Reprising state corruption: Jailing of Denis MacShane
In an extraordinarily prescient, previous article, former ambassador Charles Crawford examined the MacShane case and explained the ins and outs of corruption in the state, with some illuminating examples of how things can go badly wrong. This also contains an update with Monday's jailing of Denis MacShane for expenses fraud
- 23 December 2013
Wealthy politicians: what's not to like?
A wealthy MP can be one of that almost-extinct species, the conviction politician. They are not members of the ‘payroll’ vote, and don’t have to grovel to the Whips
- 12 November 2013
Corruption in Italy: are things changing?
It is possible that with the passing of the post war generation who looked on corruption as cunning rather than morally wrong, Italy may begin to maximise its potential without the millstone of corruption holding it back
- 11 November 2013
Facebook 'censors' Palestinian writer posting anti-corruption articles
Khaled Abu Toameh has had his Facebook account suspended after a flurry of threats, seemingly simply for posting anti-corruption articles implicating the Palestinian Authority
- 15 January 2013
Denis MacShane: the dark side of public money
Once a country's main media outlets cosy up to their favourite ruling elite, the whole process has nothing to do with democracy any more
- 8 November 2012
Quelle Horrreur! French officials open to bribery
According to the OECD, France lacks the both the means and the will to properly tackle corporate bribery of foreign officials
- 24 October 2012
Britain considered a soft power superpower?
Britain is ranked among the soft superpowers in the 21st century for its ‘respect for human rights’ and ‘democratic’ governance, according to latest politics YouGov poll.
- 16 October 2012
Why did Mercedes Benz fire an anti-Chavez political activist?
Federico Medina Ravell has been fired from his job with Mercedes Benz over private political activism
- 21 April 2012
For Sale: One political party leader, barely used with hypocrisy included as standard... £5001 O.N.O
Ed Miliband's £5000 donation cap is a stark admission of being corruptible 'for less than the price of a second hand Vauxhall Corsa'
- 16 April 2012
What's holding the Third-World back? It’s the corruption, stupid.
Getting oil production back online, overcoming ethnic and inter-tribal rivalries, and safeguarding territorial integrity are all challenges ahead for Libya. But none are as big as the challenge to overcome corruption.
- 1 November 2011
Family values and the Strasbourg Court: time to repatriate the 1948 Convention to Britain
It is time to repatriate the 1948 Convention to Britain so as to end the practice of maximising the rights of individuals and groups who have shown by their conduct that they hardly deserve such latitude.
- 21 October 2011
November elections in the DRC matter: to its citizens, to European taxpayers, and to democracy in Africa.
Nirj Deva MEP argues that the only way to enhance political stability in the DRC is through a transparent, open, and fair election conducted on a level playing field. This is what we hope for, and indeed what we must insist on.
- 21 October 2011
Why Are Some Countries Rich and Others Poor?
A short, excellent video on the contributing factors to poverty, growth and prosperity worldwide.
- 7 July 2011
Latest on the blog
- NY Democrat pleads with Republican not to share document proposing confiscation of guns
- Sunday Times blood libel cartoon, on Holocaust Memorial Day no less
- Oregon woman raped after police refuse to send out response unit
- Palestinian jailed for Facebook like
- 'Muslim Patrol' vigilantes attempt to control London streets
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