As the Prime Minister attempted to make the issue seem like a constitutional crisis surrounding the powers of the House of Lords at PMQs, Jeremy Corbyn brought him back to reality. This is not a crisis concerning the process of politics, or a crisis concerning parliamentary privilege. Instead this is, quite simply, a crisis for millions of hard-working families up and down this country who could be set to lose thousands of pounds in April 2016 - Liam Young, The Independent
The government has learnt this week that cuts to the tax credits of the working classes are unpopular, but middle-class wrath is the wrath it really fears. Because the middle classes turn out to vote and they know how to lobby - Tim Montgomerie, The Times
Even if the Lords is a better place than it was 20 years ago – and in 1997, let us not forget, there were nearly 500 Tory peers, as against 200 representing Labour - it remains a ludicrous affront to the most basic ideas of democracy and accountability. Indeed, the fact that the Lords has a higher idea of itself than it did when it was full of hereditary peers and has therefore become more assertive has only highlighted its absurdity all the more - John Harris, 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.