Monthly Archives: May 2013

So much has been written about the Woolwich atrocity that I hesitate to add to it.  But I would like to draw attention to an excellent piece by Professor Michael Burleigh of Buckingham University. He castigates the “Prevent” strategy, which he … Continue reading →

The BBC Radio 4 Today Programme on May 27th (Bank Holiday) carried a discussion of Foreign Secretary William Hague’s efforts to persuade the EU to lift its arms embargo on Syria, so that Hague could pursue his pet project of … Continue reading →

I’ve had a fairly astonishing 65 comments (and counting) on my recent blog on Green Energy. Martin Lack lists all the learned organisations that accept the climate orthodoxy, as though that proves something, and seems quite upset at my suggestion … Continue reading →

Last Tuesday I visited the Arlette Gruss Circus, in the pretty Alsace town of Colmar, an hour’s drive from Strasbourg.  I was a guest of  the Association for the Promotion of Traditional Circus Arts, APTCA. It is decades since I … Continue reading →

  I always thought that John Cridland, Director General of the CBI, was a pretty sensible sort of chap.  I wouldn’t say I know him well, though I’ve met him a couple of times over the years.  But what I’ve … Continue reading →

I have been arguing for a long time that EU energy policy is a disaster for competitiveness.  It is driving up energy costs, forcing industries, and investment, and jobs out of the EU altogether.  And at the same time, it … Continue reading →

No.  Honest.  I’ve checked the date, and it’s May 19th (as I write), not All Fools’ Day (except in Brussels, where it’s All Fools’ Day all the time).  It really does seem to be true that the EU wants to … Continue reading →

Those who follow EU affairs will remember Tony Blair’s extraordinarily naïve decision to give away a big chunk of our EU budget rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher at Fontainebleau, in exchange for a promise of a “root and branch reform” … Continue reading →

There’s been an outbreak of Euroscepticism in the Tory party — or at least we could say that the firmly-held conviction of most party members and activists has once again broken through the arrogance, hubris and indifference of the leadership.  The … Continue reading →

It’s quite extraordinary to see the contortions into which Cameron has got his Party over the John Baron amendment “regretting” the lack of an EU referendum Bill in the Queen’s Speech. First Downing Street was reportedly “relaxed” about Tory MPs — … Continue reading →

One of the advantages of a long-haul flight is the chance to sit down and read.  On a recent flight, I picked up a copy of Super Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner, the sequel to their hugely successful Freakonomics.  Promoted under … Continue reading →

Back in October, I published UKIP’s Energy Policy Statement, warning that “the lights could go out by 2020”.  Many people thought I was being alarmist.  But a new report from analysts at Liberum Capital, a London-based investment bank, suggests that I … Continue reading →

  Tory MP Bernard Jenkin is a good guy, and genuinely wants to do the right thing.  It’s just a shame that he’s in the wrong party. Of course the Tories post-last-Thursday are terrified of the rise and rise of … Continue reading →

I’ve just come across a perfect example of how the European parliament over-eggs the pudding.  We have, coming up, a revision to the Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.  It appears to be directed particularly at unconventional gas.  And an amendment … Continue reading →