Comments

Billy Blofeld

2010-02-02 14:33:43

Clare Short was rather good today. She exposed Blair superbly.

This isn't just down to a question of "judgement" - as much as you would like that to be the case. The truth still yet might just come back to bite you on the arse.

Jorg

2010-01-29 20:22:47

Good evening Alastair,
Have just been watching bits of the Iraq enquiry. PM Blair is a LEGEND - head and shoulders above every European politician since the time of the all-time-greats like Schmidt in Germany for example. A man like that just happens every 50 years or so. No need for airbrushing here...

Charlie Reynolds

2010-01-29 19:22:04

Agree totally with Jonathan below.

Trying to spin the argument doesn't wash. If Blair had argued the point you and he make today in 2003 you would not have got the commons vote.

You are all living up to your rep!

Stephen

2010-01-29 18:38:39

Had Tony Blair made that decision to go to war with Bill Clinton, we would not now still be talking about it.

Tony Blair is a victim of having to work alongside the biggest clown President since nobody! That's why TB is in the dock, not for any other reason. Our great leader went to war with a clown and he is still living with that decision years later.

Jill Knight

2010-01-29 18:07:03

I have been at work so only dipping in and out, but what comes through to me is a sincerity and also a deep understanding of issues that most people do not have to address. I was always a 'don't know' on the war, but I really dislike the way so many who disagree with Mr Blair express their disagreement. He was a good prime minister and he remains in my view a good man and our country's politics misses him

crookedmouth

2010-01-29 17:28:42

"I'm all for twitter as one form of communication, but I'm not sure we need the running commentary of reporters, or the constant reminders of what has already been said."

Of course you don't like it AC, because it draws attentions to TB's inconsistencies. Just in case you missed it - a useful post from your mate Gilligan:

"During the afternoon break, the Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan, speaking to BBC News 24, says that the Chilcot panel are "starting to get it", although they still let witnesses off the hook more than they should. On his Telegraph blog Gilligan says that amidst all the bluster today Blair has made two key admissions; 1) that the threat posed by Iraq was not growing; and 2) that he may have misled MPs in July 2002 by telling Parliament that Britain was not planning for an invasion."

Am surprised he has not been quizzed further on the Fern interview and his statement 'we would have deployed other arguments" when asked what he would have done if he knew there were no WMDs in Iraq at the time. Other arguments for what..... rather goes against his assertion today that it was only ever about WMDs.

Query too - why were our troops sent in without proper NBC kit if WMDs were such an issue - negligence of the hightest order if nothing else.

Jane

2010-01-29 15:48:33

I agree. I do read the web site which as you say is excellent. The Iraq Digest site is also very good. Like you, I cannot watch the main channels broadcast of the enquiry. Why oh why do journalists take us all as dimwits and unable to interpret or understand questions and replies. Further, I disagree with so much of the interpretation placed on words by journalists. I have just listened to the World at One - one can almost know what those taking part were going to say. As I have a rather large TV, I use the red button which means like the Parliament Channel, I can omit commentary from so called expert journalists.

I agree that Tony Blair has defended his decision making very well. What struck me more than anything else this morning is that he was a very good strategic thinker - much more than I was aware of. I think he demonstrated his strategy very well. It all made sense to me.

I believe that we made the right decision at the time and I know that polls at the time indicated that the majority of the citizens of this country felt the same. I get very angry at those people who now seek to rewrite their views and or decisions based on what we now know. Last night on the World Service, Michael Meacher gave an interview, the content of which demonstrates the type of person I mean. How silly they all are. People generally accept that honest decisions are made based on evidence available at the time. To witness people trying now to suggest they were manipulated (last night's interview) is pathetic. What weak people we have in Parliament when they say they are manipulated.

I have been reading around over the lunch time and as to be expected, regardless of the testimony provided to the enquiry, its validity, its honesty or whatever, peoples minds are made up (as are the media). Somehow, I feel that those opposed to the war, those military families who blame the Government (the majority do not), seem to dominate the media. People like me are not heard. A balanced and fair media as Fox News says!!!!Is it any wonder that newspaper circulation is falling and that all of us - even us oldies rely on the web for our news.

rhian

2010-01-29 15:02:52

What a relief to hear Tony Blair giving us a powerful reminder of the threat we were (and still are) under after 9/11. Its about time the balance was re-dressed: there have been too many years of people naively attacking the decision to go to war when they don't understand the fantacism of Islamic extremism and characters like Saddam Hussein who was financing suicide bombers through out the region. Maybe we will need Blair back when we and the US are inevitably going to have to make a decision about the Iranian threat.
Secondly, I sympathise with all these mothers and fathers of dead soldiers, but they always say, Tony Blair passes the blame to everyone else; what they forget is that when someone joins the army, it isn't up to their parents to decided which is an ok war for them to fight and which isn't. It is decided by parliament on the basis of intelligence, national security and complex UN negotiations. They are projecting all their loss onto the government, which is understandable but not realistic.

Sue Pritchard

2010-01-29 15:01:16

No one doubts that leadership requires judgement. And leadership in such difficult circumstances requires the most careful judgement. But judgement must be supported by a careful, reflexive and serious review of the evidence - as well as an ability to question and reflect on one's deeply held assumptions and limiting mindsets (and those of partners and allies). In these circumstances it is not enough to rely on faith or belief. "I truly believe what I did was right" is the narcissist's defence.

Seems to me that in the end, the evidence that counted was that which supported Blair (and Britain's) status as friends of the US.

And, seems to me, the 'what if' scenarios you're referencing now are just extensions of an attempt at post hoc rationalisation, when, in the end, the evidence has proved that the judgement was wrong.

Saddam was a without doubt a deeply unpleasant and dangerous man - but he was not responsible for 9/11 and there were no WMDs...
.

Jonathan

2010-01-29 15:00:34

Posted this against wrong blog originally ...

The world may well be a better place without Saddam. But that was just not the case put to the British people. No matter how much people squirm, spin or wriggle it was ALL about WMD. There can be no serious doubt that the evidence on WMD was spun and massaged.

By all means, argue that the end justified the means. Hey, you might even be right on that. But please stop trying to pretend that the public weren't misled, and deliberately misled, about the evidence for Saddam Hussein's WMD programme.

Sara Tidy

2010-01-29 14:56:53

Another outrageously inept piece of broadcasting (as I write) from the ITV lunchtime news. Where do they get candidates for their live interviews from? Anyone at all in the room seems fit to comment on today's proceedings - from the doorman to the cleaner! As a senior officer friend of mine, currently serving in Kabul says, and I quote; 'A few things to bear in mind when you hear the news, the whining etc: Our kit is as good as it can be wpns, vehs, body armour. Training outstanding. guys and girls are some of the best that UK has. Everybody here volunteered to be in the forces and accepts whatever happens.' If you join the army as a career, at some point you should expect that there is the possibility you may have to actually do what you're trained and paid to; Fight for your country'. Of course I feel desperately sorry for the families that have lost loved ones - but they knew what they were doing when they signed up. Don't disrespect theirmemory, or denegrate their courage and bravery in wanting to defend their country, with post-rationalisation hysteria. The same goes for Tony Blair. He took an immensely brave and difficult decision which many others would have cowered from making. Don't berate the man for the courage and personal integrity he showed. He did his job in the best interests of his country. He deserves our praise not press driven indignation. Makes my blood boil!!!! Rant over :-)

Jerry Grahame

2010-01-29 14:26:50

AC, shame you;re not watching the TV. Just seen an Iraqi woman saying she cannot understand why Britain isn't proud to have liberated the people from Saddam Hussein. Same point you made a couple of weeks ago. Agree Blair is doing well.

Pat Holder

2010-01-29 14:22:55

He is reminding me why I liked having him around as prime minister. He is in a different league to the Brown/Cameron league of leadership.

Mark Wright

2010-01-29 14:22:54

I've never doubted Blair's integrity and I never will. His 2010 argument was spot on.

People constantly overlook Blair's concern of the consequences of letting America go it alone. He made the same point in the chamber of the House back in 2003 almost as forcefully as his argument for disarming Iraq. He's made the point again today. These are the shades of grey involving the Iraq debate that I have never seen explored in the countless hours of media coverage.

Military acttion is bloody. It's dirty. People die. To think that Tony Blair, or any British Prime Minister, would make the decision to take military action on a whim, or to cosy up to an American President is an insult to the thousands involved in implementing that decision.

Harry Pearson

2010-01-29 14:21:17

Even in just a few hours, it is possible to see the complexity of some of the issues, alongside the wretched simplicity of so many of the arguments put by those who disagree, not to mention the simplicty of the media and the commentary surrounding this. Thanks for the tip about the website

Mark

2010-01-29 14:19:54

It's rather gratuitous of you to suggest that some of the anti may express themselves more violently. More violently than what? The Bush/Blair shock & awe? Saddam? Our warlord allies in Iraq & Afghanistan? The police who invoke anti-terror laws against peaceful protest? A spin doctor who is infamous for swearing at and bullying his own friends and colleagues?

Simon Gittins

2010-01-29 14:18:24

'....and will display the same combination of guts principles and statesmanship as TB will'

The only similarity between Brown and Blair is that both are prepared to lie to the electorate when it suits them, principles ?, don't make me laugh.

Chris M

2010-01-29 14:16:51

'The millions of comments...are only two views. He made the right judgement. Or he made the wrong judgement.'

Later...

'Too much of this debate is conducted in black and white terms'

Which one is it, Alastair?

TB made a judgement, and is defending it well

2010-01-29 14:04:38

I watched most of this morning's TB session on the Iraq inquiry website. I don't know who put the site together but I wished we'd had more of them around when I was doing government communications. It is clear, simple and very well designed.

It also means it is possible to watch a screen freed from the clutter of broadcasters who seem to think the public's attention span is as a gnattish as theirs. I'm all for twitter as one form of communication, but I'm not sure we need the running commentary of reporters, or the constant reminders of what has already been said.

I said when this inquiry first started that some people will never believe that there was a case for the war in Iraq, and will always believe that there was some duplicity or conspiracy behind the decision to go to war.

There was nothing said this morning that I haven't heard many times before, but for me the most important part of the procedings was when TB pointed out that ultimately this was a judgement that he as Prime Minister had to make.

The inquiry is rightly going over all the key moments in the decision-making processes involved, and pointing out that at every turn, different options could have been pursued and different decisions taken. That is the nature of any walk of life, but perhaps especially politics and international statesmanship.

It is clear from the blanket coverage, here and abroad, the all day trending on twitter, and the volume of traffic to news sites, that his appearance will generate millions of comments, but ultimately there are only two views. He made the right judgement. Or he made the wrong judgement.

Many of those who think he made the wrong judgement may express themselves more violently, and frankly nothing said today is likely ever to move them from the position they hold.

As someone who thinks he made the right judgement, and as someone who saw all the processes that led to him making it, I think what today has shown so far is that he was fully seized of the enormity of the decision, but that ultimately the security and strategic interests of the UK left him with no option but to take the course he did.

Too much of this debate is conducted in black or white terms. Political and diplomatic judgements are rarely black and white. But those who say he was wrong, let alone those who say he is evil, or a liar, or any of the other insults bandied around by opponents, at least have to acknowledge the 'what if' question that he posed this morning. What if Saddam had been left unchecked, continuing to defy the UN and face down the world, and what if he had continued to develop and one day use - as he had before - a WMD programme? Judgements are rarely black and white. Nor are unintended consequences. There would have been consequences to inaction too.

Archive

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Publish date: 2009-12-09 11:03:25

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Publish date: 2009-12-05 09:53:35

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Publish date: 2009-12-04 10:52:37

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Publish date: 2009-12-03 08:21:10

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Publish date: 2009-12-02 10:59:45

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Publish date: 2009-11-28 11:37:29

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Publish date: 2009-11-27 20:51:29

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Publish date: 2009-11-26 13:59:57

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Publish date: 2009-11-25 10:26:22

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Publish date: 2009-11-24 10:17:48

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Publish date: 2009-11-23 10:17:12

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Publish date: 2009-11-22 11:12:38

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Publish date: 2009-11-21 12:54:27

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Publish date: 2009-11-20 12:35:23

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Publish date: 2009-11-19 10:09:00

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Publish date: 2009-11-18 18:32:39

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Publish date: 2009-11-18 09:52:12

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Publish date: 2009-11-17 17:17:11

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Publish date: 2009-11-17 11:40:14

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Publish date: 2009-11-16 12:10:25

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Publish date: 2009-11-15 13:18:38

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Publish date: 2009-11-13 11:22:00

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Publish date: 2009-11-12 14:39:11

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Publish date: 2009-11-11 17:59:53

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Publish date: 2009-11-11 08:59:01

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Publish date: 2009-11-10 13:00:20

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Publish date: 2009-11-09 10:30:44

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Publish date: 2009-11-07 10:53:53

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Publish date: 2009-11-06 10:31:48

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Publish date: 2009-11-05 10:58:46

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Publish date: 2009-11-04 10:34:36

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Publish date: 2009-11-03 20:37:04

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Publish date: 2009-11-03 11:58:59

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Publish date: 2009-11-02 11:37:23

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Publish date: 2009-11-01 09:29:34

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Publish date: 2009-10-30 11:50:44

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Publish date: 2009-10-29 11:44:12

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Publish date: 2009-10-28 09:14:22

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Publish date: 2009-10-27 09:41:48

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Publish date: 2009-10-26 17:21:17

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Publish date: 2009-10-24 09:48:46

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

Margaret Hodge MP on how to fight the BNP

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

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Publish date: 2009-10-21 17:24:18

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Publish date: 2009-10-21 10:36:15

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Publish date: 2009-10-20 12:16:37

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

Hating the Mail - a mindset worth having

Publish date: 2009-10-17 11:28:12

A line by line guide to the Mail statement on Gately article outrage

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

Hit the Mail where it hurts

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

Talking Cameron and Obama with US Democrats. Progressive Convervatism? No, he can't

Publish date: 2009-10-16 10:02:40

Inspired by kids' green passion

Publish date: 2009-10-14 18:24:13

Good news on leukaemia, good news on student activism

Publish date: 2009-10-13 08:24:21

Musings from Bertie Ahern, and how I won the Nobel prize for literature

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

Continuing double standards in the media

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

The best policies in Cameron's speech were those of Labour Big Government

Publish date: 2009-10-08 17:07:40

Tongues slipping all over the place

Publish date: 2009-10-08 09:00:07

Cameron confuses strategy and tactics and puts Union at risk

Publish date: 2009-10-07 10:29:26

Osborne inspires apathy at BBC Leeds

Publish date: 2009-10-06 16:01:59

Let's see more of the Tory candidates please

Publish date: 2009-10-06 09:23:11

Labour needs to fight on record to stop Tory vandalism

Publish date: 2009-10-05 14:28:40

VacuDave goes all peevish at difficult questions. Bring on the debates

Publish date: 2009-10-04 23:33:52

Lots of joking around in Jersey, though nothing as hysterical as Dave's Europe position

Publish date: 2009-10-03 10:31:22

On The Sun, Obama in Copenhagen and Alistair McGowan on the loo

Publish date: 2009-10-01 10:59:49

Sun switches ain't wot they used to be

Publish date: 2009-09-30 10:17:14

Darling and Mandelson show what I mean by authenticity

Publish date: 2009-09-28 16:28:18

Serious Politics 1 Low Journalism 0

Publish date: 2009-09-27 11:55:54

Media's love for Cameron should be turned into a weakness

Publish date: 2009-09-26 10:30:03

Time for ministers to stand up and fight

Publish date: 2009-09-25 09:40:26

Today's media double standards watch

Publish date: 2009-09-24 09:29:45

Breaking News - GB wins award, Lib Dems face all ways

Publish date: 2009-09-23 09:43:49

Why authenticity is the key to comms, and why Merkel will win

Publish date: 2009-09-22 08:29:13

Why I love NHS walk-in centres

Publish date: 2009-09-21 12:13:03

Here goes with the smoked Salmond

Publish date: 2009-09-20 10:40:21

Breaking News - Cameron's vacuousness an impersonator's nightmare

Publish date: 2009-09-19 11:06:09

Cameron has an army of spin doctors - aka journalists

Publish date: 2009-09-18 10:07:06

On Scottish independence, Cameron's short-termism, and Jimmy Carter being right

Publish date: 2009-09-17 09:56:56

Is Cameron Alex Salmond's Trojan Horse?

Publish date: 2009-09-15 10:13:42

On the TUC, Roy of the Rovers and Anna Wintour

Publish date: 2009-09-14 11:04:46

Memo to Apple boss Steve Jobs

Publish date: 2009-09-13 17:36:31

A day in the life of a (crap) City trader

Publish date: 2009-09-11 17:52:25

Defend record with pride, attack Tories with gusto

Publish date: 2009-09-10 11:06:36

Cameron's Conservatism beyond parody

Publish date: 2009-09-09 10:38:00

On transforned cities, and tales of Princess Di and Laura Bush

Publish date: 2009-09-08 09:45:54

Labour should put minister up against Griffin on Question Time

Publish date: 2009-09-06 12:39:56

School speech the latest source of right-wing frothing at Obama

Publish date: 2009-09-05 08:23:02

More horse's mouth, less Beeb blah please

Publish date: 2009-09-04 22:49:20

Real respect for sport can be Olympic legacy

Publish date: 2009-09-04 09:27:34

First ladies watch out for Japanese bombshell

Publish date: 2009-09-03 10:47:19

TV debate - good idea in theory, but ...

Publish date: 2009-09-02 15:37:43

'No worries' - the new response to thanks

Publish date: 2009-09-01 12:25:19

Tremors of Japanese political earthquake will be felt far and wide

Publish date: 2009-08-30 15:50:54

Pressure on Ed Miliband can help get a climate change deal

Publish date: 2009-08-28 13:39:08

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

Blog