Mandelson hits back
‘The Osborne argument is an audacious attempt at political cross-dressing that will convince few genuine progressives. It may also backfire. Because, given that most of the Tory party identify themselves as being to the right of their new leaders, it will also anger those Conservatives who have never aspired to such radical and positive change in Britain.’- Peter Mandelson, The Guardian
‘Lord Mandelson also said: “This exposes the rank hypocrisy of George Osborne’s claims to represent the party of progressives. I’ve never heard anything so laughable in my life.”’ – BBC
The NHS – evil and Orwellian?
‘The National Health Service has become the butt of increasingly outlandish political attacks in the US as Republicans and conservative campaigners rail against Britain’s “socialist” system as part of a tussle to defeat Barack Obama’s proposals for broader government involvement in healthcare.’ – Andrew Clark, The Guardian
‘Today, America is involved in its own great debate about whether and how to universalise healthcare coverage. Almost to a person, the Republican political leadership is hostile to the state expanding its healthcare obligations. Now, that hostility is being extended to the NHS, which it is branding “evil and Orwellian”.’ – Sasha Abramsky, Comment is free
A property tax for Scotland
‘Labour is preparing to regain the political initiative in Scotland with a plan to replace council tax with a local property tax.’ – Angus Macleod, The Times