If there is a Yes vote in France there will be a referendum in Britain – in which

If there is a “Yes” vote in France, there will be a referendum in Britain – in which case, the Eurosceptics enjoy the prospect of a double whammy. They defeat the constitution and humiliate Tony Blair. Not surprisingly, some of those in Britain who oppose the constitution launched the “No” campaign yesterday even before the French had declared. In... Read More

Does anyone seriously believe that Britain with its fractured social and political fabric could

Does anyone seriously believe that Britain, with its fractured social and political fabric, could have absorbed a country with a bigger population than the South-east of England, reeling from 40 years of dictatorship and economic collapse and achieved anything like the same progress?No; “warts and all”, modern Germany remains, in my book, the fairest and most democratic... Read More

Jan Hanson was an early walker and talker

Jan Hanson was an early walker and talker. Some genuinely believed it to be potentially Europe’s biggest-ever offshore prospect, a belief not discouraged by Regal.Sadly not. So where will this hit? We are heading into a slowdown and slowdowns inevitably put pressure on the world’s financial system. So where will this hit? Like so many apparently simple questions,... Read More

So I just wanted to know if you can play ‘We’ll Meet Again’

So I just wanted to know if you can play ‘We’ll Meet Again’.”We looked at each other in mingled scorn and shame. We never played any songs that Peter Christie hadn’t written We played only original material We were very proud of that We wouldn’t know how to play any other songs. “Not only that, but she has promised to sing, if we provide... Read More

If he were leading the party it’s hard to believe anyone would notice

If he were leading the party, it’s hard to believe anyone would notice. He used the occasion – daringly, you might think – to pitch for his party’s leadership. You don’t expect a shadow spokesman to do such a thing in the middle of a Commons debate.But here he is, denouncing his leader’s election performance and presenting his prescription for... Read More

Both are big clubs and every year the club wants to win trophies

“Both are big clubs and every year the club wants to win trophies.” There is, nevertheless, a fundamental difference “I think we have played fantastic football,” Vieira said “Better than last year We have taken it to another level. That’s why we deserve to win a trophy.”Last season was when Arsenal constructed their fabulous unbeaten sequence... Read More

United say Mikel signed for them but the 18-year-old midfielder has been quoted as saying he wants to join Chelsea

United say Mikel signed for them, but the 18-year-old midfielder has been quoted as saying he wants to join Chelsea.Lyn said they have a contract with Mikel of which he is in breach after missing training and a match.. There can be no footballer whose trophy cabinet groans under the weight of gongs like Alan Smith’s. Their position is bad news for Glazer, as an individual... Read More

But why if he could see this did he give Tomlinson his head in

But why, if he could see this, did he give Tomlinson his head in the first place? One suspects that there may have been some manoeuvring in the Department for Education and Skills.This may be the reason Blair feels the need to have the trusted architect of many of his education policies in the department. It is a pity so many compromises had to be made, with the result that university... Read More

On the group’s own measure of like-for-like sales which excludes those stores affected by the opening of

On the group’s own measure of like-for-like sales, which excludes those stores affected by the opening of new space, there was a 3.2 per cent decrease.. Unemployment rose last month as businesses cut back on new staff and wage growth slowed, according to the latest figures to paint a downbeat picture of the UK economy. There he was found to have breached internal compliance... Read More

A bitter election has intensified party rivalries and fostered a whole new feeling of outrage at the duplicitous and downright dishonest tactics

A bitter election has intensified party rivalries and fostered a whole new feeling of outrage at the duplicitous and downright dishonest tactics used by the other. An atmosphere which is singularly lacking in trust is not the best place to call for a more constructive relationship.But to prevent the progressive parties following an electoral strategy that will reduce the chances... Read More