What do you mean by “out”? It seems reasonable to ask those who want Britain to leave the EU just how impenetrable would the subsequent fog be in the English Channel. Would Britain stay in the single market or cut loose entirely? The question goes unanswered. The Vote Leave campaign has turned this silence into an article of faith. A sceptic, in the true sense of the word, might think they had something to hide. As it happens, the government too has not properly considered what would happen if a disgruntled electorate backed Brexit - Philip Stephens, Financial Times
Call Me Dave wants to stop migrants claiming in-work benefits until they have been here for four years, but he's on a hiding to nothing with our so-called 'partners' in the EU. More pressing is the imperative to get British citizens off welfare and into the kind of jobs which are currently being filled by immigrants - Richard Littlejohn, Daily Mail
One of the problems of arguing that Britain is entering an era of “new politics” is that there is so little agreement about what new politics actually means. Some think it’s mainly about greater grassroots engagement. Others point to the impact of social media. Some argue it’s about newly sharpened ideological differences. Others, that it’s marked by a more inclusive public tone - Martin Kettle, The Guardian
Corbyn needs to get to grips with the mainstream media. Shunning Andrew Marr and the Sun is not a strategy that will lead to electoral success. But the Press, too, must rethink. If people are offended by Corbyn's singalong choices or dress sense, it is fair that they are reported. If his oratory leaves something to be desired, it is fair that that, too, is commented upon. But let's get this into perspective. Those are side issues; the first job of the Press is to report the news, so when a new leader makes his first important setpiece speech, it would be good if newspapers told us what he said rather than what they thought - Editor's blog: All singing from the wrong hymn sheet
Comment Awards, 2015
Yomi Adegoke: two nominations
Sathnam Sanghera: four nominations
Thursday 17 September, 2015 The Financial Times and The Times again lead the way in this year's ei Comment Awards, with eleven nominations apiece in the shortlists announced today. Sathnam Sanghera is responsible for four of those Times nominations - featuring in the media commentator, diversity, technology and individual comment piece categories. Freelance Yomi Adegoke who founded Birthday Magazine for black teenage girls, is among four writers shortlisted in two categories - in her case young commentariat and media commentator. George Monbiot of the Guardian completes the media line-up and is also nominated as science commentator and Gillian Tett of the FT is listed in both business and economics. Her colleague Janan Ganesh is shortlisted for political commentator and the big prize - commentariat of the year, where he is up against the two most recent winners David Aaronovitch (also nominated for comment piece of the year) and Caitlin Moran. SubScribe is honoured and surprised to find a place on the individual blogger shortlist, and fully expects to come third behind Barrister Blogger Matthew Scott and Stuart Forster of Go-eat-Do. You can see all the shortlists here.