Be wary of crocodile tears of politicians over exit of private landlords
It was an entirely predictable outcome of recent changes to landlord and tenant law that many single-property landlords would decide that the changes tilted things so badly against them that they would exit the rental market by selling their properties and for that purpose seek vacant possession. Not merely was it predictable; it was very […]
Sabina Higgins was wrong to write that letter
The President has reiterated his condemnation of the Russian war of invasion in Ukraine as immoral and unjustified aggression. That raises the question as to whether it was in any way acceptable for his spouse to publish or post on the Áras website the text of a letter to this paper calling for a ceasefire […]
QAnon well on its way to becoming America’s new religion
What is it about the Americans? A recent picture of ecstatic young male Trump supporters, one clad in a “Trump Won” T-shirt, posed a question for me: did he really believe that and on what evidence? Or is it a question of wishful thinking? For a society that steadfastly refuses to “establish” any religion, even […]
Trans rights a question of reasonableness and common sense
I have nothing but complete empathy for any person who finds themselves having to confront a deep-seated conviction that their ostensible physical sex does not correspond with their gender. That self-understanding or conviction is not a matter of sexual orientation – conveniently divided by some into heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual. Orientation or attraction varies among […]
Will Tory MPs put seats ahead of Britain’s interests?
As the Tories’ infighting to succeed Johnson intensifies and as their dirty internecine war of mutual disparagement gathers pace, I have to say that I find it remarkable that the Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, who initially led the popularity stakes among Tory grassroots members should pull out of the contest almost before […]
Keir Starmer is right to play the long game
Keir Starmer made a speech in which he went out of his way to make clear that Labour does not intend to undo Brexit or bring the UK back into the single market or restore freedom of movement. This speech is significant for several reasons. Labour strategists want to create a context in which they […]