Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash Margaret Thatcher was a great believer in privatisation. She said it was crucial for ‘reversing the corrosive and corrupting effects of socialism…. ensuring the power of the people is enhanced….and reclaiming the territory for freedom’, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. She was equally clear that Governments were inherently inefficient at running businesses, and few…
Photo by Mulyadi on Unsplash The independent Public Inquiry to examine the Government’s handling of the Covid pandemic in the UK will open the hearing on its first module on Valentine’s Day 14th February. Conservatives should not expect any loving responses, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Boris Johnson, though no longer Prime Minister, continues to boast that when in office…
Photo by Taras Chernus on Unsplash Freedom of speech is regarded as one of the most fundamental freedoms underpinning western democracies. The problem now is how to handle abuses of this freedom, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. The EU Charter on Fundamental Rights was proclaimed by the European Parliament in 2000. Article 11 proudly stated that ‘everyone has the right…
Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash Germany’s slowness in authorising the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine was bad news for Ukraine, European security and Germany itself. But other Western leaders should not be too smug, writes Ian Bond. Just days after Russia launched its full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz described it as…
Photo by Nina Abdel Malak on Unsplash As Lebanon faces an unprecedented crisis, a new political class is beginning to emerge in the country. Mr. Omar Harfouch is the most telling example of this generation that wants to rebuild Lebanon, writes Eric Gozlan. The Lebanese Parliament has still not succeeded in electing a successor to Michel Aoun, President…
Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash EU countries are all facing immigration pressures, but despite Brexit, immigrants from other countries are still keen to come to the UK, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Nigel Farage as Leader of the UK Independence Party had his own solution: the UK needed an Australian-style points system (although ironically the Australian system helped immigrants…
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash Political debate across the EU has recently been dominated by the cost-of-living crisis, the rising cost of health and social care and the cost of supplying additional weaponry to combat Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the UK a new issue has risen to the top of the agenda: what should be the…
Photo by Carlos “Grury” Santos on Unsplash Climate change is the biggest issue facing the future of our planet. As President of COP26 in Glasgow last year it was UK Cabinet member Alok Sharma who secured world-wide agreement of a realistic programme to address it. Sharma would later condemn the Egyptian President of COP27 from failing to build…
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash In 2003 Tony Blair appointed the first UK Ethics Adviser to investigate ministerial sleaze. Why the UK should need such a role while no EU Prime Minister has felt a similar need says something about the unique state of UK politics, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Voters have the right to expect that anyone…
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Unsplash Christmas is a time when families come together to care for each other: this year, with waves of strikes in the public sector paralysing the UK, millions of people are struggling even to care for themselves, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Public support for the various strikes is variable: but support for healthcare strikers…
