Monthly Archives: August 2013

There’s been an hysterical outpouring of angst over the “death of the special relationship”, following that Commons vote and the ill-advised comments of William Hague about a need for national soul-searching.  The Sun has devoted its front page to an … Continue reading →

Or rather, I’ve had a dream.  Last night, I dreamt I went to Manderley again.  No no.  Scrub that.  Wrong story.  That was Daphne du Maurier in “Rebecca”.  Last night I had a dream that I woke up in 1800.  … Continue reading →

There is absolutely no question that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is an appalling development, and an affront to basic human rights.  It is shocking.  And there is little doubt in my mind, based on the news coverage … Continue reading →

Two energy stories caught my eye yesterday.  The first is remarkably good news.  Little Estonia, up there by the Baltic, has become the world’s first country to get all its power from shale. In my excitement I Tweeted the news, mistakenly … Continue reading →

I was a bit taken aback to find a comment on my blog saying: ”I know you as a party don’t like the Poles, and especially those who come to live and work in the UK”.  It came from someone calling … Continue reading →

The redoubtable Clarissa Dixon Wright recently Tweeted calling for donors to boycott the RSPCA.  I endorsed her call, and for good measure I extended it to the RSPB (which has campaigned in favour of wind farms, which kill millions of birds … Continue reading →

Ben Pile is a researcher who works with me and my colleagues on energy issues.  He was interested by my recent blog on the politics of shale gas, and came up with his own very interesting aperçu on the media … Continue reading →

Now that the dust is hopefully starting to settle on the Balcombe protest, it is worth thinking through the political implications of shale gas.  I must admit that I was concerned earlier that a widespread anti-fracking movement across the country … Continue reading →

I have been fairly astonished at the way some sections of the media have treated the case of David Miranda, held for nine hours at Heathrow.  A couple of nights ago, Channel 4 News presented evidence that the Home Office … Continue reading →

Britain’s level of self-sufficiency in food is down to 59%, the lowest level since 1968.  Should we worry?  NFU President Peter Kendall clearly does, and has spoken up to express his concern. This issue seems to have been presented on … Continue reading →

The RSPB, always rather a suspect organisation in terms of its political activities, has excelled itself.   It has formally objected to plans by Cuadrilla to drill for shale gas, on the grounds of potential damage to birds. Remember that the … Continue reading →

Sometimes you just can’t win.  On Monday night at UKIP’s Louth & Horncastle branch meeting, a member of the audience (not yet a member of the Party, but here’s hoping) berated the branch — and the Party — for not … Continue reading →

I get a bit worried when I find myself agreeing with Cameron, Osborne and Davey (Ed Davey, that is, the Lib-Dem “Energy Secretary”).  It doesn’t happen very often.  But it they seem to be right on shale gas. The Tory … Continue reading →

Godfrey Bloom’s recent remarks on Foreign Aid caused a predictable storm of media froth over his choice of language.  But Godfrey has also started a heated debate around the substantive issue.  Just for the record: UKIP’s position is that we … Continue reading →