Amy Mollett, Avery Hancock and Paul Rainford take a look at the week in political blogging.
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th January
Sunder Katwala at Left Foot Forward looks at changing attitudes to ‘fair cuts’.
Political Betting asks whether the Oldham and Saddleworth by-election could reverse Ed Miliband’s ratings slump.
Liberal Conspiracy investigates violent rhetoric in US political culture, after the attempted assassination of Gabrielle Giffords.
As this year will see the first free schools open ,Tribune covers a survey of 1,021 parents by YouGov for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in which 73 per cent were either against or not sure about Michael Gove’s free schools strategy.
Monday 10th January
Thetorydiary considers three opinion surveys from the weekend which all point to a rejection of a Lib-Con coalition at the next election, while Left Foot Forward notes that the government will be ‘judged by their actions’ on the issues of bankers’ bonuses and bonus taxes.
Liberal Conspiracy believes that a reduction in employment rights will not lead to a boost in employment.
Dave Hill shines a light on the economics of selling London to the world.
Tuesday 11th January
The Adam Smith Institute Blog supports including and expanding Labour’s 6 Month Offer programme in the Coalition’s plans to reduce unemployment.
Guido Fawkes says ‘No! No! No!’ to the new Europe Bill which opens up questions about how much control the parliament gives to the EU and how much it gives the UK’s judiciary. Nick Robinson finds the discussion on limiting ‘wiggle room’ has actually frightened Eurosceptics
The Lib Dems have been dealt a blow by the Tories’ refusal to curb bank bonuses; Staggers reminds us of Osborne’s tough words on the issue while in opposition.
Harry’s place finds that support for AV is falling but is unsurprised that voters are not signing on to Nick Clegg’s ‘pet project,’ given Labour’s edge in the Oldham and Saddleworth by-elections.
Next Left ponders whether the Commons can expel ‘errant MPs’ like Eric Illsley even if he does not resign.
Wednesday 12th January
Mack Pack digs deeper into the troubled relationship between the Freedom of Information Act and the royal family.
In an interview with Staggers Julian Assange declares China, rather than the US, the ‘technological enemy” of WikiLeaks
The first PMQs of the new year was a draw, according to Ian Martin. Bankers’ bonuses were the main issue of contention.
Liberal Bureaucracy updates on the Treasury’s PAYE fiasco and what happened next, and the key facts from the IFS’ report on the impact of Iain Duncan Smith’s Universal Tax Credit are available on Westminster blog.
Thursday 13th January
Left Foot Forward reports that three quarters of English pupils face a funding cut as Liberal Conspiracy argues that Cameron’s job creation claims are questionable.
As concerns continue to mount over Alan Johnson’s suitability for the shadow chancellor role, Ed Miliband distances himself from Ed Balls’ economic strategy.
The TUC wonders why the DWP is not worried about disincentivising second earners from work.
The Liberal Democrat Voice blogs on the PCC’s probe into The Telegraph’s undercover sting on Liberal Democrat MPs, and The Coffee House comments on the death of the Liberal Democrats.
Next Left analyses the battle to win the electoral support of middle Britain – or ‘alarm clock Britain’ as Nick Clegg would have it.
Friday 14th January
Keynesian Liberal unpicks the Oldham and Saddleworth by-election result for the Liberal Democrats, as Next Left attempts to give further perspective and The Coffee House offers its own reflections.
Michael White looks at what the by-election result means for the respective party leaders and Liberal Conspiracy investigates Ed Miliband’s battle with the media over the narrative of his leadership.
Thetorydiary calls for an end to chummy ‘rose garden’ politics in the coalition as Baroness Warsi takes on the Tory right.
Dave Hill blogs on the politics of tube strikes and Robert Peston takes a look at the government’s Plan B in dealing with industrial action.
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