Tim Hedges had a career in corporate finance before moving to Rome where he works as a freelance writer, novelist, and farmer
Vaffa Day: How many stars for Italy's populists?
Ten years ago Beppe Grillo launched his first Vaffa day (Vaffa means ‘fuck off’ in Italian). It was a disdainful gesture at corruption in the establishment. Nowadays, the whole of Europe is at it. Will Grillo win through, and if he does will he change anything?
- 13 September 2017
Renzi's return?
Renzi’s was not a failure of a political career. He did some good in his time at the helm: freeing up the labour market and making some modest alterations to speed up the courts system, both of which were sorely needed. Now he wants another go.
- 30 August 2017
Berlusconi's come back as philosopher king
Berlusconi is barred from standing in the next election. But he is mounting a comeback as potential king maker, and then philosopher king. Welcome to Italian politics: you can't keep the old boy down
- 14 August 2017
Cardinal sins mean a long hot summer for the Pope
Pope Francis has a multitude of problems on his hands, not just for the summer but for the long term. The sins of some of his cardinals may or may not be forgiven by the Almighty, but the Pope has a very real challenge right here on Earth
- 27 July 2017
EU refugee chaos continues to spiral out of control
In defiance of everything the European Union is supposed to stand for, France and Austria have closed their borders with Italy to stop refugees. Let us remember this the next time some drivelling Europhile Remainer talks about the EU being a force for peace
- 10 July 2017
Why Italy's migrant problem has not led to terrorism
With huge numbers of undocumented migrants from hot spot Muslim countries one might have thought Italy would have a major terrorism problem. It doesn't, and that is because it just does its intelligence, policing, and community management better, and unshackled from political correctness
- 29 June 2017
Death by socialism: Demise of the world's oldest bank
You could only get on in Italy's MPS bank if you were a socialist. Founded in 1472, it was owned by a socialist foundation, and if your family were something in local lefty politics you could get a job in the bank. It is rather as if Alitalia had decreed all its pilots should be short-sighted. Shockingly, now it's going under
- 13 June 2017
Donald Trump's loud European vacation
In continental Europe it really isn't the done thing to start telling it like it is. So when Donald Trump lectured Europeans about defence expenditure and refugees and trade he offended a lot of people merely by telling the truth. Good on Donald Trump!
- 29 May 2017
There's something wrong with President Macron
Is Emmanuel Macron, possibly with Italy's Matteo Renzi, the future of Europe?Doesn't seem likely. The problems of Europe are too deeply set, and there's no real imagination to put things right
- 15 May 2017
Alitalia's crazy woes are a metaphor for modern Italy
Ryanair has fewer employees than Alitalia but twice as many pilots, flying three times as many planes, carrying five times as many passengers. Chaotic Alitalia is a metaphor for modern Italy
- 2 May 2017
Italy, France, and the madness of the Euro
It is just possible that France will elect two candidates in the first round presidential elections who want to pull out of the euro. Italy, which is flat on its back due to a euro massively overvalued compared to its fundamentals, can only srcratch its head. Meanwhile, the lunacy will have to end some time
- 21 April 2017
Comic opera as Brussels comes to Rome
The EU farce in Rome was widely trumpeted. Italy has contributed more than its fair share to European culture, but no one reminded us that Michelangelo and Puccini did their bit without the help of an unelected supranational body in Belgium. Meanwhile, the euro continues to strangle the Italian economy and Britain heads out the door
- 28 March 2017
The EU's diesel fiasco
Wherever you stand on climate change, the utterly cynical policy in Brussels to promote diesel caused a pollution nightmare. Now they're preparing to prosecute at least 5 governments for having polluted cities! And the European taxpayer is left with the bill for this fiasco. Thank goodness we voted for Brexit
- 17 March 2017
A tale of two revolutions
It was 25 years ago when Nigel Farage started out as a parliamentary candidate, taking the first steps to a very British revolution. At the same time, Italy began a revolution against corruption. One revolution succeeded, the other did not
- 26 February 2017
EU countries like Italy want a smooth Brexit deal
Having failed in the ‘we can’t go it alone’ shtick, the Remoaners’ second argument ‘we will be left high and dry by a determined, united 27’ might also be complete tosh. Italy, for one big country, is mightly concerned about all the Italians living in the UK who send money home. They'll want a smooth Brexit deal
- 13 February 2017
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