Authoritarianism
What will come first?
I must admit that I have been feeling a bit guilty of late. Twice now, Swiss Bob has appealed for new articles and I have gone through all sorts of internal machinations considering not only [more…]
Labour
Economics
Rachel Reeves. Avoid
“I wasn’t born into this,” wailed Rachel Reeves, as she alternated between blaming misogyny and everyone else for the expectation-management debacle leading up to last Wednesday’s budget. Reeves even held an unprecedented press conference, pointing [more…]
Authoritarianism
Why Courage — Not Convenience — Is the Foundation of Free Speech
In an age obsessed with stability, optimisation, and institutional authority, we are losing sight of the simplest truth: freedom of speech is the core condition for national and international security. Not because speech itself is [more…]
Culture
A View From The Sofa; Ennui And Pain
I’ve hardly been out of the house since I got out of hospital. I’m sure some of you will know what it’s like, believing you’re fifty four when you’re actually twenty years older than that [more…]
Labour
Safe Routes
We never stop hearing about safe routes for migrants as opposed to paying some dodgy Albanian or Afghan, jumping in a dinghy and braving the waves for a few hundred metres to a waiting taxi [more…]
Biography
Shabana Mahmood. Avoid.
As only the third female Lord Chancellor since Eleanor of Provence in 1253, upon being elevated to the role 771 years later present Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, eulogised during her acceptance speech. “I must say [more…]
Labour
Mahmood well off message
From a woman who says the first thing she thinks about on waking up is Islam. From a woman who in October 2015 visited refugee camps in Greece helping to deliver food aid. From a [more…]
Labour
Moan, moan, moan
It’s time for a rant, it changes nothing but by golly you feel much better afterwards or at least you ought to to. As I sit here compiling this list I am getting more and [more…]
Conservatives
Party Conference Season
We have just finished the Party Conference Season. This lasts for about a month and even though only one Party has an active conference at any time, they all take a month away from their [more…]