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".

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JCHR’s feeble report on policing protest

I know, I know, it's the parliamentary committee on human rights. So it's bound to fret about whether the police bend over backwards to safeguard protest. But even so, this new report does rather miss the point. Read more...

Published

23 March 2009

Great British bankers!

The four ex-leaders of HBOS and RBS were impressive in their account of their parts in the Banking Crisis. They were smarter and more interesting than most of their questioners from the Treasury Select Committee today. Read more...

Published

10 February 2009

Carol Thatcher’s “Golly Wog” hell

As I write, I have what used to be called a "Golly Wog" on my desk. I like it. Golly! Carol Thatcher has of course been a complete clot, but you can't help feeling sorry for her. Read more...

Published

04 February 2009

Time for a new British defence policy?

Overstretched. Undermanned. Unloved. And given silly things to do. Sensible people are saying this of the British military. Isn't it time the politicians explained why they think the sacrifice is worthwhile - and at least spent the money which might help? Read more...

Published

31 January 2009

Interrogating the recycling religion

I have always loved doing recycling but been sceptical of its real value. Now, much of the time I don't even like doing it. The difficulty is that the campaigns for and against recycling seem equally, well, less than robustly frank. Read more...

Published

30 January 2009

A wonderful time to be on “The Right”

Capitalism in crisis. Economy in recession. Israel in the dock. A populist Democrat in the White House. What a wonderful time to love being on "The Right". And it is surprisingly confident, too. Read more...

Published

27 January 2009
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