(Headline could have been Northern Irish Political Turmoil, but that’s a bit of a Dog Bites Man one) Edwin Poots resigned as head of the Democratic Unionist Party, the largest in Northern Ireland, tonight. He was defenestrated by his colleagues after three weeks in office. Not because he’s a creationist who believes in fairy stories …
Monthly archives: June 2021
Vaccine Generosity
Remember this one, Deal of a Lifetime? The IMF reckoned by spending $50 billion we could innoculate 70% of the world population, save the world from Covid, and make a 17,900% return on our investment. It needs 11 billion doses. The G7 crew are in the UK today. They’ve pledged 1 billion. Honest Boris is …
Fourth of July All Over Again?
Most of those likely to die are vaccinated, so it doesn’t matter if everyone else catches Covid, right? Mmm not quite, for three reasons. There’s many who can’t vaccinate. With few infected they’re probably safe, but when there’s lots of it about they’re at big risk. Some of them are refusers and we mightn’t feel …
Frost and Facts, Not a Good Mix
David Frost will be remembered for That Was the Week That Was, Breakfast with Frost, his political interviews and much else. Unfortunately that one died in 2013, there’s a much less talented David Frost in the news these days. Honest Boris has a Chief European Hating and Tub-Thumping Officer called Frost. I’ve never had the …
UK Government’s 10% Commitment to Education
Yesterday Sir Kevan Collins quit his role as Bloke in Charge of Fixing Education Post-Covid. He was disgruntled at the mere £1.4 billion the government proposed to spend on resolving all education problems caused by the pandemic. He himself had done a good proposal, and reckoned the cost to be £15 billion. I don’t see …
Continue reading “UK Government’s 10% Commitment to Education”
Hancock, Lying, More or Less
You can punctuate the title any way you like. Tim Harford’s More or Less is back on BBC Radio 4. Everyone should listen to it. Whether you’re a statistics nerd, enjoy hearing statesmen get caught out fibbing, just like learning facts of the world, or (like me) all of the above it’s worth every minute. …