A week of politics and history. The Government pushed through the legislation for ‘Great British Energy’, its new mega-quango which will produce no energy.
A strange summer for me: in anticipation of an autumn election I’d expected to be canvassing all through the hot months, but Rishi had other ideas and it was all over by 4 July.
The riots across the UK in consequence of the murder of three children in Southport have two direct implications for politics and policy. The first is that the riots reflect a widespread, and not blameworthy, concern across society with the pace and scale of immigration.
Well, the national picture isn't looking good but I'm not getting the same impression locally. It's true there's little enthusiasm for the Conservatives - but I have found none for the other parties either.
Good morning. We’re now deep into the campaign and I’m getting a lot of contradictory signals! A lot of people I meet on the doorstep are cross with the Government, often for reasons I sympathise with.
Most of an MP’s work is out of sight, working on individual constituents’ battles with some faceless agency of government, or in meetings to discuss some detail of legislation.
Happy new year. I experienced what is apparently called the pathetic fallacy this week: the projection of one’s mood into the weather. The land was sodden, the skies grey. Then the waters rose and suddenly the countryside was a series of lakes, with island villages.
I wrote this last night before the reshuffle started! I’ll follow up on that in due course. Danny
The best and worst of Britain was on display this weekend. I argued in advance that the pro-Palestine march should not be allowed to go ahead on Armistice Day.
Since I last wrote the Middle East has descended into the most appalling violence; politics at home has raged thick and fast; and I have published a book.
I strongly agree with the Prime Minister’s line on the terrible crimes committed in Israel last weekend.
