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192. Are We On The Brink Of World War III? (Odd Arne Westad)

How similar is today's world to the months before the outbreak of World War I? Could Taiwan, India-China tensions, or an unforeseen crisis be the spark that sets the world ablaze? Are our leaders too ... Continue

Beautiful but macabre setting for work on volume 2 of diaries

Greetings from Lake Megunticook. Those of you who read my second novel, Maya, may have heard of it. It is the place in Maine, New England, where the narrator, Steve, came to write the story of his fri... Continue

24 July 2010

Tories blessed with pre-election lickspittling continuing post-election too

The Labour Party's media monitoring brief is, as I have mentioned before, a superb piece of work. It can sometimes be a ltttle misleading however, particularly when read overseas. As I read it this m... Continue

23 July 2010

When speed kills the truth

Say 'Conservative blogger' in the UK and you probably think of an Iain Dale or a Tim Montgomerie, or any number of avowed Tory supporters who have adapted to the changed media and political landscape ... Continue

22 July 2010

Big Society looking thin after Cameron’s Liverpool trip

As David Cameron works away in the US - gee what a Big Society that is - let us consider what we learned from yesterday's (re)launch of his Big Society back home. We learned that his favourite Grang... Continue

20 July 2010

Well done Tricycle theatre, and watch out Nick Clegg

To the Tricycle theatre in Kilburn last night to see no fewer than nine plays under the banner 'Women, Power and Politics'. It was the final night, so unless someone decides to invest in taking them ... Continue

18 July 2010

Osborne’s cuts move from needed to macho and ideological

The tone surrounding the public spending debate has shifted up, or rather down, a few gears as ministers move from general direction to specific changes. Though there remains a honeymoon feel to a lo... Continue

17 July 2010

Pat McFadden’s speech today

SPEECH BY PAT MCFADDEN MP, SHADOW SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS TO THE FABIAN SOCIETY VENUE: ENGINEERING EMPLOYERS FEDERATION, BROADWAY HOUSE, TOTHILL STREET, LONDON SW1H 9NQ PLEASE CHECK AGAINST ... Continue

14 July 2010

A few musings on diaries (mine) and memoirs (Peter M’s)

The Daily Telegraph yesterday asked me to fill their notebook slot with any thoughts inspired by the coverage of Peter Mandelson's book. Here they are, as printed in the paper today. One of the reas... Continue

14 July 2010

Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Still active in politics and campaigns in Britain and overseas, he now splits his time between writing, speaking, broadcasting, charities and consultancy.