Latest news with #GangofThree
Spectator
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Why are today's MPs so incredibly drab?
Current MPs in Britain seem, at times, a drab and depressing bunch. 'The quality of parliamentarian,' Ann Widdecombe said on a recent podcast, 'is the lowest I can ever remember.' It was not just the reluctance most sensible people feel about exposing themselves to such overwhelming and intrusive media focus, she explained, that was putting better candidates off. It was also down to the identity-driven shortlists all three main parties have embraced in the past few decades. 'They began to select on identity rather than merit,' Widdecombe pointed out – adding that if you do that 'for a quarter-century odd, then it's going to have an impact on the quality of people in parliament.' As a new political play, the 'Gang of Three', opens at the King's Head theatre in London, about the relationship between Denis Healey, Roy Jenkins and Tony Crosland – three Labour MPs from the past who were anything but dull – the gap between now and then seems painfully wide.
New Statesman
07-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Paralysis as usual in Starmer's No 10
Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP via Getty Images Bruised by the loss of hitherto safe Runcorn and a council kicking, Keir Starmer's Downing Street continues to instil dread in frustrated ministers. One groaned that the latest conflict is between chief enforcer Morgan McSweeney and Tony Blair-era veteran Liz Lloyd, hired as director of policy, delivery and innovation after a money-making sojourn in banking. McSweeney signs something off and Lloyd raises objections or she gives a green light and he flashes red, complained a weary victim. No 10 insists a second pair of eyes is about the avoidance of errors. Paralysis is another outcome. Ecky thump after Reform infuriated Mr Speaker with a proposed ban on county flags fluttering over town halls. Lindsay Hoyle is as Lancastrian as tripe, clogs and the red rose on the pennants that are at risk of being hauled down now Reform controls Lancashire poles. Party chair Zia Yusuf decreed that only the Union Jack and St George's cross would in future be permitted. Although Nigel Farage swiftly added county emblems to the unbanned list, no Reform MPs were called in the chamber by hopping mad Hoyle. Meanwhile, Ukraine's blue and yellow bands remain banished by Reform. Vlad the Invader, subject of Farage's admiration, will be pleased. A Reform snout whispered that Farage was warned before the by-election that Runcorn victor Sarah Pochin would be a decent local candidate but never good enough to represent the party nationally on TV. That he nevertheless embraced her illustrated that his party is now functioning like Labour, the Cons and Libs who prioritise bomb-proof candidates over longer-term career development. Labour MPs ordered to knock on doors in Runcorn were issued with advice on how to handle hostility. If the voter raised winter fuel then they were lost, the MPs were informed, so no point wasting precious canvassing time. If they were scared about welfare cuts then they could be persuadable. 'Great,' muttered a blow-in from Westminster. 'In Labour we now consider scaring people to be acceptable.' A few doors along from the old Granita restaurant where Blair and Brown stitched up the Labour leadership (or Tony stitched up Gordon in the Talibrown version), an earlier drama is played out in Islington's King's Head Theatre. The Gang of Three chronicles the failure of rivals Roy Jenkins, Tony Crosland and Denis Healey to unite on the Labour right to stop first Jim Callaghan then Michael Foot become Labour leader. Your columnist spotted Labour ex-spinner Matthew 'just stopped' Doyle, once-jailed Lib Dem former cabinet minister Chris Huhne, and Reform eccentric Gawain Towler in the audience. That's as much intrigue off as on the stage. [See also: David Attenborough at 99: 'Life will almost certainly find a way'] Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
