under pressure from the powerful Blairites in the party, makes more moves to the right to sound more eurosceptic, to avoid being left in isolation by voters on the issue and an easy target of the media and the Conservatives in their stance, for Tribune Magazine.

The rise of UKIP and their success in turning the issue of EU membership into major electoral topic from one few really cared about just two years ago, has resulted in the whole of British politics moving it's so-called 'centre' even farther to the right. With the BBC facing accusations that Nigel Farage is allowed way too much air time, when his party has no MPs, it is the media that is often seen as the driving force behind the rise of UKIP.

the squeezed in the middle

party balloons

MP's pay rise

the usual alien suspects