BU Now » British Parliament

Cameron new British P.M.

Dick Taffe — Tue, 11 May 2010 23:20:44 +0000

Conservative Party leader David Cameron is the new British Prime Minister – at 43, the youngest in nearly 200 years. Cameron took over after Labour Party leader Gordon Brown resigned, his party having been unable to form a coalition government with the smaller Liberal Democrat party after none of the three won a Parliamentary majority in last week’s voting. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective,” says the obvious pairing politically would have been with Labour and Liberal Democrats, but that was being viewed as a coalition of the losers because the Conservatives actually won more seats.

“So it will be the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. It’s hard to see this partnership lasting long. This is an implausible coalition.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Brit elections stalemated

Dick Taffe — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:30:12 +0000

And the winner is … no one. The most tightly contested British Parliamentary election in a generation has ended in the first stalemate since 1974, with no party winning an outright majority of seats that would enable it to choose a prime minister and form a ruling government. Frantic efforts are being made to shape some sort of coalition among the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties — which finished in that order. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective” and who was in England to observe the election, says the results aren’t good for the country.

“Labour lost heavily, the Conservatives failed to win with every possible advantage, and the Liberal Democrats are dismayed their campaign success didn’t translate into votes or seats. Britain loses as there is no stable majority to back a government making tough economic choices.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Brits launch (brief) election campaign

Dick Taffe — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:41:22 +0000

With the Queen agreeing to dissolve parliament, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (right) announced a May 6 election date and England’s one-month campaign season is officially under way. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of ”Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective” (and a Brit himself), expects an exciting, unpredictable election.

“The economic events of the last two years and Gordon Brown’s personal unpopularity should have made this a cakewalk for the Conservatives. But they’ve so far failed to close the deal with voters and so the outcome is still wide open.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Bad time for politics in England

Dick Taffe — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:44:51 +0000

After revelations of overblown expense accounts by members of Parliment and the resignations of several top cabinet ministers from P.M. Gordon Brown’s Labor government, Britain’s political system is hurting on election day today. College of Communication Associate Dean Tobe Berkovitz, a political communications expert teaching in BU’s London program, can put the English mess into the context of American politics.

Contact Tobe Berkovitz, 617-353-3447, tobetv@bu.edu