America
Bashar al-Assad’s Journey
As we stand on the cusp of the Syrians and Turks continuing diplomacy by other means it may be an opportune time to have a quick look at Bashar al-Assad. The son of the former [more…]
Blog
Conservatives
Dead in a Ditch
You could have been the man who saved the day, And won renown and everlasting fame. Instead of that, you ducked and ran away: Ten years from now, no one will know your name. [more…]
Fiction
Joe Malone, Part Thirty-Seven
The door opened and the Scottish singer emerged. I stared at him in some surprise. He was shorter than my imagination had prepared me for. Also, I hadn’t expected the turban. As he stepped out, [more…]
Business
The Gulf Between Rich & Poor
We are well into the protest season. The long run-up to the election period has been characterised by one protest after another – no-deal Brexit, climate change, arms sales, Tommy Robinson, police brutality, capitalism, Trump’s [more…]
Biography
So Farewell then John Simon Berkowitz
In the foreplay preceding the election of the new Speaker I had a conversation with a friend regarding the significance and power of this position. He was of the opinion that this was a token [more…]
Arts
Postcard From Zakynthos
It isn’t just about swanning around the Lake District, visiting friends in Devon, Air B&B’ing to Barcelona, holidaying on the West coast of Scotland or nipping down to Essex for a couple of beers. There [more…]
Elections
Election of Speaker of the House of Commons
Anyone hoping for someone better should be prepared to be disappointed. My bet’s on Bryant, Harperson is also an obvious candidate. Not since the Great Stink has Parliament been so malodorous. Lindsay Hoyle is the [more…]
Arts
The Master-Builder of Brussels
Brussels. Is there any less loveable west European capital? The moment you step out of Bruxelles-Midi station — after all these years, I still forget that Midi means south, not central — your heart sinks. [more…]
Fiction
Némésis – Book 2 Part 4
RAF Brize Norton Wednesday 17th January 2018 The RAF Regiment Sergeant was waiting for Wing Commander Hammond in the station’s Ground Defence Training Section at 08:30. He was expecting a dried-up and wizened old battle-axe [more…]