POLITICALLY ANORAKED AUGUST 2016
ISSUE 1
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Theresa May - The Next ‘Iron Lady’? Corbyn Coronation? SNP Deputy Leadership Race
CONTENTS Editor’s Welcome:
Welcome to what will hopefully be the first of many editions of Politically Anoraked. The political landscape has changed immeasurably over the past 18 months so what better time to launch a fresh, exciting new publication for all you political anoraks out there! We hope you find the magazine to be both stimulating and informative. OLIVER PHILIP
In August’s Issue... • Theresa May - The Next Iron Lady? 3 • Corbyn Coronation? 4 • SNP - Deputy Leadership Race 5 • Under the Microscope 6 • Page Turners 7 • September Issue Preview 8
Theresa May - The Next ‘Iron Lady’? Comparisons have already been drawn between the new Prime Minister and her formidable predecessor. Can Mrs May shake off her “nasty party” image? There is much more to Theresa
in history to hold a Great Office of State. She would go on to become the longest-serving Home Secretary in over 50 years. During the EU referendum campaign, Mrs May kept a noticeable low-profile. She had publicly declared her support for a ‘remain’ vote but didn’t appear on any campaign platforms with David Cameron. Many commentators concluded she didn’t want to appear overly enthusiastic for ‘remain’ as to damage her leadership prospects in the eventuality of a ‘leave’ vote. David Cameron’s subsequent resignation triggered a Conservative leadership contest.
May had considerably more support amongst Conservative MPs than her leadership rival, Andrea Leadsom. Leadsom enjoyed a high-profile throughout the EU campaign during which she advocated a ‘leave’ vote. Just days after announcing her candidacy, Leadsom dropped out of the race citing lack of support. Two days earlier, Leadsom had implied that she would make a superior Prime Minister because she had children, opposed to May who is childless. Only months into May’s premiership people are asking the question: Will she be the next Thatcher?
May than a pair of leopard print kitten heels and perfectly tailored power suits. What lies beneath the polished veneer is a woman who possesses a razor-sharp political shrewdness and a steely determination to succeed. Born in 1956, Mrs May grew up rural Oxfordshire. A typically English middle-class upbringing. Her father was a Church of England vicar. She was educated in the comprehensive system and went on to study Geography at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford. In 1977, she graduated with a second class BA degree. During her time at Oxford, Theresa Brasier, as she was then known, was introduced to her future husband Philip May by contemporary Benazir Bhutto. After spells working in financial services and serving as a councillor on Merton Council, May was elected the MP for Maidenhead at the 1997 General Election. She rose quickly through the Tory ranks, becoming Party Chair in 2002. It was during her time in this brief she delivered what has been dubbed the “nasty party” speech. May recognised the party had to broaden its traditional base if it wanted to win power again. In 2010, the Conservatives entered into coalition with the Liberal Democrats. Mrs May was appointed Home Sec retary, only the fourth woman
Corbyn Coronation?
Does Owen Smith really think he can beat Jeremy Corbyn in the battle for the soul of the Labour Party? Here we go again. Another sum-
mer Labour leadership contest just a year after the last one. It has the same feeling of inevitability about it, although this time the debate has strayed into rather more sinister realms. The whole sorry episode began back in September 2015 when 66-year-old Jeremy Corbyn won a historic landslide victory in the contest to replace Ed Miliband as Labour leader. Corbyn, a consistent backbench rebel, was originally considered to be the rank outsider, nominated by colleagues such as Labour grandee Dame Margaret Beckett simply to “widen the debate”. Corbyn’s appeal was in fact more far-reaching than even he himself ever believed possible. His natural voter base was the socks and sandals brigade found at CND rallies and the like. It became clear he was appealing not just to the old Militant tendency and hard-left Trotskyists, but young left-leaning individuals disaffected with the ‘new Labour’ brand under Blair and Brown. To his critics, his management of the shadow cabinet has been lacklustre. To his supporters, those who have resigned are ‘red Tories’. Corbyn’s perceived lack of enthusiasm for the EU during the referendum campaign unsurprisingly sparked a motion of no confidence in his leadership. By this point, there were not enough Corbyn loyalists to fill all the shadow front bench roles.
After weeks of speculation in the media as to who would challenge Corbyn for the leadership, veteran MP Angela Eagle announced she was launching a bid. Welsh MP Owen Smith soon followed. After a secret ballot of the Parliamentary Labour Party it was decided Smith should stand as the ‘anyone but Corbyn’ candidate. It later transpired that Smith, a former BBC radio journalist, had dialled 999 to get a quote from police for a story. His business background in
pharmaceuticals brought further criticism of his purported socialist principles. Following widely publicised judicial wrangling about who should be eligible to vote in the contest, the two men are currently touring the country in a series of hustings. One can’t help but discern that this is a pivotal moment in the history of the labour party. All the polls suggest Corbyn is on track for another comfortable victory. If he does win, the party will surely split.
SNP Deputy Leadership Race
Angus Robertson, Tommy Sheppard, Alyn Smith and Chris McEleny have thrown their hats into the ring. With all the political upheaval
over the last couple of months you could be forgiven for not realising the SNP are conducting their own deputy leadership contest. The election was triggered when former deputy leader, Stewart Hosie MP, resigned in May this year. Hosie explained his reasons for quitting were “stress-related” and due to intense scrutiny of his private life. A tabloid newspaper had earlier printed an exposé of an affair with Westminster-based journalist Serena Cowdy. Stewart Hosie was married at the time to the Scottish Government Health Secretary, Shona Robison MSP. They have since separated. Angus Robertson is by far the runaway favourite to win the contest. He has served as the MP for Moray since 2001 and is currently the party’s
Westminster leader. Robertson was born in Wimbledon, London but grew up in Edinburgh. After obtaining a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen in 1991 he began his career in journalism. Robertson worked in Central Europe as a foreign and diplomatic correspondent for the BBC World Service. Robertson, who is fluent in German, then worked for Austrian broadcaster ORF. His wife, Jennifer Dempsie, is a former advisor to Alex Salmond. In terms of his leadership campaign, Robertson has pointed to his track record in the House of Commons. He is allowed to put two questions to the Prime Minister during PMQ’s. Tommy Sheppard has been the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East since 2015.
He was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland and is also a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. Sheppard stood unsuccessfully as the Labour Party candidate for the Bury St Edmunds constituency at the 1992 General Election. In 1994, he was appointed Assistant General Secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, a role he relinquished in 1997. Sheppard officially left the Labour Party in 2003 when he cancelled his membership subscription. He cited the Iraq War as one of the reasons for leaving the party. He has promised that local SNP branches should have more say over party policy. Outside of politics, he is wellknown as the co-founder of Edinburgh’s Stand comedy club. Alyn Smith has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2004. He came to wider public prominence when, in the wake of the Brexit vote, his speech received a standing ovation from fellow MEPs in the Brussels debating chamber. Smith has called for the SNP to “put Europe at the heart of independence”. Chris McEleny is by far the least well-known of the four candidates. He is currently the leader of the opposition group on Inverclyde Council. McEleny has stated he wishes Scotland to be an “independent socialist republic”. He is targeting the SNP grass roots. The result will be announced at conference in October.
Under the Microscope: Ruth Davidson MSP We assess the credentials of the Scottish Tory leader and the newly elected member for Edinburgh Central.
Key Facts: Name: Ruth Elizabeth Davidson D.O.B: 10/11/1978 (Age 37) Born: Edinburgh, Scotland Alma mater: Edinburgh University Previous Occupation: Journalist Current Seat: Edinburgh Central Majority: 610 Previous Seat: Glasgow (List) Leader Since: November 2011
Ruth
Davidson has made quite an impact on both the Scottish and UK political scenes since becoming leader of the Scottish Conservative Party almost five years ago. She seems to have done it all during her short political career. From taking on the likes of Boris Johnson and Andrea Leadsom in a fiery TV debate at Wembley Arena, to appearing on Have I Got News For You.
Obviously ambitious, and widely regarded as a shrewd political operator, she replaced Annabel Goldie as leader a mere six months after entering Holyrood for the first time. She quickly attracted attention in the Scottish media for her quick wit and inimitable style at FMQ’s. Indeed, she was the first female leader of a political party in the UK to be openly gay.
Her passionate defence of the Union during the 2014 independence referendum campaign won her more plaudits and cemented her position as a UK-wide political player. Labour’s internal strife in the run-up to the 2016 Scottish Parliament election, combined with her personal pitch to voters offering a ‘strong opposition’ secured the best result for the Tories since devolution.
Page Turners... Had enough summer reading? Here are some new releases that have caught our attention.
Unleashing Demons - The Inside Story of the EU Referendum
Coalition - The Inside Story of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Government
Craig Oliver Released 6 Oct 16 RRP ÂŁ25.00
David Laws Released 22 Mar 16 RRP ÂŁ25.00
Craig Oliver served as Downing Street Director of Communications from 201116. Oliver previously worked for the BBC where he edited both the BBC News at Six and the BBC News at Ten.
David Laws served as Minister of State for Schools from 2012-15. Laws was a key negotiator for the Liberal Democrats during initial coalition talks in 2010. He lost his Yeovil seat at the 2015 election.
September Issue Preview... At Politically Anoraked we are dedicated to bringing you the most up to date current affairs content from the heart of Westminster.
In September’s Issue... • The Most Right-Wing Cabinet in Decades? • Labour Leadership Result Analysis • Indyref 2? • BREXIT Update • Under the Microscope - Amber Rudd MP • Page Turners - Autobiography Special • October Issue Preview Thanks for reading...
POLITICALLY ANORAKED