Author Archives: Cambridge Town Owl

One is trying to capture the attention of the general public, while the other is trying to keep us politics obsessives occupied with something new every day in order not to bore us One of the reasons why I think more of us bloggers and political commentator-types should stand for election and face a hustings/publicContinue reading “There seem to be two distinct election contests being fought”

This feels like a top-down decision from a broken national party unit that, as shown by the Diane Abbott selection issues, is having a shockingly bad general election campaign – one almost as bad as Team Rishi’s catastrophic operation Cambridge Independent commentator Phil Rodgers posted about this earlier following this afternoon’s post from former GuardianContinue reading “Why is the Labour Party briefing that Daniel Zeichner won’t be taking part in any hustings in Cambridge?”

It’ll be at 7pm at the Wesley Methodist Church next to Christ’s Pieces in Cambridge – and the main host is the Cambridge Branch of Friends of the Earth – which has been active for around half a century in our city. I had it confirmed by email – see also Phil Rodgers below. I’mContinue reading “Cambridge Environment Hustings 11 June 2024 – and themed multi-constituency hustings”

Phil Rodgers confirmed the news earlier. “Strewth! They didn’t pick a local guy either!” Which sort of surprised me – I thought they’d have backed Zachary Marsh given his reasonably competent showing in the local media in the recent local elections. This now means that all parties that have councillors on Cambridge City Council areContinue reading “A full slate of party candidates in and around Cambridge for the general election 2024”

It’s not easy to organise formal set piece debates for general elections at such short notice. Are there alternative public events that could work better for more people instead? In and around Cambridge (four constituencies), Phil Rodgers is keeping a list of events coming up. The Environment hustings above is in the process of tryingContinue reading “Democracy mingles in the park as alternatives to formal hustings?”

And it’s all over the papers! But even in the very unlikely case of the Tories being re-elected, the detail shows not only has it not been thought through, but also that the whole thing would get stuck in the long grass of a Royal Commission Image – From the Government’s National Citizens Service programmeContinue reading “‘Rishi to conscript your teenagers!’ (if the headlines are to be believed)”

The Levelling Up Secretary has announced he is stepping down from Parliament – which automatically means he will not be in his current post irrespective of the general election result He made more than a few adversaries along the way up the career ladder, as journalist and education policy specialist Laura McInerney wrote: Above –Continue reading “Michael Gove’s Case for Cambridge collapses in less than three months”

You don’t have to stand for election to help strengthen democracy – there is a great deal that the public can do. And it does not involve getting a high profile either. In case you missed it, The King has accepted the Prime Minister’s recommendation to dissolve Parliament and commence arrangements for a general election.Continue reading “How can people interested in politics but who do not like party politics take an active part in the general election?”

Independent Councillor in St Neots, Cllr Stephen Ferguson is considering standing in the new St Neots and Mid Cambs constituency. Are any of you tempted? (Should I try and do similar in Cambridge to what I did in Queen Edith’s ward at last year’s city council elections?) It’s decision time following the shambolic setting ofContinue reading “Thinking of standing as an independent candidate for the general election in/around Cambridge?”

Expect general election candidates to be pressed hard over the extractive model of our planning system – including the long-feared application to demolish Hobson Street Cinema Image – Hideous Cambridge (2013) by Jones and Hall. If this application goes through they will need to produce a second volume! This post stems from three recent planning-relatedContinue reading “Developers rinsing Cambridge again”