Random Jottings

There is a temptation in international politics to reach too quickly for historical analogy. ‘Munich’ and ‘appeasement’ appear whenever a concession is made, ‘Vietnam’ whenever a war drags on, and ‘Iraq’ when military action is launched on a dubious basis. Yet some analogies endure because they reveal a real underlying pattern. The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran is one such case. There are strong hints of the Suez crisis about the con

There is considerable pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to resign as Prime Minister. In two years his government has achieved unprecedented levels of unpopularity. At last count, he has made approximately 16 U-turns on manifesto promises and government policies. Labour’s sweeping losses in the devolved and local elections have been blamed on the Prime Minister’s all-round dismal performance. Sir Keir has asserted his determination to carry on regardless. However, the challenges ar

‘The Law is the true embodiment Of everything that’s excellent. It has no kind of fault or flaw, And I, my Lords, embody the Law.’ So sings the Lord Chancellor following his entry on stage in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe . The current Lord Chancellor, David Lammy MP, certainly seems to consider his judgement faultless and flawless. Despite opposition in Parliament and protest from more than 3,200 members of the legal profession – including 300 senior barristers and 22 ret

Every country has its own significant historical anniversaries over the course of the year. However, Germany is perhaps unique in that so many significant events in its history not only occurred in November – but in the space of a single week. Within this narrow window lie moments of revolution, coup-attempt, state-sponsored terror, and joyful liberation. Three very different German systems: Imperial Germany, the Weimar/Nazi era, and divided Cold War Germany each saw defining

When historians look back on the reign of Charles III, one date may stand apart for its significance: 30 th October 2025. On that day, his brother, Prince Andrew, to all intents and purposes ceased to be royal. For years, Andrew’s name has been mired in scandal: his connexion with Jeffrey Epstein , the civil court settlement with Virginia Giuffre , and his consequent retreat from public life. Yet, for all the disgrace, his titles remained intact. That has now changed. In a d

On 23 rd October 1739 Great Britain declared war on Spain sparking a conflict that would soon be consumed within the much larger War of Austrian Succession (1740-48). The war between Britain and Spain known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear began with one of the more memorable – and bizarre – pretexts in 18 th Century history, but behind the grim spectacle of a severed ear were far more substantial questions of trade, empire and national honour. Two intertwining themes help explai

In July 1776, Britain faced a crisis without precedent. Across the Atlantic, thirteen of its colonies had declared independence. To many in London, it seemed inconceivable that subjects of the Crown could renounce their allegiance so brazenly. For decades, Britain had viewed its American possessions as both partners in trade and symbols of imperial success. Now, rebellion threatened to unravel that achievement. Britain’s imperial dilemma The roots of the conflict lay in emp

Successive Labour governments have sought to impose compulsory identification on Britons - this piece outlines why Britain has always rejected the concept.