Category Archives for politics
Keir Starmer, Norma Desmond and the Sinister Butler
Tweet extended version of piece published in Comment Central 30 May 2022 For years Tony Blair has been the Norma Desmond of British politics, a forgotten star living in dreams of the past. Before the local elections Keir Starmer handed … Continue reading
Goodbye to the Western world. We’ll all be sorry when it disappears
Tweet published In Comment Central February 8, 2022 – before the Ukrainian resistance astonished Putin and the world I have just lost a night’s sleep thinking about the threats to Ukraine and Taiwan and the choice that each may impose … Continue reading
Save English Cricket From The ECB
Tweet An appeal and a promise to the Minister of Sport Nigel Huddleston Esq MPMinister for Sport Dear Minister, By all reports the England and Wales Cricket Board is about to make a decision with terrible and irreversible consequences for … Continue reading
Ukraine’s National Anthem: Shche Ne Vmerla Ukrainy
Tweet This was the English translation I found for the words by Pavlo Chubynskyi The glory and freedom of Ukraine has not yet perishedLuck will still smile on us brother-Ukrainians.Our enemies will die, as the dew does in the sunshine,and … Continue reading
Vamp Against Vlad
Tweet A global musical protest against Putin In the Vamp Against Vlad, people all over the world at a given moment would play, sing, or chant one chosen minor chord – against Putin. It would not need any words. G … Continue reading
And A Happy New Year To You Too, Enver Hoxha
Tweet At this time, I always like to relay Enver Hoxha’s encouraging words to the Albanian people on New Year’s Day 1967 (as rendered by the English service of Radio Tirana). “This year will be harder than last year. However, … Continue reading
Afghan cricket and the Taliban
Tweet Extract from letter to Nigel Adams MP, Foreign Office Minister of State with responsibility for Afghanistan and British “soft power”. And cricket-lover. I am writing to urge you to take an interest in the future of Afghan cricket and … Continue reading
Mandelpropisms
Tweet Peter Mandelson planned Labour’s masterly election campaign of 2010. Here is an excerpt from a long email to party supporters explaining its central message. (My comments as recipient at the time). ‘In all this we should remember the power … Continue reading
An Alternative Inauguration Speech
Tweet The speech I offered Joe Biden. “My fellow Americans. I am now your President. I thank all those who voted for me or against me. I thank the officials and volunteers who in conditions of unprecedented difficulty gave them … Continue reading
American democracy: the biggest loser in the election
Tweet full version of article published in the Yorkshire Post (England) November 5. 2020 As I write these lines, it appears that a clear majority of the American people have chosen Joe Biden as their next President. That does not … Continue reading
