Published in The Guardian (August 3rd, 2011) The whitewater rapids have run dry, the beach volleyball court has sprouted weeds and the aquatic centre contains little more than […]
Politics
Believe it or not, Steve Hilton is the only real Thatcherite in Cameron’s No 10
Published in The Mail on Sunday (July 31st) Five years ago, as the hours ticked down to David Cameron’s first party conference speech as leader, there were nerves […]
Arts / Books
After the wave, the emotional deluge
Published in The Observer (July 31st, 2011) Let Not the Waves of the Sea by Simon Stephenson (John Murray) On what would have been his brother’s 28th birthday, […]
Politics
Cameron must breathe new life into the coalition
Published in the London Evening Standard (July 25th, 2011) “We had lost our virginity on scandal,” wrote Tony Blair, reflecting on the furore over Bernie Ecclestone’s million-pound gift […]
Africa / Aid / Somaliland
The former British colony that shows Africa doesn’t need our millions to flourish
Published in The Mail on Sunday (July 24th, 2011) The Summer Time restaurant was buzzing. On the dusty road outside, new four-wheel drive cars fought for space with […]
Arts / Immigration / Music / Policy
We must stop treating world-class artists with such routine contempt
Published in The Observer (July 10th, 2011) Idrissa Soumaoro should have been rehearsing with the celebrated Malian musicians Amadou & Mariam for a show at the Manchester international […]
Aid
Ten great myths about foreign aid
Published in the Daily Mail (July 7th, 2011) As he pledged to pour hundreds of millions more into propping up Afghanistan, David Cameron accused critics of his foreign […]
Afghanistan / Arts / Books / World
It’s a fiasco, says our man in Kabul
Published in the Daily Mail (July 1st, 2011) Cables from Kabul: The Inside story of the West’s Afghanistan campaign by Sherard Cowper-Coles (Harper Press) Two years ago, during […]
Europe / Iceland
Iceland brought in from the cold thanks to party of punks and pop stars
Published in The Observer (19th June, 2011) Grey clouds hang heavy in the skies as the scout troop marches into the cemetery, followed by a noisy brass band […]
Health / Policy
Great Ormond Street’s been put on a pedestal it doesn’t deserve
Published in The Mail on Sunday (June 19th, 2011) The lonely death of Baby P was one of those moments that jolted the entire nation. That picture of […]
Politics
The journey’s over, Tony Blair
Published in The Guardian (June 10th, 2011) Switching on the Today programme yesterday, it was like an unwelcome blast from the past. There was Tony Blair, that familiar […]