Peter Riddell is a leading political commentator. He writes mainly about British politics and has published several books on the subject en-uk Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:37:29 GMT Copyright 2007 Times Newspapers Ltd. custserv@timesonline.co.uk http://www.timesonline.co.uk Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:33:41 GMT Newspapers 144 21 http://www.timesonline.co.uk http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,116979,00.gif Peter Riddell: Commentary Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-19T12:59:22Z The Queen’s Speech was both ephemeral and a missed opportunity, as well as being, paradoxically, very revealing about the Brown Government’s thinking. Most of the measures will deservedly soon be forgotten and will have little influence on the election compared with what was not mentioned: specific measures to reduce the budget deficit and sorting out the parliamentary expenses row. Peter Riddell, Political Briefing Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-12T10:27:05Z Reforming Parliament involves a lot more than just cleaning up politics — it also means showing that our MPs are effective. That is why Tony Wright’s committee on Commons matters is a first, important step towards adjusting the balance of power between the legislature, the executive and the voters. Peter Riddell: Commentary Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-10T10:14:15Z A hung Parliament is a rarity at Westminster but the norm in many other democracies. Our first-past-the-post electoral system tends to produce outright victors and that fosters a winner-takes-all political culture. Peter Riddell: Political Briefing Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-04T11:13:58Z The main party leaders are too eager to close down the MPs’ expenses row. Their unanimity yesterday that the Kelly report should be accepted “in full” is misleading. Their motive, to show that the political class recognises the urgency of putting its house in order, is correct. And so is the implicit warning that MPs should not seek to unravel Kelly. Peter Riddell: Political Briefing Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-04T01:14:08Z David Cameron has always presented himself as a “pretty straightforward sort of person” in the Tony Blair mould of the mid-1990s. Now, he needs to deploy the more devious political skills of the two Harolds of the 1960s — Macmillan and Wilson — in trying to reconcile incompatible objectives.