My friend Phil Hendren, who used to write the Dizzythinks blog back in the day, has started a new Substack. He was one of my ...

My colleague, the brilliant political commentator Lewis Goodall, and I usually get on famously and find plenty of shared perspectives. Yet, on the subject of inheritance tax, we stand at opposite ends ...

I don’t envy my friend Jacqui Smith having to look after the university sector. In some ways it ought to be one of the most enjoyable jobs I government. But then you read the lead story on page 2 of ...

I’m on the train back to London after a week in Scotland, first hosting my ALL TALK show at the Edinburgh Fringe, and secondly researching my family ancestry in Ayrshire. I’ve much enjoyed the week, ...

Today, the world of broadcasting lost an original. James Whale was an icon, a titan of an industry which is full of fakes. He was a pioneer, someone who wasn’t afraid to innovate or try new things, ...

[Scroll in 1.09.00 for the Oration and 1.20.00 for my speech] Three years ago I got an email out of the blue from an academic at the University of Kent asking if I would accept an honorary degree in ...

Over the years, I have done countless phone-ins on my LBC radio show about people who have some form of autism or ADHD diagnosis. They range from children in the early years, to people in their 60s or ...

This article by Mary Beard was written for The Observer. couple of decades is a very long time in politics. Twenty years ago, I seethed with rage at the “crimes” of George W Bush. These days, compared ...

For those who have always though Reform UK would be a ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ political party, think again. The only way that will happen is if Nigel Farage self combusts. He’s got the sniff of ...

It takes a rare political talent to offend and upset so many voters in such a short period of time, but sometimes it’s necessary if you’re going to introduce radical reforms and shake things up a bit.

Last week Tessa Dunlop and I recorded the first two episodes of our brand new WHERE POLITICS MEETS HISTORY podcast. We were pleased with the first but knew we hadn’t got it quite right. We sat down ...

It was Christmas Day 2024 and we were opening presents. Well, more precisely, everyone else was, because as we all know, older men don’t get many presents and Christmas. And then Daniel handed me an ...