Entries tagged with politics [Toby Atkin-Wright]

…it’s time to fix the economy. Let’s hope that the coalition between the Tories and Lib-Dems will work, will be accepted by the parliamentary parties and by the party memberships, and will last a full parliamentary term.

Thirty-one years ago the Conservatives came to power, and had to make deeply unpopular choices in order to fix the broken economic legacy that Labour had left them. Now they have to do it again. I imagine that cuts in public-sector spending will cause pain across the country, and I hope that whatever tax rises are on the way will avoid the least well-off, and don’t harm growth.

Congratulations to the new First Lord of the Treasury, and to the new Deputy Prime Minister.

location: St Andrews, Scotland

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Interesting election results last night; the unpredictability of the swing makes me think that individual campaigns and local issues counted for much more than the party leaders’ debates and national newspaper endorsements.

Will we see a sustainable agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats? It seems to me that would be the best outcome.

There must be strong emotions at work in the different parties today, fuelled by tiredness and uncertainty. Labour expected to lose a lot of seats; they lost big, but it could have been much worse for them. The Tories expected to gain a lot of seats; they didn’t get as many as they hoped for (but perhaps as many as they could have practically expected). The Liberals look to have had, in a way, the biggest upset, in that Cleggmania made a big noise but had no real impact on the electorate. That must hurt. And the political landscape in Scotland didn’t really change much.

We’re off to England for the weekend. We’re not venturing too far though; just over the border into Northumbria.

location: St Andrews, Scotland

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Interesting election results last night; the unpredictability of the swing makes me think that individual campaigns and local issues counted for much more than the party leaders’ debates and national newspaper endorsements.

Will we see a sustainable agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats? It seems to me that would be the best outcome.

There must be strong emotions at work in the different parties today, fuelled by tiredness and uncertainty. Labour expected to lose a lot of seats; they lost big, but it could have been much worse for them. The Tories expected to gain a lot of seats; they didn’t get as many as they hoped for (but perhaps as many as they could have practically expected). The Liberals look to have had, in a way, the biggest upset, in that Cleggmania made a big noise but had no real impact on the electorate. That must hurt. And the political landscape in Scotland didn’t really change much.

We’re off to England for the weekend. We’re not venturing too far though; just over the border into Northumbria.

location: St Andrews, Scotland

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We voted this morning at the Boys’ Brigade Hall while taking Beth to school. Beth was upset that we didn’t vote for her chosen colour.

location: St Andrews, Scotland

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We voted this morning at the Boys’ Brigade Hall while taking Beth to school. Beth was upset that we didn’t vote for her chosen colour.

location: St Andrews, Scotland

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There is so much politics on television at the moment that one can’t catch it all. But a highlight is “The Daily Politics” on BBC2 every lunchtime. Mind you, I record it and watch it in the evening after Kate has gone to bed, as she is rather allergic to political television.

Andrew Neil is possibly the best political interviewer on TV at the moment; he has an incisive way of targeting interviewees weaknesses, while appearing to be totally reasonable and affable. He sometimes exhibits a personal viewpoint, which humanises his interviewing, without aligning himself on party political lines. He’s also good at bringing out the best from political journalists, much better than when BBC News presenters talk to journalists.

Jo Coburn is a delight too; what a wonderful laugh.

location: KY16 8JY

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There is so much politics on television at the moment that one can’t catch it all. But a highlight is “The Daily Politics” on BBC2 every lunchtime. Mind you, I record it and watch it in the evening after Kate has gone to bed, as she is rather allergic to political television.

Andrew Neil is possibly the best political interviewer on TV at the moment; he has an incisive way of targeting interviewees weaknesses, while appearing to be totally reasonable and affable. He sometimes exhibits a personal viewpoint, which humanises his interviewing, without aligning himself on party political lines. He’s also good at bringing out the best from political journalists, much better than when BBC News presenters talk to journalists.

Jo Coburn is a delight too; what a wonderful laugh.

location: KY16 8JY

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A bit of history.

location: KY16 8JY

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A bit of history.

location: KY16 8JY

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I’m looking forward to election day. Every general election, I host a party from 10pm — the time the polls close — to watch history unfold through the night as the results come in. As usual we’ll be watching the BBC all the way; familiarity with their correspondants and their ridiculous election graphics help to make up for the annoyances.

Kate is unimpressed by the thought of watching politics and politicians on TV so she'll be having an early-ish night, but I should be joined by Andrew, Emma, and Mary. And election-themed nibbles.

Does any one else fancy a night of politics in reasonably social company?

While watching the 2005 coverage, Beth, then a very small baby, put one finger around my glasses and pulled them apart. From that point onwards the evening was a blur.

location: KY16 8JY

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Toby Atkin-Wright

Now we have a new Prime Minister…

Time for change

Time for change

Sure and steadfast vote

Sure and steadfast vote

Political television

Political television

13 years of Labour

13 years of Labour

Political party

Links

July