25 June 2015 End Austerity Now! by J R Thomas Last Saturday was a day to enjoy one of the great British ceremonial traditions. Ranked alongside Trooping the Colour and the State Opening of Parliament, this was that great and enduring ritual of March Against [Insert Cause Here] to Parliament. The chosen cause this… Continue reading Issue 8: 2015 06 25: End Austerity Now!
Category: Comment
Issue 8: 2015 06 25: Trouble in the Glens
25 June 2015 Trouble in the Glens by J R Thomas Scotland may still not be independent, but the Scottish National Party (“SNP”) controlled Scottish Parliament is already flexing its muscles and starting to use the additional powers promised to it in the run-up to the referendum last year. The call for independence was… Continue reading Issue 8: 2015 06 25: Trouble in the Glens
Issue 7: 2015 06 18: A Question of Trust
18 June 2015 A Question of Trust by John Watson It is certainly appropriate that the report by David Anderson QC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, on how surveillance powers should be reformed should be entitled “A Question of Trust” – because trust is the key political issue when powers are to be given… Continue reading Issue 7: 2015 06 18: A Question of Trust
Issue 7: 2015 06 18:Sir Tim Hunt
18 June 2015 Sir Tim Hunt by Lynda Goetz I had not heard of Sir Tim Hunt until about a week ago. Perhaps I should have done, since he is a Nobel prize-winning scientist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001 with two other scientists, Paul Nurse and Leland H.… Continue reading Issue 7: 2015 06 18:Sir Tim Hunt
Issue 7 :2015 06 18:I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills
18 June 2015 I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills… but not because there are naked women up there. by Neil Tidmarsh All mountains are sacred. They’re bigger than us. They’re dangerous and frightening, yet beautiful and awe-inspiring. They dwarf our works. The top of a mountain is too hard, too strong… Continue reading Issue 7 :2015 06 18:I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto The Hills
Issue 6: 2015 06 11: Peeling the Union
11 June 2015 Peeling the Union by J R Thomas The unexpected surprise of the Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament was the proposal to introduce an “opt-in” rule in regard to trade union political levy systems. The political levy (readers will not be surprised to learn) is used by the trade unions… Continue reading Issue 6: 2015 06 11: Peeling the Union
Issue 6:2015 06 11:Turkey’s Election – no thank you, Mr President.
11 June 2015 Turkey’s Election – no thank you, Mr President. by Neil Tidmarsh Last Sunday, Turkey – ever at the world’s geographical and cultural crossroads – found itself at a political crossroad. Faced with a choice between the parliamentary route and the presidential route, it chose to continue on the former – possibly… Continue reading Issue 6:2015 06 11:Turkey’s Election – no thank you, Mr President.
Issue 6: 2015 06 11: Exams – a bipartisan approach is needed
11 June 2015 Exams – a bipartisan approach is needed by John Watson It is that time of year again. The summer is the exam season and it is also the time for new proposals regarding the examination system. This time it is Tristram Hunt, Labour’s education spokesman who says that, had Labour taken power,… Continue reading Issue 6: 2015 06 11: Exams – a bipartisan approach is needed
Issue 5: 2015 06 04: The Fifa Affair
4 June 2015 The Fifa Affair: a test of moral courage by John Watson We don’t have a quote of the week competition at the Shaw Sheet, but if we did, Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, would have won it last week with his question “Is it not a bit embarrassing?” He was referring… Continue reading Issue 5: 2015 06 04: The Fifa Affair
Issue 5:2015 06 04: Ukraine’s Fragile Ceasefire; about to change for the worse… or the better?
4 June 2015 Ukraine’s Fragile Ceasefire; about to change for the worse… or the better? by Neil Tidmarsh It’s nearly four months since the ceasefire in Ukraine was negotiated in Minsk by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. Although fighting continues (and remains intense in places), it is mostly sporadic and localised.… Continue reading Issue 5:2015 06 04: Ukraine’s Fragile Ceasefire; about to change for the worse… or the better?
Issue 5: 2015 06 04: A Beautiful Game
4 June 2015 A Beautiful Game by J R Thomas Money, that is, not football. Football may be beautiful too, but it is big business now. The cash flows are immense, not just from ticket sales, though seats are becoming pretty breathtakingly expensive for Premier league or national games. Sales of branded goods (what used… Continue reading Issue 5: 2015 06 04: A Beautiful Game
Issue5|:2015 06 04:“Your train is delayed because someone couldn’t be bothered to live anymore”
4 June 2015 “Your train is delayed because someone couldn’t be bothered to live anymore” by Lynda Goetz Shocking, yes, but consider the other viewpoint. On Friday May 22nd the 16.36 from Paddington to Plymouth was apparently delayed by a suicide. This is not as uncommon as many people would like to believe.… Continue reading Issue5|:2015 06 04:“Your train is delayed because someone couldn’t be bothered to live anymore”
Issue 4: 2015 05 28:The Queen’s Speech
28 May 2105 The Queen’s Speech by John Watson The speech which the Queen makes at the opening of Parliament is always something of a mixture and that is never more so than immediately after a general election. The Queen doesn’t write it herself, of course. Although she reads it out, it is written by… Continue reading Issue 4: 2015 05 28:The Queen’s Speech
