In this post I’ll continue to give you a day-by-day account of a week, which is not yet finished. A deeper analysis will come in another post – probably next year! Anyway, Lenin’s quote should now read: There are decades when nothing happens and hours when decades happen.” As things really
What is this ‘Backstop’?
I’m finishing this piece on the 11thNovember having watched the wreath laying on our Cenotaph at 11.0am. How ahistorical are our politics. Remember, remember I’d say. Anyway, backstop? Everyone these days seems to be using that word – backstop. But what does it mean? This is about Brexit, and it is
Brexit – a glossary
I’ve just read a brilliant A-Z of Brexit, which I can’t replicate because it’s been done. However, I do like to unpick definitions, so instead of a longer piece on the current situation around Brexit here is a little something based on the words and phrases used so often in this
The NHS – again!
The NHS – again! Much has been written about the NHS these past few days as we’re approaching its 70thbirthday. There have been many congratulations and kind words for this venerable institution. Because understand this, we Brits love the NHS. We know what we like and this is what we like.
English Exceptionalism and the EU
At the beginning of the year I did a course on The Other America, which was based around the book A People’s History of the United Sates written by Howard Zinn. I don’t know if Zinn is a name that’s easily recognised in the States, but our tutor (American, btw)
The silence around Weinstein et al – what to do?
If you have a Facebook account you’ll know there’s a trend for putting #MeToo up on your timeline. That’s women stating that they are survivors of rape and/or sexual harassment. I haven’t done that. Because I’m a little uncertain about it. Why? Well, in this piece I’m going to order
Brexit – a situation report
Well that was dangerous – promising a post ‘later this week’! Now it’s next year and not even the first month of next year. Not to worry, because a great deal has happened and then again, nothing has happened. For those of you living outside the UK I’ll put you
Europe Part 3b The Labour Party – Monday 18th July to Wednesday 20th July 2016
Well, I got that wrong. The Labour Party isn’t voting on its leadership on Monday 18th July, it’s only the start of that. Today (Monday 18th) is about the nominations being put forward, with the window for that open until Wednesday 20th – oh good grief, get a move on,
A Song for Europe – Part 2 Why people voted the way they did.
Events, events – we now have the Chilcot Enquiry report on Iraq to contend with. And I have to say that the sight of Uriah Heep grovelling on the television and kind of saying ‘awfully sorry’ (and I repeat, kind of) with a trembling voice is more than I can