Published by The Independent (19th October, 2015) There are about 60,000 colonies of great crested newts among the ponds of Britain, although even conservationists say they have no […]
European Union / Politics
Cameron should defines his legacy and seize the centre ground
Published by The Independent (6th October, 2015) As the Conservatives open their annual conference, David Cameron has confounded his many critics. From the start of his party makeover […]
Africa / Aid / Eritrea / Europe / European Union / Immigration / Policy
Moving the goalposts to keep out refugees from repression
Published by The Independent (31st August, 2015) Eritrea is routinely called ‘Africa’s North Korea’ for its repression, restrictions on daily life and routine use of torture to crush […]
Europe / Greece / Immigration / Policy / Syria
Delivered from hell to the cauldron of Kos
Published by The Mail on Sunday (17th August, 2015) Helen and Mustafa got married almost a year ago – and like all young couples, had hopes and plans […]
Africa / Aid / Europe / Immigration / Policy / Politics
No minister – our billions in foreign aid make it more likely migrants come here
Published by The Daily Mail (11th August, 2015) With every passing day, it becomes harder to have confidence in the Government’s flailing response to the tide of humanity […]
Aid / Politics
Britain cuts at home, but splashes cash abroad
Published by The Daily Telegraph (23rd July, 2015) The message from George Osborne is clear: Whitehall must slash spending again to find another £20bn in savings. Most government […]
Europe / European Union / Greece
A country that is dying to leave the euro
Published by The Mail on Sunday (14th June, 2015) How does a nation die? This week, in the beleaguered hospitals of Athens, I saw a glimpse of the […]
Europe / European Union / Greece
Who will put Greece out of its misery?
Published by The Daily Telegraph (5th June, 2015) Omonia Square used to be the thriving commercial heart of the Greek capital. But when I was there I saw […]
Europe / European Union / Switzerland
Why the shocking price of Swiss cheese and skiing means the euro is heading for disaster
Published by The Mail on Sunday (18th January, 2015) Yesterday, in a McDonald’s in Switzerland, I saw people paying nearly £8 for a Big Mac and fries. For […]
Africa / Aid / Europe / Greece / Immigration / Libya / Policy
Inside the migrant jails of Fortress Europe
Published by al-Jazeera (16th December, 2014) Travelling around Libya in those days when pictures of a preening Muammar Gaddafi loomed over every public place, I came across some […]
Europe / European Union
Sunk by the EU quotacrats
Published by The Mail on Sunday (30th November, 2014) The rusting stern of the Cornelis Vrolijk towers over the quayside in Ijmuiden, an immense port near Amsterdam. She is […]
Europe / European Union / Politics
How the Tories are helping Ukip
Published by The Independent (17th November, 2014) First Clacton, now Rochester – the unlikely landmarks of British political history as Ukip takes one more step on to Tory terrain […]