Politics

“Spain is different” was a slogan composed by Spanish minister Manuel Fraga in the 1960s to persuade the first planeloads of tourists to visit the sun-kissed nation. Spain at the time was under the rule Franco, a former ally of Hitler and Mussolini who won power with their help in a bloody civil war and cemented his grip on it for the next four decades through brutal repression of political opponents. While Britain enjoyed the swinging sixties and French students...

By Jack Peat, Editor of The London Economic I'm not a betting man, but if I were I'd put half my mortgage on a Tory minority in this year’s General Election. I'd put the other half on a Tory majority hoping that a party I despise might turn my modest flat into a mansion with 5/1 returns. It’ll never happen. The bookies, like the pollsters, are adamant that ‘No Overall Majority’ is the most likely outcome come May, with a...

By Dan Gleabals Apparently sacking somebody who lays into their producer for half an hour, calling them a "Lazy Irish C**t”, threatens to end their career, then punches them in the face splitting their lip because they haven't got the meal they quite wanted is POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE MAD. Internet political mischief maker Guido Fawkes' Bring Back Clarkson petition has reached the dizzying total of 1,043,555 when we last checked.  I’m just praying all these numskulls aren’t allowed to drive or operate complicated...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor It was a raucous affair, like the last day of term at school before the summer hols, but without Hungry Hippos, Connect Four and any form of discipline. Over at the BBC, news of the tragic air disaster had been dropped, the BBC said it was a decision they had not taken lightly, but a car enthusiast with a decent right hook had been sacked. So it was a momentous day, “remember where you were...

By Max Bluer The sweeping presidential powers, the detention of political opponents, even the troop mobilisations are empty gestures. President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela's main goal is now to distract his people, and the world, from his country's problems.   Highly dangerous. A power grab. A smokescreen. The response from internal opponents and the international community to the Venezuelan Congress' decision to grant President Nicolás Maduro new decree powers has been overwhelmingly critical. The law, which in its preamble specifies its...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Unlike every other PMQs, this one was a quiet affair. The MPs kept their shrieks and cries for the budget that followed, but there was still plenty of time for kitchen “jokes” aimed at Miliband, which (bacon) rolled - see anyone can do it - into the Chancellor’s statement as well. The one-liners were universally terrible, but at least Cameron carries his off in a smug way, that I can handle. But Gideon’s delivery is...

By Joe Thorpe South Africa is renowned for its high crime rates. Tell a friend you are heading out to the ‘Rainbow Nation’ and they’ll tell you to keep a hand on your bag at all times. Much of the media hype surrounding the violent crimes is inflated and over-stated, however there is at times an air of aggression, thinly veiled, and when media storms like the one surrounding Oscar Pistorius and his murder trial, South Africa seems to live...

By David Thomson Controversial ‘Stop and Search’ policing powers have been reigned in by Theressa May after figures showed that only one in ten searches end with an arrest. May warned that she would change the law if forces do not halt 'excessive and inappropriate' use of powers while delivering this year's Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Criminal Justice Lecture, in memory of the murdered teenager. Many believe the power to stop and search people has been disproportionately targeted at black and ethnic minorities,...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor It was an awful PMQs, but luckily for the members of Parliament, every journalist was outside Jeremy Clarkson’s house. This session might have gone unnoticed, like a Russian submarine slipping past the Farne Islands. Well I did watch PMQs, and it reminded me of splitting-up with your partner. When all hope is lost, but you need to wait a few weeks before the removal van arrives, to pass the time you throw insults at each...