New Statesman (1996)

Ravaged by manufacturing decline, infuriated by southern ignorance, the north still feels like another country. Somewhere between the Bristol Channel and the Wash -- or is it along the banks of the River Trent? -- a fault line stretches through...

"Anyone for tennis?" There must be times, in the midst of never-ending meetings, when Tony Blair longs to be out on a court. Unfortunately for him, his range of opponents is limited. A tennis encounter with any of his Cabinet colleagues, for example,...

It's all very well to complain to the powers that be, but first you have to find them I thought it was outrageous. So did Roger and Helen. Sarah was an excellent researcher, but now came the news that her short-term contract would not be renewed....

The Cinderella social care sector is about to face further upheavals. Once again, the primary purpose is to save money, argues Jean is feeding a teatime snack to her son, gently scolding him when he throws his half-eaten sandwich on the floor. It's...

If you want to sort out the Met, Ken, talk to Mack A few days ago, the London Evening Standard introduced us to Lord Harris of Haringey, named by Mayor Livingstone as chairman of the Police Committee. His article urged us to welcome democracy in...

Bureaucrats always want to introduce more stringent hygiene regulations, James Le Fanu argues that cleanliness may not be as good for us as they think Provocative ideas in science are not common, but when they come along it is a fair bet that established,...

Vodka can give you a big head, cautions JAMES HOPKIN There can be few more fitting marriages than that between alcohol and the ego; the ratio between creativity and dependency is as delicate as you'd expect in any meaningful relationship. The...

Edinburgh's snobbery has grown worse since the parliament came to town. It should look west, argues Tom Brown Surreptitiously, a term of disparagement has crept into the Scottish vocabulary: "Weejies". If you are a "Weejie", you are someone of a...

Beware of politicians who announce that "we are learning the language in which God created life". Treat a claim that life expectancy has just gone up by 25 years with the same scepticism as you would treat any other unverifiable assertion about, say,...

The state has no business to ask about religion I HAVE been worried by the idea of a religion question in the next census since I first heard of it, and I am surprised that it has not generated much debate. Ziauddin Sardar ("At last we can stand...

The Scottish Parliament has had a pig of a first year. But the looming storms of its second year will help it "bed down", predict Wanted: big beasts for Labour back benches. Must be able to make rousing speeches in Scottish Parliament and give the...

If the suits at the Treasury are to be believed, the average Scot is a lot less enterprising than his or her English counterpart. According to figures just released (for the year 1998), it seems that the English start new businesses at an average rate...

In November, my first picture book, Who Is The World For?, will be published. I wrote it while on a writer's bursary travelling down through Africa from Nairobi to Cape Town. It was the first time I had been away from home for a lengthy period as a...

John Prescott was ridiculed only when tabloid editors realised he owned more homes than they did The idea that anything "luxurious" can create "paradise" has suddenly fallen out of political favour, and only Chris Smith has yet to catch on to this...

VICTORIA MOORE on her love affair with gin and tonic I thought I was over my ex. I'd been to parties without checking first to see if he'd be there, standing all square-shouldered and solid by the sofa. I'd stopped shivering when I heard other people...

So what did you think of it? England's ignominious exit? I thought the lads played a blinder, incisive, direct, no messing around, got the boot in where it hurt, took no prisoners. Yes, a great victory once again for our glorious media. The football...