There was a strange disconnect between the historical pageant which opened the Olympic Games and reality in London today-not to mention the plutocrats in the VIP seats. While people cheered the suffragettes, the CND symbol, the lesbian kiss, the Sex Pistols, and of course the NHS, in the real austerity...

The Olympics hysteria descending on London is creating a sense of foreboding among those of us who live in the east. What is it we fear?

That we will be trapped in our homes, unable to cross roads, get on trains, escape from traffic jams. That roads will be...

It was said of the Bourbons that they learnt nothing and forgot nothing. The 18th century French monarchs paid the price for their intellectual inflexibility when they were overthrown following the French revolution in 1789. Their policy before then was simple: enrich yourself, refuse any change and shut out the...

David Cameron blames the family for the riots. In this, he is at one with most politicians and pundits are blaming the family for the riots. Not the Royal family, of course. Not their families, you understand. Their children don't riot or steal or behave badly. But our families.

I didn't buy the final edition of the News of the World on Sunday. Nothing new there. I vowed never to pay money for a Murdoch newspaper back in 1986 and I never have. My boycott was in response to the destruction of the print unions on Murdoch papers when...

Ed Miliband made a big mistake last week when he condemned the teachers going on strike. I know he thought he was being very clever. The Tories and right wing media would be demanding: do you support these strikes or are you willing to distance yourself and the Labour party...