Surging popularity helps party win open parliament seat
Times (UK) Nov 7, 08 7:51 AM CST
(Newser)
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Labour won a stunning come-from-behind victory in a special election in Scotland early this morning, reports the Times of London, offering the first evidence that Gordon Brown's political recovery may be lasting. The election was called after the death of a Labour MP. The seat looked set to go to the separatist Scottish Nationalist Party, and Brown's team expected to lose even after polls closed last night.
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OPINION
Global pundits weigh in on a historic victory
Der Spiegel Nov 5, 08 12:13 PM CST
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The election of Barack Obama has been watched around the world, and pundits from all over are weighing in. In Germany's Der Spiegel , Gabor Steingart says the president-elect's genius is his "tone of political romanticism." Americans warmed to his message of sympathy and reflection—and made the whole world an offer of reconciliation.
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Gov't system shut after find in parking garage
Daily Mail (UK) Nov 2, 08 12:34 PM CST
(Newser)
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UK ministers shut down a government computer system after a memory stick containing sensitive personal data was found in a parking garage, reports the Daily Mail . The government insists the system hasn’t been breached, but an expert says the blunder jeopardizes the security of 12 million people. “The government cannot be trusted with all this information, but they collect more and more,” said one MP.
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Once written off, British PM wins support in financial crisis
Independent (UK) Oct 28, 08 9:42 AM CDT
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A new poll for the Independent shows that Gordon Brown, Britain's once seemingly doomed prime minister, has surged 11 points as the financial crisis continues. The poll put support for the opposition Tories at 39%, Labour at 31%, and the third-party Liberal Democrats at 16%. Where once the Tories were cruising to victory, an election held today would produce a hung parliament—one where no party commanded a majority.
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British currency
falls to $1.56 amid recession fears
Times (UK) Oct 24, 08 5:08 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The British economy shrank by 0.5% last quarter, all but confirming that the UK is in its first recession since 1991, reports the Times of London. The decline is greater than expected, and this week both the prime minister and the head of the Bank of England acknowledged that a recession is likely. The news sent the pound falling, dipping to $1.56 for the first time in five years.
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CEO promises execs big paydays for
their 'terrific job'
Guardian (UK) Oct 21, 08 6:51 AM CDT
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The CEO of Lloyds had promised staff that they will receive bonuses even though the British banking giant is being bailed out by the government. Employees were told that Lloyds faced "very, very few restrictions" after taking up to $9.4 billion in government money, reports the Guardian . Lloyds is currently undertaking a buyout of HBOS brokered by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who had promised "an end to rewards for failure."
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ANALYSIS
Investment in banks proved better strategy than mortgage bailout
New York Times Oct 19, 08 8:08 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The US has long considered Europe to be the economic equivalent of a doddering old uncle, but this week it was oldster leading whippersnapper America by the hand through the most serious crisis since the Depression. Europe, seeing the need for a sturdier fix than the mortgage-bailout Band-aid Washington proposed, led the charge by investing in its own banks, a move the US followed only after much hand-wringing. But it remains to be seen whether the trend will continue, the New York Times reports.
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OPINION
World must act to overhaul finance for next era: Gordon Brown
Washington Post Oct 17, 08 7:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The British plan to recapitalize world banks helped calm global markets, but Gordon Brown isn't done yet. In an op-ed for the Washington Post , the prime minister declares that we face "a defining moment for the world economy" on par with the aftermath of World War II, and that only a "new Bretton Woods"—a new system of global financial governance—can end the crisis and pave the way forward.
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Less than 42% know Condi runs State; acumen better among highbrow-mag readers
LiveScience Oct 16, 08 3:36 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Only 18% of Americans can correctly name the current secretary of state, Britain’s prime minister and which party controls the US House, a LiveScience survey finds. Among the survey’s 3,612-person sample, more than half correctly said that the Democrats have a majority in the House, while 42% correctly identified Condoleezza Rice. Less than 30% said Gordon Brown is current UK prime minister.
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ANALYSIS
Glum British PM now seems more 'Flash Gordon'
New York Times Oct 15, 08 8:25 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Unpopular at home and nearly invisible on the world stage, Gordon Brown endured a tough ride during his first year in power. But the global financial crisis has transformed the British prime minister, who now finds himself in the unlikely position of international superstar. As Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, and the US all emulate his recapitalization plan, Brown's once seemingly doomed premiership is looking up.
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OPINION
Brown and Sarkozy shine while Bush stalls, says columnist
Financial Times (UK) Oct 14, 08 12:10 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The financial crisis hasn't just transformed the business world, writes Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman; it's transformed world politics as well. Who are the winners and losers of the market upheaval? Gordon Brown seems more and more the "improbable savior" of the financial system. The British bailout has been taken up in Europe and the US, and the lugubrious PM is now an economic hero. George W Bush is the anti-Brown: the normally chipper president looks "panicky and out of his depth."
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