Parliament recalled today, to discuss the proposed bombing of Isil in Iraq; I am following the debate with interest. I am always uneasy when all political parties agree and I am uncertain about the wisdom of joining what may turn out to be a half-hearted attempt to rid the world of a murderous organisation. If…
There was an unusual event in the Lords chamber on Friday when 146 cadets and 46 veterans filled the government and opposition benches. Friends and family occupied the galleries and cross benches. Many were in uniform and amongst the veterans were Chelsea pensioners in their red coats. A lively and colourful scene in the grandeur…
I previously mentioned two indexes, the Department for International Development’s (DFID) needs-effectiveness index and the Fund for Peace’s Failed States Index. There are many other examples though and in recent years it has seemed to be a growth industry with everyone and anyone wanting to have a piece of the action. As the recent errors…
When the Coalition came into power it set the Department of International Development (DFID) a target of allocating 30% of the UK’s bilateral official development assistance (the term devised by the OECD and its member countries to determine whether funding or other support counts as aid or not) by 2014-15. In many ways this was…
Last Thursday, 20th March, was the 5 year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. To mark the occasion, Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords tabled a bill demanding that an inquiry into the war begins before the next session of parliament. On Thursday morning, a group of concerned parliamentarians gathered in Old Palace Green…
