This has been a much quieter week politically with the main discussion centring on whether the latest resignation from Labour’s shadow cabinet, Catherine McKinnell, represents the start of a new reshuffle or a continuation of last week’s elongated reshuffle.
The media has rightly instead been concentrating on the sad passing of David Bowie. Politicians were quick to pay their respects but Boris even went so far as to suggest that the spirit of David Bowie could defeat Isis, a challenge that seems beyond anyone else.
So what can we learn from the political news this week?
- The new model Labour Party – According to a survey conducted by the Guardian, membership is increasing and the grassroots of the party is overwhelmingly supportive of Jeremy Corbyn. According to the survey, the party is shifting to the left and there is unhappiness with the party’s MPs. This will suit Corbyn down to the ground but make much less pleasant reading for those in the party hoping for a challenger to come forward.
- Why Labour lost – Margaret Beckett’s report into why Labour lost the 2015 election, Learning The Lessons, is expected to be published soon. There has been widespread speculation that it will show that Labour lost because of a failure to connect with centre-ground voters although it was Ed Miliband’s more left wing policies that were most popular. Ed himself didn’t fare well with the voters and the SNP scare did put people off as well. The report seems to have something for everyone.
- Grayling shows his power… Chris Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons, claimed this week that the EU is ‘disastrous’ for the UK. This seemed to go against the PM’s call for quiet in the run-up to a deal and then open view sharing in the run-up to the vote. William Hague meanwhile says that it is in the national interest to stay in. So even if the Cabinet manages to stay quiet it seems that no one else will.
- Labour’s defence review – Ken Livingstone, who is now in charge of the review, has claimed that the bit dealing with Trident could be sped up. That would mean that Trident could be separated from the rest of the review. Quite how this will work is unclear and could clearly influence any discussions around NATO membership that Ken was looking to bring in. However, according the Daily Mirror, Ken has been ‘booted off’ the entire review which will now be overseen by new Shadow Defence Secretary, Emily Thornberry. It appears that Ken succeeded in upsetting everyone.
- Strike days – With the junior doctors having been on strike this week, a series of London tube strikes were announced this week as well. The passage of the Trade Union Bill is also not going smoothly through Parliament, and many in the Lords this week were particularly critical. There is a general air of confrontation but it isn’t simply between the unions / Labour and the Government. There has also been a backlash from mostly Conservative led shire councils over the financial settlement they have received. Many of these areas returned Conservative MPs are the last election but this is not exempting them from the pain of the budgetary cuts. They are not happy.