Apropos of a vote that will take place later today a few miles from where I’m sitting, here is a picture of Nick Clegg holding up a certain, signed pledge. The text reads: I pledge to vote against any increase in tuition fees in the next parliament and to pressure the government to introduce a [...]

It seems Richard Barnbrook is not a happy bunny. On the front page of the BNP’s website is an article called “Richard Barnbrook Condemns “Anti-Democratic” Sabotage of His Website by Leadership Challenge Opponent’s Team“. It’s great to see the BNP are being fair and balanced, with such phrases as British National Party GLA member and [...]

The Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill, introduced by Philip Hollobone MP (Conservative – Kettering), has had its first reading. Given Mr Hollobone’s previous statements that the burka is ‘against the British way of life’ and ‘offensive’, it is fairly clear to me what its intent is. Three points. Firstly, this is deeply illiberal. I shouldn’t need [...]

You have to feel sorry for anyone involved with ‘elf ‘n safety. Whenever they get it right, they are joyless jobsworths sucking all the pleasure out of life. When they get it wrong, they are criticised for putting children at risk; viz., Godstone Farm. The short version of the story is that Godstone Farm, a [...]

Sunny ‘Liberal Conspiracy’ Hundal is organising a follow-up to 2008′s successful ‘Blog Nation’ event. Details over at Liberal Conspiracy, but Sunny asks what we’d like to discuss; below the fold, then, are some thoughts. In terms of logistics, I would make three suggestions. Given the layout, it’s important that each table isn’t talking amongst itself [...]

I will be attending the New Statesman Labour leadership hustings this evening and will be live tweeting it. You can follow me at twitter.com/davecoleDOTorg or follow everyone with the #NSlabourleadership hashtag. xD.

I would like to reiterate my support for Luke Akehurst’s candidacy for Labour’s NEC. Read why at Luke’s place, Luke’s place again, Hopi’s place and Matthew’s place. There isn’t much to add to the above except that, even though I have political differences with Luke, I know his experiences at all levels of the party [...]

The British constitution is, as we know, a strange beast. It is uncodified but it is also largely unwritten, operating on nods, winks and half-remembering how we did this last time. Evidently, the incumbent Speaker has been re-elected for 175 years; what, then, has changed with Mr Speaker Bercow? In short, it isn’t anything to [...]