Author Archives: bernardporter2013

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About bernardporter2013

Retired academic, author, historian.

A Strong and Stable Negotiator

A hammer is strong and stable, but it can’t negotiate for toffee. I can’t understand why anyone should vote for Theresa May on the grounds that she would be good at negotiating our exit from the European Union. She clearly … Continue reading

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Soldiers on the Streets

Here we go. Armed soldiers – not just police – in the streets. Entirely unprecedented, I think, in (mainland) British history. (But then, as we know, Theresa May doesn’t read history.) We’ve always resiled against being policed by the military. … Continue reading

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Manchester and May

What a difference a couple of hours can make. I came home from the Corbyn rally in Hull yesterday evening quite pumped up, as one does from these warm shows of solidarity. Yes, I know it’s all false; but the … Continue reading

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Parliament versus Presidents

In the olden days we in Britain used to vote for constituency MPs, each one appointed to serve his local community; who would then coalesce into parties, with the largest of them – or largest coalition – forming a government, … Continue reading

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Back to the Future, Part II

However the General Election turns out, it looks as though we are indeed due for a return to the 1960s and ’70s. If Corbyn’s programme looks like the moderate Wilsonian social democracy of those years, May’s is starting to resemble … Continue reading

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Assange Free?

At last the Swedish authorities have dropped their grotesque ‘rape’ charges (or intended charges) against Julian Assange: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39973864. About time too. Presumably this means that the Swedish extradition request to Britain – which was problematical quite irrespective of the veracity … Continue reading

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Spooks and Hacks

Sadly, Donald Trump – on top of all his other sins – has given (a) conspiracy theories and (b) criticism of the press a bad name. When it comes to conspiracy theories, I’m still very cautious; except that I know that … Continue reading

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Locked in the Lav.

I realise that all sides cry ‘foul’ when it comes to politics – and to sport, which politics these days is coming more and more to resemble. So it’s easy to discount it as simply sour grapes. ‘You lost. Get … Continue reading

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Looking on the Bright Side…

Sometimes, in this sort of situation, one half hopes one’s party will lose the coming election because then the other party will have to sort out the mess they’ve made of things. There’s certainly going to be a lot to clear … Continue reading

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What to Do if May Wins?

Well, it looks as though we’ve had it. We – the Left – will get mauled in the General Election. That’s what the press and the polls are telling us, and even Labour’s Deputy Leader. Hence the levels of despair … Continue reading

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