Violent crime is at an all time high. Knife crime is out of control. Britain is more dangerous that it ever has been. Drug use is soaring. The headlines are familiar to everyone. It would be easy to believe that young people are more violent, more dangerous, more criminal than ever before. I’m not convinced.… Read More Violent crime | Have we created a dangerous generation?

Under Pressure: Queen/Bowie 2. True: Spandau Ballet 3. Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin 4. Only You, Flying Pickets 5. Toy Soldiers, Martika 6. Blue Monday, New Order 7. Enola Gay, OMD 8. Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant 9. Oh Superman, Laurie Anderson 10. Tom’s Diner, Suzanne Vega 11. Another One Bites The Dust, Queen 12.… Read More 80s Pop Quiz | The Answers

Boris will pursue a hard Brexit, unless Labour elects someone popular and effective who can push him into a more sensible position. Labour are unlikely to pick someone sensible as a leader and as a consequence Boris won’t feel any pressure to compromise on hard Brexit. It’s not even certain than Corbyn will stand down… Read More Predictions for 2020

This is my own personal tribute to Jive Bunny and the Master Mixers. 26 80s pop hits, all mixed together. Just work out which one is which PM me your answers or send them to jon.chadwick1@btinternet.com I’ll publish the answers and the winners tomorrow evening

Non-Fiction Peter Pomerentsev: This is Not Propoganda, Faber and Faber I’ve met Peter a couple of times through Durham Book Festival, and he is one of the most insightful writers on the current crisis of disinformation, political polarisation and hate speech. He is also Visiting Senior Fellow at the Institute of Global Affairs at the… Read More Books 2019 | What I read

The whole thing, in one go, in case you can’t shake off the hangover