Published in The Independent (July 6th, 2012) We are almost there. Less than three weeks until the starting pistol is fired on the world’s greatest sporting spectacular. Flags […]
Economics / Politics
Politicians are the last people who should investigate corrupt City spivs
Published in The Daily Mail (July 4th, 2012) So farewell then, Bob Diamond. Few will mourn the departure from British public life of this arrogant and over-paid American, […]
Policy / Politics / Welfare
Can David Cameron unleash his inner Maoism?
Published in The Guardian (June 29th, 2012) The headlines are clear: the nasty party is back in business. After David Cameron revealed his desire for a tougher, more […]
Crime / Policy
Don’t mock ‘hug a hoodie’. It was, and still is, the right message
Published in The Guardian (June 1st, 2012) Like so many famous political phrases, David Cameron never actually said that anyone should ‘hug a hoodie’. No matter. For it became a […]
Politics
Tea Party zombies long to lurch further right
Published in The Independent (May 7th, 2012) A few days before last week’s local elections, the Tory MP Nadine Dorries wrote an article for the ConservativeHome website begging […]
China / World
Why do we care more about pandas than a Briton’s very suspicious death?
Published in The Daily Mail (April 16th, 2012) The picture speaks volumes: a damning snapshot of British impotence and Chinese intransigence. A government minister sits grinning for the […]
Politics
The Tea Party Tories
Published in The Guardian (April 5th, 2012) For all his faults, Tony Blair was an acute observer of the political scene. Surveying events from No 10, he would […]
Politics
Why Dave will miss this hawk in hippy’s clothing
Published in the Daily Mail (March 3rd, 2012) Last week in Downing Street there was a seminar on the future of cities. First a Danish architect spoke of […]
Politics
Like it or not, the PM has never been stronger. He should exploit it
Published in The Independent (December 13th, 2011) When George Osborne addressed Cabinet last week, he compared the proposed deal to salvage the euro and safeguard our futures with […]
Immigration / Policy
Immigrants saved my family and are crucial to Britain
Published in the London Evening Standard (October 11th, 2011) One unexpected aspect of life as the parent of a profoundly disabled teenager is that at times it is […]
Politics
Bring me sunshine
Published in The Guardian (October 4th, 2011) The meetings began in the summer with gentle debate down at Chequers over the central themes and tone of David Cameron’s […]
Bahrain / World
The two faces of Britain’s foreign policy
Published in The Guardian (September 14th, 2011) The air in Tripoli is heady with optimism. After 42 years of repressive and rapacious rule by Muammar Gaddafi, there is […]