Whether or not you support the smoking ban that is about to come into force in England, you cannot argue that the policy was fully debated and discussed over an extended period by those institutions in the country we trust with the business of setting laws. A legal challenge is not, therefore, something which [...]
Also filed in
|
|
I watched the transfer of power in the company of a few friends. It was quite clear that the journalists had little to say, and were trying to play up what was in the event quite a down-beat occasion. One BBC commentator, tasked with providing commentary as the car transporting Brown from the [...]
For a little over an hour today, the United Kingdom was governed by Her Majesty and the Civil Service. I think it went very smoothly indeed.
I hear from the Today Programme that President Bush thinks that History will judge Blair kindly. Well it is possible, I suppose. Though I know some of [...]
This is a worrying tale.
But then, as I’m always telling my students, check the footnotes!
Also filed in
|
|
The Americans are attempting immigration reform. Here is some excellent commentary on the idiocy of the current proposals.
Also filed in
|
|
From a piece in the Independent:
Do you believe in the rights of women, or do you believe in multiculturalism? A series of verdicts in the German courts in the past month, have shown with hot, hard logic that you can’t back both. You have to choose.
Also filed in
|
|
The BBC ran around after the election telling everyone that the Conservatives hadn’t increased their share of the vote, despite picking up over 800 local seats. It didn’t seem to make a lot of sense - see this analysis of their rather “twonkish” methodology. And then go and read your rather battered copy [...]
Also filed in
|
|
In a matter of weeks, Britain will have a new Prime Minister. Barring miracles, it is seems likely that that leader will have a tough time and will lose the next election. It would almost be unnatural for him not too: Labour have now had a very long time in office. On [...]
Also filed in
|
|
Blair has sent a message to voters which Nick Robinson amusingly paraphrases as:
Please don’t kick me. I’m going soon anyway. Oh, and by the way, a Scot’s coming next - probably - and he’ll be great.
Dear oh dear oh dear.
Also filed in
|
|
This tirade caught my eye.
I sympathise with the writer. He needed a better editor (one who didn’t give him such an awful headline), and isn’t really a patch on Clarkson when it comes to writing over-reactionary prose. But there are numerous choice sentences:
If we recreate the Dark Ages in the 21st century, it [...]