Author Archives: paperbackrioter

5 Lessons Labour should take from the Republicans

Posted on August 10, 2016 by paperbackrioter

I’m carving a niche out for myself as someone who can offer historical parallels to today’s political situation. Finally putting that history degree to good use. I’m on Progress today talking about what Labour should learn from the Republican shambles. … Continue reading →

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I’m on the New Statesman website!

Posted on August 9, 2016 by paperbackrioter

One of the reasons I left full-time class teaching was so I had more time to write. I’m therefore very excited that I’m on The Staggers website today, arguing that mass movements do not win elections. There’s some lively debate … Continue reading →

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Not Enough Champagne Episode #10: Too many tweets make a what?

Posted on August 7, 2016 by paperbackrioter

Did Facebook win the 2015 election for the Conservatives? Steve analyses the social media strategies of Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems and we discuss the effectiveness of each one. We then talk about the downsides of social media. Cory discusses academic research … Continue reading →

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Janina Ramirez on Julian of Norwich

Posted on August 6, 2016 by paperbackrioter

We know very little about Julian of Norwich. You can tell this a few minutes into Janina Ramirez’s documentary on the fourteenth-century mystic. She travels to the British Museum to see a crucifix in the style of one Julian might … Continue reading →

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Keep your friends close, but your enemies abroad

Posted on August 1, 2016 by paperbackrioter

This first appeared on Not Enough Champagne. For someone who has become Prime Minister because she was seen as a safe pair of hands, Theresa May has made an incredibly bold start to her Premiership. May has become Prime Minister … Continue reading →

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The opening of the Hazlehurst Centre

Posted on January 21, 2013 by paperbackrioter

On August 29th last year my family and I were honoured to attend the opening of the Hazlehurst Centre. This was a project Dad was involved in towards the end of his life, which was very graciously named in his … Continue reading →

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A song for Father’s Day

Posted on June 17, 2012 by paperbackrioter

John Hiatt – Your Dad Did This song is on Hiatt’s Bring the Family album, which is one of my favourites. It’s an album cut in four days by Hiatt on a showstring budget, after he had finally gotten sober … Continue reading →

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Sing a sad song for a good man

Posted on May 12, 2012 by paperbackrioter

My Dad died suddenly on January 21st this year. On February 1st I spoke at his funeral, and this is what I said: Thank you all for coming to this celebration of my Dad’s life.  Particular thanks go to those … Continue reading →

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My podcast debut…

Posted on August 14, 2011 by paperbackrioter

If you want to hear my dulcett dones on the Pod Delusion discussing House of Lords reform, I’m featured on their latest show here. It starts about 29 minutes in.

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“The noises of destruction, flying all around…”

Posted on August 9, 2011 by paperbackrioter

Over the past three days, two different types of rioting has been going on. The first, and far more serious, looting has been the smashing, looting and burning of scores of businesses across London. The second type is people pilfering … Continue reading →

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