Published by The Independent (6th October, 2014) There is something absurd about the Liberal Democrat conference, with all those attacks on their partners in government over the past four […]
Europe / France / Politics
Look to France for a vision of life under Miliband
Published by The Guardian (27th August, 2014) History never tires of repeating itself. More than three decades ago Socialists won power in France with promises to revive the […]
Politics
There is an alternative to murky donations from the super-rich
Published by The Guardian (26th July, 2014) The funding of political parties has long been a weeping sore in the British body politic, but it is turning increasingly […]
Policy / Politics
When localism confronts Bonapartism
Published by The Guardian (4th July, 2014) A whiteboard in the corner of Jeremy Hunt’s Whitehall office symbolises a struggle over the soul of modern government. It details […]
Politics
Wise answers needed to the Ukip surge
Published by The Financial Times (23rd May, 2014) Nigel Farage insists his UK Independence party must now be taken seriously following its local election success. This is not easy […]
Europe / European Union / Politics
David Cameron’s right-wing problem
Published by The Wall Street Journal (7th May 2014) Shortly after David Cameron became leader of the Conservatives in Britain, a caller to a radio show asked him about a […]
Politics
Sharpen the axe, minister – there should be more political appointments, not fewer
Published in the ‘i’ newspaper (3rd February, 2014) Although she is a popular figure in Westminster and a peer, Sally Morgan has never been a prominent political performer. […]
Immigration / Politics
The joke’s not on Nigel Farage. It’s on the rest of us
Published in The Guardian (January 29th, 2014) It has been a bad few days for Ukip. First, one of the party’s councillors said that flooding was God’s revenge […]
Health / Policy / Politics
At last, a Health Secretary who puts patients first
Published in The Daily Mail (December 27th, 2013) As in every other walk of life, the ending of the political year offers an opportunity to pause and reflect […]
Politics
Tories would do well to read those deleted speeches
Published in The Guardian (November 15th, 2013) Lynton Crosby, the hard-nosed Australian strategist being paid £500,ooo to ensure the Conservatives win the next election, has a phrase regularly heard […]
Politics
Miliband has given Cameron a golden opportunity
Published in The Guardian (September 26th, 2013) There is consensus on one thing about Ed Miliband’s party conference speech: he has made a significant lurch to the left. He […]
Health / Policy
Worshipping the NHS costs lives
Published in The Independent on Sunday (23rd June, 2013) Imagine if an airline crashed 10 planes each year, killing 3,000 passengers in avoidable accidents. After its most disturbing […]