Why Conservatives should support the Human Rights Act
5 October 2009 | by Peter Oborne, The Guardian

DAVID CAMERON listed the repeal of the Human Rights Act as Number Two on his list of priorities as he set out his stall for government in the Tory-supporting Sun on the eve of this week’s Tory Conference. [more]

Capability vs. James Purnell
24 July 2009 | Guradian: Comment is Free

The new Demos initiative Open Left is to be welcomed. Debate on the left has been dead for years and needs renewing. [more]

Loosening the state's hold on schools
1 July 2009 | Guardian: Comment is Free

In a 2007 pamphlet (pdf), I divided up the political left into three groups: Trimmers, Romantics and Deniers. [more]

From Broad Street to Bangladesh
30 May 2009 | Hereford Civic Society

How can Herefordians respond to the credit crunch? What can we do to protect and enhance our city? [more]

Behind the smoke and mirrors
21 April 2009 | Guardian: Comment is Free

We must see past budget promises of 'efficiency savings' to the reality – a £39bn black hole in our country's finances every year. [more]

Inequality: Labour's shame
25 February 2009 | Guardian: Comment is Free

In 1997, conditions were perfect to tackle inequality. Gazillions of pounds later, a new book shows how Labour missed its chance [more]

Missed chance to help cities beat the recession
25 January 2009 | Financial Times

For three centuries Britain’s economic growth has been driven forward by its cities. So how are our cities placed to weather the current recession? [more]

There’s work to do halting this crash so let’s get fizzy
30 November 2008 | The Sunday Times

Now we know that UK economic growth has not been achieved in a genuinely sustainable and long-term way. [more]

A fundamental rule is: a free lunch can cost
9 October 2008 | The Times

How an unscrupulous banker might exploit the guarantee on savings [more]

No more evasion
30 September 2008 | Guardian Unlimited

It's not the council tax freeze but the Office for Budget Responsibility that will transform British government [more]

It's Au Revoir to the days of Laissez-Faire by Rachel Sylvester
30 September 2008 | The Times

David Cameron's aides are running around Birmingham in T-shirts with slogans such as “Big Government = Big problems”, “Social responsibility not state control” and “Bye Bye Bureaucracy”. [more]

Brown's claim to fairness is flawed
28 September 2008 | Independent on Sunday

Gordon Brown's society is anything but equal. It's David Cameron's progressive team that is rethinking the balance of the nation [more]

Is there a cure for capitalism?
21 September 2008 | Sunday Times

"Is there a cure for capitalism?" Two years ago this question would have seemed unthinkable. [more]

The Joy of Litter
5 August 2008 | JABA: The St James and Bartonsham Community Newsletter

"Are you a young offender, then?" asked the man. "Or"—as though it came to much the same thing—"are you with the Council?" [more]

Driving the detention debate
10 June 2008 | Guardian Unlimited

The dispute over 42-day detention without charge has become bitter and political, right? [more]

The return of the Treasury
18 February 2008 | Guardian Unlimited

Slowly, the Treasury is waking up after its long slumber, as Gordon Brown faces the political catastrophe of Northern Rock [more]

Buy into Cameron’s co-op
11 November 2007 | The Sunday Times

"Conservative Co-ops?” The woman goggled in amazement. “What, you mean lots of suits in blue rosettes selling beads? I thought the Tories were the party of capitalism!” [more]

Three cheers for freedom and nonconformity!
30 October 2007 | Guardian Unlimited

Unlike a Labour conference, there is no groupthink, no tribalism and we can wear what we like. [more]

Don't forget the economy
10 July 2007 | Guardian Unlimited

The malign effects of social recession, highlighted by Iain Duncan Smith's report, will sharply worsen if we have an economic recession too. [more]

The real victims of cash for honours
1 February 2007 | Guardian Unlimited

The movement of the police investigation towards No 10 knocks another nail into the coffin of our political culture. [more]

Life is thriving in animal city
5 November 2006 | The Sunday Times

Nature is staging an urban invasion. The mean streets can look greener than the countryside, says Stuart Wavell [more]

With this report, the Tories are ahead on tax
22 October 2006 | Sunday Telegraph

Thanks to the Forsyth Commission, the Conservatives now have a robust and well-grounded view of taxation. [more]

The great tax paradox
19 October 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

The long-term challenge is not merely tax reform, but a full-scale and integrated reform of the tax and benefits systems together. [more]

Mapping the tribal changes
16 October 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

In its latest bid to hurt its political enemies, Labour has attempted to introduce 'red-state, blue-state' politics in Britain. [more]

The self-confidence agenda
27 September 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

In a desperate bid for the highest office Gordon Brown has sacrificed his credibility and reputation. He just doesn't get it, does he? [more]

Keeping his distance
12 September 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

Gordon Brown can only leave the Blair legacy behind in foreign policy. We as a country cannot afford him to do so. [more]

Do you know your APRs from your elbow?
8 August 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

If Alan Johnson wants to establish himself as a real heavyweight, he should help us to manage our personal finances. [more]

The real lesson of Enid Hattersley
20 July 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

Voting Tory is not a positional good, but an intrinsic one. [more]

Mission unaccomplished
11 July 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

The Home Office's handling of the NatWest Three is a case study of government incompetence. [more]

What lies beneath
7 July 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

John Reid has had a disastrous start as Home Secretary. But the real problem is the Government’s underlying political viewpoint. [more]

But what if Gordon Brown has no substance?
23 June 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

If the left wants to persuade the electorate, rather than merely please itself, it needs to stop name-calling and start engaging with the argument. [more]

Cunning Party Leader puts his Faith in Wise Crowds
18 June 2006 | The Sunday Times

Electoral stroke of genius, or marketing gimmick? David Cameron's plan to throw open the vote for London mayor is sound science, says Jesse Norman. [more]

Compassionate Conservatism is not Political Camouflage
16 June 2006 | The Guardian

Far from rejecting the state, we are interested in finding ways to make it work better, says Jesse Norman. [more]

A Vision to Connect the Individual with our Society
14 June 2006 | Financial Times

Even before his election as leader of the Conservative party, David Cameron had made clear his commitment to a "modern, compassionate conservatism". In his words, "there is such a thing as society; it's just not the same thing as the state". [more]

Britain is a Conservative Country
6 June 2006 | Guardian Unlimited

After six months, we can already see that David Cameron is changing the basic terms of the political debate. Not merely at the level of language, as New Labour did, but at the level of ideas. [more]

Where would you hide, the laws all being flat?
11 April 2006 | Camden New Journal

What happens when the full majesty of the law is being used to squash opposition, to stifle dissent, to prevent debate—or even simply to spare those in high office from embarrassment? [more]

Minister for the day
29 September 2005 | Whitehall and Westminster World

What would Jesse Norman do if he became Deputy Prime Minister for a day? [more]

A Nice Little Earner if you're Born to Money
28 August 2004 | The Times

Imagine that you are the benevolent King of Anisia. You want to ensure that each Anisian child, regardless of background, grows up with a pot of savings. You have got £6,500 to split between two children — one rich, one poor. How much should each child ge [more]

Tell us the Reason Why
1 November 2003 | The Spectator

The Suez intervention was illegal, says Jesse Norman. It is now up to the government to show us that the Iraq war was not also illegal. [more]