Sentamu: ‘pure’ (‘real’/ ‘hard’) Brexit is “a childish dream”
On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked about the disparity (/gulf) between the laity and clergy in the Church of England regarding the…
Margaret Thatcher
Brexit backstop and beef: if the EU wasn’t faithful over BSE, how can we trust them with our liberty?
'He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much' (Lk 16:10). If you want to know what someone will do with a…
Michael Gove delivers Theos Annual Lecture: “I speak as a Christian”
Michael Gove delivered this year's Theos annual lecture last night, and his subject was environmental justice, stewardship and the moral purpose of government. The whole lecture is well worth reading,…
Four-day week: mandatory indolence or an interfaith ‘sacred weekend’?
When Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell mooted imposing a four-day week on the British economy (that is, a four-day working week; Labour has no plans to re-calibrate or 'modernise' the solar…
Curate’s egg or Archbishop’s omelette? Welby tells TUC: gig economy is “reincarnation of an ancient evil”
Justin Welby delivered a speech to the TUC, which went down well in one quarter, and not so well in five eighths, most of whom were irked that he delivered…
The People’s Vote strategy is to goad Brexiteers with being frit
"The right hon. Gentleman is afraid of an election, is he?" goaded Margaret Thatcher. "Afraid? Frightened? Frit?" she persisted, with perfectly alliterative thrashings of her serrated tongue. "Could not take…
The Rev’d Jonathan Aitken – being ordained is like ‘a new life’
Former Tory Cabinet minister, convicted perjurer and bankrupt the Rt Hon Jonathan Aitken MP is now the Rev'd Jonathan Aitken, deacon at St Matthews, Westminster, and chaplain to the Prison…
Jumping, skipping, dabbing and bouncing clergy – are we ordaining Tigger?
'Likewise must the deacons be grave', writes St Paul in his first pastoral letter to Timothy (3:8), expounding the necessary character and qualifications for Church leadership. The adjective is associated…
Tony Blair and John Major threaten resurgent IRA terrorism if Brexit is fulfilled
"I find it not just disappointing but sickening that people should really be prepared to sacrifice peace in Northern Ireland on the altar of Brexit," said Tony Blair, perhaps mindful…
Brexit: the Bishop of Leeds asks “What’s it all for?” as he condemns the corruption of public discourse
The Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev'd Nick Baines delivered a measured and thoughtful speech in the House of Lords on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. His theme was basically the…
Forget Brexit academics – how many of them are Conservatives?
Government Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has sent a letter to all university vice chancellors asking for the names of academics lecturing on European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit. He also…
COMECE: Roman Catholics should support EU integration
COMECE is the Roman Catholic Church in the European Union (the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community). Its mission is to explore strange new worlds, to seek…
Corbyn Monoxide: why does the Left get away with anti-Tory hate?
It's supposed to be a joke, of course, and we're all supposed to laugh. But imagine – just try to imagine – if these students had written such vile comments…
Welby is right: the UK economy is “broken”, but England’s church is limping
It was an unfortunate coincidence that on the day the British Social Attitudes survey was released which announced that more than half (53%) of the British public now describe themselves…
Bishop(-elect) of Sheffield: “Don’t vote Tory, or the poor will pay”
When Tom Freeman pointed out in a tweet that the tedious Tory mantra 'strong and stable leadership' fits the tune of 'All Things Bright and Beautiful', the urge to add…
“Not very presidential”? That’s precisely why Donald Trump is now President of the United States
When Barack Obama spoke, it was the voice of a god. He intoned overtures of conciliation, his themes were honoured; his words raised the hopes of the world. He was,…
Trump: Brexit will be a great thing; the EU is basically a German racket
"You look at the European Union and it’s Germany. Basically a vehicle for Germany," says Donald Trump in Michael Gove's scoop interview for The Times. It comes as a cyclone…
Theresa May will have more freedom to govern than Margaret Thatcher ever had
In her conference speech yesterday, Theresa May told us what Brexit means: "Britain is going to leave the European Union." She filled in some of the gaps with stirring Tory…
Labour Party Conference: “We are proud of our diversity record, which will be even better when all the straight, white, Christian and Jewish people are expelled”
Goodness, what a palaver! Our weekend guest, Dr. Giles Fontwater, late Dean of Cantwell College, Oxbridge, recently attended the Neo-Chartist-Stalinist-Stakhanovite Party Conference in Liverpool as an interested observer of the…
Michael Gove doesn't want to be PM: he wants meritocracy and freedom
"Michael Gove won't admit it, but tonight's EU debate is his first audition for the Tory leadership," wrote Asa Bennett in the Telegraph. Except he didn't because it wasn't.…