September 2008 - Posts

Wrong place, wrong time, wrong everything. The shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve chose the backdrop of the Conservative Party conference in multicultural Birmingham to have a go at, yes, multiculturalism. Read More...
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has been canvassing opinion from key social commentators about what is concerning them about Britain. Read More...
An old practice of dealing inhumanely with rough sleepers is creeping back on to our streets. Read More...
Age Concern's bold attempt to end compulsory retirement at 65 for the UK workforce was always going to be fought from the back foot. Read More...
Did anyone watch Coronation Street last night? More specifically, did anyone watch the ad break during the 8.30pm episode? If you did you would have noticed the NSPCC 's latest campaign. Read More...
Posted by Outside Left
Two prominent Labour MPs this week set out their visions for a fairer Britain. Read More...
He avoided urging the faithful to go back to their constituencies and prepare for government, as David Steel once did, but Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg did tell the party conference yesterday: "I can tell you where we're headed - government."...
Why are the UK authorities giving former Gurkhas such a hard time? Read More...
When children's charities have a perspective on chid protection that is poles apart from that held by the public at large, one is minded to side with the former. Read More...
OK Gordon, so if I remember to seal the front door and don an extra pullover, a pair of gloves and ear muffs, I should be able to cut my fuel bill. Read More...
Posted by Outside Left
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So she bottled it. Hours after details of her speech to the TUC yesterday appeared in the national press, Labour's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, avoided using the c-word that was long ago excised from her party's lexicon. Read More...
Stand on your own two feet is a phrase that bears the hallmark of Margaret Thatcher. But David Blunkett bought into the idea in a speech to the Counsel and Care charity in London. Read More...
You know you've arrived as care services minister when your name appears on the front page of a Sunday tabloid. Read More...
The Paralympics start this weekend in Beijing and hopes are high that Team GB can continue its success of Athens four years ago, particularly after their colleagues in the Olympics turned in such a gold-plated performance last month. No pressure, then...
On turning 50, I became in the failing eyes of policymakers an "older person" . Read More...
Posted by Outside Left
One thing we do know about the bids to help run two new jails is that the consortia include a healthy representation from the third sector. Read More...
Anyone who thinks Labour is social care's best chance should be worried by the recent less-than-inspiring efforts of chancellor Alistair Darling and home secretary Jacqui Smith . Read More...