BLOGS
Hats off to Sarah Montague
Well done to the BBC Today programme’s Sarah Montague for not screaming abuse at Tommy Robinson, the English Defence League leader, when she interviewed him this morning. It seems that… Continue reading
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Dave does not play the Game of Thrones
Plots, summary executions, sex scandals, leaks and treachery. No, not the last few weeks for the Prime Minister, but rather your average episode of HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones.… Continue reading
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Anon’s Baby Song; a lullaby for your baby tonight
Writing, as I have done, about the Bodleian’s holdings of Jane Austen or Byron is all very well, but our most prolific author is Anon. He (or she) leaves his… Continue reading
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Andrew Mitchell, friend of the civil service
Tensions between some ministers and the civil service are at boiling point, with vicious briefings taking place on both sides. Seemingly keen to keep the pen-pushers sweet, former Chief Whip… Continue reading
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The fatuousness of a scientist. Steve Jones edition
It’s refreshing to hear an eminent scientist like Professor Steve Jones concede that their discipline has delivered less than it promised, and to hear him voice scepticism about the pace… Continue reading
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Professor Steve Jones: Why I think religion is a bad thing
Steve Jones is Emeritus Professor of Genetics at University College London. Some of his previous books include: The Language of Genes, Y: The Descent of Men, The Single Helix, and… Continue reading
57 Comments
Of course spooks snoop. More power to them
Can I just share with you my satisfaction that the CIA has access to my emails and all the social media sites I visit from time to time? This has… Continue reading
40 Comments
Turkey redux
It must be boring for you too, returning to the same complaint, over and over again. Report on the BBC’s 10 O’Clock News about the trouble in Turkey. Not a… Continue reading
55 Comments
Little Moscow
To Kensington last night, to celebrate Russia Day at the glorious mansion of the noble, kind and august ambassador. There was patriotic music, oratory of great distinction and the crowd… Continue reading
3 Comments
Tom Sharpe nearly killed me
I was on a train when it happened. I was bent double with my head between my knees, gasping for air and unable to speak. The Surrey matriarch sitting opposite… Continue reading
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Nice day for a Westminster wedding
Hearty congratulations are in order for Aidan Burley, the naughty Tory MP and Britain’s biggest fan of the Olympic opening ceremony. The Cannock Chase MP popped the question in Sri… Continue reading
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Where was Lord Adonis during those 5 days in May?
Andrew Adonis is in the loop. At least that’s the impression you might get from 5 Days in May; his account of the various coalition discussions after the 2010 election. His… Continue reading
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Michael Gove’s naked ambition
High politics can be a grubby business. To a backstreet Westminster pub last night to watch Michael Gove fill the re-election coffers of Tory MP Tobias Elwood. The Tory party likes Michael… Continue reading
14 Comments
Meet Chen Guangcheng – a hero of the Chinese people
The other week I had the honour of spending some time with a great hero. Chen Guangcheng is the blind Chinese human rights activist who made world news last year… Continue reading
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How Equality will do for the Right in the end
As the Same Sex Marriage result shows, the doctrine of Equality now carries all — family, religion, tradition, freedom — before it. Lots of Conservatives prate in favour of it without… Continue reading
136 Comments
Syria: What has changed to make western intervention a necessary or realistic policy?
Peter Oborne is back in his David-Cameron-is-not-Disraeli-he’s-mad mode this week. He accuses the Prime Minister of losing the plot over Syria. As always, the ghosts of Iraq stalk this debate… Continue reading
37 Comments
A dream come true
It only took me twelve years as a published writer to get round to seeing one of my own books being printed. But when it came the experience set off… Continue reading
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AM Homes’ May We Be Forgiven wins the Women’s Fiction Prize
AM Homes’ May We Be Forgiven has won the Women’s Fiction Prize, beating a strong field that included Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith, Barbara Kingsolver and Kate Atkinson. Homes, who is an American writer, is… Continue reading
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Pippa Middleton to write for Vanity Fair
There is some shock in Fleet Street tonight, following news that Pippa Middleton is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. The magazine was the last of the late Christopher Hitchens’ haunts; that’s a very long… Continue reading
12 Comments
Dear Laurie Penny, please explain this
Mr Steerpike has checked his privilege, and he’s a radical feminist. Middle class, self-loathing and instinctively liberal, how could he not be? A devotee of feminist blogs, I was intrigued to… Continue reading
43 Comments