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Mark Steel: What's Going On?

Mark Steel: What’s Going On?

Mark Steel is the Jeremy Clarkson of the left. Just cleverer. And funnier. And not so naff. And much better dressed. Steel's book, What's Going On? is hilarious but as a humour book it's strangely unsatisfactory. It's about the degeneration of a relationship, the decline of the left as a force ... Read more »
Gordon Brown's Christmas Card

Gordon Brown’s Christmas Card

Yes, I read Iain Dale: the Conservative party's unofficial blogger-in-chief. He's a good writer and a great blogger but I am bewildered that he sticks with 'blogspot'. Pony. He shared Gordon's Christmas card and it made me titter. Hat tip. ... Read more »
I passed my Eleven Plus

I passed my Eleven Plus

The BBC has published a cute mini-Eleven Plus that gives a taste of the test that determined the futures of British children for three decades. An Eleven Plus pass sent you to Grammar School and fail meant the tech or secondary modern. Of course, I should pass the Eleven Plus. I have two ... Read more »
No Dogs Health & Safety Nonsense

No Dogs Health & Safety Nonsense

I have a niggling suspicion that Health and Safety legislation is being used, especially by lily-livered deskbound, risk-averse managers at large companies, as a smokescreen to ban things they just don't like. Take the above sign from Shepherd Neame's Prince of Wales in Cleaver Square, ... Read more »
Raise a pint to common sense

Raise a pint to common sense

A conversation in my local pub reminded me of the fundamental absurdity of some of the arguments promoting increased taxes and regulation on the good old British boozer. The aim is to limit binge-drinking and tackle excess alcohol consumption in general. I was supping a nourishing and refreshing ... Read more »
Those new coins...

Those new coins…

I've been praising the bold and modern design of the new sterling coinage featuring fragments of the Royal Standard. Quite a few people have commented that they 'look forrin' and I see their point. But I liked them. That was until Josh Russell pointed out an obvious flaw to me over coffee (and ... Read more »
Thanks Darling: Good news for SMEs.

Thanks Darling: Good news for SMEs.

Serious times call for serious measures. This is, as Gordon said, no time for a novice. While the Tories whinge from the sidelines (and what IS your plan, George Osbourne?), Alastair Darling unveiled the Pre-budget Report. A full Budget in all but name, and frankly more significant than any of ... Read more »
What has the BNP ever done for us?

What has the BNP ever done for us?

Today saw another hoo-hah 2.0 in the blogotwittergeekerativersesphere. Presented with the membership data of the British National Party, as is completely normal, the mash-ups started popping up. And then disappearing. And sometimes reappearing, with caveats, when the blogger had sobered ... Read more »
Good Morning, Mr President-Elect

Good Morning, Mr President-Elect

Happy day. Happy happy day. But to quote Tony Blair in 1997: "The time for talking is over. It is now time to do." Photo ... Read more »
It's the damn waiting...

It’s the damn waiting…

I'm totally on edge. I can't concentrate on anything. I've been pacing the floor. I can't eat. I'm going to be up all night watching results from the presidential election in the US. Does this make me weird? Probably. But as some people love football or F1, I love elections. And this is the ... Read more »
Number 10: The West Wing UK Style?

Number 10: The West Wing UK Style?

Until now, the nearest we've come to a British West Wing style political drama is probably the 'House of Cards' featuring the unspeakable Francis Urquart. And that was never that close. Superb as it was, it wasn't hopeful as The West Wing was and neither did it extol the potential nobility of the ... Read more »
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live

Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live

Satire lives. I thought that everyone had been enjoying Tina Fey's totally brilliant impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live for the past few weeks. But several people I know haven't seen it and more than that, the Governor of Alaska's genuine appearance on SNL last night has just been ... Read more »
Reporting America, Reporting Britain

Reporting America, Reporting Britain

The Eccles Institute for American Studies hosted a fascinating talk at the British Library on Monday evening. Entitled 'Alistair Cooke: Reporting America, Reporting Britain' and commemorating the centenary of the great journalist and broadcaster's birth, the panel reflected on the differences and ... Read more »
The Guardian on Class and Diet. Would you like Fries with that?

The Guardian on Class and Diet. Would you like Fries with that?

Using Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food as a hook, the Guardian published an interesting piece about how class is a key determinant of diet and always has been. There's much lefty hand-wringing about working folk munching on takeaways and high-calorie, high-fat food with little nutritional value. Not ... Read more »