I recently visited Lebanon and have previously been in Tunisia. Both countries are very much “front line states”. They live next door to bloodshed and chaos in Syria and Libya. Both have taken in more than 1 million refugees coming from the neighbouring country. They have done so without putting their guests into “camps”. This…
Lebanon is a unique country. It is both Arab and Mediterranean with a long trading history. Today it serves as an entrepot and transhipment centre, while it has the prospect of significant off-shore oil and gas. It has mountains as well as a relatively fertile hinterland. The indigenous population is fairly evenly divided between Christians…
Today Dame Fanny Waterman celebrates her 95th birthday. I was privileged to host a reception for her at the House of Lords a few days ago to mark her birthday, and to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the Leeds International Piano Competition, which she founded, and which will be held again in September of this…
This Sunday 22 March marks World Water Day. The importance of access to clean water is now accepted across the world. It provides a basis for a healthy life and a path out of poverty. Since the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals by the United Nations fifteen years ago, global action…
Open letter to OFWAT and Consumer Council for Water 18 March 2015 To Cathryn Ross, Chief Executive, OFWAT Tony Smith, Chief Executive, Consumer Council for Water Dear Cathryn and Tony, Are OFWAT and CCW up to their jobs of protecting the interests of consumers? At a meeting of the All Party Water Group on Tuesday…
Two recent reports demonstrate the risks to the European rail industry of being required to follow the policy of SNCF, made even worse by the recent restructuring of the railway there to re-integrated SNCF and RFF. According to a study commissioned by UTP, SNCF and ARAF1, SNCF already employs up to 43% more people to…
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 has important implications for British politics. What is remarkable is how few politicians and commentators appear to know its provisions, particularly in respect of when an early election can take place. Some still seem to think that the Prime Minister can ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament and call an election. The…
On my return to Leyte, I was unsure what to expect. The island was the most affected by Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 and on my last visit in February 2014, the population were still in shock. Beyond the main streets debris still covered land and buildings; huge shops thrown onto the…
