Published by The i paper (10th July, 2023) The state of British politics often induces despair. Westminster is hooked on playing pathetic tribal games and populated by self-centred […]
Politics
Sturgeon, Johnson and the curse of nationalism
Published by The i paper (27th March, 2023) This week sees the end of an exceptional political era. Nicola Sturgeon is standing down as Scotland’s First Minister after […]
Drugs / Police / Policy
Britain’s criminal approach to drugs
Published by UnHerd (30th July, 2021) Our nation’s politicians have long been guilty of an inflated sense of exceptionalism. But there is one area in which Britain indisputably […]
Feature / Politics
If you thought Brexit was fraught…
Published by The i paper (10th May, 2021) One of many curiosities about last week’s elections was the unusual success of incumbents. Historically, such events have been a […]
Politics
Ruth Davidson should have been Tory leader. Instead, she’s on the sidelines
Published by The Guardian (29th August, 2019) The resignation of a Scottish Tory leader does not tend to be seismic political news. I doubt, for instance, many people […]
Crime / Policy
Short sentences prove prison doesn’t work
Published by The Times (28th June, 2018) This is a depressing time for prison reform campaigners. Ministers have announced they are building two new jails ready for another […]
Crime / Policy
A broken prison system – but Scotland pushes for reform
Published by The i paper (29th January, 2018) Two years ago, in those far off days before the Brexit debacle, David Cameron declared prison reform ‘a great progressive […]
Crime / Policy
The solution to overcrowded prisons? Stop locking people up
Published by The i paper (16th October, 2017) Marc Maltby was only 23 years old. Yet he has just become the fifth person to die in a month […]
Politics
The dozen reasons for Labour’s decline
Published by The ipaper (8th May, 2017) On Friday morning I received a text from a Syrian friend who just moved to London and takes strong interest in […]
Politics
The pollsters got it wrong – but they are still crucial for politicians
Published by The Daily Telegraph (20th January, 2016) Shortly before the 2010 general election, David Cameron sat down with the results of the latest in-depth opinion poll. It was […]
Politics
The false prophets of nationalism
Published by The Independent (11th May, 2015) Shortly before election day I spent an afternoon with the affable Danny Alexander as he fought to save his seat in […]
Politics
Last-minute deals turn the spotlight on Westminster
Published by The Financial Times (19th September, 2014) So the most thrilling political debate in recent British history is over, and the divisive force of nationalism has been […]