- How can we do more to stop corruption in UK public life?
John appeared on an Institute for Government (IfG) expert panel to discuss how to deal with UK corruption, political donations, and freebies: The event was chaired by Vicky Elliott, Director of the IfG Academy. You can watch the discussion here - Why Burnham’s water devolution idea is crackers
- Who wants to break up the UK?
The slow-burn-but-inevitable result of Blair’s botched devolution reforms. Britain’s enemies will be overjoyed……. - Why Is There No MP for the Falklands?
This week saw a south-Atlantic gale of outrage after Argentina’s chainsaw-wielding President Javier Milei repeated his country’s entirely bogus claim to the Falkland Islands, with President Donald Trump twisting the knife by saying the USA’s view of the issue was ‘under review’. It came just weeks after Argentina’s… Read more: Why Is There No MP for the Falklands? - How to unblock Britain’s economic arteries
Between all the usual August silly-season news stories about how the Prime Minister makes tea (milk first, apparently) or his go-to Greggs pie (it’s the sausage, bean and cheese melt, since you asked) was something altogether more serious: where the Government plans to build 70,000 of its promised… Read more: How to unblock Britain’s economic arteries - Strong walls, but a weaker State – smaller government is where the UK should head
This article by Ffinian Elliott first appeared in Conservative Home When one visits Washington D.C., the buildings that symbolise the kind of democracy fitting of a modern republic have a common theme. Their buildings are much like castles, fortified to the extreme, both for legitimate safety concerns, but… Read more: Strong walls, but a weaker State – smaller government is where the UK should head - As National Debt tops £3trillion, it’s time for Burnham to be honest about Britain’s finances
The problem for bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new prime ministers who take over part-way through a Parliament is they start with a king-sized chip on their shoulders. They walk through Downing Street’s door knowing they aren’t the one who won the election mandate they’re inheriting, and needing to defuse… Read more: As National Debt tops £3trillion, it’s time for Burnham to be honest about Britain’s finances - Support from shadow Ministers for Open Access Rail
- Why has ‘less Westminster’ become ‘more politicians’?
It’s great the new Government is trying to breath fresh life into devolving power from Westminster, but their new ‘Rewiring The State’ proposal doubles down on some big mistakes in Blair’s last attempt: 1, It adds more expensive extra layers of politicians who behave the same as the… Read more: Why has ‘less Westminster’ become ‘more politicians’? - Burnham repeats Blair’s devolution mistake
