The boring predictability of our rule of law will ensure Britain’s success November 26, 2021 Power doesn’t disappear overnight. In the immortal words of Paul Simon, it slip slides away. In Helmand, Afghanistan I realised things were falling apart when people stopped coming to the government to resolve disputes. They turned to the Taliban instead. That was 15 years before the end. Subtly, almost unnoticed, here was proof that people [...]
Britain’s social insurance is built on harmonious state, private and charity ties November 12, 2021 Every year, when the clock strikes 11 o’clock on November 11, we come together to remember. It is a reminder of friends and times past. But it is also a reminder that communities standing together can make a difference to the lives of many. The Royal British Legion was set up in the aftermath of [...]
A new dawn of cryptocurrency is forcing us to re-evaluate our faith in our institutions of state October 29, 2021 Talking about a revolution, as Tracy Chapman reminded us, isn’t new. For many years, many have. But we only ever know we’ve lived through when we look back. Today, the writing is on the walls for a moment of fundamental change. Over the last week we’ve seen Bitcoin and Ethereum hit historic highs while take [...]
As bills go up, we need to brace for a pretty chilly winter in the UK October 15, 2021 As usual, Destiny’s Child was right. Bills, bills, bills, as the iconic girl group put it, put friction into our relationships and left us acting dumb. This winter they’re going up. As inflation starts to bite we’re going to find it tougher to make ends meet. From groceries to energy, the cost of everything is [...]
Just-in-time supply chains have left us dependent and with just-not-enough October 1, 2021 In the peak of the pandemic, songwriter Justin Vernon, known as the haunting voice of Bon Iver sang a searing lyric: “You at the corner store, you were stocking up before the storm.” As we watched hours of queues at petrol stations, we were reminded once again it was those who had filled up their [...]
The power vacuum in Afghanistan left by the US and the UK will draw Beijing’s watchful gaze July 7, 2021 Foreign combat operations ended in Afghanistan years ago. For the past few years, barely 10,000 NATO forces have been helping enable a force of some 400,000 Afghans with the necessary equipment and capability to build the state. Those support operations ended with the withdrawal this week. Since the abrupt departure of Western soldiers, Afghan forces have [...]
