The Periscope Post

The Independent The neglect of the bigger picture

In planning to oppose the Coalition Government’s bill to stage a referendum on the Alternative Vote next May, the Labour party are “confusing tactics with strategy” and “neglecting the bigger picture” said The Independent. The paper said that Labour “no doubt calculates that it will be putting maximum pressure on the Government by adopting a stance of maximum opposition.” But while opposition might pressurise relations within the Coalition, the paper suggested it’s a “short-sighted” position in the longer term: “The (Labour) Party will look monumentally cynical if it votes to head off a referendum that it was campaigning for as recently as May.” To The Independent this “is a once in a generation chance to begin the reform of our flawed voting system.”

The Daily Telegraph A political feud that cost our soldiers dear

Political infighting between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown left British soldiers not properly equipped for battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to General Sir Richard Dannatt, ex-Chief of the General Staff. These are “serious charges” noted The Telegraph, “but Gen Dannatt provides evidence to support them. Mr Blair decided to commit British forces … But Mr Brown effectively sabotaged his decision, by refusing to provide sufficient funds.” The Tory-friendly paper firmly backed Dannatt’s attack: “He is angry – and rightly – that British forces were committed to fighting wars when the resources needed had not been made available.” The paper urged current political leaders to “register the terrible cost of allowing our nation’s security and servicemen to be jeopardized by political infighting.”

The Times Next Labour

The Times mulled Labour’s leadership contest, identified two “possible winners” – David and Ed Miliband – and gave its backing to the former. The Times argued that the older David is the “only candidate who has shown even an inkling of understanding the gravity of the situation the country faces,” and “is the only candidate who commands the personal authority to be a credible Prime Minister and Labour can be a serious Opposition only if it is seen as an alternative government.” The paper conceded that Ed Miliband “may be the leader Labour wants” but that he is “not close to being the leader whom Labour needs.”

The Guardian Papal visit: Bad tripper, good trip

The Guardian argued that there is a “moral case against (Pope) Benedict” paying Britain a state visit: “the church directly aggravates the plight of vulnerable people. It rails against IVF giving children to the childless, against stem-cell research giving hope to the sick, and against the use of condoms – even as a means of preventing the spread of HIV.” But the paper reminded readers that the case against Benedict “is not the same thing as a case against allowing him a state visit.” The Guardian stressed that “peace and prosperity often rely on dealing with power as we find it, as opposed to power as we might like it to be.”