We have a old friend who visits from Liverpool every year. He’s planning to come down to Dorset (ie Slugger central) again this November. However, he won’t be taking his usual direct route to by Virgin Trains. He’ll be flying from Liverpool to Dublin to Bournemouth. It’ll be cheaper and it’ll get him a lot quicker. He reminded me too of the campaign to restore the Liverpool Irish Centre. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …
One of the great things about blogging is how it constant draws back the surface of politics. David Brewster called our attention to a site called Conservative Punk. Now Michael Howard has the backing of the UK’s boy band of the moment – Busted! Not the most convincing of converts though. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and …
Peter Robinson called into the Tory Conference last night to deliver a progress report. But Conservatives have their own problems arguably of much higher proportions than our own. David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon, set the cat amongst the pigeons with an unusually credible analysis of the party’s problems in the FT yesterday:He gets to the crux: “Surveys suggest the public no longer fears a Conservative government would lay waste to public services. If the “tax bombshell” has lost …
For those with Broadband (and possibly headphones) this is a great radio programme on the cult of politeness: partly a function of civilising and codifying the sincere and deeply felt relgious sentiment of the English Civil War into the modern political enterprises of Tories and Whigs. Sound familiar? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across …
As Labour meets in Brighton for its annual party conference, Tom Kelly’s been considering the difficulty in keeping the new Labour project moving, whilst staying in government. He also makes an interesting comparison between Labour and the trade union movement on one hand, and the UUP and the Orange Order on the other.By Tom Kelly As Labour delegates gather in Brighton, it would seem that the burden of office is becoming too much for some of them. Somehow they have …
THE Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, has collapsed at the Labour Party Conference. I’m sure we would all wish him a speedy recovery. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
The people’s favorite Tory, Boris Johnson has finally broken his party’s duck in the political blogging league, thanks to the tireless Tim Ireland. Given his position as Tory spokesman on the Arts and the day job at the Spectator, it remains to be seen how much time he can devote to this blogging thing. He’s nonetheless a prime addition to the UK’s political blogosphere! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …
Is it just us here at Slugger Central, or does anyone else think this photograph of Tony Blair currently at the top of the BBC News Page look as if someone in the corporation has just hand drawn his glasses? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
One way to lose friends but perhaps gain wider influence is to blow the whistle on what your conscience tells you is sharp practice, by government or employer. Katherine Gunn tells of her personal experience of becoming a whistleblower over US plans to bug UN delegates in the run up to a crucial vote. Although there’s a clear political angle in her own motives, there remains an important democratic principle of transparency attached to the practice. Katherine’s helped set up …
Meanwhile over in Scotland, their working Executive has just launched a website aimed at tackling sectarianism/racism amongst young people. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
There are no less tha n 14 languages on the Scottish Parliament’s website, including Urdu Scots and Gàidhlig where the density of inf. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
The British Conservative Party has just speculated £250,000 on a new database that they hope will net them new members via the web. It’s particularly noteworthy for them as until now (not unlike the UUP) party membership has been regulated through local associations, rather than through a central office. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events …
