The enduring irritation about the Orange Book is not its content, which was broadly uncontentious, but the mythical book which everyone who never read it imagines exists. So once again my heart sinks when I read Nick Assinder claim: In his first major speech since winning the job, Mr Clegg has pretty much adopted the… Continue reading The Orange Book Delusion
Day: January 14, 2008
Localism: the first big test?
The battlelines over localism are being formed in Scotland. What happens there directly affects the debate over decentralisation in England. I haven’t been following this closely but my understanding is this: the SNP, which over time plan to replace council tax with a system of local income tax, have worked out a deal with local… Continue reading Localism: the first big test?
Which of these two characters would you most trust with the economy?
One is an annoying talking donkey who came to prominence by getting in the face of a grumpy ogre (who goes by the name of Gordon Brown). The other is the shorter half of a former double act of curmudgeons with an interest in variety performance. And the answer to this question matters a lot:… Continue reading Which of these two characters would you most trust with the economy?