BY STEWART SLATER “We are all a goldfish and the water that we swim in is Christianity,” said the historian Tom Holland, explaining the thesis of his book Dominion. Our beliefs and behaviours (even those of atheists) are so shot through with Christian assumptions that we no longer realise they are there. What are, in reality, the specific outcomes of a specific faith appear so … Continue reading British Values
BY JOE NUTT Someone who teaches writing to undergraduates recently made this astute observation online: “At university, your main reader is always a peer. That means your readership numbers in the tens, perhaps hundreds, not thousands.” One of the least understood concepts about writing in any context, is this stark reality. Who, really, are you writing this for? Do you even know? This numerical but … Continue reading Can’t Wait for Independence Day
BY JOHN DREWRY I make no apologies for using this somewhat over-egged phrase because, from my perspective, we’ve reached a critical juncture whereby it is no longer sufficient to point, accuse and moan, but to actually suggest action or at least a path towards. Many will already know that the provenance of enemy of the people isn’t Ibsen’s play title but in fact goes back … Continue reading Enemy of the People
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN According to the later versions of the Brothers Grimm tales, when Rumpelstiltskin – the imp who spun straw into gold in exchange for a girl’s firstborn – was rebuffed: “He in his rage drove his right foot so far into the ground that it sank in up to his waist; then in a passion he seized the left foot with both hands … Continue reading Social Currency – Fool’s Gold
BY ALEX STORY Rare were the occasions when the term “conspiracy theory” was used. Only a few years ago, conspiracies were whispered between last orders, a brawl and a trip to the kebab van, around the corner from the pub. Three such “Conspiracies” stood out: Firstly, Neil Armstrong never actually landed on the Moon in 1969. He and his colleagues in fact, the theory stated, … Continue reading The Conspiracy Theorists
BY STEWART SLATER Much of the shock over the recent events at the Capitol in Washington is due to the fact that they seemed so out of character. Some countries might act that way, but not the U.S. This is not what America is. But what if our image of the country is out of date? This is what America is like now, we just … Continue reading A Republic If You Can Keep It
THE CITY GRUMP I am not a fan of Donald Trump. It has been evident for years now that he is immature, narcissistic and obsessed by power, which is of course why his foreign policy has been such a great success. It takes one to know one and the autocracies of China, Iran, North Korea, etc certainly met their match in him. Accordingly when the … Continue reading The Rattled West
BY ALEXIA JAMES The population of the US is 328.2 million. That’s almost five times the UK population. So how come they end up with a presidential race between the venal Donald Trump and the senile pervert Joe Biden? Sniffing Joe is not all there. He makes Ronald Reagan’s latter Alzheimer’s years look coherent: Biden’s a sex pest? Don’t believe me? Watch this: As for … Continue reading America’s Dispiriting Dilemma
BY PAUL NEWALL Back in the days when I was eyeing a political career, I was sent on a couple of Labour Party day schools for aspiring local government candidates by my local Labour constituency association. One of the tutors was an incorruptible lifelong public servant who emphasised the importance of volunteerism, he’d been a town clerk while holding down a full-time job for decades. … Continue reading Council Investigation Unit Needed
CSM EDITORIAL Jean Claude Juncker, in an interview with CNN, slammed those he described as ‘stupid nationalists in love with their own countries’ in the run up to the European elections. It is hugely ironic that one of the men responsible for the anti-democratic European Union should be attacking those who take issue with the way the EU is run in this way. What is … Continue reading Nationalism is the New Democracy
CSM EDITORIAL So, the House of Commons is no longer representative of British voters. Many years of political apathy in Britain have allowed a bunch of careerists, amateurs and Marxists to steal the green benches. A Remain Parliament voted for itself last night and this will not be fast forgotten. The obvious route from here – after a delay to Brexit is called for today … Continue reading Gloves Off
BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN These last days there has been much talk of defending British Democracy. Whether in reference to another referendum or to publishing the full legal advice in relation to the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal. There has been talk too of a constitutional crisis. Sir Keir Starmer warned yesterday of a no confidence vote in the Government should May’s deal fail to garner sufficient … Continue reading Protect Democracy First
