Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

Tribune however has uncovered remarkable photographic evidence of the real reason why James Purnell was late for a photocall at his local hospital last week – and why, therefore, the hospital had to airbrush him into its picture. He was, sources reveal, meeting the elusive, Brussels-fighting, motorbike-racing UKIP Man, Britain’s mightiest (and only) Eurosceptic superhero. [...]

Double takes all round for those watching the conference on the centre’s closed circuit TV on Monday morning. First, there was Shaun Woodward, former Tory MP and now Government minister speaking from a Labour conference platform as Northern Ireland Secretary. Then, almost immediately afterwards, there was Quentin Davies, the recently defected Tory MP of long-service, [...]

Most embarrassing faux pas of the week came from the League Against Cruel Sports in its special conference newspaper, titled in wincing bad taste The Shooter. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Inside, across a double-page spread was a photograph of a topless model protecting her modesty only by clutching two cuddly toy foxcubs [...]

THE hot accessory at Conference this week was the “Politicos Top Trumps” game handed out by Sky News. Poor Des Browne, already lumbered with the twin Labour disasters of Iraq and Scotland, may have had reason to be upset, though. As well as being the second ugliest MP (just behind Alan Johnson), he also apparently [...]

THE hot accessory at Conference this week was the “Politicos Top Trumps” game handed out by Sky News. Poor Des Browne, already lumbered with the twin Labour disasters of Iraq and Scotland, may have had reason to be upset, though. As well as being the second ugliest MP (just behind Alan Johnson), he also apparently [...]

More evidence of the airbrushing out of Piers Morgan’s shadow from the Mirror. The paper’s annual conference bash has returned to taking politics seriously. Gone is the party animal event staged by the former editor, complete with bands and ear-busting dance music which ministers snubbed because nobody could hear what anybody was saying. Back is [...]

Peter Mandelson cast his satanic shadow over what should have been a jolly reception staged by the European Commission. Gordon’s wannabe new best friend made a speech that castigated Europe’s social democratic leaders and praising right wingers on the grounds that they understand and get along with the United States better. A frantic official left [...]

Funny thing, fashion. You have to follow the leader. Gordon Brown has taken to sporting a purple tie so the stores in Bournemouth had a sudden run on purple ties. Yes, really. The PM delivered his leader’s speech on Monday afternoon wearing a purple tie so Alan Johnson – who moved so seamlessly from TB [...]

It’s always risky, telling jokes. Just in case they fall flat and you’ve paused for the laughs that never come. Take Health Secretary Alan Johnson. He tried this one on a full house in the main hall at conference: “Dawn Primarolo came to health after being incarcerated at the Treasury for 10 years, which is [...]

It’s good to see the two arms of Unite working so closely together. In a conference stand that could have solved the housing crises of a few small councils the union’s two general secretaries operated out of two separate offices, on separate sides of the hug structure with the doors marked PRIVATE.