A new angle on House of Lords reform
Owen has suggested a novel and challenging alternative plan for a reformed House of Lords: a step too far, perhaps? More >>>
Brian Barder's website and blog Brian Barder's website and ephems
Obligatory reading in the New York Times: Bush, Bolton and Iraq
Two key NYT articles throw an unforgiving and depressing light on where President George W Bush is taking the US (and us). More >>>
Land of Hope and Glory: do you blush?
The British middle classes either squirm or sing along with Land of Hope and Glory on the last night of the Proms. Which of them…. [more >>>]
The Stockwell shooting and the police: mistrust the rush to judgement
Demands for the resignation of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, are culpably premature. We should all await the report of the independent inquiry.
Welcome to foreign visitors: all of them!
What has prompted visits to this website from almost every country in the world – and then some? Intriguing.
Robin Cook: Yes, but…
Robin Cook, a true political heavy-weight, deserved most of the eulogies. But he was terribly wrong on Kosovo.
Solving a link problem
If some of my links don’t work, enable pop-ups or right-click to ‘open in new window’.
Deporting to torture
Mr Blair’s plan to deport terrorism suspects to countries liable to torture them, and to pass new laws forcing the courts to uphold it and sabotaging their rights of appeal, is a constitutional monstrosity.
How to Épater les bourgeois, of course
A Guardian columnist’s ill-judged strictures on a pop lyric, and an even worse-judged ‘of course’.