There will be no new centrist alliance in British politics

Recent political chatter about a new, centrist force for so-called moderates grew louder yesterday with the revelation that, at some point, Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable plans to quit once Brexit is resolved – so no time soon then! There is also talk of the Lib Dems reforming to permit the choosing of a leader who does not sit in Westminster, a sure sign of their rather tragic fall and loss of place in British political discourse.

Labour must do better and Tories must think different

Local elections are a funny old business. The results, however the chips have fallen, tend to be viewed by almost everyone as proof that things aren’t that bad. Indeed, it always makes a nonsense of the journalistic proclivity to translate local results to general elections, even if said elections are 4 years away.

Cameron's phony EU battle is over; let the real battle commence

Another EU summit, another all-nighter, another pretend game of brinkmanship, but last night David Cameron emerged triumphant, proclaiming with confidence that he now believes he has secured the reforms required for him to be able to recommend our continued membership of the EU. And here it is, ladies and gentlemen – Britain’s new deal. It is the deal that, for David Cameron, apparently changes everything.

Britain can ban Donald Trump, but it can't ban the Trump effect

Is there anything more embarrassing than the British Parliament indulging the nonsensical idea of banning US presidential hopeful Donald Trump from entering the country because he said something we didn’t like about Muslims?

Conservative Party: an inspiring conference and a vision for the future

The pictures couldn’t have contrasted more. On the one hand Conservatives young and old, smartly dressed, filed in to a packed venue in Manchester. On the other, a mob of spitting, bottle-throwing louts shouting “Tory scum!” One 18 year-old eruditely described on last night’s Question Time how she was called a “paedophile and child murderer” as she attempted to enter the conference. This is the last gasp of a political left that has truly and utterly taken leave of its senses.

Cameron is isolated at home and within Europe, he must relent and welcome refugees

David Cameron is, ultimately, a thoroughly decent man. When he muses on the human tragedy that lies behind the ‘migrant crisis,’ it is clear to see that he genuinely means every word and is not playing the part of a politician faking sympathy and sadness to please a public increasingly horrified by the images plastered on its screens and all over the newspapers. But, this good man has a punishing tendency to make life extremely difficult for himself, running scared of the right, Eurosceptic elements of his party, and the kind of Tory voter that would be readily persuaded to switch their support to UKIP, especially in European elections.

I'd like to thank our MPs, and I'd like you to join me

Picture the scene. There you lie on your hospital bed, oxygen mask on, drugged up to the eyeballs, with a team of people fussing around you and saying all manner of things you don’t understand. All you know is that it’s serious, and the sense of imminent disaster is palpable. Why? Because you are in Accident and Emergency at St Thomas’ in London, and you are having a heart attack.

No decent Tory should play their part in the ruin of Labour

It started as a bit of a joke. It was a hyped but misplaced story planted by a few mischief-makers, but now the Telegraph has published a step by step guide on how to sabotage the Labour party by registering as a supporter, paying a mere £3 and returning a vote for socialist firebrand Jeremy Corbyn.

The Tories must now hound out the hunting issue

Amid the flurry of excitement that accompanied the budget, yesterday, the announcement by the government of a free vote on changes to the hunting laws got little attention.

This is, perhaps, because people wearily remember 10 years back to the weeks and weeks of parliamentary time this took up. It even resulted in the invocation of the Parliament Act, so controversial it proved.

Russell Brand misses the point, but on the minute of silence he is on to something

Anarchist sewer mouth Russell Brand has hit out against today’s minute of silence in remembrance of those who perished in the dreadful Tunisian beach massacre last week. In a video on his YouTube channel, he describes it as an “empty gesture,” and “bullshit.” I think he is missing the point, but he might be on to something.

An Islamic awakening: British Muslims take the fight to the extremists

David Cameron has made a controversial speech this afternoon, suggesting that elements of the Muslim community quietly condone Islamic State, the barbaric terrorist organisation that is becoming a global force, as it fights to control territory in the Middle East and attracts fighters from across the world, including this week 3 sisters from Bradford, who fled to Syria with their 9 children, leaving behind their devastated husbands.

We deserve better than this farce of a contest

It’s been a funny old week at West Minster. It began with David Cameron apparently issuing a clear warning to his ministers: back me on the EU, or face the sack.