Marathon meditations

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Two weeks ago I'd have known nothing about marathons except for the sense of thrill, pride and dread they can instill in the parents of those who have not yet completed one but have decided to do so. Now, after cheering on 47147 at the Paris Marathon I have experienced the whole new world. It is a very interesting and intensely enjoyable collective experience. The vast numbers running the race create a field of force which in part carries them along, encouraged by supporters, bands, supply stations. The individuals are all there, starkly so, pitting themselves to make the effort and gaining meaning from it, of all ages, shapes and running styles (to put it mildly). It is very moving to watch because they are all of the irregularities of regular folk, not professionals. But even if much of their training may be lonely, a marathon itself is the opposite. It is not at all like walking down a crowded street or surging with a commuter crowd all going in the same direction out of a train station. It may look like that but there is a joint purpose. Except at the front it is not much about racing against each other, but about finishing.  Completing the run is cause for celebration. Before last week I was snotty about the commercialised event. Now, I feel quite differently about my city being taken over for the day. I would even go to watch and cheer, only I have to go to America for a week.

Vive Tibet! Olympic passions

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): I was in Paris last weekend to cheer on our elder daughter in her first marathon, a very enjoyable occasion. On the way back from lunch with openDemocracy's Patrice de Beer walking along the Boulevard Raspail, we tried to stroll, though I have never been a true flaneur. It was quite impossible anyway as the Olympic flame, hidden in its bus was heading towards us preceded by a vast police escort. Including flic on roller-skates looking as if they were from the Return of Oz. This was the first bus that went past. Light the passion, share the dream indeed. Like the third way, the slogan betrays power's love of the singular. I think the debacle of China's attempt to seize the spectacle will have interesting ramifications here, not least for a Prime Minister who is as uncomfortable as a Chinese suit with sharing the dream even while he too lusts for the passion. So far I have only read one actual debate between a Chinese critic of the global opposition to Beijing's use of the Olympic flame and a supporter of Tibet. It's a must read exchange of comments between Tony Curzon Price and Lingjei Wang.

Local Matters I: The iron rule of the central executive

This is the first in a short series of posts OurKingdom will be running in April looking at various aspects of local government.

Stuart Weir (Cambridge, Democratic Audit): Four months ago, on December 12 2007, a major constitutional bargain was struck which attracted no attention then and has largely been ignored since. I refer to the concordat on central-local government that the government signed with the Local Government Association (LGA) and that was trailed in the Governance of Britain green paper. But government departments and ministers have not lost their enthusiasm for interfering in local government affairs and, so far as I know, the LGA and local authorities scarcely ever raise its presence in their defence.

Moses supposes....

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): I love disagreeing with Iain Dale because he is usually onto something important and isn't frightened of his instincts, unlike most British politicians. He has just blogged the SFO/BAE case and criticised his own leader for supporting the government. But I think he has missed a trick here - along with the whole British media except, it seems, for The Sun and OurKingdom. There, I never thought I'd say that! Except that we two august organs agree from completely different points of view.

Could a new mainstream party rise?

Graham Goddard and Tim Perkins (Carms & Manchester): There is currently a consensus among the three main political parties in the UK. They are no longer trying to differentiate themselves in terms of policies, but in terms of how effective they are at implementing those policies which have so far substantially failed the majority of society. In 1997, when Tony Blair brought Labour to power, there were great hopes that they would bring a new radical government which would reverse the movement towards a ‘me-first' society divided by wealth and income that was engendered by Thatcherism.

Fianna Fáil eye euro-elections in the North

Tom Griffin (London, The Green Ribbon): Ireland.com has news of the emerging 'Northern strategy' of Ireland's largest party, Fianna Fáil:

There has been persistent speculation that Fianna Fáil could merge with the SDLP, with the two parties possibly agreeing a common candidate for next year’s European Parliament election.

Ruling on soldiers' Human Rights further presages parliament-judiciary collision

John Jackson (London, Mishcon de Reya & Unlock Democracy): An important part of the context of Mr Justice Collins' ruling today, that sending a soldier into a battle inadequately equipped may be a breach of his or her human rights (thereby implying that the courts might have to say what “adequate equipment” is), is one of the more stark assertions by Lord Justice Moses in the

Should advertisers move from brand management to policy?

Jon Bright (London, OK): There was a gripping article by Rory Sutherland in the Spectator today on the thinking of the advertising execs which are being seen increasingly in government departments. While they are, at the moment, mostly there to win elections or manage the "brands" of politicians and parties, he makes an interesting case for their role to be expanded. Rather than legislators looking at public problems, he says, we need persuaders. We need advertisers:

e-petitioning Parliament

Guy Aitchison (Bristol, OK): The Downing Street e-petitions site has been a neat and popular little tool for people to voice their concerns on all sorts of issues and, though constitutionally toothless, it has caused at least one embarrassment for government over fuel pricing. Historically, however, Westminster has been the proper site for petitioning and since we're still pretending we have a sovereign parliament (rather than an executive monarchy) it seems only right we should be able to petition and embarrass them too. Well, pretty soon we'll be able to do if the Commons Procedure Committee has its way. They have just published a report recommending the introduction of e-petitioning through the Parliament website. They recommend that the constituency link be retained with the petitioner's MP acting as a "facilitator". The e-petitions would be presented in Hansard and sent to select committees and Government would be expected to reply within a few months. They also suggest that three times a year certain e-petitions would be debated in the Commons in Westminster Hall.

Change is in your pocket

Felix Cohen (London, oD): Change is afoot, both here and across the Pond. Except more literally here. The Royal Mint has announced the introduction of new coins designed by Welsh designer Matthew Dent (more on his Welshness shortly).

Technological advance in a risk society

Jon Bright (London, OK): A couple of news items on police technology caught the eye today. Following criticism in the Omagh Bomb trial, the BBC reports that a review undertaken on behalf of the home office has confirmed that "Low Copy Number" DNA testing is "scientifically sound" and can continue to be used in police investigations. And the Telegraph reveals that every Metropolitan police office will soon be fitted with an electronic "tag" which will allow their commanding office to pinpoint their location (overground or underground) anywhere with in London, ostensibly for the purposes of their protection.

Democracy, technology and culture could give us something to aspire to

Philip Hosking (Cornwall, The Cornish Democrat): With the closure of Goonhilly Earth Station, are the Cornish ever going to look to the stars again?

As a recognized level 1 European region with devolved government that could be something we decide for ourselves. Introducing one possible option - NEREUS - a network of European Regions working hand in hand on the development and use of space technologies in Europe. The European Regions are heavily involved at both ends of the space chain, from infrastructures to applications.

Serious Fraud ruling puts judiciary and government on collision course

John Jackson (London, Mishcon de Reya & Unlock Democracy): The High Court judgement delivered today, that the Serious Fraud Office acted unlawfully in ceasing to investigate an allegation that BAE had resorted to bribery in obtaining Saudi arms contracts, repays careful reading which you can do here in full. It should not be welcomed with enthusiasm by democrats whatever the motives of the British government.

Good Friday 10 years on: Jonathan Powell on the peace process

Tom Griffin reviews Great Hatred, Little Room: Making Peace in Northern Ireland by Jonathan Powell.

Powell's book sheds light on the political manoeuvrings of the peace process and draws out important lessons we have yet to learn.

Good Friday 10 years on: A very Blairite legacy

Robin Wilson (Belfast, Policy Analyst): Tony Blair deferred his resignation announcement until one last photo-opportunity-the renewal of devolution to Northern Ireland on May 8th 2007- even though that ensured nationalists would give Labour a bloody nose in Scotland and Wales. It was a measure of the egocentricity of the man, which he paraded on a global scale with George W Bush, though polling evidence showed that the vast majority of UK citizens believed the Blair legacy was the humanitarian disaster of Iraq rather than the 'solution' of the Irish question.

Will the UNHRC fulfill its promise?

Judith Sunderland (Milan, Human Rights Watch): This week, the United Nations Human Rights Council is holding the very first session of a new country assessment mechanism called the "Universal Periodic Review" (UPR). The United Kingdom will come under scrutiny today, April 10, as one in the first batch of sixteen countries to undergo the peer review (watch the review live here 9-12am). A serious evaluation of the UK's human rights record, that takes into account input from national and international NGOs, will go a long way to establishing the credibility of this new review process.

London: democracy in action

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): I have just come back from one of the most extraordinary political meetings I've ever been to in a long life of such events. It was the Mayoral hustings put on by London Citizens in the Methodist Central Hall, packed with well over 2,000 people. Neither the Labour Party nor the Conservative Party was mentioned by name and may just as well not have existed. The Lib-Dems and the Greens were named by their candidates but that was a sign of their marginality. The organisers put on a fantastic demonstration of politics from below, roll-calling the dozens of local organisations, schools, churches and faith communities that combined in what was both very London yet also drew upon American style populist organising and trade union solidarity. There was singing, there was a highly professional display of human causes unfolded with dignity and enjoyment. It felt genuinely representative. More on this I'm sure.

Why is Livingstone's city the most watched in the free world?

Henry Porter reports for us from last night's No2ID mayoral hustings.

Henry Porter (London, journalist): Under Ken Livingstone, London has become the most watched city in the free world; but he did not take the opportunity presented by these mayoral hustings to explain why he supports the surveillance by ANPR cameras outside congestion charging hours, the enormous increase in camera systems, or the retention of Oyster card data, which connect personal details with credit cards and travel information. Perhaps this is unsurprising since Livingstone is strongly in favour of ID cards and the National Identity Register, and he is on record as saying he wants thousands more cameras installed in the run up to the London Olympics in 2012.

Lord Tyler's democratic regionalism

Jon Bright (London, OK): It's been interesting to watch the writing coming out of the House of Lords blog, which is managing to quickly dispel my initial cynicism about the project (as someone naturally inclined to be cynical about people described as "Lords"). Despite the launch of the (admittedly very flash looking) Politics Home, I think it's this very simple Wordpress blog that has been the most interesting recent addition to the British "blogosphere." They're producing a good frequency of posts about a range of topics, from a number of different people, in a personal, open style - even responding seriously to their commenters. And the subject matter - both what Lords think, and what it is like to be one, couldn't be more perfectly suited to the blog format.

Barnett problem pushes Brown down regional garden path

Gareth Young (Lewes, CEP): During Prime Minister's Question Time on 21st November 2007 Gordon Brown misled Parliament when he claimed that the Barnett Formula was based on need. His error was highlighted at the press briefing afterwards, but just two weeks ago he did it again: