Some of you may remember Pink Floyd’s infamous song Another brick in the wall, which sold millions of copies and, intentionally or otherwise, rubbished formal education. A visit to the lyrics reminds me of one line in particular: “Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone.”
Against this background, I read the report of a ‘dinner’ lady at [...]
The recent distressing report of a single mother cremating herself and her disabled daughter after a hate campaign by local youths is yet another instance of a sick and deeply flawed society. It also brings sharply into focus two recurring themes: the feral street culture spreading like an epidemic to every corner of the country, [...]
I have developed a morbid interest in surveys, for two reasons. Firstly, for the most part, why do we need them? What do they tell us that can be of any possible use? And secondly, with the obvious exception of the government, which has a spending agenda entirely of its own, who is paying for [...]
At last! I am the harbinger of glad tidings! Barristers can now be instructed direct by the client in search of the best advice and advocacy available. It’s called Public Access, but as the Great Bard wrote: “A rose is a rose by any other name.”
It doesn’t matter what you call it, it means the [...]
Religion is a funny old business, and has been around for as long as time itself. The Greeks, Romans and Pagans had gods for all seasons, my favourite by far being Bacchus, the God of wine. Curiously as things turned out, Jews and Christians share the same God, but from a different perspective. Buddhists come [...]
Extraordinary Rendition is in the news again. If the truth be told, it’s never really gone away. It keeps turning up like a bad penny.
I struggle with the term, but as I understand it, it refers to the covert policy adopted by certain unnamed countries, like the United States [oops] who ‘detain’ unsavoury characters who [...]
When I was much younger and acne was still in its death throws, I fancied the life of a secret agent. I was fired by the sight of James Bond and Ursula Andress cavorting in the surf, and what a sight that was, as she spent the entire film in a bikini. Mark you, no [...]
I remember reading a ditty the other day: “See the happy moron, he doesn’t give a damn, I wish I were a moron, My God perhaps I am,” and my thoughts turned immediately to trial by jury, that perennial hoary chestnut.
It has reared its ugly head again following a speech from Lord Judge, the Lord [...]
It’s not often I feel sorry for the Director of Public Prosecutions. After all, he’s on a fat salary, index linked pension, and if he keeps his nose clean, a knighthood and further professional advancement. And by all accounts, he isn’t required to do much other than pontificate from the margins and delegate to his [...]
It’s not often I praise politicians. For the most part, like Mark Anthony, I come to bury them, but I feel a word of support for Alan Johnson is in order.
For those of you still dizzy from the reshuffle carousel, it may have escaped your notice that Alan Johnson is the new Home Secretary, replacing [...]