Onwards to Gorton with a Wounded Leader
12/02/2026
Against the continuing fallout of the massive Epstein scandal, Jim assesses how it will play in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton by election
A thoroughly depressing year
23/12/2025
Jim is not in the festive spirit as he gives 2025 the thumbs down with little sign of optimism for the New Year.
The Dangers of Overreaching
01/10/2025
Jim identifies three examples of potential overreach by politicians in recent weeks. Nigel Farage on right to remain,Andy Burnham’s leadership ambitions and the Prime Minister’s attack on Reform UK.
PLAYING A PEAKY BLINDER!
18/09/2025
A sense of gloom about the economic prospects is not shared by the West Midlands. That’s Jim’s conclusion having attended two great Downtown events in the last week.
Budget Delay Bad for the Economy
04/09/2025
Jim thinks the late budget on Nov 26th will be bad for business. He also comments on the crisis facing Angela Rayner and the radical new leader of the Green Party.
ONE YEAR TO GET IT RIGHT. THE TICKING CLOCK.
09/07/2025
Jim has a gloomy view about the government’s ability to quickly turn
around its fortunes. He also reflects on the death of Lord Tebbit.
Southern Powerhouse?
30/01/2025
Jim worries that the Chancellor is relying on the south of England too much in her dash for growth.
OFF TO THE RIGHT WING WILDERNESS!
10/10/2024
Jim thinks Tory MPs have made a bad mistake in offering two right
wingers to Conservative members who will vote for their next leader in
the coming weeks
Old lady not coming to rescue
20/06/2024
The Bank of England won’t save the Tories, and with a betting scandal now hammering the final nail in their coffin, Jim’s blog includes the first part of a survey of NW seats.
The long and, not so long, goodbyes
30/05/2024
Jim reports on the mad scramble of MPs quitting whilst others seek selection as the consequences of Rishi Sunak’s rush to the polls play out.
Huge Gamble
23/05/2024
In his latest blog, Jim thinks the Prime Minister has taken a huge gamble in calling a General Election whilst the polls remain so strongly against him.
Smart politics or green cowardice?
21/09/2023
The Prime Minister’s U turn on green policies might be pragmatic politics, but Jim argues its bad for business craving certainty and the poor old planet.