News about Neil Kinnock

According to a damning survey, voters no longer see the Tories as the party of defence. According to the Mail's poll, Labour is more trusted than his party on national security and defense. Following years of the military being 'hollowed out,' more people now think the Tories are cutting defense spending rather than raising it. The sad results will shock Downing Street as they are a long cry from a decade ago, when the Tories enjoyed double-digit leads over Labour in polls. According to seven out of ten people, it would become a key battleground in the race, with seven out of ten saying that the parties' position on defense would influence how they vote.

The Labour Party's use of D:Ream's Things Can Only Get Better portrayed the country's mood for Tony Blair's resurgent 1997 election bid. For several, the song now sticks in the throat. At the 2008 Labour Party conference, Gordon Brown's use of Sit Down angered singer Tim Booth, who said it was about people and spirit rather than repairing political divisions.' In a video for Tracey Ullman's My Guy, the Labour leader gazed longingly into the eyes of a girl half his age.

Vaughan Gething won the Welsh Labour leadership race today by 51.7 percent, setting the tone for him to become Wales' first black First Minister next week. In his victory address, Prime Minister Mark Drakeford paid tribute to the country during the pandemic, saying he had planned to resign last year. However, Mr Gething, who turned 50 on Saturday, acknowledged the challenges that a Wales battling record waits and response times in healthcare and an economy plagued by heavy industry's decline, the gradual transition to green steel, and threats of strikes against mass redundancies.

Labour has a lot to celebrate following its stunning by-election victories in Wellingborough and Kingswood last week. But there's more to remember. Take this sobering fact: there have been only six Labour Prime Ministers in British history. If you want, call me a party pooper, but the General Election will be very different.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., the President of the United States, is' a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.' Well, everyone knew that. However, because this was the explanation given in a legal report for failing to sue the President for mishandling classified information, it has shattered the campaign to re-elect Biden more than if the special counsel had requested the lawsuit against the 81-year-old in the White House.

Derek Draper's name became synonymous with the Coronavirus pandemic's horrific toll in his last years. With Covid-19, the former 'ruthless political strategist' spent more than a year in hospital beginning in early 2020 and eventually not recovering. However, it was as a central New Labour figure that he was remembered by his former colleagues after he died at the age of 56 last month. The respect shown today by the presence of Labour's leading lights in the 1997 election at Primrose Hill, north London, was evident. Derek, who was instrumental in Labour's victory over John Major's Conservative government, was honoured today by figures led by former Prime Minister Tony Blair (inset today with wife Cherie). The New Labour spin doctor attained a slew of influence in the 1990s but he was best known for his involvement in the 'lobbygate' scandal. He began working as a researcher for Blairite Peter Mandelson, who attended his funeral. Derek joined GPC Market Access in 1996 and created Progress with Liam Byrne, a former minister who went on to become an MP. Mr Draper, 1998 (left) with Labour colleagues Neil Kinnock, John Prescott, and Peter Mandelson in the early 1990s (top right); with his wife during her time on I'm a Celebrity in 2019.

This week Bel advises a reader who fears her marriage is in trouble

Mr Draper, who died of long-term coronavirus, was married to television presenter Kate Garraway, and was one of Britain's most prominent media couples. Sir Tony was one of the leading New Labour figures to pay tributes to Mr Draper, who served with Blairite Lord Mandelson and established the Progress group with Liam Byrne, who went on to become an MP. He called him a "tough, sometimes ruthless strategist" and a "brilliant advisor," but he also said he was a "loving, compassionate, and good natured man." Gordon Brown, another former Prime Minister, wrote on social media: "So sad that after such a long fight, Derek Draper has lost his life as a result of Covid'.' 'I will remember him as brilliant, inventive, and multitalented,' and our thoughts are with Kate, Darcey, and Billy.' Mr Draper was 'a big character,' according to Alastair Campbell, a fellow influential New Labour figure of the 1990s. Mr Draper (left); with Labour colleagues Neil Kinnock, John Prescott, and Peter Mandelson in the early 1990s (top right); with his wife during her time on I'm a Celebrity in 2019.

MAIL COMMENT: Samuel Beckett, the nigma and enigmatic Irish playwright, called to announce on the coming year, but they say no one was happy.' Zero.' He probably knew that optimism was a risky strategy at the best of times as a wartime French Resistance courier and lifelong cricket fan. Can we, should we say the same for 2024? We certainly don't have that luxury. Thousands of us will have the ability to influence events in the coming year, a major source of pride due to the tense choice between two fundamentally different branches of government, which we will be able to make at the ballot box. In fact, this year is especially pivotal for the English-speaking world, as both Britain and the United States face high-stakes general elections. This hasn't happened since 1992, when John Major pulled off his surprise defeat of Neil Kinnock in the same year that Bill Clinton denied George Bush senior the second term.

Baroness Kinnock, the wife of former Prime Minister Neil Kinnock's wife, is dying in Golders Green, north London. The two recent residents of Downing Street, as well as Sir Keir, Lord Mandelson, and a slew of current and former Labour politicians were in attendance. Baroness Kinnock served as an MEP for more than 15 years before deciding on a life peerage in 2009 when Mr Brown appointed her Minister for Europe. The 79-year-old died peacefully in her sleep earlier this month, with her husband by her side. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease six years ago.

MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: This strain has been made even more significant by recent events. The Covid pandemic has loomed over the last few years like a shadow. It was not as bad as a true war, thank heaven, but it did have many of the characteristics of such a disaster. Normal life was dramatically altered as innocent people died, treasured traditions, and freedoms were lost in favour of the greater good.

Many Labour leaders have been required to combat radical insurgents in their ranks. Michael Foot, the poor old man, spent as much time fighting Bennites as he did Margaret Thatcher, after being named after firebrand Labour MP Tony Benn. Neil Kinnock locked horns with Militant, the Trotskyist sect that belonged to Labour in the 1980s, resembles a carbuncle to Labour. Tony Blair went to war with "the dinosaurs," when he referred to Old Labour models spouting 1970s imagery. Sir Keir Starmer (left) now faces possibly the youngest Lefty cult ever to rise in the Labour Party, the Sourdough Socialists (Jeremy Corbyn correct). They are not like old socialists. The donkey jackets and beige suits that were the uniform of yesteryear's radicals are gone.

Reeves wanted to have her thoughts on 'The Women Who Made Modern Economics,' a Basic Books publication, in the hopes of establishing her credentials for office and the important role women play in economic theory and practice. In compiling her volume, Reeves and her researchers extracted passages from Wikipedia, many of which were biographical. We're all blunders. One may have hoped for a higher standard from a former Bank of England official endorsed by a former Governor Mark Carney.

MATTHEW GOODWIN: It's often said that party conferences are not what they were not. However, they do put politicians under the media's harsh light and are also able to elect or depose leaders. Who can forget the disintegrating platform set and coughing fits that turned Theresa May's car-crash speech in 2017 into a symbol of her collapsing administration?Or the humiliation of Neil Kinnock when he tripped in his eagerness to escape the incoming tide during a stroll on Brighton beach in 1983 and fell into the surf? In comparison, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher's bravura conference appearances helped solidify their grip on power.

After Wales' Rugby World Cup campaign came to an end, Eddie Jones has been compared to former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock. Warren Gatland's men beat the Wallabies 40-6 in Lyon on Sunday night, condemning the former to their highest loss in Rugby World Cup history and effectively baning them from the competition. Australia is still alive, but it is unlikely that Australia would beat Portugal on Sunday and hope Fiji loses against both Portugal and Georgia.

A Harvard Law School graduate has accused President Joe Biden of a previously unprovoked instance of plagiarism relating to a journal article he wrote in 2000. In a thread on X this week, Roger Severino, a vice president at the Heritage Foundation, made the allegations, as well as an interview with Fox News on Thursday night. Severino said that, as a law student, he was working as a junior editor at the Harvard Journal on Legislation when he discovered several instances of plagiarism in an essay published by Biden defending the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Biden has been accused of plagiarism several times throughout his career, most notably during 1988 Democratic presidential primary debate when he liberally quoted quotes from British politician Neil Kinnock.

LEO MCKINSTRY: In his most public address as Labour leader, Neil Kinnock launched a brutal assault on Liverpool's election in 1985 by the extreme Left-wing Militant Tendency. His ferocious verbal assault denounced the municipal authorities for their "dogma" attachment, which had resulted in the 'grotesque chaos of a Labour Council's hiring taxis to scuttle around the city to provide redundancy notices to its own employees.' Almost 40 years ago, Labour-run Birmingham, Europe's biggest municipal authority, has effectively filed for bankruptcy due to the country's largest municipal authority, which has effectively filed for bankruptcy due to its colossal debts. The city's fragile financial situation is a brutal indictment of the city's shambolic mismanagement, reckless disregard for public funds, and inability to comprehend the actual objectives. This empire of bureaucratic waste and incompetence has ended up punishing their residents rather than serving them. Birmingham used to be emblematic of British innovation and the tenacity of local democracy.

SARAH VINE: I've lived in the capital for three decades and in much rougher areas than Chiswick. And I can safely say that I've never felt so anxious. I'm curious how many people feel the same. How much longer will we put up with it before people start leaving in droves? If Mayor Sadiq Khan and the police don't do something soon, this stunning, thriving capital city will look nothing more than a gritty playground for the violent criminals who, increasingly, prowl our streets unchecked.

It's impossible to avoid being excited about the by-election results. There is always an urge to see victories and losses, assuaging that the country's political landscape is about to change dramatically. This is seldom the case, according to experience. In fact, if one lesson can be learned from the three polls, it is that the electorate has hardly been so febrile. Everything is to play for. It's of course impossible to deny that the Tory victories, both in Selby, were crushing, as well as the Liberal Democrats in Somerton. Majorities that seemed to be unable to be weakened by colossal swings were decimated. People are understandably concerned about the cost of living, mortgage rates, strikes, and lengthy NHS waiting lists. After a turbulent year, they are worried that the government has few, if any, answers to the country's challenges.

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: The launch of Labour's green revolution in Edinburgh got off to a rocky start when the eco-friendly, hydrogen-powered bus that was booked to ferry journalists to Keir Starmer's press conference failed to turn up. No explanation was given and the vehicle was hurriedly replaced by a planet-destroying diesel, which promptly took the wrong turn after leaving the station. The driver decided to go west toward Glasgow rather than east to Leith. Fortunately, Scottish Daily Mail reporter Tom Eden was able to lead him in the right direction. Cue chuckles about the 'another Labour U-turn.' This was not the first time a Labour leader was left red-faced on the launchpad. I was one of the Press Pack covering Neil Kinnock's General Election campaign in 1987. Labour had hired a plane, a long prop-driven DC-3 that had been stranded after World War II, to carry us around the region.

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: The Blitz spirit, as we discovered during the pandemic, is more myth than memory now. As Covid struck, a world that had defied the Luftwaffe's bombs remained indoors, baked sourdough. . . And now, is itching to be out. In lieu, we've now become a world that harks back to the 1970s' power cut and miners' strike. If you think this is bad,' we suggest, you should have been around 50 years ago, with cold soup for supper, and homework by candlelight.' It's no wonder that we've become so defeated. I'm not sure what it'll be like in another half of a century, when Generation Z is collecting their pensions and getting nostalgic about the 2020 lockdown, but I don't like to worry. A number of celebrities and former politicians were musing on the 'Blackouts Of '74: When Britain Went Dark (Ch5).

Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure over a seven-figure sum earned by Just Stop Oil founder Dale Vince, according to Sir Keir Starmer. If Labour wins the general election, it will declare plans to ban future North Sea oil and gas exploration, which mirrors the main demand of Just Stop Oil. Last night, the green group, which has been blocking roads and disrupting major events around the country, decided against Labour's Public Order Act, which has made it impossible for them to cripple the roads. Sir Keir has previously supported tough sentences for protesters blocking highways, but the party has not confirmed that if it were to repeal the law. Just Stop Oil put pressure on him last night to change his position in a tweet.

LEO McKINSTRY (Kingston): Michael Heseltine, a Tory king, once described a verbose and vacillating Neil Kinnock as "not just a windbag but also a windsock." The description is equally appropriate for new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, (left), whose awkward speaking style is matched by his apparent inability to express solidarity with every fashionable cause. The trait has been highlighted this week by revelations that the Starmaker's party has received no less than £1.5 million from Dale Vince, the environmental entrepreneur (inset). Vince is also a major supporter of the green protest group Just Stop Oil, a group of self-indulgent attention seekers who have spread sarcastic taunt on the average law-abiding citizens of the country and have wreaked havoc on the public, as well as real harm to our economy. In recent days, its members have caused mayhem at the Chelsea Flower Show, the Premiership rugby final at Twickenham and the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, as well as bringing traffic to a halt in central London from their sit-down or slow-walk demonstrations.

Sir Keir Starmer sparked suspicions by announcing a Labour General Election on the back of the municipal council election's triumph, harking back to Neil Kinnock's historic 1992 rally boast. Sir Keir's 'boasting' tone was also compared by a senior Labour backbencher to Tony Blair's warnings against complacency in the run-up to his landslide 1997 victory.