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It may be that we have reached a stage in Scotland where the whole debate about Scottish independence has gone beyond reason. Some people want independence come what may, just because they want it. There is a limit to the power of argument. People support political positions and then find …

This speech was originally made by the author in the House of Lords on 10 July 2019 My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, has reminded us of his own deep commitment to devolution, and it is one that I share. In his remarks responding to the Minister earlier, the …

“We’ve gone from a democratic exercise involving over 33 million people to the future direction of the country being decided by c.100k+ people while making the rules up as we go along and in which suspending parliament is being seriously discussed. Well done everyone.” – Philip Cowley, Professor of Politics …

A tale of two product launches, set against the most fawningly corporate Pride Month in American history Imagine that you are Jerry Falwell, Jr. or some other notable socially conservative reactionary type, and you see the above image in which the makers of Oreo cookies announce that they are celebrating …

Black people in Italy are 13 times more likely to experience housing discrimination than black people in the UK. In France and Germany they are twice as likely to experience general discrimination in a year as in the UK. These figures are shocking.  The figures for racial harassment are just …

It may be that we have been living in politically momentous times in the UK, but I have found them dull. Yet another vote in Parliament on Brexit, but can I be bothered to find out who won. A brand-new party wins a national election and sets in motion the …

After the economic crisis in 2007-8, the deficit of the United Kingdom skyrocketed to over a record 10% of GDP. In response, a policy of “austerity” was adopted, with an aim to reduce public spending and the government’s budget deficit. This policy has been widely criticised as a Tory ideological …

I’m backing Boris in the leadership election and for the purposes of this article am assuming that, as the polls suggest, he will win the membership vote. This post, however, is focused on the rest of the Cabinet – because a government is about much more than one person. Prime …

Here we go again Rod Dreher has an angry, searching piece in response to the news that the Catholic Bishop of El Paso, Mark Seitz, has apparently been joyfully intimidating American Customs & Border Protection Agency guards into allowing already-rejected or returned migrants from Central America back from Mexico into the United …

Broadcast journalists and comedians are almost uniformly anti-Brexit.  Curiously this unanimity of outlook applies to many other areas. If there were a billion people on the Earth global warming would not be happening.  Global warming is the effect of seven billion people (and rising) on the planet.  Journalists uniformly neglect …

The below speech was made by the author in the House of Lords on 21 May 2019  My Lords, I too greatly welcome this timely and well-judged report from the International Relations Select Committee, and particularly the recommendations to strengthen engagement with the Commonwealth, to invest more in our global …

Many years ago I was walking across the fields of southern Anatolia watching the men scything wheat in the shimmering heat. I sat to drink. A song of loneliness and yearning came from a minaret half a mile away and the men in their baggy trousers came and sat next …

Throughout campaigning for the 2019 European Parliamentary elections, a protest movement against Farage’s Brexit Party got underway. Protest groups on the left started throwing milkshake to try to humiliate and protest against Brexit supporters. Farage himself was “milkshaked”, as was an elderly veteran working as a teller at a polling …

The Brexit News for 24th June. Nick Clegg has hit the headlines as Facebook’s £1m a year, £7m package Vice President of Global Affairs.  His most important statement is that the Russians and Cambridge Analytica did not use Facebook to influence the EU Referendum in 2016.   We already knew this but perhaps …

The bulk of those who support Remain want to hear why we are embarking on Brexit.  They really do not know.  Boris Johnson must explain why leaving the EU is essential. The most important reason for leaving the EU is that it has been given power over most aspects of …

Without the Scots and Northern Irish the vote for Independence in the EU Referendum would have been overwhelming: If there were to be a Second Referendum on EU Membership, so breaking the “once in a generation” rule on referendums, the Scottish and Northern Irish should be given Independence Referendums first …

The below speech was made by the author in the House of Lords on 14 May 2019  Central to any debate looking at press freedom and the harassment of journalists is Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; …

This leadership contest was turning into an identikit Tony Blair TV prepped media circus. With May’s former cabinet colleagues and over optimistic backbenchers struggling to distinguish themselves from her failed Brexit plan. That was until I saw Boris take to the stage. Once again, his energy and star quality stood …

Conservatives leadership challenge Theresa May has finally stepped down as party leader. The race to succeed her as Prime Minister is on. The aim of this is to summarise the relevant candidates and to track progress in the campaigns. The timetable of events is short, May’s last day as leader …

The IMF and Treasury produced reports in 2016 that closely analysed the UK and international economy.  The results of these reports should be read by everyone who is opposed to a No Deal Brexit. The IMF Country Report 16 on the United Kindom has this graph on p31 showing the process of …