Why I am going to Thatcher’s funeral. And why you should too.
Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher Thatcher She’s dead, you know? With the passing of a political monolith is born a very modern PR battle. And it is one Thatcher’s advocates, acolytes, admirers, political dependents and press pushers are winning. Let’s get my position out of the way first. Thatcher did … Read more
A royally dangerous obsession
I haven’t had the time, nor do I have the inclination, to do any in-depth research on ‘the royal pregnancy’. As a result, this may be misinformed, or not comprehensive in analysis. But it is exactly my instinctive sentiment towards this issue that prevents that being a realistic possibility. I simply refuse to spend much … Read more
Tell the Church of England to stand up to the anti-gay bill in Uganda
Help #blockthebill against homosexuality in Uganda – ask the Church of England to condemn the criminalisation of homosexuality! The bill against homosexuality in Uganda will be passed by the end of 2012 as a ‘Christmas gift‘ to Ugandans, according to the speaker of parliament in Uganda, Rebecca Kadaga. The bill proposes that gay people are imprisoned … Read more
We need to talk about Sandy
This afternoon I had my own battle with the elements. Although it was a comic, not tragic, affair, my personal travails nevertheless bear relation to Sandy – the vicious ‘superstorm’ that has recently assaulted north eastern US normality. I had cycled about six miles from central Bristol out to Keynsham, a suburb on the road … Read more
It is time sport gained a conscience
The BBC broadcast a damning Panorama programme this week exposing the frightening levels of racism that blight the Euro 2012 host countries Poland and Ukraine. Nazi salutes, anti-Semitic chanting, white power graffiti, random attacks on supporters of ethnic origin and a police force reluctant to act were all common place inside the stadiums that will … Read more
London Mayoral elections series: Brian Paddick
In the first of a four part series looking at the main candidates in the London Mayoral Election, we analyse Brian Paddick’s campaign for the top seat in City Hall. It is probably fair to say that once again Brain Paddick has not lit up this Mayoral election campaign. After knocking five percent off the … Read more
Time for Ken to get on the bus
This is a guest post by Annie Powell, a Labour Party member living in London. As Ken Livingstone’s mayoral campaign has intensified over the past few weeks, I have become increasingly convinced that his campaign team is missing a trick. This Tuesday and last thousands of leaflets detailing Ken’s promise to reduce fares by 7% … Read more
Lording it over the squats
This post was originally published on the SQUASH blog under the title “Squatting criminalised by ‘sham democracy’” and is written by Hannah Schling. It is unnerving to witness a political process which criminalises up to 50,000 people in a matter of months. It is yet more unnerving when you consider the supposed ‘crime’: taking shelter … Read more
Lessons from Maude
I cycled to work in Bristol yesterday past a petrol station webbed in red and white tape, dry as a mormon wedding. There is something pretty dystopic about empty petrol stations, like abandoned factories or early summer mornings when no-one’s about. So pivotal are functioning petrol stations in maintaining the mundanity of the everyday environment … Read more
Galloway’s win should be a wake up call to the left
This morning Ladbrokes will begin the biggest payout in British by-election history. George Galloway, who entered the race as a 33-1 outsider, has won the Bradford West election by a country mile. This sort of shock to the parliamentary political system is rare and and easily dismissed but it should come as a challenge to all … Read more
