Category Archives for politics
Gerald Kaufman 1930-2017
Tweet After two attempts in the 1950s Gerald Kaufman became a Labour MP in 1970. He has represented people in inner-city Manchester ever since. I suspect that he could retrieve the details of every constituency case he has handled, with … Continue reading
Blair should face manslaughter charges over Iraq
Tweet unpublished letter to Daily Telegraph Three servicemen face prosecutions for manslaughter over highly-disputed allegations against their conduct during the aftermath of the Iraq war. No penalty of any kind has been imposed on the people who sent them into … Continue reading
Don’t appease Putin (Letter published Evening Standard August 18, 2016)
Tweet In praising the Prime Minister today (August 16th) for her attempt to improve relations with Putin’s Russia, Sir Christopher Meyer gave a long list of issues where he evidently expects no concession on Putin’s side: aggression in the Crimea … Continue reading
EU referendum: Don’t be afraid of the wine waiter
Tweet A REMAIN vote in the EU referendum is for people who are afraid to argue with the wine waiter. We’ve all met the worst sort of this species. The one who sneers at you and thinks your opinion is … Continue reading
EU REMAIN: a bus trip with Lord Curzon
Tweet Every time I hear a REMAINER talk about reforming the EU from within, or simply about British influence over it, I am reminded of the famous story from the 1920s about Lord Curzon’s only known journey on a London … Continue reading
REMAIN: From those wonderful folks who brought you the Iraq war
Tweet A slightly shorter version of this was published in www.politics.co.uk on May 26, 2016 This version has all the origninal zingers. The Leave campaign has conclusively lost the opening battles of the EU referendum. It now has a bare … Continue reading
Sharing A Life With Mr Healey
Tweet Published in the Observer May 8, 1983 My day begins by reading the Man’s mail. It starts with five lunatics and Labour’s National Executive. A box of slides. Letters of anguish: five people want the Man to save the … Continue reading
Denis Healey 1917-2015
Tweet published in the Yorkshire Post October 5, 2015 With Denis Healey, we have lost not only a political giant but a piece of our history and our collective memory. Born during the First World War, he fought with distinction … Continue reading
Tony Blair was the Basil Fawlty of British politics
Tweet Letter published in Sunday Times September 20, 2015 It was gracious of Peter Mandelson to admit that New Labour bears some responsibility for Jeremy Corbyn’s victory. [His article September 13, “I’m partly to blame for this mess but let’s … Continue reading
Everybody’s General Election Manifesto
Tweet The Rival Candidates’ Song from Membear Of Parliament Candidate 1 (Mr Aardvark): In all my time in politics, My friends will all agree I never dodge the issue I say just what I see. That’s why I tell you … Continue reading
