Monthly Archives: August 2012

The Sunday Telegraph on Aug 26th led with the story that convicted Al Qaeda terrorists were appealing against their (UK) convictions to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg — a building I can almost see from my … Continue reading →

Last Saturday night (or rather the first hour of Sunday) I was doing the papers review with Sunny Hundal of the leftist blog Liberal Conspiracy  on BBC Radio Five Live.  That’s the Stephen Nolan Show, although Nick Conrad was standing in … Continue reading →

There was a letter in the paper today: “Dear Sir, Anders Breivik should be put to death: not to deter others, but because he deserves it”.  I am inclined to agree, but I’d add that hanging him would also be … Continue reading →

We all know, of course, that the EU is barking.  But sometimes, just sometimes, we come across some odd fact or snippet or report so extreme, so bizarre, that it still has the power to shock.  Something so absurd, so … Continue reading →

There are still people who assume that anyone who questions climate orthodoxy is clearly in the pay of “Big Oil”, and receives regular brown envelopes stuffed with used notes. The truth, of course, is quite the reverse.  In his book … Continue reading →

Last night (or rather, this morning — between midnight and one o’clock) I was doing the newspaper review on the Stephen Nolan Show on BBC Radio 5 Live.  The second reviewer was John Cooper QC, a left-wing barrister.  I’ve been … Continue reading →

Welsh protesters are up in arms over plans by the National Grid to erect lines of pylons through the stunning scenery of the Vyrnwy Valley in Wales, and parts of Shropshire.    The pylons are apparently needed to connect Welsh … Continue reading →

The case for wind power is looking increasingly tattered.  Several reports are arguing that wind plus the necessary conventional back-up delivers emissions savings somewhere between not-very-much and zero, while the costs are frightening.  Yet the government clings to its wind … Continue reading →

I have avoided writing about the Olympics, for the same reason that I never Tweet about football.  I’m one of that small minority who are just not very interested in sport, apart from (in my case) the Marathon (in which … Continue reading →

American Joe Bono was a first-rate staffer for me in Brux for a couple of years.  Now back in the States, he’s working on the Romney campaign in Missouri. When I heard that Mitt Romney had chosen Paul Ryan, a … Continue reading →

Most of the commentators and the chattering classes seem to think that Labour is a no-brainer for the Corby by-election on November 15th, following the unlamented departure of Louise Bagshawe/Mensch. After all, it was a Labour seat for years.  Conservatives … Continue reading →

According to the Press Association, more than 200 green groups, businesses and trade unions have written to the Prime Minister urging the government to back renewables. They say the potential of renewables to boost growth is “tremendous”, and argue that … Continue reading →

Or worried that only 50%+ go to the Rest of the World? Europhiles love to stress the importance of our trade with the EU.  “50% of UK exports go to the EU”, they say.  Wow.  How about that!  Amazing! But … Continue reading →

I have a great deal of time, and a great deal of respect, for Tim Montgomerie of ConHome.  I agree with him on many points — not least with his robust take on climate issues.  So I was a little … Continue reading →