Follow the Leader

With the general election likely to take place on May 6 and party candidates stepping up the media coverage in a plea for your vote, this paper feels it should make its position clear.

As party campaigning gathers momentum, we feel it is important to remember not only the past 13 years of Labour government, but also the Tory administration which preceded them.

And let us not forget politicians across the board, who hardly did much for their image in 2009, with various headline performances such as the expenses scandal or Nick Griffin’s embarrassing exposé on Question Time.

It is with this in mind we believe change is necessary. Not just a superficial change of one set of self-motivated careerists for another, though.

“A vote for Labour is anything but a vote for change”

The choice appears limited. David Cameron has so far failed to convince on the economy, backpedaled on Europe and seems to be pushing a soft, Thatcherite agenda.

The economy must be the first priority, however, because – as we have seen in Wales in particular – a number of our core industries have been affected.

Cuts in public spending cuts could see more Welsh jobs lost, with the current unemployment rate now at 8.5 per cent. Also, while public sector cuts are rarely welcome, it is likely the trend of private investment in the public sector would be furthered by the Conservatives.

We realise the large debt incurred by the Labour government means the winning party will have to make necessary cuts, but the Tories, historically at least, are not the party of “inclusive” politics.

Labour, meanwhile, seem to be suffering from being in government too long. Mr Brown recently survived a leadership challenge but this paper is not convinced this was the display of unity some Brownites would have us believe.

And good handling of the recession aside, a vote for Labour is anything but a vote for change.

The Liberal Democrats have long been denied to demonstrate their potential to lead on a national scale, although Nick Clegg appears to be a credible candidate.

“Not just a superficial change of one set of self-motivated careerists for another”

Their sometimes innovative policies are usually lost in the humdrum of the PR battle between the two bigger parties but this time around maybe they should be given a chance.

Mr Clegg certainly has more media clout than leaders past and they present the most “inclusive” politics out of the big three.

It is time for a change of approach and some fresh ideas. As we see it, neither of the two main contenders have the insight or ability to provide this. In comparison the Liberal Democrats appear foil-packed and fit-to-burst.

The Dethroning of Gordon I

In these dark days when the weather is the staple of news programming, politics bowls a corker to match Dale Steyn’s ball that took out Kevin Pietersen, lbw, in Cape Town earlier today.

And just as the fall of KP may signal the end for England’s hopes of victory in the Third Test so might this leadership challenge severely weaken Labour’s chances in the next general election.

Former cabinet ministers Geoff Hoon and Patricia “Che” Hewitt have caused a bit of a ruckus, to say the least, with their letter to Labour MPs calling for a secret ballot with regard to Mr Brown’s leadership.

Hoon and Hewitt share an in-joke

Hoon and Hewitt, dubbed the new Castro and Guevara, signalled their intent in the letter, which Mr Brown became aware of only this morning, calling to resolve the “uncertainty” which they believe is “damaging our ability to set out our strong case to the electorate”.

If it wasn’t before today, this latest unrest will do nothing to stabilise the party nor inspire public confidence in its ability to govern. While it may not yet be a case of “they think it’s all over…” the damage has already been done, whether a secret ballot is held or not.

“This is not an attempted coup.”

Patricia Hewitt on BBC Radio 4’s World at One

Insistent that it was not an attempt to see Brown deposed, both Hoon and Hewitt will have expected to have received much support from their “deeply divided” party. Such backing has not been forthcoming. Margaret Beckett offered the most damning put-down: “This kind of thing is diversionary, it’s stupid and I hope nobody will pay any attention to it at all.”

Such a move was unprecedented, according to the BBC’s Nick Robinson, who wrote: “Don’t believe Labour MPs and ministers who say they’ve not talked about changing leader. For months the talk’s been of little else.”

Early indicators are that the cabinet is behind Brown, albeit only publicly. Should one minister resign, or Brown lose their backing, it could spell the end for the unelected leader.

Will Gordon I survive til the morrow? All we know for now is the spirit of the Roundheads lingers menacingly around No.10 this day.

Follow the story and analysis live on the BBC news, Times Online and Guardian websites.

Checkmate

"No seriously, it was this big"

All this talk of kings is making me nauseous. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has refused to be drawn on whether his party is already in talks over a deal to form a coalition government should the next general election result in a hung parliament.

“I’m not the king-maker”

Nick Clegg on BBC’s Today programme

While trying, albeit rather dramatically, to reassure us that our democracy is recovering from the recent outbreak of hand-in-piggybank disease, Mr Clegg was adamant that the people should be allowed to speak first before any “backroom deals” are made. Of course backroom deals are fine afterwards, but before? Gosh no, what would the public think then?

It does seem though that as we approach the election at seemingly ever greater speed, Mr Clegg and his band of plucky dreamers may have to make some crucial decisions. Not least upon which ship to board while the tide is in. Even the possibility of a hung parliament will have got the yellow brigade excited because in that event they would be the only winners.

Robot Wars

Cameron and Brown: It's war

The Government today announced funding for a new technological project to help spare “brave” politicians the dangers of fighting elections.

The increase in robotic warfare, particuarly by the US in Afghanistan, is thought to be the Government’s inspiration behind the project, which will see politicians battle it out with remote controlled robots. It is thought this will significantly decrease the chances of serious press scrutiny, one of the biggest killers of political careers.

Critics of the project include the Liberal Democrats’  leader Nick Clegg, who claimed that politicians needed to “get real” instead of spending taxpayers’ money on unnecessary equipment or services.

According to a spokesman, Conservative Leader David Cameron was broadly supportive of the idea claiming that politics must keep up to date with technological advancements.

The spokesman said: “Politics must drag itself, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st century. The political battleground is a dangerous place and everything must be done to ensure that our brave politicians, from councillors to MEPs, are given all the tools they need.”

It is not clear when the project will enter into production but it is expected that the research and development phase will finish in early 2010 and the robots made available in time for the next general election.