23 March 2017 The politics of envy Mr Osborne’s portfolio by John Watson For lovers of humbug, the comments on George Osborne’s appointment to the editorship of the Evening Standard provide a rich vein to mine. Some focus on the confidential knowledge which he gained as Chancellor, Sir Gordon Downey, one time Parliamentary Commissioner for… Continue reading Issue 97: 2017 03 23 : The Politics of Envy – Osborne’s portfolio (John Watson)
Tag: John Watson
Issue 97: 2017 03 23: Silence is Golden (Robert Kilconner)
23 March 2017 Silence is golden Hardball negotiations by Robert Kilconner “Silence is golden” may be the name of a song but like many phrases drawn from popular culture it contains a truth, in this case a truth about negotiations. Suppose a man wants to buy your house. He offers you £100,000 but you would… Continue reading Issue 97: 2017 03 23: Silence is Golden (Robert Kilconner)
Issue 96: 2017 03 16: Ms Sturgeon’s Demands (John Watson)
16 March 2017 Ms Sturgeon’s Demands Why the SNP should be seen off. By John Watson It is a jack-in-a-box time of year. No sooner had the Government obtained the authority of both Houses of Parliament to begin the Brexit procedures by serving notice under Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, than up pops… Continue reading Issue 96: 2017 03 16: Ms Sturgeon’s Demands (John Watson)
Issue 95: 2017 03 09: Delivering the truth (John Watson)
09 March 2017 Delivering The Truth A focus on the arteries. By John Watson Politics by its very nature spawns slogans and also those descriptive expressions which bob along in their wake. We all remember the “wets” of the Thatcherite era, and the “big tent” of Tony Blair; time was when you could not go… Continue reading Issue 95: 2017 03 09: Delivering the truth (John Watson)
Issue 94: 2017 03 02: Political Teflon (John Watson)
02 March 2017 Political Teflon The contribution Mr Blair ought to make. By John Watson A week is a long time in politics and, from the commentator’s point of view, things quickly move on. In this column, a week ago, I was talking about Mrs May’s good luck, instancing both her ascent to the leadership… Continue reading Issue 94: 2017 03 02: Political Teflon (John Watson)
Issue 93: 2017 02 23: Walking on the seabed (John Watson)
23 February 2017 Walking On The Seabed The withdrawal of the Kraft bid is a stroke of luck for the Government. By John Watson I wonder if Mrs May has ever walked across the Red Sea. It has been done before of course to considerable effect, and all that is needed is for the waters… Continue reading Issue 93: 2017 02 23: Walking on the seabed (John Watson)
Issue 92: 2017 02 16: Twitter In Adolescence (John Watson)
16 February 2017 Twitter In Adolescence Is Trump releasing its political potential? By John Watson “Tweet, tweet”, “tweet tweet”; those are not quotes stolen from Warner Brothers but the achievements of the Presidential fingers as they race across his mobile phone, reacting to events as quickly as a gunslinger in a Western. Threat to world… Continue reading Issue 92: 2017 02 16: Twitter In Adolescence (John Watson)
Issue 91: 2017 02 09: The Post-Work World (John Watson)
09 February 2017 The Post-Work World A laboratory experiment in France. By John Watson Like expensive clothing, the world of political ideas has its fashions and in the circles of the intelligentsia it is hard to be fashionable, hip or generally sexy without making occasional references to the “post-work world”. The idea has become a… Continue reading Issue 91: 2017 02 09: The Post-Work World (John Watson)
Issue 90: 2017 02 02: Leading Trumps (John Watson)
02 February 2017 Leading Trumps Britain’s interests from a post imperial standpoint. By John Watson It really is very difficult to understand what is going on. The debate here over whether or not Parliamentary authority was needed before the Prime Minister could issue a notice under article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon was bad… Continue reading Issue 90: 2017 02 02: Leading Trumps (John Watson)
Issue 88: 2017 01 19: Will Trump Explode? (John Watson)
19 January 2017 Will Trump Explode? And if so, will he take us with him? By John Watson “Yes, but it won’t really happen, will it? How do I know? Well, since the war, the West has been a pretty stable place from a political point of view. We have come of age, as it… Continue reading Issue 88: 2017 01 19: Will Trump Explode? (John Watson)
Issue 87: 2017 01 12: A Very Predictable Stance (John Watson)
12 January 2017 A Very Predictable Stance Why the drop? By John Watson Here we go again. Up, up, up, up,…… cranking its way to the crest of a slope and then wheeeeee…. back down to October levels; the pound continues its imitation of the big dipper in a fairground. Well, there’s nothing surprising in… Continue reading Issue 87: 2017 01 12: A Very Predictable Stance (John Watson)
Issue 86: 2017 01 05: Declumping Immigrant Communities (John Watson)
05 January 2017 Declumping Immigrant Communities The Casey report. by John Watson Rice, perfectly cooked so that each grain is light and separate, is one of the great delicacies of the eastern cuisine. Badly cooked, so that the grains stick together in lumps, it becomes difficult to digest. The Casey review into “opportunity and integration”… Continue reading Issue 86: 2017 01 05: Declumping Immigrant Communities (John Watson)
Issue 85: 2016 12 22: Year of Mysteries (John Watson)
22 December 2016 Year of Mysteries Hang on to your hats. It may be a bumpy ride. by John Watson As 2016 slides away it is hard not to marvel at just how much has changed. A year ago we looked destined to keep our place on the EU rollercoaster as it plunged towards greater… Continue reading Issue 85: 2016 12 22: Year of Mysteries (John Watson)
