A month ago I incautiously criticised Labour's claim that £60k/yr doesn't make you rich, and was roundly criticised ( Read more... )

Several senior conservatives have recently said they'd like Britain to leave the EU. At least one economist has written that it's impossible to assess the costs or benefits because we don't know what the post EU relationship would look like. This may be revealing my ignorance, but to me it looks like the options are:

1. Leave the EU completely. ( Read more... )

Ever since a Tory prime minister told his conference he was going to change the definition of marriage to cover same sex couples, and was applauded, I have assumed the writing was on the wall for a conventional understanding of marriage. This week will see a free vote on the subject, and since the only party opposed doesn't have any MPs (UKIP) it ( Read more... )

A 2,000 page document. A topic of national importance. Am I the only one hoping Ilanin writes a summary?

I'd just like everyone to know that when I fail to vote for a police commissioner tomorrow it isn't a dereliction of my democratic duty, it's a rejection of the notion of PCCs in general and of the set standing in my county in particular, not one of whom has any actual policing experience.

Emma: Dad's Poppy!
Me: Yes, it's remembrance day today.
Emma, solemnly: Remember Brave Soldiers.

"Our culture has accepted two huge lies: The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense." - Rick Warren responding to claims that his social engagement with Muslims meant he was compromising the ( Read more... )

Do the Liberal Democrats have a bit of an integrity problem ( Read more... )

What's going on with the French?

• Two years ago they abolished freedom of religion
• Now they're planning to abolish freedom of speech

Are they just really bad at democracy?

How should we judge government budgets? For example the 50p tax rate was due to drop to 40% this April, Osborne changed that to drop to 45%. Should we think of that as ( Read more... )