Justine Greening asks the killer question
I don't want to make a habit of praising government ministers, having written earlier that David Cameron's speech on welfare reform was pretty decent. But hooray for Justine Greening. The Transport...
View ArticleJustine Greening and the third runway: George Osborne can't afford to sack her
One of the more intriguing little moves of the final days of this parliamentary session has been the briefing against the Transport Secretary, Justine Greening. The Chancellor's supporters have let it...
View ArticleCameron, Osborne and friends: adolescent snobbery at the heart of government
From Saturday's Daily Telegraph Do you remember the Labour activists dressed in top hats and tails who followed around the Conservative candidate in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election in 2008? The...
View ArticleNever mind the pros and cons of an extra runway at Heathrow, what matters...
There is something unutterably depressing about the debate over a third runway at Heathrow. In all the conversations, it's assumed that manifesto commitments are worthless. 'These things can always be...
View ArticleMinisters come and go; Sir Humphrey is running the country
Westminster professionals get tremendously worked up about reshuffles. 'Have you heard? Boodle and Coodle are being promoted, Doodle has got Foodle's job, and Hoodle has been dropped altogether!' The...
View ArticleReshuffle: David Cameron listens to the awkward squad
Gradually the pieces are falling into place. Despite her desperate weekend plea, Baroness Warsi turned out not be quite female, Asian, urban, northern and working-class enough. Ken Clarke is to be...
View ArticleHas the reshuffle marked the death of Tory modernisation?
David Cameron will announce tomorrow that the oak tree has been dropped and the torch of freedom will once again be the Conservative party logo. The move is being promoted by Downing Street as a...
View ArticleIs the 'greenest government ever' turning brown?
Eric Pickles makes an unlikely eco-warrior. So it speaks volumes about this week’s Cabinet reshuffle that his survival is the only thing that pleased environmentalists. Both they and climate sceptics...
View ArticleThe West Coast rail shambles: this is the sort of incompetence that will cost...
Ed Miliband asked yesterday if there has ever been such an incompetent, pledge-busting, incompetent, shambolic, calamitously run, incompetent government. Those in the hall at Labour conference roared,...
View ArticleBritish aid to South Africa is being cut, right? Wrong
Remember Justine Greening's announcement that Britain's aid contribution to South Africa is being "cut" in 2015? I recently received a tip-off that in reality our overall aid package to the country...
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