Category Archives: Uncategorized

Keep a scandal simmering for long enough, and people will get bored with it. That must be most people’s reaction to the latest news about the Assange case: a UN ruling that he has been ‘unlawfully detained’. He’s a funny-looking … Continue reading →

Bernie Sanders’s impressive showing in the Iowa primaries is greatly encouraging for all us 1960s nostalgics. Or it would be, if the USA were a democracy. As it is, just imagine what it will be like if he becomes the … Continue reading →

Just a reminder that I have some knowledge in this area, though I wouldn’t like to claim that The Refugee Question in Mid Victorian Politics – the title of my 1979 book, re-issued a couple of years ago by CUP … Continue reading →

Sweden at first takes tens of thousands, then announces it’s going to send 60,000 home. Denmark is presented taking away their jewels, like the Nazis. It must be more complex than this. I must try to find out, then write about … Continue reading →

Here’s a short piece I contributed to the LRB Blog 3 or 4 years ago. I’m sure that any of my followers who work in Universities will feel it still resonates. I took early retirement from my last university job about … Continue reading →

A sort of novel. It’s meant to be satirical. I don’t really believe Thatcher was a Soviet mole – the point is, however, that it would make perfect sense if she were. Either a free-standing little story; or I could continue … Continue reading →

I’m decided to reactivate this blogsite, after a year of silence, mainly to give me a ‘project’ to work on now that I have no more books to write. It will be a mix: comments on the news, especially relating to … Continue reading →

I’ve never bought into the idea that Islam is a religion of peace and freedom which is being perverted by a few extremists. Here’s a comment I found on a Guardian blogsite this morning: ‘The problem is that many followers of … Continue reading →

The February edition of History Today will carry an article by me on ‘Surveillance: a new British tradition’. It contrasts our acceptance of all kinds of government intrusion into our affairs today with Britain’s proud and national identity-defining anti-espionage tradition until … Continue reading →