The British partygate scandal has been handled with a tactic so old, and so obvious, that it is amazing anyone falls for it. But the tactic… — The British partygate scandal has been handled with a tactic so old, and so obvious, that it is amazing anyone falls for it. But the tactic is used becaue it appears to work. Or at least, it works because the tactic is hidden within a blizzard of obfuscation.

Sometimes it is easy to despair of democracy; how could a sensible system bring the likes of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to power? These… — Sometimes it is easy to despair of democracy; how could a sensible system bring the likes of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to power? These would seem to be the kind of leaders that Plato worried about. Their appeal is based on emotions and misleading information rather than logic and…

The news that Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, two senior journalists, are leaving the BBC to launch a new podcast has led to many headlines… — The news that Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, two senior journalists, are leaving the BBC to launch a new podcast has led to many headlines about a talent drain from the BBC. But perhaps the focus should be in another direction: have we reached peak podcast? The trend is strikingly…

Getting rid of a prime minister, between elections, is rather like a cat getting rid of a furball. The process is not pretty, can take some… — Getting rid of a prime minister, between elections, is rather like a cat getting rid of a furball. The process is not pretty, can take some time and creates a nasty mess. But eventually the offending object is ejected. At the moment, Boris Johnson is the furball in the throat of…

Christians often lament the decline in religious belief in western societies. In Britain, for example, the 2021 census is expected to show… — Christians often lament the decline in religious belief in western societies. In Britain, for example, the 2021 census is expected to show that only half of adults identify as Christian, down from 71% in 2001. But while fewer people accept the doctrines of the church, secular western societies display many…

On his first day in office as Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson declared that “I am announcing now — on the steps of Downing Street… — On his first day in office as Britain’s prime minister, Boris Johnson declared that “I am announcing now — on the steps of Downing Street — that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared to give every older…

Forty years ago, it was widely assumed that high interest rates were the only responsible policy to deal with the economic problems of the… — Forty years ago, it was widely assumed that high interest rates were the only responsible policy to deal with the economic problems of the day. Now it is widely assumed that only low interest rates can suffice. Clearly the decline of high inflation has played a large part in this…

It has been portrayed as the revenge of the underdog, of Main Street getting one over on Wall Street. The saga of Gamestop, a video game… — It has been portrayed as the revenge of the underdog, of Main Street getting one over on Wall Street. The saga of Gamestop, a video game retailer, has been all over the news in recent days, thanks to its incredible share price surge. As the company’s annual report makes clear…

The President is an agent of international communism. Elites are surrendering American sovereignty to the United Nations. Foreign troops… — The President is an agent of international communism. Elites are surrendering American sovereignty to the United Nations. Foreign troops are massing in Mexico, and the Georgia swamps, prior to a takeover of the US. Those rumours sound contemporary but they are not. They were circulating in the late 1950s, when…