Review of the UK Local Elections

Last weeks local elections had some very surprising results. It was clear from the results that UKIP are no longer a fringe party and they made significant gains in the local elections.

UKIP made some surprising gains in the North and South East England. But where unsuccessful in inner London where Londoners rejected there Euro/immigration policies. 

Whilst I accept that UKIP have made some considerable gains, the media especially the BBC said it had been an "earthquake" to UK politics. 

Which I think completely oversimplifies it yes UKIP made gains but they failed to make any inroads into various cities in the UK so they have some work to do to convince black and ethnic minority groups that they are not a racist party. 

Meanwhile Conservatives had a poor local election losing councils like Hammersmith and Fulham, Croydon and Cambridge. 

A loss of these councils would be a bitter blow to David Cameron and his party are losing vital support and getting a majority government in 2015 is looking more elusive with each passing day.

The Labour Party had a successful local election they gained over three hundred seats. 

But if you watched the BBC and other media outlets then they had a terrible election and this thought is not backed up with the statistics. 

Labour need to work on ensuring that they can get the people from the main cities to vote and this will ensure they are elected as a majority government. 

The shock of the local elections was the Liberal Democrats who did very badly and even lost the running of Kingston Borough Council to the Conservatives. 

I personally think that the Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg should resign and allow the Lib Dems to regroup and salvage some proud. 

So overall I don't think any of the parties where outstanding and they all have some real work to do before the next General Election. 

Prime Minister's Questions - 14th May 2014

In today's Prime Minister's Questions Ed Miliband focused his six questions on the Pfizer/AstraZeneca bid. 

Ed did reasonably well and he was a lot more aggressive in his responses but my problem is even though this bid does need due care and attention. 

Ed needs to focus on asking questions that a lot more people can identify with. Last week and this week Ed missed a golden opportunity to talk about Zero Hour Contracts. 

I found the avoidance of this subject a little odd but then this week he made a big announcement about guaranteeing GP appointments within 48 hours. 

I would have thought talking about the NHS would have been an excellent talking point. 

The polls are now beginning to tighten and Ed need to get his message out clearly and concisely. 

I think if Ed wants to be the next Prime Minister he needs cancel his summer holidays because he has a lot of work to do. 

Right now the right wing media are preparing there attack dogs to undermine   Ed and he needs to be ready for this onslaught or he will not win the next General Election which will be a disaster for him and for the UK. 

A year to the next UK General Election 2015

It's now officially a year to the next General Election in the UK and the polls have started to narrow. 

Labour have had a consistent five point lead but now only have a one point lead. This could be because more people are feeling optimistic about Britan's economic future and may want to stick with the Tories. 

Labour need make the choice clear by  highlighting the problems in employment like the zero hour contracts and the rise in foodbanks. 

The Tories will continue to promote and hope GDP figures go up and I suspect promising more growth post 2015.

UKIP are doing well in the polls and they could very much decide who wins the next General Election. 

It's time that both the Tories and Labour took UKIP seriously or they will find out the dire consequence of ignoring them.   

Prime Minister's Questions - 7th May 2014

In today's Prime Minister Questions Ed Milliband focused his six questions on rents and the Pfizer and AstraZeneca deal.

I did like the questions the Ed Miliband chose to ask David Cameron. But at the same time would have been nice if Ed had asked David Cameron about the rise in zero hour contracts. 

I was a little disappointed with Ed Milliband today after he has been doing so well. He needs to keep up the strong attacks and today he came across less combative and more diplomatic. 

A year to the next General Election and Ed Milliband and his backbenchers need to get ready for the battle and it starts with PMQ's. 

I am confident that today was a slight blip and Ed Milliband will back on message his strong more aggressive attacks. 

Prime Minister Questions - 30th April 2014

After the Easter break Prime Minister's  Questions is I back! Today Ed Miliband focused his six questions on the sale of the Royal Mail.

The sale of the Royal Mail is both a sensistive and a political hot potato for David Cameron. 

Ed Miliband pointed that a select few have really benefited from the sale. Which Ed Miliband believes was sold below the market value. 

David Cameron desperately tried to avoid answering the questions put him instead focusing on children of Labour MP's who are candidates for 2015 election. 

David Cameron tried to end the exchange on the news that Ed Miliband had hired President Obama's former adviser David Axelrod. 

However House Speaker John Bercow cut him off and David Cameron was heard saying he hadn't finished to which John Bercow replied he had finished and moved on to the next question...ouch!!!

Ed won the exchange today as he focused on the beneficiary of the Royal Mail sell off and pointed that British people and the workers of the Royal Mail where the main losers. 

However I do wish that Ed Miliband had brought up the Office of National Statistics report that about 1.4 million people are on zero hour contracts. 

But I suspect that Ed will probably bring this up when David Cameron is least expecting it. 

 

So it was great to have PMQ's back after the Easter break and even better that Ed Miliband picked up from where he had previously left off. 

Prime Minister's questions - 8th April 2014

This weeks Prime Minister's questions was the last one before the Easter recess. Ed Milliband focused his six questions on the conduct and resignation of the Culture Secretary Maria Miller. 

Ed was excellent and contrary to what David Cameron was saying about Ed joining the political bandwagon. Ed came across well in trying to explain to David Cameron how is backing of Maria Miller was misguided. 

It was notable that when David Cameron was responding to Ed Milliband is normally very vocal back benchers where fairly quiet. 

 

That tells me that they may not politically agree with Ed Milliband but they understood his line of questioning and they did not want to be seen as backing Maria Miiller. 

So another strong performance by Ed Milliband  and I hope he will be able to hold into this momentum that he has built.   

Prime Minister's Questions - 2nd April 2014

In this weeks Prime Minister's Questions Ed Miliband focused his questions on the sale of the Royal Mail.

Ed Miliband won the exchange by highlighting financial mistakes that the government have made in the sale of Royal Mail. 

David Cameron's first line of defence line was that the Labour Party had thirteen to the to deal with the Royal Mail and they did not do anything. 

Ed Miliband reminded David Cameron the tax payer had lost out as David Cameron sold the Post Office too cheaply. 

Ed Miliband gave timely reminder of  implying that the Tories cannot be trusted with economy.

So Ed did well but David Cameron's responses where pretty convincing.