Opinion / British Politics and Society

That Sturgeon Memo (Again)

Some people have concluded that my thoughts on the Sturgeon Memo as previously posted were amiss – see the Comments. Am I accusing key people of lying? No. This first: “It seems to me the overwhelming probability is that this document, whether it purports to be a FCO or Scottish […]

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That Sturgeon Miliband Memo – Analysed

Shock! Conspiracy! An official British memo has leaked to the Daily Telegraph giving the uncontroversial opinion that ‘Ed Miliband is not PM material’. The author of this memo is not yet a matter of public record, although no doubt the FOI requests are flooding in, and will be answered after […]

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Raheem Sterling and Football ‘Greed’

Why am I looking at all those old Football Fascism pieces? Because I heard young Liverpool football player Raheem Sterling on BBC radio the other day, being pressed to respond to alleged complaints from alleged fans that he is being ‘greedy’ by turning down a fabulous new contract with Liverpool […]

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Football Fascism (3)

Finally, this other one from the now-defunct Business and Politics website. How many times do I have to rail against Football Fascism before people in this country get the point? It started off with Labour’s Football Fascism. Now it’s spread to the unlikely pages of Conservative Home and Tim Montgomerie […]

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Football Fascism (2)

Here’s another one from 2010. Although can we really say that five years on the Conservative-led UK coalition government really sent out any of the right messages? There has been an oddly half-hearted, pessimistic tone throughout. Jeremy Jacobs thinks that I am being too harsh in saying that it is […]

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Football Fascism (1)

Likewise I also write a while back several pieces for Business and Politics about Football Fascism. Now gone! Here’s the first one, written before the previous UK General Election in 2010. Its wise message still holds: According to my watch it is 29 March. April Fool’s Day is not yet […]

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Economics Lessons for Young Children

Back in 2010 when I was young and optimistic and had more time than nowadays, I poured out work for a website called Business and Politics.  That site has vanished, as sites do. So my work is no longer accessible. But some of the pieces are still a jolly romp […]

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iMac Retina: When Apple met UK Mail

A grotesque situation of post-modern techno-bureaucracy unfolds live, before your very eyes! On Wednesday I ordered from Apple a wonderful new iMac 27″ Retina machine. Naughtily expensive, but VERY nice. I was told to expect it on the following day via UK Mail, “but if for some reason it doesn’t arrive, […]

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Michael Sheen NHS Speech – Fisked

Actor Michael Sheen makes a ‘blistering’ speech about the UK National Health Service. Hurrah! If only our milksop politicians would have a bit of that passion and sincerity! Or not. Here is the speech. It’s a fine example of a good but very bad speech. Rather like the ill-fated Neil […]

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Sir John Sawers: the Limits of Security

Sir John Sawers has given a significant speech at King’s College London on the Limits of Security. Here is the ‘official’ website version. And here is my piece for Daily Telegraph Comment mentioning it with (as you can see) my disclaimer mentioning that I worked with Sir John on his speech, his first after […]

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