September 2010 Archives

In politics, perception is just as important as the reality - just ask Nick Clegg. For all he tries to insist that the Lib Dems are influencing coalition policy, it's still clear to see many believe the party is doing little more than the dirty work the Tories would rather keep clear of.

I suspect those Labour Party activists so delighted by Ed Miliband's slender victory over brother David in Manchester yesterday may ultimately regret choosing the younger Miliband for that very reason - the perceptions of Ed are already becoming a huge barrier to attracting back the voters which deserted it at the ballot box this summer.

Already, Ed Miliband is being called Red Ed. That may be a very unfair nickname to give him, but it's one which will stick. And it's one which, on paper, is backed up by the fact it was votes from the trade unions which ensured he landed the top job.

Proof, if it were needed, that some in Labour still haven't got why they lost the general election.

Step forward Bob Ainsworth, who brought a similar amount of gravitas to the role of defence secretary as the Chuckle Brothers would to being named monarchs of this nation.

Unpopular with the armed forces, and so politically out of touch that even one of his friends back in Coventry felt the need to go to the Press to hit out at the way Ainsworth had dealt with the death of this friend's son in Afghanistan.

On Twitter this week, Ainsworth wrote:

Tory minister says' our troops don't need more helicopters' and the mighty press are silent

That was in reference to an earlier Tweet he posted:

Peter Luff minister just said don't need more helicopters in Afghan havnt since 06 what did they say when in opposition!

When he was leader of the opposition, I suspect William Hague used to dream of being able to topple Tony Blair as they day's hot topic of conversation.

Almost a decade on from being replaced as leader of the Tories, and Hague today did exactly that, arguably creating a political first in the process. And I can't help but feel very, very sorry for him.

Apparently, rumours have been rife about the sort of relationship he was having with his special advisor Christopher Myers for a while now. On the internet, the rumours have been articulated in some detail, while in the Press, apparently it's been more about innuendo.