Browsed by
Category: General

Let’s talk about Islamophobia

Let’s talk about Islamophobia

Comments 0 Comment

Vladimir Bukovsky died recently, in the country he called home after his 1976 expulsion from Russia. He was one of the last Russian dissidents from a time when concerns about Russia related not to its interference in Western elections or its financial links with Western leaders but about the spread of its Communist ideology, its brutal control of Eastern Europe, its appalling treatment of those who protested (incarceration as “insane” in psychiatric jails) or those who wanted to leave (Russian…

Read More Read More

The Tyranny of Low Expectations

The Tyranny of Low Expectations

Comments 0 Comment

It is generally a good idea, when facing severe criticism from an inquiry, to concede with as much good grace as possible, to keep your immediate thoughts about the idiocy of the judge to yourself and not to try and justify the behaviour which has been criticised. No good will come of it: you will look like someone paying lip service to the findings who really thinks you’ve done nothing wrong. It is advice which the Metropolitan Police singularly failed…

Read More Read More

Jared O’Mara’s likely resignation should prompt another look at extending proxy voting in the Commons

Jared O’Mara’s likely resignation should prompt another look at extending proxy voting in the Commons

Comments 0 Comment

The current restrictions help neither the public nor MPs Parliament is – and is meant to be – a tough arena. MPs and ministers take critically-important decisions and need to be accountable for them. Ideas and arguments need to tested and pitted against one another. Failures (and perceived failures) will be pounced on, often ruthlessly. Unfortunate ministers and shadow ministers who make the wrong mistake at the wrong time find themselves at the centre of a political storm often out…

Read More Read More

Lazy Summers but politics can go on

Lazy Summers but politics can go on

Comments 0 Comment

In An Italian Education, Tim Parks describes the wonderfully languorous routine of an Italian summer: the shutting down of all but essential services in hot, humid cities leaving them to tourists, the departure for the coast, the gathering of the extended family, the early mornings to enjoy an espresso outside when the day is cool, the encampment at the same spot on the beach amongst the ombrelloni, neatly and beautifully laid out, la bella figura being quite as important when little…

Read More Read More

At this critical time reflections on “Cultivating Democracy”

At this critical time reflections on “Cultivating Democracy”

Comments 0 Comment

Occasionally I have planted a gorgeous looking plant; it has flowered briefly then died.  On digging it up I find the dreaded wine weevil or roots which have made no attempt to spread into the soil and find nutrition.  It is a reminder that nourishing the hidden roots is by far a gardener’s most important task.  A plant not strong and well anchored will be blown away by the winds, destroyed by frost or succumb to malicious bugs and parasites….

Read More Read More

This unique feel good moment has the potential to change our politics. The questions are will it and how

This unique feel good moment has the potential to change our politics. The questions are will it and how

Comments 0 Comment

Probably the most significant decision by a media organisation in decades was that by Sky to allow yesterday’s Lords final of the cricket World Cup to be broadcast on free to air television. This meant that many more people were sitting gripped to their TVs as Stokes faced that “Super over” that clinched it. This made it a truly national England and Wales event. In Scotland things will be looked at very differently but that’s another story and and likely…

Read More Read More

What is there to say after a sporting day like this one?

What is there to say after a sporting day like this one?

Comments 0 Comment

Cartoon by @briancartoon for @Independent https://t.co/ZeBZCzCttV pic.twitter.com/N1C7CN79MJ — John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) July 14, 2019 I’d focused on the tennis and have just watched the final hour of the cricket on C4+1. Totally amazing. Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet

Darroch shows he’s a true diplomat and resigns

Darroch shows he’s a true diplomat and resigns

Comments 0 Comment

BREAK: Darroch resigns. I thought he’d have to go. Position untenable if totally frozen out of White House pic.twitter.com/inx3oz1h55 — Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 10, 2019 Trump’s Tweets made his position untenable Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet