Journalist, editor, analyst and trainer on computing, government, climate and data
It would be interesting to see all of these topics into a single article, but this is to cover two recent articles. The first, for Beacon, looks at the two big gambles for David Cameron’s government over the next five years: Britain’s place in Europe or Scotland’s place in Britain.
He was a celebrated member of Parliament’s New Model Army, but then became a radical politician. In 1647, he called for one man one vote; a year later, he was dead. One man one vote would not come about in Britain until 1918 (and for women, it would take a further decade). Continue reading “The revolutionary Thomas Rainborowe”
Following the SNP’s remarkable general election night, I have taken a close look at its manifesto for The Register. Although the SNP has ended up in opposition in Westminster, it looks likely that some of its proposals may well come about through further devolution to Scotland, particularly the fiscal ones on taxation, grants and the like. Continue reading “SNP march on Westminster may be good for UK IT”
Tyneside in England’s north-east has a revived centre for everyone in Newcastle and Gateshead, but its coastal edges are struggling, like Whitley Bay, or moving upscale like Tynemouth. It’s like Britain in miniature.
Originally published on Beacon.
Continue reading “From Tynemouth chic to Whitley Bay, where every day is like Sunday”
A version of this article appeared in Chipping Norton News, May 2015
On 21 March, Oxford University’s Bodleian Library opened its new £80m Weston Library on Broad Street. The building, a greatly-altered version of what was previously known as the New Bodleian Library, now includes galleries open to the public – including a four centuries old tapestry map featuring Chipping Norton. Continue reading “For Chipping Norton News: Bodleian puts Chippy on the map”
