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The commentators                    18-02-15

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...on UK politics

David Cameron sees that a EU referendum is inevitable. Ed Miliband sees it is a nightmare policy that solves nothing. Both can be right. It would defer a few problems while spawning new ones like Hydra’s heads. It would be a monster beyond the control of its creator, roaming the political landscape, spitting poison into debate, ravaging the government’s agenda.
- Rafael Behr, The Guardian

The paucity of aspirations of those who'd have us become Littler Britain or Greater Norway would be duly exposed in a referendum campaign. Two-thirds of the British public want Britain to lead in Europe by demonstrably working together with its allies. Making the case for EU membership will require leadership, reform and a values-led campaign that reaches hearts as well as minds. The fight will be epic but the pro-British arguments can and will prevail.
- Peter Wilding, Daily Telegraph

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There has been celebration today of the recommendation that a judge should approve applications relating to journalists - but most reports have omitted the caveat in the second half of the sentence from their intros. Here it is in full (my underscore):
"Judicial authorisation must be obtained in cases where communications data is sought to determine the source of journalistic information."
Even under the commission's formula, journalists could still have their phone and email records examined by the police on the say-so of a senior officer for other purposes...And why shouldn't they? 
No similar protection is proposed for lawyers, doctors, priests and their confidential dealings with clients, patients or parishioners. Perhaps their respective trade journals should kick up a fuss as Press Gazette did.
And how about the other half-million people whose personal data are scrutinised every year? 
Protection for sources, not journalists

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When it comes to welfare reform, we’ve heard it all before, any number of times. This time round, however, although scepticism of politicians’ promises should always be the watchword, it does seem plausible that David Cameron’s are worth more than hot air.
- Stephen Pollard, Daily Express

Ed Miliband has developed a reputation of late for having a blind spot when it comes to Britain’s businesses. But if the Labour leader’s failure to mention the deficit at his party conference was the product of forgetfulness, Monday’s unveiling of his “better plan” for the economy was something much worse: a lack of understanding of how business works.
- Karan Bilimoria, The Times

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Comment digest courtesy of
Editorial Intelligence

February 17
UK politics
February 16
Copenhagen shootings

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February 13
UK politics
February 12
UK politics
February 11
UK politics
February 10
UK politics
February 9
Politics

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February 6
UK politics
February 5
Isis atrocity
February 4
UK politics
February 3
UK politics
February 2
UK politics

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January 30
Rape law
January 29
UK politics
January 28
UK politics
January 27
Greece
January 26
UK politics

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January 23
UK politics
January 22
Chilcot inquiry
January 21
Page Three
January 20
Anti-semitism and Islam
January 19
Religion and freedom

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January 16
World politics
January 15
Election debates
January 14
Charlie Hebdo
January 13
Charlie Hebdo
January 12
Charlie Hebdo

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January 9
Charlie Hebdo
January 8
Charlie Hebdo
January 7
UK politics
January 6
UK politics
January 5 
UK politics

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For EI daily digests from June to December 2014 please click here

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