Published by The i paper (13th October, 2023) When I wrote on Sunday as horrifying details of Hamas atrocities started emerging, my column here was starkly headlined “This is […]
Afghanistan / Defence / Feature / Policy / World
Our troops are doing their best. But Kabul shows how impotent we are without America
Published by The Daily Mail (25th August, 2021) There are few institutions that can still unite our nation in uncritical admiration after a series of scandals challenged our […]
Afghanistan / Politics / World
Blair’s hypocrisy remains unmitigated
Published by The i paper (23rd August, 2021) Ten years ago, I stood in the ransacked residence of the British ambassador to Libya, staring through a hole blasted […]
Afghanistan / Aid / World
Fleeced: How aid billions were squandered in Afghanistan
Published by The Mail on Sunday (22nd August, 2021) If you want to understand the horrifying return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan you could delve into […]
Afghanistan / Aid / World
Our folly and failure in Afghanistan
Published by The i paper (16th August, 2021) The humiliating retreat from Afghanistan has turned into a horror show, the fear and panic in Kabul stirring up dark […]
Europe / Policy / World
Nativism is the new world order
Published by The i paper (16th January, 2017) It is hard to think of a more miserable life than that currently endured by Yacub, a 16-year-old Afghan I […]
Europe / Immigration / Policy / Serbia
The railway children
Published by The Mail on Sunday (15th January, 2017) The snow lay a foot deep as I slid my way alongside railway tracks, covering the nearby piles of […]
Afghanistan / Aid / World
High salaries, bonuses and suspect cash withdrawals
Published by The Mail on Sunday (11th December, 2016) It all sounds so positive on Adam Smith International’s website: an example of the way in which the aid […]
Aid / Politics
Exposed: how foreign aid giant conned MPs with fake evidence
Published by The Mail on Sunday (4th December, 2016) Fat cat foreign aid contractors paid millions by the taxpayer tried to deceive MPs and protect their lucrative business […]
Aid / Politics
The dirty dozen
Published by The Daily Mail (15th April 2016) Britain’s foreign aid budget keeps rising. Currently at £12 billion a year, it is due to soar during David Cameron’s two […]
Afghanistan / Pakistan / World
Message written in blood shows weakness of Taliban
Published by The Daily Mail (16th December, 2014) At first staff thought it was just children playing a boisterous game, for as older pupils sat exams on the […]