The rise of fascist-sympathising political parties to power in Italy

I have posted the following in response to a thoughtful post by “Dave, the Void on Fire” on Complex System of Pipes and would encourage you to read the original post.

Questions raised by Cherie Blair’s autobiography

‘Cherie Blair conceived Leo because she was afraid to take her “contraceptive equipment” to Balmoral’.

“42-day detention deal offered” leads today’s Guardian

This piece has just hit the wires and is, in its current form, pretty thin on detail but it appears that Brown is prepared to compromise over the unnecessary and ill-thought out 42-day detention without charge proposal.  If true, it is good news that Brown is again listening to the concerns of his parliamentary colleagues.  But a compromise is not enough.

The week that the tide turned?

Has this been a good week for Gordon Brown?  Everything is relative, I suppose and he’s had worse ones recently.  As with the French Revolution it is probably too early to tell if it has been a good week, but it has certainly been a significant one.

Cheer up Gordon, you’ll always have Jackie.

I posted earlier this week that senior Guardian political journalists Andrew Rawnsley and Polly Toynbee appeared to have given up on the Prime Minister as a man who can lead Labour to victory in the next General Election.  I said at the time that only Jackie Ashley of the paper’s prominent writers was still on his side.  Well, having had a good few days, I can confirm that today’s article confirms that she still is.  There are early indications that he may be finding his way again after six months of more-or-less unremitting tribulation and- premature though she may be- Jackie is only to be happy to have her pom-poms out again!

George W Bush shows solidarity with the families of dead US servicemen in Iraq

I’m not going to comment on this.  Mostly because I’m absolutely speechless after reading it. 

George W Bush shows solidarity with the families of dead US servicemen in Iraq.

Labour may well have resolved the 10p tax situation- what a pleasant surprise!

Earlier today I speculated that Ed Balls’ had given the game away by getting the Government’s defence of their 10p rate compensation package in first.  I was wrong.  Alastair Darling’s Commons announcement has been a very pleasant surprise- admittedly the Government were acting against pretty low expectations, but they deserve credit for the nature and content of their response.  It is by no means a comprehensive or perfect resolution, but it is simple, swift and sweeping.

Another Islamophobic viral e-mail received

I don’t often receive those e-mails that you hear about, I guess people know that I’ll react in a way that doesn’t suit them.

Does Ed Balls’ attack on Field suggest more 10p tax anguish?

Ed Balls, Gordon Brown’s best mate in the cabinet, has been briefing the press this morning in response to Frank Field’s ill-advised BBC radio interview on Sunday.  Apart from the unseemly nature of the row being dragged on in public- and it must look incredibly childish to the electorate- this suggests the possibility that Balls is looking to spike Field’s guns ahead of the Treasury’s compensation package announcement for those negatively affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

The end of hardback books would be fairer for all

Britain’s eighth largest publisher Picador are pressing ahead with plans announced last autumn to release new novels straight into paperback against increasing opposition.