Monthly Archives: June 2009

Now that Michael Jackson has checked out of Neverland for the last and final time, it seems that Prime Minister Gordon Brown has taken up residence there.  Or maybe it’s Never-Never-land.  Facing the worst peace-time fiscal crisis this country has … Continue reading →

According to news reports, the government is planning to spend more of our money, this time to warn us of the dangers of climate change, to soften us up for the massive amounts it wants to spend to combat it, … Continue reading →

Consistent with his long-term plan of stealing the Opposition’s clothes, Gordon Brown is set to announce a new range of citizens’ “entitlements” shortly — although it seems he is thinking in terms of access guarantees to public services (which hard-pressed … Continue reading →

The government (I suppose we must still call it that) has announced plans to make available the sum of £4 million, from the funds recovered from criminals, and make it available across the country for community projects.  It is inviting … Continue reading →

This was a front-page headline in this morning’s Daily Telegraph, and it appears to quote Bank of England Governor Mervyn King.   I hate to disagree with such an authority as Mervyn King, who seems exceptionally wise and well-balanced.  His … Continue reading →

A key objective of political leaders is to avoid being seen as a “Lame Duck”.  Once that label sticks, the expectation of mortality is established, the prophecy becomes self-fulfilling, and the only way is down.  This is a professional hazard … Continue reading →

After ten years of arguing and lobbying and campaigning, and many months of “will they/won’t they” speculation, we now have the prize that I’ve worked for and hoped for for the whole of my political career.  Despite all the attempts … Continue reading →

There is no doubt that the Daily Telegraph has done a huge service to the British people, and to the body politic, by publishing its MPs’ expenses files.  They have turned over some stones, and found some pretty unpleasant things … Continue reading →

Our Labour government, and its Lib-Dem fellow travellers, have tried to pretend that the Lisbon Treaty is materially different from the European Constitution which preceded it.  This is the fig-leaf clutched at by Labour to justify their shameful volte face … Continue reading →

It seems that the Heir to the Throne has won a victory over the development plans for the Chelsea Barracks site in London — and thus a victory over the architect Lord Rogers, and the modern architectural establishment.  And he … Continue reading →

A senior Church of England Bishop, The Rt Rev John Gladwin, the Bishop of Chelmsford, argues that middle-class folk who drink at home are just as bad as the louts and ladettes who drink on the streets and create mayhem … Continue reading →

After the euro-elections, Sara and I decided to take a short break in Italy.  One evening we were walking amongst the crowds on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, the old colonnaded bridge over the Arno, with shops along its length, … Continue reading →

It is reported that Ken Clarke has appeared in the media, to say that if the Conservatives form a government after the EU Constitution (aka The Lisbon Treaty) is fully ratified, then they will certainly not want to re-open the … Continue reading →

Amidst the rout of the left across the EU, and especially the rout of Labour in the UK, the lefties have scored one minor success.  Labour, and their fellow-travellers in the media, have repeated their mantra about “Tory MEPs sitting … Continue reading →

Dearly as I love the acrid smell of cordite in the nostrils, the tattered banners, and the war-like cannon’s martial roar, I must confess to a sense of relief that the long campaign is over at last.  And it will … Continue reading →