The burning issue in the world of politics this week seems to have been apathy. The BBC is doing its bit to combat it – or possibly stir it up – with an advertising campaign. The Independent, under the headline ‘Politics holds least interest for the public in a decade’ reported “The research … shows [...]
Posts Tagged ‘English politics’
The British Character : Has It Changed? #4 Political Apathy
Posted in Arts, Cartoons, Politics, This England, tagged Apathy, Cartoons, English politics, Politics, Pont on April 29, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Hell No, We Won’t Grow : On Strike In Leicestershire
Posted in Politics, This England, tagged English politics, GMB, Leicester, Leicestershire, Little Bowden, Strikes, Stump Watch, Trades Unions on November 30, 2011 | 5 Comments »
I’m afraid to say that this month’s Stump Watch has had to be called off due to industrial action. So here, instead, are a few snaps of the march and rally in Leicester. I have to say that, as someone who’s never been on a demonstration in my life before, that I found it [...]
You That Love England, by C. Day Lewis
Posted in Arts, History, Poetry, Politics, This England, tagged C. Day Lewis, Communism, English politics, Osip Mandelstam, Poetry, St George on April 23, 2011 | 2 Comments »
There seems to be so much to commemorate at the moment that I lose track of it all, but today is St George’s Day (I think, though everyone seems to have forgotten about it this year). So here is a suitable poem (one I’ve always liked) from The Magnetic Mountain by C. Day Lewis. [...]
“The Library is a Quiet Place”
Posted in Arts, Photography, Poetry, Politics, tagged Charles Simic, Detroit, English politics, Libraries, Poetry, Romain Meffre, Yves Marchand on February 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
When I began writing this blog there were two subjects that I decided I would not write about – my immediate family (who don’t want to be written about, so I don’t) and my work (I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned this before, but I work as a librarian). I thought, though, that I had [...]
Travel Restrictions Announced
Posted in Arts, Magazines, Media, Music, Politics, Travel, tagged David Cameron, English politics, Ray Davies on October 25, 2010 | 4 Comments »
Bringing together a couple of recent preoccupations, it sounds as though, if I fancy leaving the country again, I’d better get a move on - if an interview with Ray Davies in the latest issue of Uncut magazine is to be believed – Uncut – So now they’re leaving [the country] for a different reason? RD – [...]
To kalon decreed in the marketplace
Posted in Arts, Poetry, Politics, This England, tagged City of London, English politics, Ezra Pound, Markets, Parliament, Rhetorical questions, Taxes on May 8, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Stepping outside for a quick smoke at work yesterday (physically in the City of London) I saw a parked car with a personalised number plate reading I8TAX5 (I hate taxes). I wondered what kind of truly wretched individual, given the opportunity to offer to the world one thought close to his heart, would choose to advertise the [...]
Ronnie for Laureate?
Posted in Arts, Poetry, Politics, tagged David Cameron, English politics, Geoffrey Hill, Poetry, Purple Ronnie on May 8, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Well, this blog did vote for the Liberal Democrats on Thursday, and I’m afraid it wasn’t a great success. The Conservative was returned with an increased majority. In other news, another of my tips for the top – James Taylor - has barely got out of single figures all season. Coming soon – my tip for [...]
This blog will be voting Liberal in Market Harborough on 6th May
Posted in Politics, tagged Edward Garnier, English politics, General Elections, Leicestershire, Liberal Democrats, Liberal Party, Market Harborough, Zuffar Haq on May 5, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I was planning tonight to write something amusing about James Taylor’s resemblance to Orinoco Womble, or perhaps just some thoughts about last weekend’s goings on at Grace Road, but then I thought I really ought to say something about the election (which is tomorrow, I believe). Happily for me there isn’t a great deal of [...]
Compare the Devils : a day out in the Peak District
Posted in Blogging, History, Politics, This England, tagged Caves, Chancels, Churches, Days Out, Derbyshire, Devil's Arse, Devils, English politics, Libertarians, Pipe bands on May 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Would you like to see my holiday snaps? Dread words. However, I thought you might be interested to see a few I took yesterday on a day trip to Castleton in the Peak District. Just talk amongst yourselves while I set up the projector … This is the magnificent view from the top of Treak [...]
