Tories lose 4 MPs in less than a year – will James Gray be number 5?

Quentin Davies – defected Andrew Pelling – whip withdrawn over allegations of wife-beating Derek Conway – whip withdrawn over expenses scandal Bob Spink – whip withdrawn before he could resign. Now a member of UKIP. My prediction at the start of the year that Cameron would have a bad year has remained unfulfilled, but this… Continue reading Tories lose 4 MPs in less than a year – will James Gray be number 5?

Would Joseph Rowntree have praised or damned religion?

Reporting a recent piece of research published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Times adopts this approach: A CHARITY set up by an ardent Christian to fight slavery and the opium trade has identified a new social evil of the 21st century – religion. A poll by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation uncovered a widespread belief… Continue reading Would Joseph Rowntree have praised or damned religion?

Evening Standard piece on JK Rowling

This was published in the Evening Standard on Thursday, slightly edited: The Harry Potter series is one of the most derivative works of fiction ever devised, from its boarding school setting (The Four Marys, Billy Bunter), magical theme (too many to mention) and even its plot (drawing from the same well as Star Wars and… Continue reading Evening Standard piece on JK Rowling