BRITISH politics is a mess. David Cameron’s Conservatives don’t look comfortable in power. 

An emboldened David Cameron moved to take Britain in a new right-wing direction as the defeated Labour Party turned in on itself for going too far left in the election campaign.

Rebekah Brooks has denied any knowledge of phone hacking while she was editor of the News of the World, insisting it was impossible for her to know the source of every story that appeared in the tabloid.

The Quarry

Peter Mandelson said today that the only thing Margaret Thatcher ever told him was that the Irish were “all liars” and not to be trusted.

Peter Mandelson said today that the only thing Margaret Thatcher ever told him was that the Irish were “all liars” and not to be trusted.

Britain's Justice Leveson today gave his strongest indication of the measures he believes are needed to tackle problems in the UK Press in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.

Labour today denied it had neglected northern voters as the inquest into George Galloway’s sensational by-election victory in Bradford West began.

WHEN will people stop blaming Margaret Thatcher for all the ills of the world?

Ireland’s financial crisis was partly caused by its decision to join the euro, David Cameron said today.

Ed Miliband today declared the New Labour era over, but insisted the party would not embark on a “lurch to the left” under his leadership.

TONY BLAIR risked plunging the Labour leadership contest into civil war yesterday by issuing a warning to the party not to drift to the left.

Tony Blair’s memoirs went on sale today, laying bare the divisions at the top of the Labour Party and focusing attention on his relationship with “maddening” Gordon Brown.

The battle for the British Labour leadership sparked into life today, as one of the architects of New Labour, Peter Mandelson, warned victory for Ed Miliband could take the party into an “electoral cul-de-sac”.

THE Which Brian Project? continues to evolve and fascinate.

Former British home secretary Alan Johnson today ruled himself out as a contender for the Labour leadership, announcing he will back David Miliband in the upcoming contest to succeed Gordon Brown.

GORDON BROWN’S crown as leader of the British Labour Party may be crumpled and tarnished but it is still highly coveted.

HE became Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party without an election, and now Gordon Brown has lost his job after failing in the biggest electoral test of his life.

AND so they’re off. The people of Britain, as long expected, are taking a trip to the polls on May 6.

Peter Mandelson called today for new leadership in Europe to give the EU a key role in the world.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown suffered a devastating blow today when Labour succumbed to one of the biggest by-election upsets in political history.

In the UK one of the architects of New Labour, Peter Mandelson, has warned that Prime Minister Gordon Brown risks losing power unless he identifies himself more clearly with the principles which won Tony Blair three general elections.

Here is the full text of Boris Johnson’s acceptance speech after winning election to the office of Mayor of London:

Ken Livingstone today welcomed support he has received from former adversaries Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell in his fight to retain the London mayoralty.

ANYONE who has read Alistair Campbell’s eponymous account of the Blair years knows Tony Blair is already in the running for sainthood, if only for his unremitting kindness to and patience with Campbell and the other infighting inadequates who surrounded him during his leadership of New Labour.

British Chancellor Gordon Brown has accepted his nomination for the Labour leadership, saying he was "truly humbled" by the level of support from his parliamentary colleagues.

I WAS interested in Diarmaid Ferriter’s column arguing for a merger between the Labour Party and Fine Gael (Irish Examiner, December 28).

Former US President Bill Clinton today paid tribute to Tony Blair and congratulated the British government on its “stunning success” in running the country.

THE decision of 33 Afghans to embark on a hunger strike in Dublin rather than face deportation highlights the grim plight of asylum seekers in contemporary Ireland — and throughout fortress Europe.

IF YOU haven’t heard of Portia Simpson-Miller, that’s your loss. She was elected this week as the first female prime minister of Jamaica.

THE Scottish domination of New Labour in the UK (evident surely to even the most casual observer of the political scene) naturally raises the question as to who and where are the representatives of the English in the House of Commons.

Paul O’Brien

Friends of Mo Mowlam have revealed that the former Northern Secretary has suffered another deterioration in her health at a hospice in Canterbury.

FEW politicians resign from Cabinet on grounds of principle. Most are only proved right about their issue of principle after their deaths.

ENOCH POWELL came up with some nasty stuff during his long political career. But there were a few diamonds on the dungheap. The best was his observation that all political careers end in failure.

THE British general election campaign has reached the half way point and is now beginning to heat up.

Former Conservative minister Robert Jackson tonight announced he was defecting to the British Labour Party.

MPs will be urged in Westminster today to oppose legislation affecting an inquiry into the controversial murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane.

The family of murdered Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane today threatened to boycott an inquiry into his death after meeting Tony Blair.

The aspirin-styled bar stools, towering medical cabinets, DNA-themed sculptures and molecule inspired ashtrays which lined Damien Hirst’s famed, but short-lived, London restaurant Pharmacy sold tonight for £11.1m (€15.9m) at auction.

THERE are some questions for which there are no answers. Is there life after death? How big is the universe? What happened to Lord Lucan? What’s the difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael?

Tony Blair today warned left-wingers not to jeopardise the dream of an historic third Labour term.