Peter Hoskin

Thursday

Peter Hoskin

The charm offensive continues

From our UK edition

Oh dear. Another unnerving TV-appearance from Gordon Brown today – this time on ‘This Morning’ with Fern Britton (you can watch it here). As Britton says, it’s “an opportunity for [Brown] to be a human being”…   The ITV morning chat-show may not be known for rigorous political interviewing, but Britton is surprisingly tenacious. When Brown’s talking about “political instability in the Middle East” being behind rising fuel prices, she interjects: “Yes, but how much tax do you put on the fuel?” Brown’s taken aback, and mumbles, “if you take the £1.10 [a litre cost of petrol], then [fuel duty’s] a high part of it.”  Doesn’t he know the actual figure?

Peter Hoskin

Referendum-gate: the fallout

From our UK edition

So, Wendy Alexander's standing firm in the face of calls for her to quit. Not good, says Alan Cochrane in today's Telegraph. His article is among the angriest you'll read all year - a perfect kickstart to the day. Here are some highlights: "Wendy Alexander has landed Labour and Gordon Brown into one of the biggest political messes this observer has ever witnessed in 30 years of political reporting. And over a subject that should be at the very top - indeed is, at least as far as the Prime Minister is concerned - of the party's list of priorities: the maintenance of the United Kingdom. But this lady has been prepared to risk even that in a desperate bid to rescue her own hapless leadership, which has grown more inept with every week that passes... ...

Wednesday

Peter Hoskin

Is Cameron starting to tackle Brownies? 

From our UK edition

When Fraser asked for CoffeeHousers' questions for Cameron yesterday, a number of you asked: "Why do you let Gordon Brown get away with his Brownies?"  (For the uninitiated, Brownies are the little lies that our Prime Minister tells on a regular basis).  We'll be putting up the Tory leader's full responses tomorrow, but - on the Brownies front - the gist of his answer was: "Fair point.  I'll try and put this right." So it's noteworthy that Cameron may, today, have started to do just that.  As Sky are reporting, he's sent a letter to Gordon Brown asking him to explain his barefaced denial of Wendy Alexander's call for a referendum on Scottish independence.

Peter Hoskin

What will Cameron tell his MPs?

From our UK edition

As Boulton & Co. are reporting, Cameron's marshalling his MPs for a meeting this evening - "all must attend", apparently.  As things go, it's hardly earth-shattering news. But it's a nice insight into the Team Cameron approach, nonetheless.  What will be said?  Sky's source summarises the message as "We're in for the long haul. Mustn't get complacent".  With the Crewe & Nantwich by-election only a couple of weeks away, such pep-talks could pay dividends.

Peter Hoskin

Give Brown another kicking

From our UK edition

A few people have mentioned this in various comment sections, but I thought I'd give it its own post.  Madame Tussauds are holding a vote on whether they should make a Gordon Brown waxwork.  Go and have your say.  It's democracy in action.

Peter Hoskin

Wendy Alexander adds to Brown’s woes

From our UK edition

You can trust Wendy Alexander to make things more difficult for the Government.  The Labour MSP, and close ally of Brown, has called for a snap referendum on whether Scotland should break away from the Union - she might even table her own Bill to that end.  Thing is, none of this has been rubber-stamped by Downing Street. Of course, the issue of the Union has been gaining speed over the past few months.  But Alexander's words have brought it to Brown's gate far quicker than he'd have wanted.  The media (and the Scottish public?) will now be eager for a response from the Prime Minister.  With his political capital being so low, the problem is that anything he does could be damaging.  If he ignores Alexander's pledge, then he's a ditherer.

Monday

Peter Hoskin

Boris revisited

From our UK edition

Over at the Spectator 180th anniversary blog, we're holding a mini-celebration of all things Boris.  How did Our Man get on in post-Saddam Baghdad?  What does he think of our Puritanical government?  Find out here and here.

Saturday

Peter Hoskin

The great what-if

From our UK edition

The Tories' recent success has got people looking back to Gordon Brown's failure to call a general election in October last year.  In today's Sun, George Pascoe-Watson calls that decision "one of the worst blunders in political history".  Although it certainly set up a glorious what-if: what if Brown had called (and, most likely, won) an election?  Would Labour have received such a thumping in the local elections?  Would Livingstone still be Mayor?   True, Brown would have made many of the same errors in the following months - after all, the 10p tax decision was formulated in Budget 2007, and was always going to come into effect last month.

Peter Hoskin

Boris: the vanguard of a Tory revolution?

From our UK edition

I've just been enjoying a cup of tea in my local cafe (Jose's, Morden), and listening to the general chatter about Boris' stunning election victory.  Here, at least, there's a bit of regret that Ken's going - but this was tempered by talk about the cost of living.  In the face of rising food and energy prices, most were angered by the extra costs that Londoners face - with the C-Charge coming under particular attack.  The consensus, then: anything Boris can do to lower the burden would be alright by us. Of course, Team Boris will be more than aware of all this.  But it's worth repeating nonetheless, and I'm sure CCHQ will be doing so with great frequency.  After all, the 10p tax row has - to some extent - spun the Left-Right divide on its head.

Friday

Peter Hoskin

Blair trumps Brown (again)

From our UK edition

If Brown feels like taking his mind off things, he shouldn't flick through the latest Time 100 - the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.  Thing is, he's not in it.  But Tony Blair is, complete with a glowing tribute from Bill Clinton.  I'm sure a few Labour MPs will be reading through it today, filled with deep, deep regret.

Peter Hoskin

“Boris has got it”

From our UK edition

Over at Comment Central, a senior Conservative tells Daniel Finkelstein that "Boris has got" the role of mayor.  It isn't quite the fat lady singing, but enough for the Times to run an article on.  Not too long to wait now for proper confirmation...

Peter Hoskin

These minsters will be very, very worried

From our UK edition

A nice summary from ConservativeHome: "All these ministers would lose their seats if last night's elections were repeated at the General: Ed Balls, Jacqui Smith, James Purnell, John Hutton, Caroline Flint, Ruth Kelly, John Denham.

Peter Hoskin

Election update

From our UK edition

Just an update on some of the election figures: 139 of 159 councils have now declared their results, and it just gets better and better for the Tories.  They've picked up 221 seats; Labour have lost 257; and the Lib Dems have picked up 29.  But the battering's not over for Labour - Sky are reporting that they're set to lose an astonishing 329 seats.  A quick look at this nifty New Statesman / Politics Home graphic shows that the Tories are firmly in champagne territory, whilst Team Brown are probably headbutting the panic button. As far as the mayoral race is concered, Sky are ahead of the game once again.  Adam Boulton's just reported that "it looks comfortable for Boris".  Is that the sound of more corks popping at CCHQ?

Peter Hoskin

The Tories’ slicker operation

From our UK edition

Last night gave yet another example of the Tories' more finely-tuned internet operation.  A visit to their website, and you'd find twitter feeds and behind-the-scenes video footage (the most recent of which you can watch below). Not vote-winners yesterday, I know, but quite engaging nonetheless.  None of these features graced the Labour site - no live coverage there at all, in fact.  Then again, when you've got nothing but bad news to report... Anyway, here's Cameron & Co.

Peter Hoskin

Morning round-up

From our UK edition

For those who missed the drama of last night, a quick round-up... At time of writing, results have come in for 100 of 159 councils.  So far, the Tories have gained 147 seats and 8 councils; Labour have lost 162 seats and 6 councils; and the Lib Dems have gained 9 seats and lost 1 council.  In terms of the overall share of the vote, it's projected to be - Tories, 44 percent; Lib Dems, 25 percent; and Labour, 24 percent. An absolute battering for Labour, then.  And joy for the Tories, who have soared to the upper end of their expectations, claiming key victories in Bury and Southampton along the way.  So where does this leave Gordon Brown?

Peter Hoskin

A nightmare for Brown

From our UK edition

If the BBC national projections aren't giving Brown a headache right now, then this Times prediction sure will.  It suggests that Labour's on course to lose around 270 seats.  That's some distance from the 200 losses that party insiders expected before the elections, and would leave our Prime Minister stranded in grim territory.

Peter Hoskin

Tories gain Bury

From our UK edition

There we have it – the Tories have gained outright control of Bury. It's a key victory – perhaps even more significant than the Southampton result – and it fits neatly into a pattern of strong Tory support in the North of the country. Team Cameron really couldn't have hoped for things to go better than they have been doing. No wonder they're sounding more and more bullish about the final result.

Thursday