Politics

How Labour lost Scotland (and could lose the Union)

7 February 2015 9:00 am

Just four months ago Scotland was the scene of great cross-party co-operation — unprecedented in peace-time politics. Gordon Brown was…

How Labour lost Scotland (and could lose the Union)

5 February 2015 3:00 pm

Listen http://traffic.libsyn.com/spectator/TheViewFrom22_5_Feb_2015_v4.mp3 Just four months ago Scotland was the scene of great cross-party co-operation — unprecedented in peace-time politics. Gordon…

George Osborne’s 13 tests for an election victory (and how many he’s passed)

24 January 2015 9:00 am

These days George Osborne is rarely seen in public without a hard hat and a hi-vis jacket. But he used…

Can the Tories pass George’s 13 tests?

22 January 2015 3:00 pm

These days George Osborne is rarely seen in public without a hard hat and a hi-vis jacket. But he used…

Why the Greek election could decide Britain's next government

17 January 2015 9:00 am

Before the eurozone crisis, Greek elections didn’t receive much attention in Westminster. At the moment, however, the polls from Athens…

How Greek voters will decide Britain’s general election

15 January 2015 3:00 pm

Before the eurozone crisis, Greek elections didn’t receive much attention in Westminster. At the moment, however, the polls from Athens…

Even Ukip don't dare break the unhealthy consensus on the NHS

3 January 2015 9:00 am

There’s an irony about Ukip’s rise. Nigel Farage party’s popularity is driven by a widespread sense that the main parties…

An unhealthy consensus

1 January 2015 3:00 pm

There’s an irony about Ukip’s rise. Nigel Farage party’s popularity is driven by a widespread sense that the main parties…

From coalition to chaos – get ready for the age of indecision

13 December 2014 9:00 am

A recent email from Samantha Cameron started an intriguing debate in the Prime Minister’s social circle. It was an invitation…

The age of indecision

11 December 2014 3:00 pm

A recent email from Samantha Cameron started an intriguing debate in the Prime Minister’s social circle. It was an invitation…

The very model of a political Chancellor

6 December 2014 9:00 am

Autumn Statements lack the drama and traditions of the Budget. Gladstone never delivered one, there is no Autumn Statement box…

This Chancellor is a most political animal

4 December 2014 2:30 pm

Autumn Statements lack the drama and traditions of the Budget. Gladstone never delivered one, there is no Autumn Statement box…

Never mind the general election: Tories are already fighting the Europe referendum

29 November 2014 9:00 am

It is quite normal in British politics for a political party to turn on itself after an election defeat —…

The Tories are preparing for civil war in the unlikely event of victory

27 November 2014 3:00 pm

It is quite normal in British politics for a political party to turn on itself after an election defeat —…

Meet the new Queen of Scots: Nicola Sturgeon’s unstoppable rise

22 November 2014 9:00 am

‘She sold out the Hydro arena faster than Kylie Minogue,’ said one awestruck unionist of Nicola Sturgeon this week. Scotland’s…

Sturgeon the unstoppable

20 November 2014 3:00 pm

Listen http://traffic.libsyn.com/spectator/TheViewFrom22_20_Nov_2014_v4.mp3 ‘She sold out the Hydro arena faster than Kylie Minogue,’ said one awestruck unionist of Nicola Sturgeon this…

How Ed Miliband lost his winning hand

8 November 2014 9:00 am

Ed Miliband’s internal critics used to complain that he had a 35 per cent strategy. They claimed that his unambitious…

Miliband needs a plan – and soon

6 November 2014 3:00 pm

Ed Miliband’s internal critics used to complain that he had a 35 per cent strategy. They claimed that his unambitious…

Scotland needs Jim Murphy (even if he doesn’t want to go back there)

1 November 2014 9:00 am

There should, by rights, have been a stampede of candidates to replace Johann Lamont as the leader of the Scottish…

Why are Labour’s Scots so reluctant to take the high road?

30 October 2014 3:00 pm

Listen http://traffic.libsyn.com/spectator/TheViewFrom22_30_Oct_2014_v4.mp3 There should, by rights, have been a stampede of candidates to replace Johann Lamont as the leader of…

It’s not just Ukip that’s changing Cameron’s mind about immigration

25 October 2014 9:00 am

It is easy to mock David Cameron on immigration. Under pressure from the public and from Ukip, he’s having to…

Ukip is here to stay – especially if Labour wins

18 October 2014 9:00 am

British politics is rather like one of those playground games of football where one match is being played lengthways and…

Why are the Lib Dems duffing up the Tories? To ensure another coalition

11 October 2014 9:00 am

The last Liberal Democrat conference before the general election has been dominated by denunciations of the ‘nasty’ Tories. Lib Dems…

Get ready for an election where everyone loses (except maybe the Lib Dems)

4 October 2014 9:00 am

Two things have been puzzling Tory high-ups in Birmingham this week: does Nigel Farage have another defector in his back…

Cameron must reunite the Tories or lose the next election

27 September 2014 9:00 am

No one goes to Birmingham to revive a marriage. But that is what David Cameron and the Conservative party must…