I was in the Cambridge pub in Liverpool when the news showed Margaret Thatcher leaving Downing Street. She was being replaced by another Conservative, but we drank anyway. Not because the government had changed, but because an era had ended. If I’d gone out drinking every time a prime minister left Downing Street over the … Read more
I am not a big fan of Andy Burnham. That might seem a strange thing to say given that I am a member of Mainstream, the pro-Burnham group within Labour. Burnham is an astute politician. His municipal socialism is not far from my own instincts and, unlike many politicians, he has experience of life outside … Read more
How the Economics of Crime Changed the Capital If you wanted to rob a bank in London in the 1970s, there was at least a certain logic to it. Cash was everywhere. Workers were often paid in cash. Pubs took cash. Shops took cash. Payrolls arrived in envelopes. Bank branches held large sums of money, … Read more
There have been some noisy headlines about chaos in councils where Reform won seats last month: resignations, council meetings in disarray, councillors disappearing on holiday en masse. Durham became a Reform-controlled council last year, and I finally managed to catch some Reform councillors in action. I had spent months trying to speak to, photograph or … Read more
Another summer and, once again, another riot. By now the pattern is becoming familiar. A tragedy occurs involving a white victim and a non-white perpetrator. The victim’s family appeals for calm and asks that their loss should not be used to fuel racial hatred. The appeal is ignored. “We want to use Henry’s heartbreaking story … Read more
The number of people crossing the Channel in small boats fell again in May. In May 2025, 3,738 people crossed the Channel in small boats. In May 2026, that figure was 2,713 — a reduction of 1,025 people. More importantly, this is not a one-off. Crossings have now fallen in eight of the last ten … Read more
Something rather awkward is happening in Spain. British expats who secured post-Brexit residency using questionable paperwork are increasingly finding themselves under investigation as they apply for permanent residency. Police investigations stretching back to 2021 are now catching up with people who used forged padrón certificates, fake healthcare documents or dubious “gestors” to secure the right … Read more
Something strange has happened to Britain’s high streets. Walk through almost any town centre and the old independent coffee shops are disappearing. In their place come the chains: Starbucks, Costa, Caffè Nero, Greggs masquerading as cafés. The coffee is often perfectly acceptable, the décor reassuringly predictable and the toilets generally cleaner than the independents they … Read more
The UK government is pressing ahead with plans for a new generation of new towns to tackle the housing crisis. The details are still emerging, but the direction of travel is clear: large-scale planned settlements, focused on sustainability, “gentle density” and transport links. The reasons are straightforward. Labour wants to build 1.5 million homes and … Read more
