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Category Archives: Politics
Critical Reading, Online Scare Stories – and the Death Star
Yesterday, a petition from avaaz started going round the internet. It spread very rapidly, through twitter and Facebook. Many generally thoughtful, concerned people passed it on, some with words of anger or concern, urging others to sign the petition as … Continue reading
Welsh Higher Education Madness
During the last few days universities have been concentrating on Clearing, the process whereby students can find places in university courses in the days after they receive their A-level results, and change their plans if their A-levels are significantly different … Continue reading
What the Church of England is really saying about same-sex marriage
Guest post by Alan Renwick, Reader in Comparative Politics, University of Reading @alanjrenwick Confused about the Church of England’s arguments concerning same-sex marriage? Here is a brilliant executive summary which which knows how to read between the lines. Alan Renwick … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Guest Post, Politics, Religion
Tagged Alan Renwick, Church of England, equal marriage, Guest post, same-sex marriage
4 Comments
Subject to a right royal confusion
(with thanks to Don Kranz, whose blog is a real inspiration, for luring me out of work-induced blog hibernation!) It’s Diamond Jubilee weekend, and a time to think about the role of the monarchy, and the role it plays in … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Democracy, Life in the UK, UK Citizenship
Tagged Citizenship, Diamond Jubilee, Monarchy, Queen, republicans, subjects
1 Comment
Let’s hear it for constitutional amendments (or: the Demands of Democracy)
It’s rather early on a Sunday morning, and I am already on the train to Cardiff, determined to get there in time to vote on a few constitutional amendments. Yes, it’s that time of year again – it’s a Liberal … Continue reading
How much does one pay for a parliamentary seat?
This is clearly a question we have to ask if we want to make sure that money cannot buy influence, a question we need to tackle if we want increased diversity in parliament. I have been thinking about this for a while … Continue reading
A Racism Row We Didn’t Need
Sometime yesterday evening, Diane Abbott, in a twitter conversation with her constituent Bin Adewunmi, expressed a rather insensitive view: Once the tweet was spotted, there was no halting the row. Diane Abbott in thoughtless hyperbole shocker. As if she had never said something … Continue reading
Posted in Current events, Immigration, Life in the UK, Politics
Tagged Diane Abbott, Racism, Stephen Lawrence
4 Comments
Private University Fail (with a dose of political corruption)
The Austrian edition of last week’s Die Zeit (51/2011) contained an article on such a blatant example of a private university gone wrong that I decided to translate the whole article in order to give it a chance of some exposure. My … Continue reading
Posted in Austria, Politics, Universities
Tagged Austria, corruption, FPÖ, Gaddafi, Jörg Haider, ÖVP, Private universities, quality assurance, Saif Gaddafi, SPÖ, university accreditation
3 Comments
Wolf in Shadow Chancellor’s Clothing
In an interview with the Independent yesterday Ed Balls has made the LibDems a not-so ‘big, open and comprehensive’ offer, asking them to cross the floor and to join Labour in a coalition. I think it would be much better now … Continue reading
Posted in Coalition, Current events, Political Parties, Politics
Tagged Coalition, Ed Balls, Nick Clegg
1 Comment
Vaclav Havel – Kim Jong-il – Christopher Hitchens
Sometimes history hands you odd juxtapositions, as has happened just now with the deaths, within a few days, of Christopher Hitchens, Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong-il. Three deaths that make you think about conscience, freedom of speech and the choices … Continue reading