Politics

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Whitehall appointments watchdog may need a radical overhaul after it was found that two thirds of them who applied to Acoba (Advisory Committee on Business Appointments) since 2008 have ended up in private sector jobs, in the same field they left while they were in Government. This has led to MPs demanding the watchdog is fundamentally changed, as it failed to block a single ex-minister or civil servant from moving into a highly paid...

By Harold Stone Dear Zac, or should I call you Frank? That is your real name after all – Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith – and I thought it’d be best to be frank with you. Frank, you can’t be racist to someone and then accuse them of racism. Or at least you shouldn’t stir up religious hatred against someone and then accuse them of antisemitism. When you said Sadiq Khan had “extremist links” and “radical” plans for London, you knew...

Controversial Republican politician Donald Trump has edged ahead of Hilary Clinton for the first time in the presidential race. A Rasmussen Reports poll says Trump has support of 41 per cent of US voters compared to just 39 per cent for Clinton. It comes ahead of the Indiana primary where Trump could seal the deal to become the Republican candidate. According to estimates the real estate mogul is up 15 points over rival Ted Cruz, making it a near-certainty that he will lead the Republican...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Dr. Tom Micklewright spoke at the Chester TUC May day rally. His speech answered two questions he needed to answer, after a nasty incident with disgruntled passer-by. Tom said that a doctor he knows was spat at while on a picket and was told that “nobody cares, you should be ashamed.” The Doctor went on to explain why should you care? And why he shouldn’t be ashamed of striking? He asked the crowd: “Who has...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Political cringe of the year could be handed to Zac Goldmsith, hoping to be London Mayor. Last week he tried and failed to hold a pint properly but this clip is from the Asian awards 2016 on April 8th. He was asked for his views on the Bollywood film industry. He went onto gushingly praise the awards. Zac said: “It’s a huge festival and it celebrated huge talent. This room is going to be bursting...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Tory MP Lucy Allan was attacked on Facebook and Twitter due to controversial comments, but she decided to come back for more. Allan claims that “privileged” junior doctors “hold the NHS to ransom”. Her comments have infuriated medics who say the strike is nothing to do with money, but the safety of patients and themselves. Over a thousand people aired their annoyance at Allan on her social media Facebook page, after she had lashed out...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor A massive leak of documents could see the end of the TTIP trade deal, which includes provisions to allow American corporations to help change European law and also weaken consumer protections. Campaigners hope the leaked pages will bring an end to the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) which has seen strong resistance from both sides of the Atlantic. Many opponents see it as a chance for big business to override the laws of the...

Owen Jones has described Zac Goldsmith as being "beneath contempt" for running a "dog whistle" campaign based on anti-Muslim prejudices. The political commentator says Goldsmith has become one of the "most loathed Conservative politicians in the country" for crude racial profiling and linking Sadiq Khan with radicals and extremists. He points out that even right-wing journalist Peter Oborne has decided to switch sides, describing Goldsmith's campaign for mayor as "the most repulsive I have ever seen as a political reporter". Watch the...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Labour MP Andy Burnham, a Liverpool man to his core, gave a speech in the Commons about the 27 year wait for justice for the 96 people who died at Hillsborough. MPs broke convention when they applauded his speech, when he spoke with power and passion from deep inside and out of respect for every victim and their families. Burnham demanded prosecutions and changes in the law after Britain's longest ever inquest found 96 Liverpool...