Big Beasts Come Out To Play

Pussycat Peter and Cuddly Ken have gone head to head in what Channel 4 News billed as the first "big beast" debate of the unofficial general election campaign. Nice one Jon.

The clash of the titans was much more illuminating than anything the planned set-piece election leaders' debates could hope to offer.

The old hands gave a fascinating insight into real party politics, on a day when the fragile economy limped out of recession depression with the whimper of a piddling 0.1 percent 'growth'.

At one point Ken delivered a classic put down: "Peter, for heavens sake. I know you're worried, this is very bad news for you, but for heaven's sake behave yourself." Splendid.

The Orange Party isn't going into point scoring - both were on fine form - but Mandy over used the old debating trick of trying to make out they were both in agreement to try to capture the high ground and the argument. Sneaky.

With presenter Snow looking like a spare part, the odd couple accused each other of "irrelevance" and "nonsense" as Mandy kept insisting they were in fact singing from the same hymn sheet while taking pot shots at Honest Osborne. Sly.

And once again, Saint Vince had been left out in the cold. Shame.

Full Interview: Part One ...

Full interview: Part Two ...

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Clarke Tightens Blairite Grip On Brown

Clarke's anti-Brown outburst in the New Statesman wasn't new. He's said it all before. But this time, Clarke and the gang can smell blood. 

Either him, or one of the Blairites, like Milburn, Byers, Blunkett et al, often carefully placed in the Blair-loving Murdoch's Sunday Times. 

What is revealing is the Blairite hold on the Party and the timing - anyone would think the conference season is about to get underway!

With Brown weak and at an all time low and a public spat between his supporters Darling and Balls, the Brownites are rapidly diminishing.

The BBC's Nick Robinson puts it into context with a clever little sketch in today's political blog.

But even that just scratches the surface. 

The Clarke outburst isn't so much about a leadership challenge or using Clarke as the stalking horse. It is all about influence and manipulation.

The suggestion of a true Labour coup, reported here in July, fronted by the likes of McDonnell, doesn't seem to have materialised. 

But that is what is on the minds of rank and file Labour Party members, as the conferences get underway. And that is what New Labour fears most.

With any change of PM, regardless of constitutional issues, there would have to be a general election sooner rather than later and New Labour would be annihilated. 

So the strategy, for Clarke and the Blairites, is to try to keep Brown going - but to make sure the Blairite policies remain at the forefront of the government. 

If you can't beat Brown, Blair him.

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The English Question Still Unanswered

Ken Clarke's Democracy Taskforce group, looking at the vexed 'West Lothian Question', comes with a stark health warning: "We underestimated the resentment the Scots were feeling. We do not want to wait until English resentment builds up and we have a crisis."

The question is a simple one. Should Scottish MPs vote on English matters at Westminster - when Westminster MPs cannot do the same at Holyrood? 

But Clarke's report raises just more questions than answers.  The answers go to the very heart of our democratic legacy and have been highlighted  by the Orange Party  here. 

One solution put forward by the Taskforce is that Scottish MPs should not vote on amendments to England-only bills.

In his report, Clarke is proposing banning Scottish MPs from voting at the committee stage of bills relating to England.

However, they would still be allowed to vote at the earlier second reading stage and the third reading stage, when the bill as a whole either passes through the commons or fails.

What has to be made clear is exactly what are 'English-only matters' at Westminster? And would that not be better served by an English Parliament sitting alongside the UK Parliament at Westminster? 

But the real problem is over the representation to the parliaments and assemblies which have evolved piecemeal over time. 

The present system has been described by Labour MP, Frank Field, as "one of the festering sores in English politics", with English voters becoming increasingly resentful of the present system that allows a range of "fiscal discriminations". 

But the New Labour government is being, not surprisingly,  rather quiet on this vexed issue. The Scottish Labour Party is in disarray and Brown is under increasing pressure to reduce the Scottish grip in the cabinet.

The 'West Lothian' question, will never go away. Sooner or later it will fall on the government of the day to have to grasp the nettle and sort out the 'English Question'. 

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