Comments

Gaius_Magnus

2009-11-23 21:38:53

The trouble today is that the politicians have become totally detached from the people. I travel the country and you know what? Everyone I talk to sounds like Peter Davies! What they want is massive reform and politicians who will go out and talk to the public. (By the way, Davies spends about 50% of his time on the street talking to people!)

Climate Change? Yes something is happening but what is the cause? Just before the Global Warming issue, scientists had us believe we were entering an ice age! Scientists told us butter was killing us then killed thousands by suggesting we all at margarine. Aspirin was great for us in small quantities - now it's not - it could kill us with internal bleeding. I believe that in many matters our scientists are like two year olds sat in the seat of a Eurofighter trying to take off.

As a previous commentator mentioned, if Global Warming is as dangerous as our politicians would have us believe, where is the sprint to nuclear? In many ways the signals being sent do not resonate with many of the messages.

What's more, the people who I meet on the peripherals of the scientific community will tell you quietly that they question much of the research - it's just that Global Warming is now a religion and they don't want to be burned at stake.

I recall the collecting of railings in 1940 to make Spitfires. They knew they could nothing with the poor quality metal they collected, but it helped boost morale in the face of severe difficulty!

Either way, we are facing a tsunami of CO2 from China and India; far more than we can ever compensate for, so let's hope it is sun spots and not CO2 that's the cause.

Hazico

2009-11-22 01:33:27

I like your write up today Alistair.

I have a hunch that there is a right wing agenda somewhere out there in the blogisphere- and it's prolific and powerful.I hear the influence of it all the time via letters and blogs in our local press (East Midlands.)
Maybe it has proliferated so much more since Labour has been in power the last 12 years?

It almost sounds like a mantra, whether the subject be immigration or climate change.Some of it is very dodgy and extreme.Maybe it starts out in the tabloid media- I don't know- as I don't read it! But it's certainly emanating, a bit like swine flu...

I think Labour needs to cut through all this nonsense and state its aims and values crystal clearly.The policies must laid out transparently, and delivered with complete honesty and passion.

The public have become jaded and tabloid media weary- no wonder there is such indifference and ambivalence to vote or have faith in any party!

Somehow there has to be a reignition of people's better nature- as was seen during the Obama campaign...we all need to believe we call contribute to improve our lives, and the state of our neighborhoods and the country.

As for challenging the Tories- well, I would have thought the lack of clear policies would be an easy thing to expose!
If the public have no great desire to vote Tory, other to bring about change- then surely this is the golden opportunity to lay out Labour's policies clearly and simply- and to inspire!!

However- I think negative campaigning turns people off...

So,I think there's still everything to play for pre election, and we must all get on board- public and politician.There are many ideas and talents out there that need to be harnessed.

PS.So glad Gordon Brown came to Nottingham yesterday- but we missed him, as didn't know!
Sounds like a highly successful visit though.

Good luck to all- am keeping an eye on the stories and blogs on Labour List; the local press can be just too depressing...

Wyrdtimes

2009-11-22 00:48:51

I certainly don't go along with all of Peter Davies' views but a lot of normal folk seem to like him and his straightforward approach, they also seem to like someone who is prepared to stand up for England and the English for a change. It's all a world away from the spin, lies and betrayal of Labour.

With a bit of luck the people of Doncaster will realise the power they have come the general election and do themselves (and the rest of the country) a huge favour by voting out one of the slimy Millibands.

Bar Bar of Oz

2009-11-21 21:55:04

Recently I re-encountered some Maoist Left activists I had known quite well in the 60s and 70s during the anti- Vietnam war years. They had been instrumental in running the university teach-ins in Australia at the time. One of them had started a second family, and I was intrigued when they told me they had taken their children out of school and were schooling them at home because they objected to the "irrational, illogical climate change RELIGION being stuffed down their kids throats".

Myself have always wondered why, if one accepted the climate change science, the governments of the world were not fast-traking a switch to nuclear power as a stop gap measure? Seemed to me would be the only logical way to make a dent in human produced carbon emmissions by 2050. The fact they were not led me to wonder if the whole thing might be a load of post modern alarmist bullshit, to use an Australian term. But I never even suspected it might be an outright, knowingly perpetrated fraud!

Your post today, Alistair, comes just as this major scandal is breaking out from the University of East Anglia. If these documenrs and emails are genuine, and so far the participants have only admitted their authenticity, I think we will see a large number of scientists coming out of the woodwork and making further revelations. This whole issue might become the greatest scientific fraud ever perpetrated. Unreal.

Alan Quinn

2009-11-21 19:33:55

Alastair, the loony mayor in Doncaster will probably make life worse for its residents but that's politics, they'll only have themselves to blame for voting for him (or not voting full stop).

On climate change, Ed Milliband will no doubt work hard for a deal but if one can't be reached the only thing we can do is within Europe itself. That's why we must go for more renewables, energy security as well as flood defences.
Sadly the evidence on climate change is growing with the floods in Cumbria and our new seasonal changes, ie a glorious week in May/June then the British Monsoon .
The only person living in a cave is in Doncaster and the cave is his mayoral office.

cassander

2009-11-21 18:08:10

Dear Marion,

"Recent signals indicate that the Sahara and surrounding regions are greening due to increased rainfall. Satellites show extensive regreening of the Sahel between 1982 and 2002, and in both Eastern and Western Sahara a more than 20 year long trend of increased grazing areas and flourishing trees and shrubs has been observed by climate scientist Stefan Kröpelin."

This is from Wikipedia - so by all means be sceptic about it.

Marion

2009-11-21 17:09:50

Climate change is a reality. Extreme weather events are occuring all over the planet with increasing frequency. While I find it understandable (though not excuseable) that people in Europe ignore the rapidly expanding Sahara Desert because it isn't on their doorstep, and therefore someone else's problem. I can't understand how the general populace can still question climate change when it IS on their doorstep, like the flooding in Cumbria. I guess it is because the only true way to make a difference is everyone making a personal committment to use our Earth's resources sustainably. Sadly, by the time the nay-sayers and English Democrats get out of their cars, it will be too late for those who scratch a living farming the Sahel.

Mal K

2009-11-21 14:06:25

I cannot believe the devastation in Cumbria. Is it really a once in 1000 years event, or do we have to expect more such tragedies in more parts of the country?

Keith Lawrie

2009-11-21 14:03:29

The Financial Times is the last remaining serious national newspaper in Britain. The rest are comics

David Young

2009-11-21 13:58:49

I was shouting at the news last night - where was Gordon Brown? - so was glad to see he has gone there today. In some ways it does not add anything, but I think people in times of real shock want to see their leaders understanding the gravity and seeing for themselves if anything extra needs to be done

Patsy Hills

2009-11-21 13:56:46

Interesting article in The Guardian too, the reporter shadowing Miliband in the discussions leading to the summit. It underlines how hard it will be, and also how hard the politicians and their staff have to work to make progress. I agree the debate is not helped by idiotic statements by people reaching for the lowest common denominator. People can argue about detail and scale but they cannot deny there is a problem and we all have a responsibility to change

Beware climate change denial dressed up as 'commonsense'

2009-11-21 12:54:27

If you need any reminder of the challenge facing Ed Miliband as he works for a deal at the Copenhagen climate change summit, look no further than today's interview in the Financial Times with the elected mayor in Ed's Doncaster seat.

Peter Davies surprised even himself when he was elected mayor standing for English Democrats, winning support for his anti-European, anti-immigration, pro-capital punishment views. The fact that he will not have the power to bring back the death penalty for pro-European immigrants in Doncaster is neither here not there. He was elected and now has considerable powers to make life better or worse for the people of Doncaster.

It is his views on the environment that show how far Ed has to go before building a consensus view on the importance of tackling climate change. Davies is seeking to reverse a policy of encouraging more people to use public transport, by getting rid of the town's 'quality bus corridor.'

In tones reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher's view that if you were still using public transport over the age of 30, you'd failed in life, Davies says 'People in cars spend more than people on buses. Why wouldn't we want them?'

Seeking to portray himself as the underdog, he says the shift will not be easy because 'we have arrayed against us the climate change alarmists and green fools, who want us all to eat lettuce and live in caves.'

Beware politicians who portray themselves as 'only speaking commonsense' and then talk utter bilge. Let me just repeat his line ... 'climate change alarmists and green fools, who want us to eat lettuce and live in caves.' A nice line for a climate-change denying colimnist in a right-wing tabloid maybe, but as the intellectual basis for an important policy choice, I'm not sure is stacks up.

Elsewhere in the FT, their Weekend Magazine front cover story is based on interviews with climate change scientists, and one sceptic who thinks, as Davies appears to, that the whole climate change argument is a con.

The views of the other scientists are worth reading. At least, unlike Davies with his lettuce and caves, they are based on research and fact, not prejudice and anecdote.

And whilst I imagine the people of Cumbria have more pressing things to do with their time today than put up their feet and read the FT, the link between what they are having to cope with post-flood, and the arguments put forward by some of the scientists, seems pretty compelling to me.

So my good wishes remain with Ed Miliband as he strives for progress at Copenhagen. And with the people of Doncaster that they don't regret too much the choice they have made.

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Publish date: 2009-10-23 11:57:29

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Publish date: 2009-10-22 16:48:39

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Publish date: 2009-10-19 12:31:00

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Publish date: 2009-10-16 19:12:36

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Publish date: 2009-10-16 16:36:02

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Publish date: 2009-10-12 09:26:18

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Publish date: 2009-10-11 11:36:21

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Why Tories and media cannot stomach GCSE success story

Publish date: 2009-08-27 16:03:34

Exposing the absurdity of Chris Grayling

Publish date: 2009-08-26 13:20:19

Joy and beauty and a night of magic

Publish date: 2009-08-20 10:55:11

Twitter NHS backlash good for Obama

Publish date: 2009-08-14 15:44:49

A lifetime's ambition fulfilled

Publish date: 2009-08-08 16:59:02

Breaking the blog-a-day spell as warm up to holiday

Publish date: 2009-07-20 17:44:49

No hiding place from Twitter, me on the bike, JP in DC

Publish date: 2009-07-17 18:17:09

At last - something Obama cannot do well

Publish date: 2009-07-16 10:05:47

Will MPs take the lead in the debate on euthanasia?

Publish date: 2009-07-15 12:30:01

Berlin brothel leads the way to a greener world

Publish date: 2009-07-14 10:57:25

A time for GB to explain the whole picture

Publish date: 2009-07-13 12:37:54

All hail Monty, Jimmy and Collie!

Publish date: 2009-07-12 20:06:36

First triathlon of the summer for me, education award for Fiona

Publish date: 2009-07-12 09:43:06

Of Burnley's friendly and Obama's wandering eye

Publish date: 2009-07-11 12:38:52

Two great early morning moments

Publish date: 2009-07-10 10:27:07

Cameron had better be sure he's right

Publish date: 2009-07-09 11:06:22

Guardian scoop has big questions for press, cops and Cameron

Publish date: 2009-07-08 20:40:54

Divisive legend: Lance Armstrong

Publish date: 2009-07-07 10:38:23

First hug a hoodie, now grab a gay

Publish date: 2009-07-06 12:57:09

Mail on Scumday's wonderful account of Lansley's kipperdom

Publish date: 2009-07-05 13:14:51

Ecclestone undermines his own success with alarming views on Hitler

Publish date: 2009-07-04 14:04:04

When the conmen move more quickly than the council

Publish date: 2009-07-03 10:19:52

Andrew Lansley done up like a kipper

Publish date: 2009-07-02 10:10:52

A day spent interviewing footballers, then being interviewed by a transvestite comedian

Publish date: 2009-07-01 14:47:40

When the power of black eyes fades

Publish date: 2009-06-30 09:24:59

Farewell to Henry Hodge

Publish date: 2009-06-29 20:41:12

Honouring the power of sport to do good

Publish date: 2009-06-29 14:49:42

Andy Murray is a winner. Is that why some Brits don't like him?

Publish date: 2009-06-28 09:19:20

New Parliament will look very different. The younger the better

Publish date: 2009-06-27 17:34:26

Two nice surprises, sad end to day

Publish date: 2009-06-26 09:16:33

Apology from the Spectator on Iraq boosts Henry Hodge fund

Publish date: 2009-06-25 19:57:26

Thanks to Mr Harper on mental health, rebuttal of Mr Hague on Iraq

Publish date: 2009-06-24 23:47:54

Glad to find Eric Cantona in a quiet cinema ...

Publish date: 2009-06-24 00:46:23

By Dave's friends shall we know him?

Publish date: 2009-06-23 11:30:20

The Speaker has to balance tradition and change - but defend Parliament

Publish date: 2009-06-22 11:58:44

Less a blog than an apology for not having done one

Publish date: 2009-06-21 20:07:43

The day Lions skipper Paul O'Connell took my trousers down

Publish date: 2009-06-20 11:48:28

On the Iraq inquiry, Independent article wrong

Publish date: 2009-06-19 20:28:24

Thank you to three readers, now please get involved

Publish date: 2009-06-19 09:13:35

A tribute to a lovely man

Publish date: 2009-06-18 17:19:40

Bad times in Belfast, great day for Burnley, odd statement from Ed Balls

Publish date: 2009-06-18 10:04:47

A plea for five-figure cyber-donations

Publish date: 2009-06-17 07:40:42

On two inquiries

Publish date: 2009-06-16 08:57:39

From India to Iran to Labour wit

Publish date: 2009-06-15 10:13:17

Memories of Princess Diana

Publish date: 2009-06-14 09:54:55

A House Divided?

Publish date: 2009-06-13 02:53:47

A humbling NHS experience, a media row and a good GB speech

Publish date: 2009-06-12 10:48:46

Psychiatrists heading for relegation in 'disease prestige' league table

Publish date: 2009-06-11 10:25:35

The shrinks await

Publish date: 2009-06-10 09:44:16

As Obama fights for healthcare, let's celebrate the record here

Publish date: 2009-06-09 12:52:55

Anger at BNP seats must be turned into activism

Publish date: 2009-06-08 14:11:10

Can today be as frenzied as Friday?

Publish date: 2009-06-07 10:31:04

Take heart from a win in Lambeth

Publish date: 2009-06-06 18:46:40

JP is right there was no proper campaign but Tories still weak

Publish date: 2009-06-05 13:47:20

Do we care more about the NHS or moats?

Publish date: 2009-06-04 00:21:23

Guardian of social justice or attention-seeker?

Publish date: 2009-06-03 10:19:33

Who says Britain can't deliver the best?

Publish date: 2009-06-02 08:08:38

Mainstream has a duty to vote against BNP

Publish date: 2009-06-01 11:03:29

Let Diversity inspire a vote against the hate-filled BNP

Publish date: 2009-05-31 12:24:20

White House whack at UK media well-timed but sure to be ignored

Publish date: 2009-05-30 13:41:00

Elvis has a plan to make MPs King again

Publish date: 2009-05-29 12:09:44

At least there's a campaign on in Italy

Publish date: 2009-05-28 09:04:32

A blow to gay rights and a boost for Cameron's short-termism

Publish date: 2009-05-27 11:27:41

It's my blog and I'll be a big kid if I want to

Publish date: 2009-05-26 23:25:58

Highs feel better after so many lows

Publish date: 2009-05-26 10:13:12

Only one present counts

Publish date: 2009-05-25 11:05:46

Contrast Cheney and Bush

Publish date: 2009-05-24 12:11:45

Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed Britain

Publish date: 2009-05-23 20:49:57

Sport at both ends of the financial spectrum

Publish date: 2009-05-23 09:57:23

Stronger together - whether Scotland or expenses

Publish date: 2009-05-22 10:22:36

Back to Number 10, familiar faces, familiar arguments

Publish date: 2009-05-21 10:14:34

Speaking up for Parliament

Publish date: 2009-05-20 11:44:17

Peace in the Middle East - yes he can

Publish date: 2009-05-19 09:37:35

Breaking news - one frenzy at a time

Publish date: 2009-05-18 10:34:30

Getting a good look at Vince Cable

Publish date: 2009-05-17 09:36:55

How do you solve a problem like Silvio?

Publish date: 2009-05-16 09:32:21

It was the internet wot won it

Publish date: 2009-05-15 10:04:57

There now follows ... a good whack at Cameron

Publish date: 2009-05-14 17:21:28

They got their kit off - so you get your cash out

Publish date: 2009-05-14 07:41:11

Expenses row must not obscure Tory intentions on minimum wage

Publish date: 2009-05-13 16:12:08

We love you Burnley, we do ... what a night

Publish date: 2009-05-13 02:37:17

A tweet cannot express the wonders of TGV

Publish date: 2009-05-12 08:48:31

It's Mind week - Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen Fry

Publish date: 2009-05-11 06:29:15

Hate the Mail, love Obama

Publish date: 2009-05-10 10:04:00

Burnley 1 Reading 0 - a biased report

Publish date: 2009-05-09 21:26:32

MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet again

Publish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19

Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?

Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23

Musings from a sleepless night

Publish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49

Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be righted

Publish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29

Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinks

Publish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02

Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for Cameron

Publish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30

More Mr Benn and Co please

Publish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00

Going Fourth with JP

Publish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41

Journalism - print first, think later

Publish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01

In praise of two poets

Publish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36

JP hits the road again

Publish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11

My night with Eddie Izzard

Publish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25

Explaining the 50p top tax rate

Publish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53

George Best and Martin McGuinness

Publish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35

Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartiality

Publish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56

Guide ro Marathon running part 2

Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34

Good signals on coal and the Olympics

Publish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28

Tips for the London Marathon

Publish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27

Missed the Budget, saw why it mattered

Publish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31

Football good, politics bad. Allegedly

Publish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24

The Great Wall gets greater

Publish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22

Two sides to police story

Publish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54

Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan Boyle

Publish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45

Do muscles have memories?

Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44

Bring back standing at football

Publish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22

When Facebook friends fall out

Publish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16

Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agenda

Publish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16

The spin is all in the prism

Publish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41

A setback, not a crisis

Publish date: 2009-04-13 12:55:19

The real lessons from Damian McBride

Publish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47

Will English always be the dominant language?

Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02

On the pipes and what makes a Scot

Publish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20

John Prescott lazy? NO WAY

Publish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31

David Frost is seventy

Publish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38

The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pm

Publish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31

Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missiles

Publish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24

When a call matters more than protocol

Publish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42

Green Cities Champions League

Publish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53

Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?

Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59

Of Benn and Bono

Publish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16

Memo to Sarko - allez vite a Londres

Publish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17

Happy April Fool's Day

Publish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05

Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpas

Publish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22

Why Kevin Rudd made an impact

Publish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41

Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 process

Publish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28

The Damned United

Publish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04

A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sport

Publish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23

Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed about

Publish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36

A sad sight of the old fearing the young

Publish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07

Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?

Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02

Learning the right lessons from Obama

Publish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15

Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy Ken

Publish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14

Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometown

Publish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09

Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?

Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13

Life beyond Dover ...

Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21

My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20

Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22

Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chess

Publish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13

The Age of Stupid

Publish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13

Is all change good?

Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06

The pressure of being a post-modern sex god

Publish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55

Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with business

Publish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49

Stand up for social workers

Publish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17

Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinner

Publish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25

Start of a new approach from Labour?

Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12

A peace process still strong

Publish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05

Day of destiny for the real footballer of the year

Publish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06

Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in full

Publish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21

Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle press

Publish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37

A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporter

Publish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47

GB - good speech, well delivered

Publish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05

Notes on the environment, a role in EastEnders

Publish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56

She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!

Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59

Some speeches matter more than others

Publish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45

Mental health and the Carling Cup Final

Publish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17

Inside the chocolate factory

Publish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59

GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy Kyle

Publish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36

Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!

Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12

Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?

Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59

Me, Dermot and ten top songs

Publish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19

Names round-up

Publish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39

What's in a name?

Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14

Editing the New Statesman

Publish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36

Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F word

Publish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58

Labour's communications challenge for the NHS

Publish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39

In praise of Keighley

Publish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57

A night at the Emirates

Publish date: 2009-02-17 00:06:51

When marriage is tested

Publish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35

Spare me the myths and the whining

Publish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50

Dave Cameron - is that all there is?

Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55

Boris Johnson: F is for ...

Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10

The Cameron vacuum

Publish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33

Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culture

Publish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47

Eighteen interviews later ...

Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45

Time to talk about Time to Change on Newsnight

Publish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49

So that’s what they mean by online community?

Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51

First blog

Publish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57

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