Principles of Democracy
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The Best Defence is a Good Offence
As if they anticipated the court’s decision, the Mail on Sunday published an attack on the Good Law Project’s founder, Jolyon Maugham QC, last weekend. The article includes irrelevant references to Mr Maugham’s killing of a fox in his garden and implies that donations which finance the Good Law Project may not be used as…
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Three Good Apples
The interview board spoke to four applicants for Ofcom chairman and recommended three of the candidates to the Government. Their response is to appoint a new interview board, rather than appoint one of the approved candidates. It had been expected that PM Boris Johnson’s preferred candidate, Paul Dacre, would be appointed in May. The interview…
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Mistakes as an Artform
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has kept a clear line throughout the pandemic by arguing for the economy. Has this sidelined the health and lives of British citizens? A year ago, when the first lock-down was only a few weeks old, he impatiently argued for a speedy return to “normality”. In early June…
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Conservative Coup Could Be Cultural Cleansing
During the last 18 months close allies to the Government have filled seats on boards of public bodies. Peter Riddell, the commissioner for public appointments commented on this in a speech last week. He emphasised that the “breadth of the campaign and close engagement of 10 Downing Street” makes a difference from earlier such trends.…
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UN-Acceptable Racism Report
The Johnson Government has not only been taken to court by the EU for breaking international law, the UN now accuses No 10 of normalising white supremacy. After the Black Lifes Matter protests last year Samuel Kasumu, special adviser for civil society and communities, initiated a report on racism in the UK. The report was…
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From Russia with… love?
Russia still poses an active threat to the UK, according to the Government’s Integrated Review, published in March. Vladimir Putin stated in 2019 that a government’s duty is to create a stable life for its citizens. He went on to say that liberal democracies have failed in providing this stability for people. This was the…
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Our Door Stays Open
Reflections from the European Parliament by Terry Reintke, MEP It has been more than a year now since we had to say goodbye to our UK colleagues in the European Parliament. We sang “Auld Lang Syne” together and tried to look ahead as the damaging decision for the UK to leave the EU was finalised.…
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Join or Slip Away
The 1990’s offered hopeful days when the peace process started in Northern Ireland. It took years to finalise what has become known as the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The EU has created the longest period of peace between the member states since Roman times because it offers countries an opportunity to discuss and work…
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Money not Sex
At the weekend it was confirmed – what many had long suspected – that there had been an affair between the Prime Minister and Jennifer Arcuri. As sordid and sad as the story may be, with a deceived wife, let-down children and abandoned lovers along the way, their bedroom stories should be their own business…
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Historian receives Death Threat
A professor working for the National Trust has received death threats for exploring the historical links to slavery of the charity’s properties. The report was criticised for being “woke” when it was first published last September, which led to an investigation whether the trust had breached charity law. The Charity Commission has now ruled that…