Authoritarianism
The death of Habeas Corpus
Let me first fire a major pre-emptive shot across the bows of any reader who is a lawyer, judge or indeed any part of the legal system. I am not a lawyer, and apart from [more…]
Tony Blair
European Union
What’s Wrong with our Politics?
No, I’m not a lawyer, but this week – in the process of explaining how our government works, to someone else – I arrived at some personal insights regarding what’s wrong with our politics, which [more…]
20th Century
The devil is always in the detail
Cast your mind back to the morning of Friday the 2nd of May 1997. The British electorate had overwhelmingly swept Anthony Charles Lynton Blair to power, in a landslide victory that conjures imagery of a [more…]
Literature
Joe Malone, Part Five
“Alexa,” I called to the device, “Turn on Channel Four news.” The Vid’Screen immediately went mute. That was my code word to override the licensing law software. ‘Turn on C4 news’ being something I was [more…]
Arts
Where have all the P.O.’s gone?
According to Touchstone in ‘As You Like It’, the seventh form of lie is “…the lie direct” (Act V, Scene IV): our Politicians do not often use this form – for instance, the late and [more…]
20th Century
Yon taile of Anthony Bliar: an Bayeux chronickle
Anthony Charles Lynton Bliar wast borne in thon yeare of our Lorde, Nyneteen Hundrede and Fiftie Thrie, in yon burgh of Edin in yon lande of Jock. Thiss younge ladde greweth – in an mannere [more…]
20th Century
Compare and Contrast
The optimism. The belief. The passion. The determination and commitment. America is having a rare treat with its politicians. They are standing for something. Obama and Blair Obama inspired millions to take part. His slick [more…]
Arts
Class Reappraised
The last close examination of the English class system was over twenty five years ago, Jilly Cooper͛s frighteningly accurate and wickedly funny book which still works in part. I was musing on the class system [more…]
Christianity
The Relevance of Christianity – Part Two
Last time I wrote about the state of religion in the UK, and the lessons Christianity can teach us regarding modern life. Today, I cover some further lessons, and some hope for the future. Free [more…]