Last Saturday, I wrote a piece titled War Is Not Liberation: A Plea for Restraint, Law and the Protection of Civilians. In it I argued that military escalation in the Middle East risked inflicting terrible harm on ordinary people while undermining the framework of international law that exists to restrain the use of force. Sadly,… Continue reading Stop the War: The case for law, restraint and independent British leadership
Tag: Trump
War is not liberation: a plea for restraint, law, and the protection of civilians
The past hours have brought deeply alarming news of military strikes by the United States and Israel against targets inside Iran, followed by retaliatory missile attacks by Iran across the region. The speed with which this escalation has unfolded is frightening. The human consequences, as always, are borne not by political leaders but by ordinary… Continue reading War is not liberation: a plea for restraint, law, and the protection of civilians
Living in truth: Middle Powers must lead, and Britain, with Canada and the EU, should be with them
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Premier Mark Carney delivered one of the most important speeches of this decade. It deserves to be read not as a Canadian intervention alone, but as a blueprint for every serious democracy that refuses to drift into vassalage in a world of unrestrained power politics. Carney named… Continue reading Living in truth: Middle Powers must lead, and Britain, with Canada and the EU, should be with them
Trump’s America is no longer the Land of the Free
Trump’s authoritarian populism risks turning the U.S. into a fascist state which is why I no longer feel safe to travel there, and why others, including global sport, should question their own plans. I have long been proud to celebrate the United States as a beacon of democratic pluralism, creativity, and cultural diversity. I have… Continue reading Trump’s America is no longer the Land of the Free
A true leader in London, Haringey’s Claire Kober speaks out for inclusive visionary leadership, and warns against populism and surrendering power to vocal minorities
Every so often I have the privilege of hearing a speech that is inspiring and thought provoking. As readers of my blog will know, my political inspiration doesn’t always from ‘my side of the aisle’ and so it was last week, when a Labour politician grabbed my attention and my applause by the power and… Continue reading A true leader in London, Haringey’s Claire Kober speaks out for inclusive visionary leadership, and warns against populism and surrendering power to vocal minorities
Recent events a wake-up call to politicians: austerity must end, we need a kinder, fairer way
In My Opinion piece written for The Smithfield Gazette, June 2017 The last twelve months in British and global politics, along with incidents of domestic and international terrorism, and the horrendous fire at Grenfell Tower in West London must surely be the wake-up call needed for those of us involved in public life to think… Continue reading Recent events a wake-up call to politicians: austerity must end, we need a kinder, fairer way
St Paul’s Remembrance: “Brexit and Trump were won with lies and fear. Two world wars were won with truth and courage.”- I agree.
Yesterday’s Remembrance Sunday service at St Paul’s Cathedral was, as usual, a moving and solemn occasion. It was attended by the City’s new Lord Mayor, the Aldermen and Common Councilmen, as well Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and many representatives of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and countless old comrades from former… Continue reading St Paul’s Remembrance: “Brexit and Trump were won with lies and fear. Two world wars were won with truth and courage.”- I agree.
