I am entranced not only by the sound of my voice, but also by the sight of it. Here once again is my contribution to the Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge, describing my long and ever-fascinating diplomatic career. Many points of interest here, including on South Africa’s not-so-peaceful transition away from […]
I write little here about Israel/Palestine as I have little to say which countless others are not saying. Plus I don’t have first-hand professional experience. What is going on? Of course the Palestinians want to advance their claims and demands on all international fronts. Upping their status at the UN […]
One of the interesting things about the parts of Europe East of Berlin is the way ‘Western’ ideologies are there but still have only shallow roots. Sexism rears its ugly head! Male politicians on all parts of the political spectrum just can’t resist making remarks which (they think) show them […]
Just back from seeing Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The good news is that it is pretty faithful to the original story, cramming a lot into the film while maintaining moody and sometimes tense mystery. The bad news is that it is pretty faithful to the book in having a feeble […]
Many of my loyal readers know a few things about the Balkans. Relax. That probably does not make you bad people. Here is a gripping analysis of the dreary political paralysis in Bosnia: In theory, Bosnia’s constitution treats Croats as one of the country’s three constituent peoples, entitling them to […]
This is a sizzling and unremittingly pessimistic denunciation of European vaingloriousness: too many illusions crumbling all at the same time. Thus: In 1965, government spending as a percentage of GDP averaged 28% in Western Europe. Today it hovers just under 50%. In 1965, the fertility rate in Germany was a […]
Or is it Coup des États? Definitely one or the other. Let’s stick with the headline one. My latest Commentator piece is out, belabouring a theme familiar to regular readers here, namely the Limits of Trust: Once upon a time world leaders met only rarely if at all. They maintained […]
Here’s David Murray, editor of Vital Speeches of the Day, giving sharp-eyed observations on the UK Speechwriters’ Guild conference last week: Many of these 67 speechwriters from Britain, Scotland, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Holland and Denmark told me their speakers wouldn’t go for the kind of intimate, personal, emotional authenticity […]
Back from the 2011 UK Speechwriters’ Guild annual conference in Bournemouth. Thoughts. The conference was preceded by an interesting new initiative, the first UK Business Speaker of the Year competition. It was won in a canter by Phillip Khan-Panni, whose superb voice and timing demolished the other competitors. More importantly, insofar as […]
In the 2011 Total Politics Blog Survey I have made it to the giddy heights of 11th in the UK Non-Aligned Blog category, mainly in very grand company: one behind the BBC’s Nick Robinson (but only one ahead of the scary teeth and fetid breath of underdogs bite upwards). I […]
