Guy Aitchison

Guy Aitchison is a Lecturer in Politics and International Studies at Loughborough University. He is a political theorist with interests in human rights, political resistance and migration. You can follow him @GuyAitchison.

Big pimpin' at the Tory conference

I had my attention drawn this morning to a blog post by Jerry Hayes relating how, when he was a Conservative MP, he used to be "pimped" out

By Guy Aitchison

/ 26 Aug 2010

A radical idea for party funding reform: one-person-one-card

The disclosure by the Electoral Commission in the UK of donations to the political parties has revived age old questions about party funding reform. Here's one idea for reform that would strengthen citizens' control over the political process and reduce the influence of big money.

By Guy Aitchison

/ 24 Aug 2010

The slow death of the "Westminster model"

Patrick Dunleavy has another fascinating post up on the LSE Politics and Policy blog in which he examines the future of the "Westminster model" in light of the recent Australian election which delivered a hung parliament in which neither Labour nor the Liberal-National coalition can form a majorit

By Guy Aitchison

/ 24 Aug 2010

Sleeping with the Enemy as the "No" campaign shapes up

The news that Matthew Elliot, the chief exec of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, is to head the “No” campaign in the AV referendum has been greeted with glee by Tory bloggers who have heaped praise and superlatives on his campaigning skills. For those on the left, who are considering joining the anti-refo

By Guy Aitchison

/ 23 Aug 2010

Help us stop £1,000 billion benefit scroungers

Following David Cameron's promise of a crackdown on benefit "fraud", a revolting campaign has been launched in the Sun against "scroungers" and "cheats". Isn't it time for a parallel campaign against corporate fraudsters?

By Guy Aitchison

/ 13 Aug 2010

Posters to win the AV referendum - the best so far

We've had a fantastic response to our call for poster ideas to fight the "Yes" campaign on AV - good designs, along with some clever slogans that put Tom Harris's hypocritical effort for the "Noes" in the shade.

By Guy Aitchison

/ 30 Jul 2010

Tomlinson protest outside the DPP

There is currently a picketing action taking place outside the offices of the director of public prosecutions. Protesters are demanding Keir Starmer come out and explain the disgraceful decision not

By Guy Aitchison

/ 30 Jul 2010

Trinity Mirror cuts and the crisis in media

An exchange between a Cardiff academic and the editor of South Wales's Western Mail raises fascinating questions about how newspapers should respond to market pressures and how professional journalism can be protected when the industry is in crisis.

By Guy Aitchison

/ 21 Jul 2010

Wanted: Posters to win the "Yes" campaign

The AV referendum campaign has begun in earnest. Labour MP Tom Harris – one of the loudest opponents of reform - has produced this poster: As predicted, the message is very

By Guy Aitchison

/ 20 Jul 2010

Bradford civil liberties flashmob

Just came across this vid of a great song and dance flashmob in Bradford city centre. It gently pokes fun at the idiotic counter-terror laws used by police to stop

By Guy Aitchison

/ 18 Jul 2010

A power revolution? Clegg sets out his reform agenda

Despite describing his package of reforms as a “power revolution”, at times Clegg seemed to want to play down any hint of “radicalism” in changes that very much “go with the grain of debates” of British democracy, speaking to the Political and Constitutional Reform committee today.

By Guy Aitchison

/ 15 Jul 2010

Government launches review of anti-terror laws

Home Secretary Theresa May has announced a review of counter-terror laws that would, she said, reverse the "substantial erosion of civil liberties" under Labour. She told the Commons

By Guy Aitchison

/ 14 Jul 2010