The BBC’s deceit and lies over the Bashir/Diana debacle, in a cover-up that lasted more than 25 years, is for me the most shameful episode in its history. Lord Dyson’s blistering condemnation yesterday of BBC star reporter Martin Bashir and several of his bosses at the corporation has been a very long time coming. I … Read more
Three cheers for Oriel College, which after years of dither and delay, has finally come to the only possible decision about its little statue of Cecil Rhodes. Nobody thinks Rhodes was a saint. Entrepreneurs and empire-builders rarely are. But as prime minister of the Cape Colony, founder of the De Beers diamond empire and the … Read more
Of all the damning conclusions reached in the wake of the publication of the report of the Dyson Investigation, none can be so devastating as that reached by Diana’s brother Charles Spencer. In his appearance on the BBC’s Panorama special last night, he drew a straight line between the lies and deception Martin Bashir told … Read more
TIM ALDERSLADE: These holiday rules are alarming, confusing, and illogical. Sort it out, ministers! By Tim Alderslade, Ceo Of Airlines Uk Published: 22:03 BST, 19 May 2021 | Updated: 12:46 BST, 20 May 2021 This week saw the sight of happy British holidaymakers visiting beaches, bars and restaurants in Portugal, one of the tiny number … Read more
Appropriately enough, there has been a long delay to the Government’s White Paper on the future of the rail industry. It is 18 months late, in fact – it was supposed to be published when the leaves were still fresh on the line in Autumn 2019. But now it has finally squealed its way on … Read more
‘The general rule over human history is that once powers are yielded to the state at moments of crisis or emergency, it’s never the case – or very very, rarely the case – that the state hands them back.’ The words of Michael Gove in 2009 as he railed against Tony Blair‘s failed attempt to … Read more
What has happened to the liberal-minded Boris Johnson I used to know, the free- spirited enemy of overbearing government? Where exactly has the brilliant, clear-thinking journalist gone to, the man who used effortlessly to skewer bossy or fuzzy-minded politicians, and put them firmly in their place? He wasn’t to be found yesterday at Prime Minister’s … Read more
It takes a special kind of selfish, deluded fool to refuse to take the covid vaccine but persist in ranting about the evils of lockdowns. Yesterday, rock legend Eric Clapton did his best to dissuade people from having the jab after claiming the side effects he suffered made him fear he would never perform again. … Read more
Normality is finally returning. The chains of lockdown are being cast aside. This week, in my role as a teacher of history at Cambridge University, I joined in the national embrace of freedom by holding the first face-to-face teaching I’ve had with students for more than a year. It has been an uplifting, poignant experience … Read more
Penny Mordaunt gave Angela Rayner a frightful biffing in the Commons yesterday. Surprising, I know! If these two were to ever square up to each other, most money would be on bovver- booted Rayner. Back in her youth, I doubt many dared pick a fight with our Ange in the playground. Yet when the pair … Read more