Those who respect pregnant women’s freedom to do as they choose with their own bodies should beware of accepting the criterion of ‘viability’ in deciding the point at which abortion is banned: that way lies a return to a ban on *all* abortion, and perhaps on contraception too [More >>>]
The same issue of the Guardian reports proposed curb on criminals benefiting from proceeds of their books and interviews, and Tony Blair’s book deal with publishers for his memoirs, reportedly worth over £5m [More >>>]
Through the mysteries of Facebook I have been introduced to a hilarious American humorist, Bill Maher [More >>>]
My letter in today’s Times argues that the risk of losing a referendum on the EU treaty, with catastrophic consequences for the UK, is one no responsible government should take [More >>>]
New US film ‘Rendition’, about the illegal CIA practice of kidnapping a terrorist suspect for interrogation in a country practising torture, deserves to be seen both for its political message and as excellent cinema, notwithstanding some misconceived criticism in some of the UK media [More >>>>]
See a marvellous musical at the Landor theatre in south London before it closes on 20 October 07 [More >>>]
A government threat to stop an erring public servant’s pension might prove to be bluff, but few of us could afford to risk challenging it [More >>>]
The Daily Telegraph (10/10/07) reports the FCO gag on retired diplomats. Read here my comment, of which a lightly edited version is on the Telegraph website [More >>>]
The words of the French national anthem, to sing along at the Rugby World Cup semi-finals [More >>>]
The current cliché of the commentariat invariably describes a decision by Brown not to call an early election “bottling it”, apparently meaning chickening out, whereas actually it will require courage, not cowardice. Decision not to call election brave and right, but overall a damaging week for Brown [More >>>]
