Articles by Anthony Painter

Thursday 26th January

The debate on Englishness can no longer be avoided

Anthony Painter, 26 January 2012
An increasingly assertive English nationalism; the prospect of an independent Scotland; the economic crisis.... the English question is ready to explode. Evasion tactics are deeply embedded, but even these are about to fail.
Thursday 2nd June

England needs an independence conversation

Anthony Painter, 2 June 2011
The English no longer know who they are. The Scottish do. Labour must learn from the Scots in rediscovering an optimistic Englishness that embraces the future with confidence
Thursday 12th May

To protect the Union, England and the centre-left must start fighting now

Anthony Painter, 12 May 2011
Following the SNP's unexpected triumph, full or fiscal independence for Scotland are suddenly real possibilities. Salmond has five years to call a referendum, and the result is critical for the whole UK. Both the Conservatives and Labour will fight to protect the Union, but the centre-left has more to lose
Tuesday 19th April

Under AV, Nick Clegg's position is the future of British politics

Anthony Painter, 19 April 2011
The Alternative Vote will not deliver more pluralism in British politics. Political competition will still converge around a median, it's just that the position of the median will change to something like Orange-book liberalism. Choose AV, and British politics will converge around Nick Clegg's position AV, like FPTP, is incompatible with Britain's pluralist society AV is not a distant but pluralist relative of FPTP. They are twins
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