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Lee GriffinAbout Lee: Former students' union president and intermitent blogger since the turn of the century, who's aim is to promote objective thinking and a break from partisan politics when discussing the issues of the day. Contact him.

Wed 12th Mar 2008

Can I just say... HALLELUJAH! If there is a god then they have obviously heard our collective prayers because today's PMQs was far beyond head and shoulders above the rest of the recent events

The reason for this seems to be partly down to a slight reduction in the heckling, but in reality I believe it to be because of as much as half the amount of planted Labour questions, real issues being discussed, and perhaps through a lack of pressure a Prime Minister that actually answered questions better without the constant need to attack "the party opposite"

Tue 19th Feb 2008

Apple being injected with a serum

The National Farmers' Union conference has been held this week, and all parties have taken the opportunity to try and win favours with the crowd. Unfortunately for Labour it would appear that Hillary Ben didn't go down so well, while Cameron appeared to talk the good talk, and Nick Clegg will address with a similar message today. Supermarkets must be wondering what they've done to incur all this ire at one moment in time, first suggestions that they will need to sell off land they own to allow competition to thrive now at least two of the big party leaders slamming them for unethical practice and eroding British farming.

Mon 18th Feb 2008

Politalks 4 is now up! This week we look at terrorism and how torture fits in with that particular problem, in particular George Bush's views on waterboarding. There is also a look at interesting ideas such as soldiers becoming teachers and frankly bizarre educational policy. The big stuff is at the end though, where we let those of you out of the loop know who the sexiest MP of them all is, afraid we have no news on what they'll be wearing to the ball. Video below, transcript even further down, right at the bottom we even have a roundup of the links we took in to consideration when making this

Not work safe unless you have headphones, enjoy!

Mon 11th Feb 2008

Probably not safe for work, here is our third effort. As always we welcome comments on the style and content in an effort to improve! Transcript below...

Wed 6th Feb 2008

PMQsIt's official, I'm bored of PMQs. I am now going to join the ranks of people that condemn it to being pointless theatrics, the PM doesn't answer enough questions, there is too much emphasis on back biting, real issues of the day don't get light because of the format and time limit and constituency MPs asking their questions are seemingly unable to find the middle ground between "congratulate us" questions and "condemn them" questions.

It's time to change the format, and it's time for Gordon Brown to split the PMQs back in half. He could do this quite easily without being accused of changing the system to suit his own personal needs if handled right, the main barrier in the way of changing the format as it stands. But how should the new two sessions operate?

Mon 4th Feb 2008

The next episode of Politalks is now here, with thanks to Gavin Whenman who will for the foreseeable future be partnering me on the project. Video below is probably NSFW!

Sat 2nd Feb 2008

House of commonsA bit late this week but here none the less. This week's PMQs really needed to be better than recent ones if any of the politicians taking part were to come off looking like mature adults, and thankfully this week saw an upturn in the standard of what was debated. Gone was the issue of Northern Rock (thank god) and the big scandals for both big parties meant that no-one was going to go on the party-political offensive regarding untrustworthy MPs. With this we were left with key subjects, crime, military and housing

Wed 23rd Jan 2008

House of commons during PMQ'sI felt, watching this weeks PMQ's, like I was in the twilight zone. Indeed I think that anyone that had come in to the chamber late may have thought they had travelled a week back in time as the subject was once again Northern rock, the prose? Tories accusing Labour of selling out the tax payer, Labour accusing Tories of flip flopping. All in all it was almost painful to see Cameron and Brown duke it out over the same issue, it is almost as if David Cameron is desperate to win over Brown on this subject and will keep coming at him until he does. Unfortunately for him Brown is on usual form, though I wouldn't say "good" form, and ultimately ends up frustrating us all.

Cameron was clearly the winner this week, though he desperately needs to find another subject from now on, and Clegg slumped in the face of his own baffling announcement. But Brown is back to usual form, that being of a trudging human shaped record player that plays broken media and is reluctant to go get repaired...drastic change is needed for this man.

Wed 23rd Jan 2008

HandshakeIs this the real reason why Nick Clegg has turned his party towards supporting the Government? The report suggests that the day before the Lib Dem's changed their stance, Gordon Brown stated that Proportional Representation might be on the table after the next election. The story goes that Jack Straw is keen to introduce PR (in particular the AV+ system proposed by the Jenkins Report to Blair in 1999) and the view from some is that a deal has been reached between the two parties.

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So what the hell is going on, Labour are slumping in the polls and yet those most naturally in their shadow able to take their place (the Lib Dems) are failing to capitalise in the polls. And even though the Tories are enjoying high times so much they must think it's the 80's all over again (in more ways than one) they have failed to deliver one serious or credible attack against the government that would show them to be the true heir's to the throne. So to speak. Anyway, on with this weeks Politalks. NSFW as usual, transcript can be found if you go through to read more!

(Wed 30th Apr 2008) SUBSCRIBE
Transcript and full size video

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