In all our sanctuaries we sit at risk

Category: abuse of free speech

  • Mr Johnson’s True Name

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    These days, a growing number of people are coming up with rude names for Mr Johnson, the UK Prime Minster. I too have a name for him which could be described as rude. But, in my case, I would argue that the reason I use this name is not just to vent my exasperation or…

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  • Ethics in UK Politics

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    Here below is the copy of a letter I’ve sent this week to Lord Evans of Weardale, Chair of the UK’s independent committee on standards in public life. By coincidence, just before Mr Johnson’s extraordinary contortions in the House of Commons two days ago, Lord Evans’ committee produced a report recommending certain improvements in the…

  • Mr. Johnson’s Competition

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    The UK Tory Party Conference is taking place in Manchester, as I write this. In the little poem above, written this morning after a very rainy night, I am thinking of various misleading and dishonest pronouncements made by Prime Minister Johnson in and around the conference. Perhaps the one that struck me hardest, was his…

  • The Good of Language

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  • The Potent Appeal of the “Strong Model”

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      Why do certain behaviours, or opinions, or political policies, become popular at some point, where before they would have been rejected out of hand ? Why do certain approaches, or qualities of presentation, previously scorned, suddenly start to be given value ?  And do all such changes represent advance, or improvement ? No.  And…

  • In Search of Good Faith

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    I have been carrying a little string of thoughts in my head for several weeks. They make a point I haven’t seen being made elsewhere and which might be worth adding to the mix. Maybe it would be of interest to someone passing, even throw some further light, however dim and peripheral, on what’s happening…

  • UK ’21 – Resumé from the Cage

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