World
Why does Labour have a problem with flexible working?
Most waiters and waitresses don’t dream of doing the job forever. Being a ‘plate juggler’ or garçon is hard work and can…
The trouble with humanities
Sociology is an academic discipline that I generally steer clear of. It seems as full of trendy guff as Education.…
How Denmark’s royals could help defend Greenland from Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s bloviation about Greenland has been near-constant since he became president elect in November 2024. In the intervening period,…
We are witnessing a managed collapse in the justice system
After weeks of pressure, the Prime Minister has announced that the men who killed on-duty policeman Andrew Harper will not…
We don’t need to be afraid of the Greens any more
There’s an ungallant phrase from the old days, generally used by men, the rotters; ‘Coyote Ugly’ which refers to the…
Why are French kids’ school bags so heavy?
It’s that time of year again in Paris, when the cool breeze and light rain announce the arrival of the…
Is this the way to fix a university education?
Although it has been many – many – years since I was a student, I’ve never forgotten looking at my…
Poland’s homeland defence strategy puts Britain to shame
Russia has demanded that Britain either reverse its ‘hostile line’ on Ukraine or face a direct attack on military targets.…
Nepal must learn from the Rasuwa floods
When I first heard the news that the Rasuwa region in Nepal had been seriously flooded, I barely paid attention.…
Wilderness and war are changing Chernobyl forever
Dappled light falls across the lobby of Pripyat’s abandoned Hospital No. 126, now so smothered by vegetation that it is…
British citizenship has become meaningless
I went back to my hometown recently, a small suburb in north-west London. I strolled the streets, stopped by the…
Choosing a coffin for my younger brother
Ronnie’s family has been in the same line of work since the 1880s. His office is next door to a…
Why stop at Lake America?
The Irish Rovers sang about the biggest mixup that you have ever seen: he was christened David Anthony, but still…
Of course we need a crackdown on H-1B visas
The Trump administration has proposed a fee of more than $100,000 for most H-1B visas. The usual suspects have come out with…
Britain must stand up to the US before it’s too late
Weaponising trade; interfering in the domestic affairs of open societies; using technological dependencies to undermine national security; threatening to invade…
Ratko Mladic was the ultimate Serb hillbilly hero
It’s rather appropriate that General Ratko Mladic, the 84-year-old former commander in chief of the Bosnian Serb army, “Butcher of…
John Healey U-turns on defence spending
It was just 78 days ago that John Healey resigned as defence secretary, heralding the beginning of the end of…
The Windsors have much to learn from Harald of Norway’s reign
The death of the Norwegian monarch, King Harald, at the age of 89 might, initially, seem like a sad but…
The Navy is right to be nervous about Russia’s maritime strength
Russia’s threats towards Britain in recent weeks of ‘consequences’ for its continued support of Ukraine have allowed the government to…
Does it matter that Jason Arday’s memoir is made up?
Bloomsbury’s former editor-in-chief Alexandra Pringle popped up on British television this week to argue that the late Jason Arday’s publisher could not have…
Are tax rises coming?
Welcome to kite-flying season. With exactly two months to go until Andy Burnham and John Healey’s first Budget, we’re beginning…
How radical does Andy Burnham want to be?
Is Andy Burnham running a ‘circuit breaker’ government from the one led by Keir Starmer, or is it a ‘continuity’…
Labour MP defends her kids’ private schools
It’s been a tough old time for private schools. Amid endless self-aggrandising, Keir Starmer’s ministers took great pleasure in whacking…
Has Burnham gone shy on welfare reform?
Will the government ever get around to reforming the welfare system? I ask because Andy Burnham seems to have bottled…
Ceuta’s migrant problem shows no signs of ending
Just under a month has passed since the sudden, mass arrival of approximately 80,000 mostly Moroccans and sub-Saharan Africans in…
