The Poliblogs 14th September 2007

Thatcher Back In Downing Street

Gordon Brown promised change, but few would have predicted the love-in between Mr Brown and Maggie Thatcher which is now underway. Not surprisingly since she crushed Labour for more than a decade, she has always been a highly controversial figure with the party. In Alastair Campbell’s diaries he records her chief opponent Neil Kinnock railing in a four letter tirade against Tony Blair for speaking well of her.

Adam Boulton

Rob Wilson MP: Was Thatcher used in an unscrupulous way by Brown?

As a Conservative it is always a delight to see one of our greatest Prime Ministers stepping through the door of Number 10. Margaret Thatcher is rightly revered by those that know their politics and history will undoubtedly be very kind to her and her legacy. She was a formidable Prime Minister who changed Britain for the better at a time when defeatism and managed decline had become the language of the political class.

Conservative Home

Maggie's visit

Some other Labour bloggers have reacted a little bit hysterically to Thatcher's visit to No10. My take is:

a) Personally I felt nauseated, but I'm a Labour activist, not a swing voter, and I guess a lot of people who voted Tory in the '80s and Labour in the last three elections - i.e. the people who decide whether or not we get a Labour government - still respect her (and are grateful if they own their right-to-buy council home etc.) and will see this as some kind of implicit endorsement that it is OK to vote for Brown

Luke’s Blog

Principles for sale

Ming Campbell would clearly like to see electoral reform take place, but a coalition between the Lib Dems and the Tories would be too high a price.

Alex Hilton

Compulsory voting

Interesting to hear that compulsory voting at elections was the most popular measure to bring more democracy to Britain, according to a poll held at last week's Fabian Democracy Day. The term 'compulsory voting' is a bit of a misnomer, it really is about compulsory casting of ballots (pedantic I know but important nonetheless). I am quite attracted by the idea, mainly because:

Labour Home

Dave's white line problem

Somewhere in its 500-odd pages, the Goldsmith/Gummer report suggests removing white lines from the nation's roads. The idea is that we would all drive more cautiously as a result, and so save fuel. It also says street lights should be turned off at night. Elsewhere, it recommends - as ConservativeHome spotted last night - requiring us to carry out energy improvements on our homes before we can be allowed to build a conservatory. Cotton buds should be banned because they aren't bio-degradable. Road signs showing toads should be tested.

Ben Brogan

Dave's Big Idea: Tree-hugging hippy crap

I never thought I would see the day when the Conservative Party adopted ideas which can only be described as tree-hugging hippy crap.

However, the Zac Goldsmith and John Gummer working party who were set to produce the new Conservative policy on the Environment have done exactly that.

The Diary of Chris K

Could Black Wednesday be Brown's downfall too?

The dominant economic message from the Labour Party, ergo the Government, for the past decade has been, as we all know, "no return to boom and bust". This has been framed for the most part around interest rates. We are reminded almost daily that interest rates are low thank to Labour, and there will be no return to 15%.

Dizzy Thinks

Tribune Comment: The jury is out on premier Brown

GORDON BROWN’S speech to the TUC in Brighton was an opportunity lost. The language was different from the past regime, the attitude warmer and enough buttons were pressed to avoid an even more muted reception than he got in his first appearance at Congress as Prime Minister.

Labour Home