Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"Within a decade, Britain will hold a referendum on membership of the European Union – and the Yes campaign will find its arguments enfeebled by lack of exercise. Will anyone dare make the pro-EU case?"
Enjoyable account of London's long and expensive journey from candidate city to host of 2012 Olympics. Contract enforces extraordinary commercial demands and allows IOC to act like a state within a state. Was it all worth it?
"Recession has delivered the coup de grace to a quarter century of manufacturing decline. Manchester is by no means the worst hit of English cities, but its northern suburbs are Detroit UK." A smarter growth plan is needed
"It doesn't stop. Won't stop. Can't stop. Rupert Murdoch is going to be run out of Britain. His is a worst-case scenario: A powerful political opposition moving against him, and a chain of evidence moving toward him"
"An unabashed member of the privileged classes, he has somehow managed to win the affection of a Labour-leaning city as it endures the harshest cuts in public expenditure since World War II." How does he do it?
"Two arrogant posh boys who don't know the price of milk." So said a party colleague of David Cameron and George Osborne. And, with the economy falling back in recession, it's a label threatening to stick
Murdoch has been tweaking the British government's tail over Scottish independence and is now remarkably matey with Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond. He does love to back a winner, but what is going on here? Revenge?
"The privatisations are joining up. First gas. Then telecoms, oil, electricity, public housing, water, the railways, the airports. We are being made tenants in our own land, defined by the string of private fees we pay to exist"
For a more nuanced view on Scottish independence, look away from Scottish nationalists and Anglocentrics. Turn instead to John Lloyd, who's half-Scottish, half-English and troubled by developments on both sides of the border (Reg/$)
The Scottish question. In different ways, puts both Labour and Conservatives in a difficult position. Tories must handle referendum and possible break-up of UK. But Labour faces longer term threat of exclusion from power
Exhibition dedicated to Muslim pilgrimage is put on with Saudi help. Scholarly questions are ignored in order to accommodate Saudi and Muslim sensitivities. Is this a price worth paying, if there's a wider societal benefit?
Scots could well vote for independence from England—if that or the status quo is the only choice offered. Most would prefer a federal relationship with England. Unionists oppose that third option, but they should rethink
