Tag: Alun Wyburn-Powell
Theresa May – a well-prepared geographer’s uneventful climb to the top
Theresa May is the UK’s new Prime Minister, with David Cameron having stepped down following what Alun Wyburn-Powell, here, describes as one of the ‘greatest unforced political errors in British history’ in calling and losing a referendum on the UK’s EU membership. But what might we expect from his successor? Given her age, experience, and political […]
The EU referendum saw the return of class-prediction voting (with a vengeance)
The repercussions of the UK’s decision to abandon its membership of the European Union keep coming, with Boris Johnson seemingly heading for Downing Street. Here, Alun Wyburn-Powell picks over the result, focusing on democratic engagement, polling miscalculations, and the return of class-prediction voting. Similar PostsA great or Pyrrhic victory? The dangers ahead for Boris JohnsonNorthern […]
Predicting the 2020 election? We are not even sure if the results of 2015 are going to change.
Last Thursday, the UK went to the polls. While different parts of the country voted in different elections for posts of varying significance, political observers could draw conclusions from a wide and varied set of results. Here, Alun Wyburn-Powell gives his take on proceedings, and on the news that the Conservatives may be forced to […]
Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation was the most confusing since Gladstone left the (Conservative) government of 1845
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, recently resigned as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. His decision was controversial, with many suggesting that it had more to do with the European Union than it does with his stated reason of cuts to Personal Independence Payments. Here, Alun Wyburn-Powell takes a look at […]
Corbyn’s reshuffle was unnecessary, protracted, and botched – but it may not make any difference
Jeremy Corbyn’s first reshuffle as Leader of the Labour Party has been met with a diverse array of reactions, with some describing his marginalisation of those who had been critical of his leadership as “revenge”, while others assert his right to choose whichever team likes. Here, Alun Wyburn-Powell uses reshuffle to pursue a broader debate […]
Jeremy Corbyn could change British politics and out-perform expectations – provided the Conservatives split over Europe
In Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party could be about to elect its most left-wing leader in a generation. But would it be a disaster as the mainstream press are arguing? Alun Wyburn-Powell argues that he could well out-perform expectations provided the Conservatives, as many suspect, split over Europe. Similar PostsPredicting the 2020 election? We are […]
Don’t expect the Lord Sewel story to prompt constitutional change
The Labour Peer Lord Sewel was caught on video in highly compromising circumstances by the Sun. But will the inevitable scandal lead to reform of the UK’s bloated and inefficient House of Lords? Alun Wyburn-Powell uses history as a guide, and argues that it would be naive to expect this to trigger much-needed change when […]
David Cameron faces similar internal divisions as did Harold Wilson over Europe
David Cameron’s indecisiveness on collective cabinet responsibility and the EU Referendum campaign has been widely commented upon. Alun Wyburn-Powell argues that the situation mirrors challenges that the Labour Wilson government faced in 1975 and that it also serves to underline that Conservative Party divisions are a central reason for why the referendum is happening in the first […]
Can Labour recover to win in 2020? History says one thing, and the polls another
The 2015 General Election saw the Conservatives win a majority, seemingly against all odds, with Labour expected to perform much more strongly. Alun Wyburn-Powell looks at the historical precedent for Labour to recover and take the next election in 2020, arguing that while the polling suggests an insurmountable challenge, history suggests that it is possible. Before […]
20 things we learned about democracy in November 2014
Traditionally, November isn’t a particularly pleasant month, with autumn giving way to winter, and Christmas just too far away to provide any real solace. But did we learn anything about democracy that might cheer us up? Democratic Audit’s Sean Kippin does his best to do just that, bringing us factoids about white vans, immigration, Prime […]
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