The commentators 17-12-14...on UK politicsScottish unionists should feel that voting “no” in the referendum was worth it because it gave Britain a better future together, not a piece of English fudge. Gordon Brown promised home rule for Scotland. The Scots should now have full tax powers to see if they can raise what they spend; the Barnett formula could then be scrapped. We need a relationship of equals if the union is to remain intact for another decade, let alone another century. That can’t just mean Scottish MPs abstaining from a few English votes or else Mr Salmond won’t just be lording it over the portrait gallery — he could be ruling over an independent Scotland.
- Alice Thomson, The Times One of the few advantages to being in opposition is meant to be immunity from the hatred voters reserve for governing parties. So one of Ed Miliband’s biggest frustrations is that a residue of office still clings to his party: no rhetorical wardrobe changes or laundering of policy seem to shift it
- Rafael Behr, The Guardian Despite public cynicism, the election will turn on the most compelling issues of this or any age. Patriotism and nationhood, the impulses that bring out the best and worst in any electorate, will be the dominant themes of the fight to come. With a quasi-independent Scotland cutting itself loose from the shackles of Westminster, and the future of England suddenly uncertain, the battle will not only be to establish who governs the country but who can better read its soul.
- Mary Riddell, Daily Telegraph Our political system is highly dependent — too dependent — on the integrity and stability of its parties. We need to open up the system and ensure a small cadre of activists do not have a disproportionate influence. Before he joined Ukip, the MP Douglas Carswell advocated open primaries for parliamentary candidates. He doesn’t seem to be following this up. It’s a shame. He was right.
- Daniel Finkelstein, The Times A small country with ten national newspapers (a dozen, if you count the FT and Morning Star) might be expected to see its society accurately reflected on the newsstands. So what do we see today? Diversity? Multiculturalism? Do we see that warmth that Paddington was promised?
No, we see rejection, selfishness, triviality. Five papers splash on our terror of immigration; eight carry stories and/or photographs of people fighting to buy a cut-price coffee maker that will sit unused in a cupboard. The only paper to feature neither on the front - The Times - addresses a different kind of consumerism with an oversized cake and the word Eat! in huge letters. - Editor's blog Tuesday 25 November The Editorial Intelligence Comment Awards were announced at a breakfast ceremony this morning. David Aaronovitch was named Commentariat of the Year and his newspaper, The Times, won the award for the best comment pages. Stevie Spring, who led the judges, made it a hat-trick for the Times by choosing Melanie Reid for the chairman's award.
The FT, Guardian, Mail and Sunday Times each picked up two awards. SubScribe was also among the winners. You can see the full list of awards here. A video of the presentations will be posted online later. Please sign up for SubScribe updates
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December 12
UK politics December 11 CIA torture December 10 CIA torture December 9 UK politics December 8 UK politics December 5
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