Category Archives: Politics

An easy mistake to make

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Does the London Borough of Havering have a Two-Tier School System?

Introduction An analysis of the 2025 GCSE results suggests Havering’s academies have reinvented a two-tier school system. The tiers are wealth related. Disadvantaged Students1 did badly in their examinations. Under-achievement isn’t caused by poverty but is correlated with poverty. Under-achievement … Continue reading

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A definition of Fascism: Donald Trump fits the bill

At the core of fascism as a movement was a contempt for limits, especially those imposed by reason-based arguments; a belief that reality could be altered by the will; and an exaltation of the violent assertion of that will as … Continue reading

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Legalise Class-A Drugs and Save Lives

Introduction The great reforming governments of Harold Wilson shredded obsolete laws. Capital punishment ended as did the criminalisation of abortion. They were both hugely contentious actions with moral and religious opposition. Decriminalisation of abortion ended ‘back-street’ abortions and their grim … Continue reading

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The Trump-Lincoln Memorial

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Rachel Reeves and Competence

Rachel Reeves is incompetent because she misunderstands her role. She thinks being an economist is an advantage as Chancellor of the Exchequer.Her MSc in economics is irrelevant to being Chancellor.1 She’s been appointed as Chancellor to implement Labour’s economic policy … Continue reading

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J S Mill on diversity

It is hardly possible to overrate the value…of placing human beings in contact with persons dissimilar to themselves, and with modes of thought and action unlike those with which they are familiar….Such communication has always been, and is peculiarly in … Continue reading

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Putin and Obama have a chat

Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin had a chat after a meetingBarack said, “Mr. Putin, the reason that I love my country is that a man can walk right into The White House and say, ‘I don’t like the way Barack … Continue reading

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Letter from the West Bank: Getting a child vaccinated

Travelled first thing from Ramallah to Nablus but oh dear were delayed cos checkpoint not open so onto the next one and no one there (all Israeli soldiers absent) so onto next one queued for 35 minutes, onto next one … Continue reading

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War Studies: American Exceptionalism and war by other means: 2011 and 2025

On May 2nd 2011,1 Obama watched Osama bin Laden being assassinated. Fourteen people watched the snuff movie with him, President Obama said, “Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of … Continue reading

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