Print articleJun 24, 2020 – 3.15pmLog in or  to save articleWhen the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn swiftly revealed itself to be the most anti-Semitic major political party in Britain in decades – one vile outpouring and grotesque comment after the next – I marvelled at people’s endless surprise.They had been fooled by the hard Left’s self-identification as “anti-racist”.How, they kept wondering, could the anti-racist party have so many anti-Semites in its midst?Easily. Anti-racism movements often foster anti-Semitism.This is because the most committed anti-racists see...…Print articleJun 24, 2020 – 3.15pmLog in or  to save articleWhen the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn swiftly revealed itself to be the most anti-Semitic major political party in Britain in decades – one vile outpouring and grotesque comment after the next – I marvelled at people’s endless surprise.They had been fooled by the hard Left’s self-identification as “anti-racist”.How, they kept wondering, could the anti-racist party have so many anti-Semites in its midst?Easily. Anti-racism movements often foster anti-Semitism.This is because the most committed anti-racists see...WW…

The problem with people is that they get ill, and that means they need medical care, which costs a lot of money and depends on a set of limited resources.In the UK, these resources are among the most squeezed in the West. and below France, the Netherlands and Germany, where an affordable compulsory insurance model allows for more resources available for the sick. France and Germany each have 1,000 more hospitals than the UK, with similar populations.We in Britain know all too well that ‘our’ NHS is constantly underfunded, often mismanaged, and sorely lacking in beds, space,...…The problem with people is that they get ill, and that means they need medical care, which costs a lot of money and depends on a set of limited resources.In the UK, these resources are among the most squeezed in the West. and below France, the Netherlands and Germany, where an affordable compulsory insurance model allows for more resources available for the sick. France and Germany each have 1,000 more hospitals than the UK, with similar populations.We in Britain know all too well that ‘our’ NHS is constantly underfunded, often mismanaged, and sorely lacking in beds, space,...WW…

I’ve been reading my teenage diaries lately, and they’re pretty darn angsty. I worried I was fat. I worried about whether I’d prepared enough for this or that orchestra audition. I worried about the likelihood of achieving academic success sufficient for a future replete with nice food and great swimming options. And boys. I worried a lot about boys, constantly evaluating my chances of success with this one or that one (always nil), and raging at the seemingly unjust relative success of my peers in matters of romance.One thing that never, ever occurred to me was to be frightened of boys. As...…I’ve been reading my teenage diaries lately, and they’re pretty darn angsty. I worried I was fat. I worried about whether I’d prepared enough for this or that orchestra audition. I worried about the likelihood of achieving academic success sufficient for a future replete with nice food and great swimming options. And boys. I worried a lot about boys, constantly evaluating my chances of success with this one or that one (always nil), and raging at the seemingly unjust relative success of my peers in matters of romance.One thing that never, ever occurred to me was to be frightened of boys. As...WW…

A few months ago, I was at dinner with some colleagues from the British Library, where I was based for a research project on feminism. The new trans-awareness training course for staff came up. Would I be going?When I said no – and that I did not see how my personal views on matters of gender identity were in any way the business of the library or in need of “training” – eyebrows were raised to the ceiling. These colleagues, thankfully, were able to cope with my iconoclasm and the topic was changed without fall-out. But only just.This was the thin end of the wedge. I saw how exhibition...…A few months ago, I was at dinner with some colleagues from the British Library, where I was based for a research project on feminism. The new trans-awareness training course for staff came up. Would I be going?When I said no – and that I did not see how my personal views on matters of gender identity were in any way the business of the library or in need of “training” – eyebrows were raised to the ceiling. These colleagues, thankfully, were able to cope with my iconoclasm and the topic was changed without fall-out. But only just.This was the thin end of the wedge. I saw how exhibition...WW…