westminster Watch: Cameron shuffles his pack in bid to trump PM
By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, January 25th, 2009IN A difficult week economically, Labour strategists got at least one thing right. They resisted the temptation to attack Kenneth Clarke as a Thatcherite fellow traveller, returning to the Shadow Cabinet to grind the faces of the poor. While some mischief-making on his support for elements of the Government’s economic policies was to be expected, Labour message-makers wisely concluded that they had to keep their sights fixed on the main thrust of Tory economic policy and not the personnel involved in running it.
Interview: What Willmott will do for Labour in Europe
By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, January 25th, 2009Kate Holman talks to the new leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party about her priorities and plans with the European elections just five months away
Tribune Comment: The world waits for Obama to act
By Tribune Web Editor /Friday, January 23rd, 2009IT WAS great theatre. The best, outside Biblical epics for which the miracle of instant global communication had unfortunately not been invented. Not just one nation, but the world held in thrall to the words of a single man thrust into near messianic adoration by the process, with all its faults, of democratic election. And now the world waits for the miracle that will, or will not, be Barack Obama’s presidency.