The commentators 04-11-15...on UK politicsThe most powerful argument for British military intervention in Syria is that standing aside permits the continuing slaughter of tens of thousands of civilians, which is morally repugnant. The most effective argument against is that dispatching a few Tornado jets in token accompaniment to US airstrikes would neither halt the advance of Isis nor hasten the removal of Bashar al-Assad from power. It certainly couldn’t achieve both goals simultaneously since the degrading of one force bolsters the other
- Rafael Behr, The Guardian Can you achieve the “military defeat” of an enemy without using force? The MPs who sit on the foreign affairs select committee appear to think we should give this novel idea a try. Their remarkable report on whether Britain should join the military campaign against Isil in Syria demands a “coherent” strategy, while being blissfully incoherent itself
- David Blair, Daily Telegraph The problem with the House of Lords came this century when the chamber began to be packed with political henchmen, expenses cheats from the Commons and donors who often appear more entitled than the hereditaries or elected MPs. Some such as Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB, provide valuable insights on business and apprenticeships but others are smug and self-satisfied or bitter at the current misfortunes of their own party. The worst, such as Lord Sewel, should never have been considered even before his orange bra and cocaine habits were uncovered
- Alice Thomson, The Times It is no longer enough for Labour centrists to intone the Jeremiad in which they bewail their party’s fate and prophesy the leader’s downfall. Until they grasp why he succeeded and they failed, then Corbynism is here to stay
- Mary Riddell, Daily Telegraph 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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