It’s a terrible day for Pakistan, a terrible day for democracy, and a terrible day for Islam. This is just one more reminder of an obvious fact: a vast, vast majority of the victims of Islamic extremist terrorism are Muslims. In nearly every case the casualties are Muslims, and the people having their democracy [...]
Filed under: democracy, jonathanbirch, religion on December 27th, 2007 | No Comments »
I don’t recall why I’m on the Cambridge University “Hands Off Venezuela” Society mailing list. Perhaps, if any of them read this post, I’ll get taken off it. But in the meantime I’m enjoying their collective apoplexy over an astonishing memorandum between a US embassy official and the CIA. The absence of any actual scans [...]
Filed under: democracy, foreignpolicy, jonathanbirch on November 30th, 2007 | 2 Comments »
It is in the ‘national interest’, Mr. Brown thundered as he addressed the House of Commons over his decision not to hold a referendum on the new EU treaty. As the Conservatives waved their arms and cried high treason, Brown prudently shuffled out of the chamber and quietly headed back to Number Ten.
How could [...]
Filed under: andrewnoakes, democracy, directdemocracy, eu, europe, gordonbrown on November 15th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
We are entering a very interesting time in British politics – aren’t we? That’s the statement that seems to be on lips of many politicos at the moment. Blair’s marathon premiership is coming to a close and a shake-up in British politics approaches. Brown versus Cameron, ‘clunking fist’ versus ‘New Conservatism’, question marks over the [...]
Filed under: democracy, electoralreform, history, ukpolitics on May 21st, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Apparently it is all over. The leadership contest that never was, never will be. Leaving aside Gordon Brown’s qualities as leader (which will be the source of endless speculation until the handover and beyond) I thought I’d better write something about the accusations that all of this is somehow undemocratic, stemming from Sir Ming [...]
Filed under: constitution, democracy, gordonbrown, labour, ukpolitics on May 17th, 2007 | No Comments »
This is absolutely brilliant. Not because I feel the country is necessarily crying out for a constitution, nor because I feel it would be particularly beneficial, but because the hand-over programme appears to finally be unfolding with consummate political skill. A discrete day for the retrospectives of Blair’s term in office (which are generally far [...]
Filed under: constitution, davidcameron, democracy, gordonbrown, labour, ukpolitics on May 12th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Downing street now has a YouTube channel. Here is the highlight so far:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Cu9187tCY]
Could this have been conceived of even three years ago? The Downing Street channel was the 7th most viewed on YouTube yesterday. The often plaintive claim that we are all victims of a big-media determined agenda looks increasingly hollow.
Filed under: democracy, internet, tonyblair, ukpolitics on May 8th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Although the charms of Norway, detailed below, are alluring, my vote goes to Finland for appointing the world’s first women-dominated cabinet with 12 women and 8 men. I know, it’s ridiculous that this should be note-worthy; I can’t believe we didn’t have these kinds of ‘firsts’ decades ago. But there it is. [...]
Filed under: democracy, gender on April 26th, 2007 | 4 Comments »
