This morning, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Michael Burleigh – the eminent historian of the Third Reich – was introduced for a discussion of the future of Trumpism after Trump. Out of the blue, he announced he didn’t really want to talk...
It’s vaccine apprehension, not anti-vaxxers, that public information campaigns need to tackle most
In December last year, readers of this site may remember I wrote an article in which I cautioned on condemning everyone who has concerns about the Coronavirus vaccine. It made the point that there’s a huge difference between those who exhibit hesitancy and...
Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Cakeism in action – Johnson is at once humorous and serious
Just before PMQs, Boris Johnson could be seen in the background, standing alone behind the Speaker’s Chair and staring at a folder of notes, like a schoolboy doing last-minute revision before an exam. That odd camera angle gave way to Johnson at the Despatch...
Chris Skidmore: Thinking, fast and slow. Why we need a long-term Education Recovery Plan.
Chris Skidmore is a former Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Minister between 2018-2020, and is MP for Kingswood. As the first few weeks of 2021 pass in lockdown, looking depressingly like 2020, many parents will be struggling attempting to juggle working...
WATCH: PMQs – Starmer harries the Government on the deleted Home Office records
Andrew Haldenby: Cameron was right to bury Labour’s targets regime. Johnson shouldn’t now seek to resurrect it.
Andrew Haldenby is a director of Haldenby Woodford, a public services consultancy. According to reports, Home Office Ministers want to bring back national crime reduction targets for the police – most likely a 20 per cent reduction in crimes such as burglary, vehicle...


Newslinks for Monday 20th January
Coronavirus 1) Johnson ‘begins top secret planning to ease UK lockdown at Easter’ “Boris Johnson has begun top secret planning for millions to meet loved ones this Easter – but cracked the whip amid lagging vaccine numbers. The Sun has...
We wish the new President well as he starts but fear that his term won’t go well
Since it’s in our interest to have a successful United States, it’s also in our interest to have a successful American President. So we wish Joe Biden well on this, his inauguration day, and during his term of office. In that spirit, what’s the...


Lord Ashcroft: For many voters, America’s election was not about Biden – but a referendum on Trump
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For information on Lord Ashcroft’s work, visit www.lordashcroft.com. Joe Biden’s inauguration today will be greeted with a huge sigh of relief by millions in America and around the world. The...
Ryan Bourne: A reassuringly conservative speech from Starmer’s Shadow Chancellor. The Tories will need to up their game.
Ryan Bourne is Chair in Public Understanding of Economics at the Cato Institute. Just in case the Conservatives hadn’t got the message: Labour under Keir Starmer is a very different beast to the party under Jeremy Corbyn. Dueing the past fortnight, the Labour leader...