Category Archives for politics
Luke Upward on Thatcher (and other politicians he did not believe or serve)
Tweet As Britain’s premier man of letters, Luke Upward was asked, at times begged, to write speeches for its latter-day Prime Ministers. Anthony den was particularly importunate, and his disappointed rage at the youthful Upward’s refusal contributed significantly to … Continue reading
YP Margaret Thatcher: My Part In Her Downfall
Tweet published in the Yorkshire Post 15 April 2013 When Margaret Thatcher lost her party’s leadership in 1990, the fatal blow to her was a poll in The Mail On Sunday. I know, because I devised it. Under its ebullient … Continue reading
YP Miliband Should Keep Party Away From Priests
Tweet Published in the Yorkshire Post 3 April 2013 Amid his spectacular enthronement, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, managed to say something spectacularly wrong. “There can be no final justice or security or love or hope in our … Continue reading
YP No Funny Business – Let Us Vote No To Them All
Tweet Published 28 Feb 2013 in the Yorkshire Post It really should not be necessary: voting for a clown in a general election because you do not rate any of the other parties on offer. The Italian people have just … Continue reading
YP History has been unkind to Harold Wilson, the leader who looked to the future
Tweet Published in the Yorkshire Post 14 February 2013 Fifty years ago today Harold Wilson became the first Yorkshireman to lead the Labour party. Eighteen months later he followed Frederick Robinson, Viscount Goderich, and H H Asquith as the third … Continue reading
YP Ed Miliband Must Junk The Past And Get In Front Of The Future
Tweet published in the Yorkshire Post 4 January 2013 Ed Miliband has had a good year. His party enjoys regular double-digit leads in opinion polls. He has handled some newsworthy issues better than David Cameron, especially the hacking scandals and … Continue reading
YP The Multinationals Don’t Pay UK Tax – They Leave Tips
Tweet Published in the Yorkshire Post 23 November 2012 Our streets are currently full of posters from HM Revenue and Customs. They show a pair of baleful, staring eyes with a warning that the department is closing in on unpaid … Continue reading
YP Obama Wins (The defenders of Middle Earth beat back the orcs): What will not happen now
Tweet published in the Yorkshire Post 8 November 2012 In Democratic party committee rooms in Manhattan, I watch a television flash that Barack Obama has taken Ohio and secured re-election. Wild cheers ring out, as four years ago, but this … Continue reading
YP US Campaign Finance … Because American Government Is Still Worth Paying For
Tweet pubished in the Yorkshire Post 6 November 2012 During the 1992 US elections, I was privileged to observe the campaign of Congressman William Natcher in Kentucky. Mr Natcher disdained all modern media and employed no staff. He campaigned … Continue reading
Why Obama Won
Tweet I am at last able to reveal all the zingers and longer speaking passages which I offered to President Obama and Vice-President Biden during the course of the election campaign. Healthcare: Republican health policy: drop dead. Environment and climate … Continue reading
