Author Archives: bernardporter2013

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About bernardporter2013

Retired academic, author, historian.

Trump and the British Far Right

Trump’s retweeting of fake ‘Britain First’ propaganda a few weeks ago, quickly slapped down by Theresa May, who was then re-slapped down by Trump, isn’t by itself evidence of a two-way link between him and our own neo-Nazis. But there’s … Continue reading

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Islam

Just back from Stockholm: a complicated journey – tunnelbana, flyggbus, plane, train, tube, train, taxi, all the way dragging a case full of heavy Xmas pressies – which always leaves me pretty shagged out. I arrived to find a request … Continue reading

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Oxford and the Ethics of Empire

For a socialist and active anti-imperial campaigner for sixty years – apartheid, Suez, Rhodesia, Vietnam – to be seen to be defending the British Empire will strike some as not only perverse, but also dangerous to his reputation, his career, … Continue reading

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Toby Young, Journalist

Toby Young’s appointment to the new British universities ‘Watchdog’ committee, widely criticised by academics, students and on the Left, is reminiscent of Donald Trump’s selection of people for high office on no other grounds than their ideological views. Young, of … Continue reading

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Brits in Europe (2)

I may have been wrong in my assumption that all or most Britishers living on the Continent will have been Remainers. Here’s a piece about a couple of expats who were on the other side of the argument. It’s backed … Continue reading

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Brits in Europe

Since the Brexit vote, a large number of the million-odd Britons living and working in the rest of the EU has been organising on the internet either to reverse Brexit, or else to secure a ‘divorce’ settlement that won’t deprive … Continue reading

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A Populist and Nationalist Spasm

Lord Adonis’s letter of resignation to the Prime Minister yesterday was a powerful statement, both about the re-privatisation of the East Coast rail line – the one I use most – which was part of his official brief as chair … Continue reading

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The Colonial Blame Game

Before I pen my contribution to the current Oxford-centred debate over the evils/benefits of the British Empire – see my last post – here is one I prepared earlier. It’s on a slightly different issue, and arises out of another … Continue reading

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Free Speech and Imperialism

I have to confess – should it be a matter for ‘confession’? – that I’m entirely in agreement with Jo Johnson, the Tory Universities Minister (and brother of the sillier Johnson), when he opposes student bodies enforcing ‘no-platform’ policies on … Continue reading

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True Brit

So it will all have been worthwhile! – From today’s Sun: UK to get its iconic dark blue passport back in stunning Brexit victory for The Sun. The Government has agreed to our demand to scrap the EU’s burgundy model, … Continue reading

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