The Wardman Wire

I’m obsessed with politics, with books and newspapers, I’m abundantly and unstoppably opinionated and I love the web. I have my own blog and, with my lawyer's wig on, write Head of Legal. You’re welcome to email me, to find me on Facebook or at LinkedIn or to follow me on Twitter.

The mere absence of tights does not make a great film. Russell Crowe plays the hero of Sherwood Forest in what’s essentially a prequel to the story we all think we know. Plenty happens, and it’s all decent enough fun. Original, it’s not. The acting is all right, the effects impressive, but many ideas and scenes are clichéd and the whole thing is perhaps half an hour too long. Worse, the film has a dodgy political message straight from Fox News.

A debate has been raging on Twitter and elsewhere about the new coalition’s proposal to legislate to require a 55% Commons majority to dissolve Parliament. Quite a few people are arguing that I and others have got this wrong, and that the proposal is not so awful as it’s been painted. But I’m not satisfied – not by a long chalk. The 55% proposal remains a bad, undemocratic one, and should be opposed. None of the arguments anyone has made have persuaded me otherwise.

The new government is only a day old, and already it’s engaging in constitutional whimmery, even though its formation and existence proves the value and robustness of the constitution we have. I have no hestitation in supporting the new “No to 55%” campaign. I urge you to support it too.

Just over a year ago on this site I argued that a hung Parliament would be the best possible election result, after a Labour victory. So my total opposition to the “progressive coalition” currently being offered by Labour cannot be dismissed as narrow Labour tribalism. If by some miracle its cuts did have time to bite, it’d soon be as hated as any administration has ever been. Its opponents would have no one to vote for but the Tories – for whom I’d forecast a landslide before long, and at least a second term. A progressive coalition is a nightmare, for Labour and for all progressive or centre-left politics in Britain. I really mean it when I say it could destroy Labour. Labour supporters should oppose this dangerous wheeze. Let the Tories and LibDems make their contract if they can.