Current Affairs/Political Archive
2 Jul 2018
EU referendum was the People v Parliament, so why is the losing side calling the shots? Do politicians really know what a conflict of interest is?
The frequent appearances of Gina Miller on BBC panel shows like “Any Questions” results in her familiar disingenuous rant about the delay and uncertainly in the Brexit deal, meaning that business is unable to plan for
3 Jun 2018
Prime Minister May can learn much from President Trump about Negotiation
By Bobbo On 3 June 2018 In Current Affairs/Political
Auditioning for a punk band in the days of yore was a fairly straightforward business. You’d be asked if you could play the instrument you’d brought with you. If you responded – in the snarling way you
17 May 2017
Another bogging election: But if it helps Britannia off her knees, then it’s worth it
By Bobbo On 17 May 2017 In Current Affairs/Political
Credit Jeremy Corbyn for his political instincts in hardly mentioning Brexit during the run-up to the latest election. He clearly realised that Teresa May’s plea for a stronger mandate to negotiate Brexit would quickly turn into
21 Mar 2017
Are our forelock-tugging days over? Not according to some current and ex-politicians
By Bobbo On 21 March 2017 In Current Affairs/Political
In 1954, in a small rural part of southern England, the railway line between East Grinstead and Lewes was proposed for closure by the nationalised British Railways. Despite strong local protest, closure was approved, and the line was
17 Feb 2017
Public Relations: The Distorting Lens through Which We View the World
By Bobbo On 17 February 2017 In Current Affairs/Political
David Beckham’s apparent rant against the honours committee for denying him a knighthood, and the BBC’s recent “Panorama” programme giving a candid view of one of HM’s prisons, appear to have little in common. However, both are
29 Jan 2017
Protests against Democracy in the US and the UK: Elitist Nonsense?
By Bobbo On 29 January 2017 In Current Affairs/Political
A strange phenomenon seems to have overtaken the democratic nations of the UK and the USA. The UK’s referendum on the EU, and the election of a US president respectively, have caused protests against the results of
17 Jan 2017
The Southern Drivers’ Strike: Confusing and Disingenuous
By Bobbo On 17 January 2017 In Current Affairs/Political
The great Liverpool FC manager, Bill Shankly, recalled an incident when he was taking part in a 5-a-side training session. Acting as referee was the shy Chris Lawler, the then regular Liverpool full back and man of
5 Nov 2016
The 03/11/16 Court ruling on Brexit. Not so much the Judiciary v the Executive, more the Judiciary v Us Oiks.
By Bobbo On 5 November 2016 In Current Affairs/Political
The abiding principle of English Common law is reasonableness. Judgments are made aided by statutes and precedents, and the judgments themselves can be used as precedents in future cases. Without the more prescriptive codes of, for example,
28 Sep 2016
The Midsomer Murder of Rural Life
By Bobbo On 28 September 2016 In Current Affairs/Political
The village of Holkham in Norfolk was built by the owners of the eponymous Hall. They wanted to enact and reinforce their 18th Century view of rural life – remarkably similar to ours today – of a romantic
22 Sep 2016
Jeremy Corbyn and Shami Chakrabarti: my ex-heroes!
By Bobbo On 22 September 2016 In Current Affairs/Political
After Napoleon Bonaparte’s decision to crown himself emperor, Beethoven was clearly very disappointed with the man he’d once thought of as a hero; “He, too, then, is nothing better than an ordinary man! Now he will