I like the Guardian. There are few progressive MSM media organisations in the world. Compared to Murdoch's press they are enlightened, intellectual and interesting. But for some reason they have chosen to attack Jeremy Corbyn pretty well ever since he became UK Labour's leader. Owen…
We thought we had it bad with Winston Peters. Here's a post-election process of enormous complexity and portent. The UK election has yielded not just a hung parliament but one where it is unclear who can functionally govern. Tradition dictates that the incumbent government gets…
Which NZ politician said this about Jeremy Corbyn in 2015? As of my writing this, approximately 15,000 people have joined the British Labour Party since Jeremy Corbyn was elected leader yesterday – about a dozen a minute. That’s on top of the roughly 350,000 people…
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Life, as they say, comes at you fast these days - Mike Hosking: It's May all the way, despite headlines The worst case scenario is they don't have a working majority, which won't happen, but even if it did, let us not forget that prior…
Meanwhile, back in NZ, a league of concerned scientists and groups has come up with a bold, no nonsense plan to do the right thing by our freshwater. From RNZ A cross-sector group says successive governments' inaction on degraded waterways has spurred them to come…
Fair to say that UK Labour exceeded (most people's) expectations. It's a remarkable result that has buried Blairism, reinvigorated socialist principles and the political left, defied the Murdoch media, and badly damaged the tories. In short, it has reshaped the political landscape of the UK.…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Jeremy Corbyn has in my view rewritten the rule book on how progressive parties should campaign. His leadership of the party was almost an accident with some supporting his candidacy only so that a left wing candidate could be included. He won the leadership against…
Well well. What will you do now Bill? United Nations calls on NZ Government to fully investigate Afghan raid The United Nations Committee Against Torture is calling on the New Zealand Government to fully investigate the 2010 Afghan raid. ... The Committee Against Torture has…
Two public meetings are being held next week to shine a light on the government’s Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. It would allow the Minister for Tertiary Education – currently Epsom’s Paul Goldsmith – to take public funds away from universities, polytechs…
Labour's health spokesperson David Clark is doing good work: Fiery exchanges over mental health as Minister fronts to Parliament's health committee ... Coleman's appearance came at the same time the Labour Party released its own updated figures, claiming $2.3 billion had been effectively stripped from…
Timeline: Election day Thursday 8 June British Time/Friday 9 June NZT. Polling stations open from Thurs 7am to 10pm BT/Thurs 6pm - Fri 9am NZT. First exit poll at 10pm BT/Fri 9am NZT. First seat to declare usually Sunderland before midnight BT/Fri 11am NZT. If…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Latest polls and some anecdotal evidence from the doorstep are showing a move back to the Tories in Britain. If so it may in part be due to last-minute dark and dirty personally targeted Facebook advertising to voters in marginal seats. They cost so will…
PM Bill English denies there is a housing crisis. In 2010 he knew about and warned of the housing crisis - PM talked of major housing crisis - Salvation Army A senior Salvation Army staff member says Prime Minister Bill English talked with him about…
Jeremy Corbyn has already won, exposing and demolishing May's Conservatives in a stunning electoral turnaround. If the campaign was a month longer I have no doubt that Labour would win outright. As it is I think they will probably lose, and this will be a…
I've only just caught up with this depressing piece by Amanda Saxton in the SST: 18-month-old Julia, the innocent face of modern NZ's brutal, archaic boarding houses Eighteen-month-old Julia Alatina is smiley, snotty-nosed, and dotted with flea bites. She's trusting; exchanging her toy broom, made…
A general discussion thread for the lead up to the UK General election. This post will be bumped up daily, and a new one will go up Friday morning for the day of the election itself. To get us started, here's Jonathan Pie in fine…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Predictably, the Nats don't dare to speak any sanity to the visiting representative of the Trump regime. Patrick Gower: English tries to hide from the reality of Trump's America ... Mr English said "I don't think it is our position to comment on the way…
The current incumbent in the White House is an unusual person, even when compared to other right wing American politicians. He lacks even a basic sense of humanity. And his approach to all issues is that superficial it can be captured in a tweet. Exhibit…
The political right try it on every election year, in an attempt to sow a bit of discord. But it's all just a bit too obvious and clumsy really. Alex Braae explains: Greens would be fools to court National Around this point of the electoral…
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …