The reciprocal closeness in the relationship between journalism and power is a prominent feature of British political history. In times of war or national crisis, media organisations are expected more often than not to behave as if they were an … Continue reading
As the Brexit debate deteriorates in quality at an alarming rate, it appears that any hope of Britain returning to its democratic senses is receding fast. The most recent cases include Ian Duncan Smith dismissing Kier Starmer, shadow Brexit minister … Continue reading
Stephanie Petrie, University of Liverpool Referrals to the British government’s deradicalisation programme Channel are on the rise, it has been reported. The Channel programme was imposed on all local authorities in England and Wales as part of the 2015 Counter-Terrorism … Continue reading
In September, I blogged about the hollow morality of the UK & US refusing to pay hostage ransoms to ISIS because it “rewards” the crime and “puts others lives at risk”. Apart from saving lives, among the key reasons for … Continue reading
Theresa May has raised the UK government‘s official measure of the likelihood of a terrorist attack on British soil to “severe” from “substantial”. Exactly what are ordinary members of the public supposed to do with that information? There is nothing meaningful … Continue reading
The US Treasury Department estimates that various European nations have paid around US$168m in ransom money to jihadist abductors, including Islamic State (IS), since 2008 – an average of US$28m per year. This number is denied by the German, French, … Continue reading
The Liberal Democrats weaselly attempts to distance themselves from a policy that could only have been enacted with their connivance demonstrates conclusively that this batch of politicians have no honour and should never be trusted with power again. Original clips © BBC / Channel 4 … Continue reading
The following (excluding the Panorama Hacking Trial video) was received this afternoon by email from the Hacked-Off campaign which I wholeheartedly support. Please consider signing the petition to stop Rupert Murdoch and others from exerting too much control over our … Continue reading
“Reformism in local government has a Faustian history, often involving shady deals, compromised principles and unexpected outcomes as much as successful attempts to establish social justice in cities. Play your cards right and you can, like Herbert Morrison’s London county … Continue reading
Any time a politician, or any public figure for that matter, tries to discuss the subject of wealth and income inequality they are immediately castigated in the right-wing media as being engaged in “class warfare“. Even president Obama, who had … Continue reading
Almost exactly a year ago, the core argument used by right-wingers around the world to justify accelerated budget deficit reduction, Reinhart and Rogoff’s “Growth in a Time of Debt”, was fatally undermined by Thomas Herndon, an economics graduate student, when he … Continue reading
It is said that what happens in the US happens in the UK shortly afterwards. This clip of the Daily Show shows US conservatives making the argument that it is ok to attack the incomes and the dignity of the weakest and the poorest … Continue reading
The UK is a great nation. I am not joking. Despite what you may have read in the Daily Mail, by and large, the UK is an advanced, civilised, law-abiding country and it is a wonderful place to be born … Continue reading
Jeremy Paxman discusses wealth inequality and a global wealth tax with Thomas Piketty author of “Capital In The 21st Century” on Newsnight (30 April 2014). Video © BBC *********************************************** Wealth inequality and other things we don’t have to learn from … Continue reading
It is said that what happens in the US happens in the UK shortly afterwards. This clip of the Daily Show was broadcast in August 2011 and touches on many of the same arguments used by the Conservative Party in the … Continue reading
I Am Incorrigible 