Westminster Watch

Just what does the Coalition Government stand for? Charles Hale and Toby Craig investigate…

As we approach the first anniversary of the Coalition Government and the all-important alternative vote referendum, the past month has given us some of the clearest indications yet of what the unexpected alliance is all about. 

Charles Hale and Toby Craig reflect on history and the speed of change. 

The laws of nature may not be challengeable. The laws of man must always be. The shocking events following the huge earthquakes in New Zealand and in Japan followed by the terrifying tsunami served as a timely reminder of the fragility of the infrastructure which we can all sometimes cling to. 

There’s more to life than Jazz?  

Charles Hale and Toby Craig consider the impression the new Lord Chancellor is making. 

Charles Hale on electioneering, acting and performances  

It’s strange, isn’t it? The airwaves are buzzing with talk of how this general election could be the first genuine internet election, with the main parties taking their lead from Obama’s celebrated use of online communication to help secure his victory. Apparently the latest political brainwave involves identifying hot news topics that will generate multiple searches and buying appropriately linked domain names. For example, if you want to know more about David Beckham’s Achilles tendon injury, you might Google “Beckham’s operation” – only to discover that this exact phrase has just been purchased by the Liberal Democrats. So, instead of learning about the England star’s dashed World Cup dreams, you find yourself reading Nick Clegg’s views on a hung Parliament. I can’t imagine that the man on the Clapham omnibus will welcome such blatant interference into his browsing habits, but maybe I just don’t understand as I’m not a politician.