The Battle for Relevance (Orgreave)

by Simon Belt

Public inquiries have been quite popular activities over the last few decades: Brixton riots, Bloody Sunday, Hillsborough, Shipman, Soham, Leveson, Mid-Staffordshire hospital and currently the troubled Saville inquiry. Some of these like Shipman may have resulted in systemic changes to public service organisations with some merit, others seem to have been primarily for reasons of catharsis.

The summer of 2014 saw class warrior Ed Milibland call for a Public Inquiry into the Battle for Orgreave during the 1984's miners strike, which has just been formally rejected by Home Secretary Amber Rudd. Why the fuss after more than 30 years?

Popping Keith Vaz's bubble

by Simon Belt

Keith Vaz MP has been known as the Teflon politician for a while, even reportedly dubbed the Vazeline kid within and around Westminster. All that ended on Sunday as the Sunday Mirror published an article alleging that the Labour MP for Leicester East since 1987, paid for sex with male prostitutes. Big deal eh?

Democracy, after the referendum?

by Mark Iddon

The day after the European Union (EU) referendum, Friday June 24th, brought a surprise for most people on both sides of the campaign. There was complete disbelief from the Remain camp that so many - 17.4 million people, could have defied the overwhelming advice, from most politicians, the IMF, The Bank of England, the President of America, much of the media and many celebrities to vote remain.

New or old: what's going on with Labour?

by Mark Iddon

The Labour Party leadership contest reveals a party that is so divided and at odds with itself whilst at the same time being devoid of ideas or principles that it would be incredible to imagine how it could present itself as the next potential government. Jeremy Corbyn, Labour Party leader for the last 9 months, has recently lost a motion of no confidence with 172 out of 231 Members of parliament (MPs) voting against Corbyn and only 40 voting in his favour.