The commentators 02-11-15...on politicsOur fathers relied on Spitfires and Hurricanes, then later on the British Army of the Rhine. Today, in an age when conflict between millions of uniformed men seems ever less likely, GCHQ and the intelligence services man the front line. GCHQ and its kin represent our best hopes in the battle against terror. They deserve trust, qualified by accountability and legal safeguards, in accessing the lives of us all in order that they may identify our foes intending mass murder. Ultimately, we are asked to make a choice: whom would you rather trust? Edward Snowden and his apologists or Britain’s intelligence services?
- Max Hastings, Daily Mail Immigrants have been successfully, egregiously framed as a threat. All sources of immigration have become one. The debate refuses to distinguish between a student and an engineer and a cockle picker and a refugee. Never mind that our universities are a major export, and without foreign students our balance of payments would be stuffed; never mind that sharing expertise across borders is what allows creativity and innovation to flourish; never mind that the exploitation of workers is a case for employers to answer, and it is not for the exploited to apologise for being too plentiful; never mind that we are signatories of the refugee convention and were, in living memory, proud of that fact
- Zoe Williams, The Guardian The truth is that there are many millions now on the move, not because they are necessarily in immediate fear for their lives, but because they are in search of economic betterment for themselves and their families. That is a noble ambition. No one can be faulted for seeking a better future. The question is, how many should we take – bearing in mind the impacts both on the countries of destination, and the countries of origin, which are being steadily denuded of talented workers
- Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph Many of those born since 1990 have decided simply not to bother with the conventional political process. This is a serious indictment of the state of our democracy, one that will become more embarrassing as we give young people new opportunities to participate. That is the right course to go down. But the prerequisite must be outstanding political education, with testing, for all
- David Shariatmadari, The Guardian Corbyn needs to get to grips with the mainstream media. Shunning Andrew Marr and the Sun is not a strategy that will lead to electoral success.
But the Press, too, must rethink. If people are offended by Corbyn's singalong choices or dress sense, it is fair that they are reported. If his oratory leaves something to be desired, it is fair that that, too, is commented upon. But let's get this into perspective. Those are side issues; the first job of the Press is to report the news, so when a new leader makes his first important setpiece speech, it would be good if newspapers told us what he said rather than what they thought - Editor's blog: All singing from the wrong hymn sheet Comment Awards, 2015Thursday 17 September, 2015 The Financial Times and The Times again lead the way in this year's ei Comment Awards, with eleven nominations apiece in the shortlists announced today.
Sathnam Sanghera is responsible for four of those Times nominations - featuring in the media commentator, diversity, technology and individual comment piece categories. Freelance Yomi Adegoke who founded Birthday Magazine for black teenage girls, is among four writers shortlisted in two categories - in her case young commentariat and media commentator. George Monbiot of the Guardian completes the media line-up and is also nominated as science commentator and Gillian Tett of the FT is listed in both business and economics. Her colleague Janan Ganesh is shortlisted for political commentator and the big prize - commentariat of the year, where he is up against the two most recent winners David Aaronovitch (also nominated for comment piece of the year) and Caitlin Moran. SubScribe is honoured and surprised to find a place on the individual blogger shortlist, and fully expects to come third behind Barrister Blogger Matthew Scott and Stuart Forster of Go-eat-Do. You can see all the shortlists here. Comment archive, 2015 |
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October 30
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