Category Archives: Politics

In the Line of Fire: British Style

A British cabinet minister once asked his bodyguard if he could actually prevent an assassination. “I doubt it,” the officer replied, “but being so close I could write a much better report.” (Chris)

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Fluid National Identities, 1919- 2014

Because of the stunning success of the Act of Union, 1801, British people have had 213 years of relative national stability. Britain has been stable whilst the rest of Europe has been a cauldron of fluid national identities. This stability … Continue reading →

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Arthur Balfour on politics

“Nothing matters very much, and few things matter at all.” British Prime Minister 1902- 05

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The United Kingdom: a brief history

The UK was created in 1801 after a 198 years of blood soaked history. In those 198 years there were five civil wars and long periods of civil unrest and vicious repression. Once the UK was established the 19th century … Continue reading →

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Committed Comrades

Through the early to mid 1980s Margaret Thatcher waged a vindictive and unrelenting war against the Labour movement in general and specifically the Metropolitan County Councils. Her nemesis was Ken Livingstone the ultimate “left” Leader of the G.L.C. at County Hall … Continue reading →

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Democracy: The London Borough of Havering (2)

(Chris and Del)

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Democracy: London Borough of Havering 2014 (1)

(Chris and Del)

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How economists use the word ‘only’

“The poorest half of the population still owns nothing… the wealthiest 10% now own only two thirds of what there is to own rather than nine- tenths.” Thomas Piketty Capitalism in the Twenty- First Century

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Military Service Act, 1916: Conscription

The Military Service Act changed Britain forever. The act meant that the state had the right to put British men in lethal danger i.e. the trenches. But these reluctant warriors didn’t want to fight and, worse, they were literally second … Continue reading →

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A Bob Hope Joke

Ronald Reagan isn’t a typical politician because he doesn’t know how to lie, cheat and steal. He’s always had an agent to do that for him.

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