Category Archives: UK

Early Morning at #OccupyLSX

Posted on 24 December 2011 by Robert

I have been meaning to visit the Occupy London protest camp at St Paul’s Cathedral since it appeared in October. Yesterday morning I went via St Paul’s on my way to work and shot a few slices of video of … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer Rights, Globalisation, London | Leave a comment

Shadow Cities

Posted on 17 November 2011 by Robert

This is a marvellous evocation of why I enjoy much of the literature and imagery that I do. I have discussed the idea of overlaying of invisible worlds onto aphysical space quite a lot on this blog. Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Cultures, London | Leave a comment

Wrestling with Fighting Talk

Posted on 30 August 2011 by Robert

My inaugral post on Labour List (cross-posted here) elicited a few responses which highlight some subtlties in the ongoing discussion around the limits of free speech – specifically, the point at which it is appropriate for the state to ban … Continue reading →

Posted in Debate, London, Politics | 4 Comments

Putting the Power of Censorship in the Hands of the Mob

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Robert

Cameron’s suggestion that we censor social media, and the Labour call for the banning of this EDL event, will hamstring the fight for free expression elsewhere: “You do it, so why shouldn’t we?” Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Law and Order, London, New Labour, Political Correctness | Leave a comment

BBC Accused of Selective Editing

Posted on 11 August 2011 by Robert

During Tuesday’s edition of Newsnight, hosted by Gavin Esler, one of the studio interviewees accused the BBC of selective editing. The prgramme can be viewed online via the BBC iPlayer (available until 16th August).  In a debate about why young … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, London | 1 Comment

#Flashride

Posted on 30 July 2011 by Robert

Cycling home on Friday, I was unwittingly caught up in the London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Flashride’ across Blackfriars Bridge. They want the speed limit on the bridge to remain at 20mph but apparently the Mayor of London isn’t heeding the request, … Continue reading →

Posted in London | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Libel Reform is 190 Years Overdue

Posted on 5 May 2011 by Robert

Happy Birthday to The Guardian, 190 years old today. In its regular archive feature, the paper presents Its first ever editorial, which features a demand for libel reform: Continue reading →

Posted in Human Rights, Liberal Conspiracy, Media, UK | Leave a comment

Two Types of Patriotism

Posted on 3 May 2011 by Robert

A crucial difference between the two groups of cheering crowds: On The Mall in London, the flag-wavers were celebrating life; On The Mall in Washington, they were cheering a death. I wonder how this essential difference between these two moments of patriotic punctuation will affect the two nations in years to come? Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchy, Terrorism, UK, USA | Leave a comment

Some Words on Primogeniture

Posted on 17 April 2011 by Robert

Primogentiture is the right of the first born to inherit titles, estates and thrones. At present the UK has a form of male primogeniture, which sets the Duke of York and Prince Edward above the older Princess Anne in the … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Liberal Democrats, Monarchy, UK | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Radio Litopia: A Town Named Sue

Posted on 14 March 2011 by Robert

The Litopia online writers colony broadcasts several weekly podcasts on various aspects of writing and literature.  I was invited onto the Debriefer show, presented by Donna Ballman, to discuss the pressing issue of libel reform. You can listen to my … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Diary, Human Rights, Literature, London, Media | Leave a comment