In the mass of commentary surrounding the election, no one is talking about emotions. This is pretty incredible, considering how big a factor they are in politics. For most of the electorate the exact policy differences between parties is only part of more nebulous issues like confidence, betrayal, contempt and especially trust.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/jun/05/election2001.politicalcolumnists3

If more people drove like a woman fewer children would be dying in road accidents

After four years trying to get “joined-up government”, there’s still a long way to go, if the new child road safety initiative is anything to go by. Laudable in itself, it fails to link up with the wider issues of quality of life and health.

This latest initiative offers local councils £10m for child pedestrian training projects. Most will go to deprived areas with high numbers of ethnic minorities where new research shows that child death rates are appreciably higher. The new initiative includes pamphlets in relevant languages but mainly focuses on training schemes to integrate road safety lessons into “personal social and health education”.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/may/09/comment.roscoward

Lord Stevenson says hairdressers shouldn’t be made people’s peers as they might not feel ‘comfortable’ in the House of Lords. Ros Coward took celebrity snipper Nicky Clarke along to test out the theory

Another New Labour attempt at populism has gone awry. Criticised for the predictably safe, middle-class list of people’s peers, Lord Stevenson compounded the crime by saying that they could not select people, like hairdressers, who would be uncomfortable in the Lords. Roy Hattersley, suitably appalled, responded in Monday’s Guardian. The people’s peers ought to be real people like hairdressers, he said, and gallantly offered to acclimatise a couple.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/may/04/lords.politicalnews

Since the dome’s closure, pundits and politicians have been lecturing us sternly. “This fiasco must end soon.” Their solutions vary: it should be demolished; it should be integrated into worthy urban regeneration; it should have “meaningful” exhibitions. But all agree on one point. The dome was a disaster because it had no brand.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/mar/13/dome.comment

Amazingly little attention has been paid to the Green’s performance in last week’s elections for the London assembly. Media commentators seem determined to overlook their strong performance as just another maverick element in a maverick contest. But in some areas, the Green vote was almost as big as that of the Liberal Democrats and, for the first time, people appeared to be voting for a “green slate”. This deserves more consideration; it may mark a shift in political perceptions and priorities far more interesting than a story of protest votes and personalities in a crazy capital city.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/may/09/londonmayor.livingstone1

It’s sick but there’s nothing they can do about it

Never let it be said this government does not occasionally provide a good laugh. And the launch of the Downing Street website is one of the best. This is not just because of the squirm-making messages from Tony Blair.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/feb/20/freespeech.theobserver

Details of the Dome’s “lavish party” on millennium eve are at last appearing and its contents are more likely to depress than impress. A string of New Labour sympathisers, including Stephen Fry and Mick Hucknall, will entertain the hand-picked audience. This will be followed by what used to be called a “medley” of musical turns, a bit of pop, extracts from West End musicals and a bit of classical music. Something to suit all tastes. The Queen will then “open” the Dome. It’s going to be the Royal Variety Performance, only without the variety.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/dec/21/millennium.uk1

What is the matter with all these people? This will be a unique moment of revelation of the physical world

For the last few months, I’ve been getting steadily more excited about next week’s eclipse. Like millions of others, I hope to witness the totality and I’m prepared to travel to do so. Currently my household is torn between camping on Dartmoor or taking a boat off the south coast of England. As the day gets nearer, I’ve been reading everything I can about it, the scientific background and accounts of previous eclipses.

Full article: http://www.theguardian.com/science/1999/aug/03/eclipse.comment