President Erdogan could well determine the future of Europe and Brexit
- 7 Dec 2016
The focus across Europe is on the result of the Italian referendum on constitutional reform, and looking ahead to the Austrian, French and German general elections. The Italian poll is taking place against the backdrop of a deepening crisis in Italian banks and more of the ...
The Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Office at One Hundred
- 30 Nov 2016
“The Cabinet Office, like many important British institutions that wield considerable power, is hardly known about outside. It is only the initiates who fully appreciate how powerful it is.” – Peter Hennessy This month marks one hundred years since the role of Secretary...
Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement: elegant, focussed and effective
- 25 Nov 2016
Underlying the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is the sobering fact that UK National Debt is heading for a record high – 90.2 per cent of GDP. He acknowledged this last Sunday on the Andrew Marr show when he described the level of UK National Debt as ‘eye watering’. The rising l...
European leaders need to adopt a friendlier tone, for all our sakes…
- 20 Nov 2016
December 4 marks a key moment in this year of defining political events. Austria and Italy go to the polls. Austria is re-running its Presidential election and the far-right candidate looks close to clinching the victory that narrowly eluded him a few months ago. In Italy the ...
Nigel Farage should be given a peerage as swiftly as possible
- 18 Nov 2016
Nigel Farage should be given a peerage as swiftly as possible. He has had a bigger effect, for better or for worse depending on your point of view, on the course of British politics and Britain's future direction than any politician since Ted Heath succeeded in taking the coun...
Following Trump’s election what next for politics?
- 10 Nov 2016
Early in the morning on the day after the US election my eldest daughter came down the stairs as normal on her way to breakfast holding her teddy bear, Umpa Ted. ‘Who won,’ she asked and before I could respond she said, ‘it’s Trump isn’t it?’ She put Umpa Ted’s paws to his eye...
Remembering the Battle of Trafalgar
- 25 Oct 2016
On the duver at St Helen’s stands the tower of St Helen’s Old Church. At about eye height near the base of the tower is a smallish plaque. It reads: ‘On Saturday 14th. September 1805, Admiral Lord Nelson boarded HMS Victory lying anchor off St. Helens near to this spot. HMS...
Book Review: Edward Marshall Hall
- 12 Oct 2016
Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC was one of the great legal advocates of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Along with Edward Carson and F.E. Smith he dominated the courtrooms of his time. He served, like them, in Parliament but with little success. Unlike them he never sat on...
May’s rise seals the end of the Blair-Cameron era
- 5 Oct 2016
The Party Conference season is once again drawing to a close. To most people these events come and go without much notice. To the die-hard activists, serial attenders and pundits much effort and analysis will have been expended for relatively little return. The annual Party Co...
St Bride's News - Welcome to Mark Fox
- 9 Sep 2016
We are very pleased to welcome Rev Mark Fox to the ministry team at St Bride's. He was ordained into the Church of England by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, in St. Paul's Cathedral in 2013. Currently he is the Chief Executive of The Business Services Association (...