Cover Page, 30 July 2020, Issue 244 Welcome to our latest edition. We hope you enjoy its articles, features and puzzles. The Shaw Sheet is now taking its usual summer break. Our next edition will appear on Thursday 3rd September. In the meantime we wish all our readers happy holidays, whatever restrictions and complications the
30 July 2020 The Covid Inquiry What it means. By John Watson Admitting to an important error in politics is like leaving a blood trace in a shark-infested pool. The pack will never let go of it until they have exhausted its potential to weaken and destroy. Just remember what happened to Gordon Brown when
29 July 2020 YOU….LIBERAL, YOU! by J.R.Thomas You…Tory, you” thrown out with a snarl, is a recognised insult in certain circles, as it has been for three hundred years. “Tory” generally became a word of political abuse during the American War of Independence, but its origins go back to Cromwellian Ireland, when the Tories
30 July 2020 Not Gold! Choose genuine inflation protection. by Frank O’Nomics Here we go again. Uncertain and volatile markets have prompted a chorus of advocates of gold as the ultimate “safe” investment. The price has surged to almost $2,000 an ounce and analysts are talking of much further upside potential. The desire to seek
30 July 2020 Diary of a Corbynista Marcus Rides Again by Don Urquhart 23 July There are some parallels with our friends over the pond. Trump and Johnson are regarded by many in their own countries as beyond the pale. The crusading opposition Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn have been pushed aside by Biden and
30 July 2020 Goodies or Baddies? Hard to tell these days. By Neil Tidmarsh The forces of law and order sealed off a crime scene in Piacenza, Italy, last Friday. The site had allegedly been a centre for drug-dealing, prostitution and torture. The authorities closed down a suspected criminal organisation and made eight arrests, including
30 July 2020 The Queen and the Khatoun Lady Hester Stanhope and Gertrude Bell. By Jehad Al-Omari To the French, the 14th July marks “Bastille Day”, a turning point in the French Revolution and a day of celebration across the country. For the Iraqis, it is the day when Brigadier Qassim overthrew the Hashemite Monarchy
30 July 2020 Re-Starting the Economy Change is inevitable, stop resisting it and embrace the entrepreneurs and independent workers by Mike Hampson While we still seem to be in the midst of the pandemic, with no clarity of when it will end or if it will return again in the autumn, much of the political
30 July 2020 Lies, Damned Lies and Coronavirus Test and Trace by David Chilvers This week*, we look at the issue of statistics relating to test and trace. This system is meant: to follow up individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to identify those with whom they have recently been in contact to contact
30 July 2020 View from the Cotswolds A busman’s holiday: one step to heaven By Paul Branch It’s that time of year again. Blue skies in Europe, warm sunshine, good food, good wine. But this time with a twist, and not a lemon one in your gin. Unless you’re brave enough to try the expensively
