Author Archives: Polly Toynbee
Ed Miliband is right: responsible capitalism matters
Labour’s values count even more in hard times. David Cameron has to agree: this could be a tipping point for fat cat BritainPolitical ideas shift slowly, until a tipping point sets off an avalanche. For years many of us have pointed to obscene top pay … Continue reading
How the badly maimed BBC can stand up to parasitic Sky | Polly Toynbee
Glorious Great Expectations shows why Labour must help the BBC recoup millions from MurdochThe BBC wins again. In the Christmas ratings war, the BBC trounced the competition as it always does. A pointless silly-season contest, but it’s a national remin… Continue reading
George Osborne’s every blow falls on those with less not more | Polly Toynbee
With his autumn statement, the chancellor has declared class war: a Tory assault on the public sector and the poorClass war, generation war, war against women, war between the regions: George Osborne’s autumn statement blatantly declares itself for the… Continue reading
Lloyds top vacancy is a chance to reshape banking | Polly Toynbee
António Horta-Osório’s successor could make Lloyds a beacon of good banking by re-localising and supporting small businessA vacancy arises at the top of a bank we effectively own. Shares fell 5% on the news that Lloyds chief executive António Horta-… Continue reading
Vindication for Ed Miliband is in the air | Polly Toynbee
David Cameron may now surf the zeitgeist of fairness, but Labour is in a stronger position than it realisesPolitics grips its followers but it’s not necessarily good for soul, sanity or temper. I’m about to take time out for a couple of months, so it’s… Continue reading
Executive pay soars while the young poor face freefall. Where is Labour? | Polly Toynbee
As the income gap yawns wider and the full blast of cuts hits home, those left behind will find others to voice their angerThe 25th anniversary of the City’s Big Bang was marked by an extraordinarily apt set of events this week. A wealth of ironies tum… Continue reading
This Tory rebellion over Europe tells us nothing we don’t already know | Polly Toynbee
Cameron was in no peril from the Euro-fanatics once Labour pledged to vote for the truth – being in Europe is our destinyThe neighbours’ house is on fire and a high wind is blowing the flames our way. Do we rush for our hoses and offer to help? No we… Continue reading
In the City and Wall Street protest has occupied the mainstream | Polly Toynbee
Crazy anti-capitalism outside St Paul’s? Hardly. Many would support Occupy London’s principles, which shame LabourYou think the great global protest in a hundred cities round the world this weekend had no effect? Take a look at Monday’s Financial Times… Continue reading
Public sector workers need a plan C | Polly Toynbee
The shocking total of public jobs lost this year shows the government has put political calculation before livelihoodsThe number of public sector jobs lost since April is already five times greater than projected for the whole year. The Chartered Insti… Continue reading
Welfare cuts: Cameron’s problem is that people are nicer than he thinks | Polly Toynbee
When these welfare changes come into force, their savage effect will be seen – and then the public mood will turnAsk who deserves support from the state and people choose disabled children first, along with cancer sufferers. How inept to target… Continue reading »