I have been listening to ‘The End of the World with Josh Clark’ a podcast on iHeartRadio. It was recommended to me by my eldest daughter and while I am fairly new to podcasts, I am enjoying the experience, even if the series is very disturbing. I won’t spoil it for you but each episode … Continue reading The existential threat of nationalism
PPE
No one should be criticised for not being able to see the future but criticism is valid when a vision of a likely future is laid out and those responsible do not take action. This is the accusation against the government and its seeming inability to provide the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to the … Continue reading PPE
Constituency boundaries
Should constituency boundaries be left to politicians to decide? Surely not, however well intentioned they are, there will always be a temptation to manipulate them in an attempt to divert votes in favour of their own party or away from the opposition. Instead it should be left to mathematics and geography with the politicians only … Continue reading Constituency boundaries
Votes that count
A couple of months ago, in less troubled times, I wrote a blog proposing an alternative voting system for the UK. It is a form of proportional representation yet holds a strong element of the first past the post system (FPTP) which at least gives a degree of local political representation. I wrote the article … Continue reading Votes that count
A new world emerges
Covid-19 is the pandemic that the world has been waiting for. Ten years ago I remember attending events about the possible threat of bird flu. Everyone was talking about how it would sweep across the world and that we needed to start planning right away. Fortunately the virus didn’t make the leap from birds to … Continue reading A new world emerges
The need for democracy is greater than ever
The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world on its head. Every aspect of our lives has been affected, including politics. At the time that we need good society leaders the most, we find that we are represented by a government that the majority of us did not vote for. Are they doing a good job? … Continue reading The need for democracy is greater than ever
Coronavirus Bill
Something needs to be done to stop the spread of the pandemic. The government has an enormously difficult job on its hands and it needs to be able to take swift and decisive action. In the movable feast that is Covid-19 there is no doubt that mistakes will be made. Many will not like the … Continue reading Coronavirus Bill
The world is in a tailspin – we need unity
I made the conscious decision yesterday to step back from being so critical of the government and its handling of the current Covid-19 crisis. This does not mean that I am happy with the way that they are handling the situation nor that I have an understanding of how I would handle it any better. … Continue reading The world is in a tailspin – we need unity
Political forensics
While we were lolling about, waiting for the baby to wake up no doubt, my eldest daughter said to me: ‘Dad, if you could have any job in the world, what would it be?’ It didn't have to be a job that exists and there are no conditions that are preventing me from getting it. … Continue reading Political forensics
Why do I need a passport?
In all the furore over the colour of the United Kingdom passport, one question has kept coming into my mind. Why do I need a passport? For as long as I can remember, I have always had one. Every ten years or so I had to apply for a new one, a rigmarole that involved … Continue reading Why do I need a passport?
Thoughts from a Retired Guerrilla Worker 