17 November 2016 Why 2016? What has triggered the “interesting times”? By John Watson Some children want to become engine drivers. Others want to become political pollsters. But those inclining to the latter career have traditionally been put off it by their parents. You need to be good at maths, for one thing. You need… Continue reading Issue 80: 2016 11 17: Why 2016? (John Watson)
Tag: Mr Cameron
Issue 65: 2016 08 04: Week in Brief: UK
04 August 2016 Week in Brief: UK Government News HINKLEY POINT: The Government has postponed a decision on Hinkley Point C pending a further review. The announcement, which was made just before the deal was due to be signed, took the energy industry by surprise. It is understood that EDF, the French company which was… Continue reading Issue 65: 2016 08 04: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 64: 2016 07 28: Week in Brief: UK
28 July 2016 Week in Brief: UK Government BREXIT: At a meeting with Mrs May, President Hollande indicated that France will keep to the Le Touquet agreement under which British border police operate in Calais. While stressing that ties between the two nations would remain strong, he also said that Britain would have to… Continue reading Issue 64: 2016 07 28: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 57: 2016 06 09: Remain! (John Watson)
09 June 2016 Remain! The muddle after Brexit. By John Watson Personally I enjoy a little lowbrow family comedy and the excellent series “My Family”, starring Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker, is always good for a laugh. A lot of the jokes, of course, are old ones and a recent episode centred on the contrast… Continue reading Issue 57: 2016 06 09: Remain! (John Watson)
Issue 54: 2016 05 19: BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen (John Watson)
19 May 2016 The BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen Eavesdropping on private conversations should be a no-no By John Watson Take two cases. In one, a male celebrity cavorts in a bed with two other men. Once the press get hold of the story, an injunction is issued and the identity of the men cannot… Continue reading Issue 54: 2016 05 19: BBC – Not Quite Gentlemen (John Watson)
Issue 49: 2016 04 14: Week in Brief: UK
14 April 2016 Week in Brief: UK EU REFERENDUM: Among this week’s points: Brexit campaigners are angry that the government is spending £9.2 million pounds on a pro EU leaflet to be delivered to 27,000,000 homes. Although the government claims that the leaflet merely responds to poll indications that the public want further information, the… Continue reading Issue 49: 2016 04 14: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Week in Brief UK
07 April 2016 Week in Brief: UK EU REFERENDUM DEBATE: This week: John Whittingdale, the Culture Secretary, said that the national living wage will fuel immigration unless we leave the EU; 200 health professionals published a letter in “The Times” warning that Brexit will result in a worsening of public health as Britain loses the… Continue reading Issue 48: 2016 04 07: Week in Brief UK
Issue 29: 2015 11 19: Paris
19 February 2015 Paris Blocking the road from hell By John Watson The thinking behind the outrage in Paris is hard to understand. This was no assault on the bastions of the capitalist and military establishment. It was an attack on innocent people enjoying a pleasant evening out. “Thank God it’s Friday” many of them… Continue reading Issue 29: 2015 11 19: Paris
Issue 25: 2015 10 22: Week In Brief: UK
22 October 2015 Week In Brief: UK TAX CREDIT: The Chancellor’s plan to withdraw tax credits from next spring has come under fire from members of his own party who are concerned at the effect on low-paid working families. Those members include Lord Tebbit and the Bow Group. Since the changes are being introduced by… Continue reading Issue 25: 2015 10 22: Week In Brief: UK
Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Sex, Drugs and Memory Loss
24 September 2015 Sex, Drugs and Memory Loss by J R Thomas The silly season has arrived late this year. Mr Corbyn was the first to feel the chill blast as his past romantic life (especially with Diane Abbott, now a member of his shadow cabinet) was dissected in the popular press. As Mr Corbyn… Continue reading Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Sex, Drugs and Memory Loss
Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Week in Brief: UK
24 September 2015 Week in Brief: UK LABOUR: Major Labour donor, Assem Allam, who has given £720,000 to the party over the last five years, has offered to provide financial support for the formation of a new centre left party or to those Labour MPs who are prepared to defect to the Liberal Democrats. John… Continue reading Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Power To The People?
24 September 2015 Power To The People? Keeping the role of politicians in context. By John Watson Many of those who in the 1960s demonstrated in the streets crying “Power to the People” would have found it difficult to explain what they meant by it. After all, then as now, we lived in a parliamentary… Continue reading Issue 21: 2015 09 24: Power To The People?
Issue 19: 2015 09 10: Time is running out in the Middle East
10 September 2015 Time is running out in the Middle East by John Watson Very hesitantly, with a weather eye on the immigration figures and the population forecasts, the Government reacts to public pressure to confirm that it will take refugees after all. A climb down perhaps, a change in direction certainly, but not so… Continue reading Issue 19: 2015 09 10: Time is running out in the Middle East
