Category: Politics

Europe and the US: the widening gap, Part II (with update of 3 Feb)

American scholar Parag Khanna’s Guardian article reinforces my perception of the US and Europe drifting apart, a message that Khanna as an adviser to Obama might usefully pass on [More >>>]

The Americans and us: nought for our or their comfort

Sadly the gulf between the political climates of the US and western Europe is growing; little hope of reform of the many shortcomings on both sides. But the EU offers a ray of hope for us Europeans [more >>>]

If it turns out to be John McCain…. (with 16 Jan. update)

At present John McCain looks the likeliest candidate to beat both his Republican rivals for the nomination and the probable Democratic candidates for the Presidency. Some McCain myths unmasked [More >>>]

Barry Sheerman on faith: OK in moderation

At least six cheers for Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield, with his splendidly English reaction to reports that Roman Catholic bishops in England are trying to insist that state-funded Catholic schools should teach...

Deporting foreigners: making the punishment fit the crime?

All the leading political parties are competing with each other for the title of the harshest advocate of deporting all foreigners who have committed any offence, however minor and regardless of personal and family circumstances. Time for the courts to rule whether in many cases this is in breach of the Human Rights Act [More >>>]

The British Diplomatic Oral History programme

The British Diplomatic Oral History Programme based in the Churchill Archive of Churchill College, Cambridge, provides on its website transcripts of numerous interviews with retired British diplomats about their experiences of great and small events and their views on the conduct of British foreign policy [More >>>]

Yes, it’s Kosovo again: a modest proposal

My letter in Saturday’s Guardian points out the fatal flaw in the solution for Kosovo proposed by Mr Garton Ash. I suggest outlines of a better settlement, least bad for everyone including the Kosovo Albanians, and achievable [More >>>]