Author Archives: Alistair

Listen to the Right on the military

Posted on 8 November 2007 by Alistair

The announcement today by Lord Gutherie, former Chief of the Defence Staff, that he and other senior military and political figures have established the UK National Defence Association has got to cause concern. The concern is not simply that military is under-funded for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Security | Leave a comment

Crying out for liberty

Posted on 1 November 2007 by Alistair

The government and police’s approach to anti-terrorism has taken a battering in the past 48 hours. Whilst the House of Lords did not go as far as some of us may have liked in declaring control orders illegal, they have … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Rudderless justice but we score no hits

Posted on 25 October 2007 by Alistair

Jack Straw’s statement on the much vaunted government reforms which are going to put us all back in touch with the process of government was a total wash out. It was big on reviews and consultations and short on direction. … Continue reading →

Posted in Security | Leave a comment

Core values: let’s start with Liberty

Posted on 26 September 2007 by Alistair

Liberty is one of the core principles which the entirety of our mainstream political opinion supposedly supports. It’s meant to be one of the core defining values of our modern, western, liberal society; a marked contrast to the junta of Burma, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Security | Leave a comment

An amnesty by any other name

Posted on 28 August 2007 by Alistair

Nick Clegg’s article in Sunday’s Observer singularly fails to understand it’s not the system which results in immigration consistently polling in the top three concerns of voters, it’s immigration itself. He makes a series of valid points – yes, we need to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Services | 6 Comments