The best political day for years
One ought to take some risks at such a time. Mine is to say that this is the best political period for decades. Read more...
Politics & campaigns.
This is not a party political site and not very partisan in any way. My emphasis has tended to be on the quality of debate and campaigning, and especially on the need to appreciate represtentative democracy (government through elected representatives whose own views matter), and to be sceptical of the claims of vox pop, "the people", social media, Crowd Wisdom, and "direct action".Page 13
Tory politics after 2010
This is still a country which is socially conservative, sexually permissive, economically entrepreneurial and obstinately attached to a statist welfare system. But we are less inclined to disenfranchise the fence-sitting Lib-Dem voters. What now for the Tories? Read more...
Note to the 2010 MPs: “Grow a couple”
In previous posts I have remarked what a great political and constitutional opportunity the UK now has. But it depends far more on individual MPs than on their leaders, constitutional historians, greybeard commentators or anyone else. Read more...
Ghost: Creepily excellent in so many ways
Roman Polanski's movie is an excellent account of Robert Harris's book. But it is even more of a post-modern experience. Read more...
Three reasons to celebrate this election…
This is perhaps the most exciting election of my lifetime, and I don't care who wins..... Read more...
RDN on oil spills and ecological disaster on R4 “Today”
I went on the BBC morning news show to say that the BP/Transocean Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico (a) might be dreadful but (b) would be the first such celebrity event to be an ecological disaster if it is one. Read more...
Mr Cameron’s makeover success?
Six days before 2010 election and the beginning of a new age in British politics, can we claim Mr Cameron's Makeover Politics a success or a failure? Read more...
Social media will transform Parliament
The 2010 intake of MPs can transform government with a Blackberry coup. At last, social media will make a positive difference to our politics....... Read more...
RDN on Guardian’s Comment Is Free (Cif)
I was bucked to have a piece run on the Guardian's Comment Is Free (Cif). I was bemoaning Mr Cameron's Makeover Politics. Here are a few reflections on the comments it received. Read more...
A New Military Covenant: The 21st century warrior?
The British military tradition is real, but it is up for grabs. Here is my account of a British military which becomes large, clever, multi-purpose, and is deployed worldwide. Along the way, it becomes more commercial, more part-time and more argumentative. Read more...