February 13, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Declaration of interest: I used to work as Sir Patrick’s researcher at the Commons. Though disagreeing with him on a number of aspects of policy (I’m not a Tory, after all), I both like and respect him as a person, … Continue reading
February 13, 2007
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
OK, so what have I missed while I’ve been busy? The Centre For European Reform blog has been discussing the failure of the EU constitution and the need for a new kind of “pro-Europeanism”, in relation to that “Europe’s Story” … Continue reading
February 7, 2007
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Sounds like an absolute mess, from its brief introduction just now. The somewhat surprising thing, however, is that in (Tory Shadow Leader of the House) Theresa May’s response to (Labour Leader of the House) Jack Straw’s introduction, I’m finding myself … Continue reading
February 2, 2007
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Standard language of a soon to be departing politico, you might think. No surprise Blair used is in his interview this morning. But surely the standard, talking about the public, is “it has been an honour and a privilege to … Continue reading
January 28, 2007
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Check out this interview. Watch the video. The transcript doesn’t do it justice – you miss the long silences, the ums, the ers, the panicked look in his eyes whenever he’s asked a question, be it about Iraq, the honours … Continue reading
January 25, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Sorry – missed this yesterday… The [tag]European Parliament[/tag] has yet to vote on the final report following its investigation into CIA [tag]extraordinary rendition[/tag] flights in Europe, but finalised it is (and you can download it from the temporary committee’s website … Continue reading
January 23, 2007
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
In the UK, for the last couple of weeks it’s been all but impossible to avoid discussing the brain-dead actions of a small group of social outcasts locked in a garish TV studio that’s been converted into a televised zoo. … Continue reading
January 20, 2007
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
About bloody time, considering how unweildy the department has evidently become. The big question (other than what the hell are the precisely plans?) is, why let the news slip out at 9pm on a Saturday night? Wouldn’t this count as … Continue reading
January 20, 2007
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Quality blogging
With this week’s ongoing introspective spat in the UK political blogosphere Fifth Estate (of which I have got so bored I’m afraid I’m no longer paying any attention whatsoever – sorry, chaps), it’s been easy to forget the quality that’s … Continue reading
January 19, 2007
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Despite some people making useful suggestions, elsewhere in the EU it seems all but impossible to shake of the spectre of that damned [tag]EU constitution[/tag]. Current European Union president Angela Merkel keeps on bringing the bloody thing up, repeating the … Continue reading
January 15, 2007
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
…France? Is it April Fools Day already? “Formerly secret documents unearthed from the National Archives have showed Britain and France considered a ‘union’ in the 1950s.” Not only that, but this supposedly happened – after an approach by the then … Continue reading
January 15, 2007
by Nosemonkey
18 Comments
It’s Manic vs. Guido – and full-on, this time, following last year’s spat over the Oaten affair. Manic was, until a couple of years ago when he started to post more infrequently, one of the UK’s most popular political bloggers. … Continue reading
January 14, 2007
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
A very, very small note in the Independent on Sunday: “[tag]Tony Blair[/tag] will propose this week to change the law to allow government departments to share personal data, including people’s medical records and tax details… The Prime Minister is likely … Continue reading
December 19, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
“All non-Europeans already in the UK will also have to register biometrics, such as fingerprints or iris scans, from 2008 not just new arrivals.”