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Chiller thriller Moscow's Gorky Park is a less sinister place than when Martin Cruz Smith set his spy thriller there. John Kampfner reports. The Guardian, December 10th 2005 If there was a cage, he'd rattle it Richard Ingrams remembers one of Britain's most accomplished investigative journalists in My Friend Footy, says John Kampfner. The Observer, November 20th 2005 Why I'm a red and still a blue Why on earth does a leftie such as me support Chelsea, where the cheapest ticket is £45 and there are no concessions for children? The Observer Sport Monthly, October 2nd 2005 He did more than anyone to restore faith in politicians In the early hours of May 2 1997 Robin Cook made the short journey from his constituency count to Edinburgh airport. He was due to join Tony Blair and Labour's leading lights at the Festival Hall to celebrate the party's return from the wilderness after 18 years. But the man who was to be foreign secretary was depressed. The Guardian, August 8th 2005 Robin Cook was one of the greats – out of office In government he struggled to meet his own and others’ expectations. Out of office he was truly one of the greats. The Sunday Times, August 7th 2005 It is easier to diminish our freedoms than to root out the terrorist threat In December 2002, I was told the following: "The Islamists use Britain as a propaganda base, but wouldn't do anything to a country that harbours them and gives them freedom to act." The Independent on Sunday, August 7th 2005 The Tories' self-hatred and harrumphing has to stop As he searches for his legacy, beyond the calamity that is Iraq, the broken dreams of Europe and the inconclusive revival of the public services, Tony Blair can afford a quiet smile at his biggest achievement. The Guardian, August 2nd 2005 Challenge, don't emote In times of uncertainty, journalism of the left must not accept the status quo. The Guardian, July 26th 2005 'You wanted the destruction of Europe, now you will have it' A few weeks ago, well before the astounding "Non" verdict, one of France's top political commentators said to me: "You British will soon have what you have long wanted - the destruction of Europe." The Telegraph, June 5th 2005 Left must lead the way in getting off the fence When the BBC devotes considerable time and resources to a painting fest in Gateshead to sex up its election night coverage, you realise something has gone badly wrong. The wisdom is now conventional: politics as was does not sell. The Observer, May 15th 2005 Inside the new superpowers Thomas Friedman takes a surprisingly upbeat view of the changing world order in The World is Flat, says John Kampfner. The Observer, May 15th 2005 The PM takes the office, but real power is now Brown’s This most dispiriting of election campaigns has delivered a sullen verdict... The most contradictory result is Labour's. The Herald, May 7th 2005 Lies, damned lies and New Labour The government stands accused of serial mendacity in Peter Oborne's vigorous critique, The Rise of Political Lying. But what about the fourth estate? The Observer, May 1st 2005 The blundering actions of a desperate man The story is worse than people think. Now that the government has been forced to disclose the full legal advice submitted by Lord Goldsmith, the extent to which Parliament and the country were misled is clear for all to see. The Independent, April 29th 2005 A marriage held together by political convenience ... Just It is more than a truce but less than a peace deal. The never-ending power struggle between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has over the past few days taken a new turn. The Herald, April 9th 2005 In the real world, Iraq does matter Last week I was at a seminar in which a small group of ministers, academics and commentators were discussing the morality of politics, and how a disillusioned public could be re-engaged. The Guardian, March 29th 2005 Platitudes won't win the election There are two national debates underway. One reflects the concerns of voters, the other the ever-narrowing interests of politicians. The Observer, March 27th 2005 Abu Dhabi do Abu Dhabi burst on to the travel scene this week with the opening of the Emirates Palace Hotel - a monument to excess and opulence. John Kampfner checks in. The Guardian, March 12th 2005 These guilty men Tony Blair and George W Bush stand accused by a leading QC of riding roughshod over international law. The Observer, March 6th 2005 Lessons about the real world When am I going to get out of the cesspit they call Westminster and do something constructive? I have asked myself that question for the best part of a decade, as have many politicians and journalists who inhabit this same world. The Observer, February 20th 2005 Elections Must Be Way Ahead for Iraqis Watching the lines of Iraqis queuing to vote yesterday, I could not help feeling admiration. These people were risking their lives for their first proper exercise in democracy. Daily Express, January 31st 2005 Blair Must Stand Up to US Over Iran Iraq used to be at the top of the hit parade. Now that dubious honour has fallen to its neighbour Iran, which finds itself in the sights of the hawks who run the world’s most powerful country. Daily Express, January 24th 2005 Ice breaker Where's the fun in glum Moscow? John Kampfner and family seek light relief. The Guardian, January 22nd 2005 Loving the Sound of Our Many Voices The moment you open your mouth you give yourself away. Your accent, your use of language, can determine where you come from, what kind of school you went to, how much money you earn, even how trustworthy you are. Daily Express, January 18th 2005 This time, Gordon, get it in writing This is no longer soap opera. The war between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is no longer incidental to the performance of government. It matters who runs the country and, in the absence of a Conservative alternative, the choice is confined to an untrustworthy Prime Minister and his untrusting Chancellor. The Observer, January 16th 2005 Final Act Looms for Labour's Ego Show Some things don't change. Parliament returns after its holiday break with the world in turmoil...And yet what is Britain's political world talking about? The never-ending soap opera between messrs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Daily Express, January 10th 2005 Why the world must be on alert in 2005 What a way for our planet to see in the New Year. The aftereffects of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean have left a trail of destruction of biblical proportions across a huge section of the globe. Tens of thousands are dead and around five million people have been left homeless. Daily Express, December 30th 2004 Too lazy to learn languages It is all a bit of a giggle. We announce ourselves in the ristorante in Tuscany with a bonn juurnoh. In our local boulangerie in Provence we order a pann o chocolate and we pat ourselves on the back. The Times, November 26th 2004 Just what is going on in The Ukraine? One of Europe’s biggest countries is in turmoil. Ukraine is a place that some people might struggle to place on a map, but it is vital to the future of our continent. Daily Express, November 25th 2004 Blair’s legal case for war was sexed up too When a prime minister commits men and women to die in the service of their nation, he carries a responsibility to demonstrate not only judgment but also honesty. The Sunday Times, November 21st 2004 How the Post Office is being stamped out Our once beloved postal service is in seemingly terminal decline. We thought that the closure of thousands of smaller post office in towns and villages across the land was bad enough... Daily Express, November 2nd 2004 Stream of conscience Clare Short's tactical blunder damaged her reputation, but she still stands tall compared to her former cabinet colleagues. John Kampfner assesses her memoir, An Honorable Deception? The Observer, October 31st 2004 Redeployment of our troops may be the final nail in coffin When a prime minister says the troops will be home by Christmas, you know the situation is not what it seems. The most common comparison for this Iraq war is Vietnam. But remember the promises in 1914 in the so-called Great War? The Herald, October 22nd 2004 The five deceptions of Tony Blair Whether the prime minister lied over Iraq is a red herring - we now know categorically that he deceived us. The Guardian, October 20th 2004 Blame No 10's hubris and genial naivety The PM ignored all the warnings from experts. The Observer, September 19th 2004 What is going on in the World's most secretive country? Rousing music blares out each morning from loudspeakers as workers in their jump suits march out of identical tower blocks and merrily along the car-free streets. Radio sets are pre-tuned to government propaganda. Daily Express, September 13th 2004 Eyeball to eyeball with Vladimir Putin It is not often that you sit down for nearly four hours, until after midnight, with a world leader. It is especially strange when that man is Vladimir Putin, hardly regarded as the most forthcoming of interlocutors. Independent on Sunday, September 12th 2004 Why it was right to broadcast the horror of Beslan When crimes are committed we search for words to describe them. For murders of individuals we might use the terms vicious or senseless... Somehow I still cannot find what I am looking for when I see those pictures of the children of Beslan Daily Express, September 9th 2004 My greatest mistake I can still see the article, 18 years on. It was on the back page of Pravda. I was the trainee, on my first overseas posting. The Independent, September 7th 2004 The Warwick watershed For all the brinkmanship in the run-up to this month's TUC Congress, Labour and the unions are more interdependent than they care to admit. The Guardian, September 2nd 2004 The word New Labour dare not utter At the next election, Tony Blair will remain silent on tax, yet it is a crucial issue that can reconnect him to his party and to voters The Observer, August 29th 2004 Brown blew it. So stop moaning and start talking Blair is here to stay, but the Labour left can still influence policy. The Guardian, August 23rd 2004 Bugger Brighton, Bournemouth & Blackpool The Prime Minister is returning from his sojourns in the villas of the rich and famous. Lesser mortals are on their way back too. A new political season beckons - presumably the last before the general election - and by force of habit attention is turning to the party conferences. The Independent on Sunday, August 22nd 2004 This is about politics, not policing Crime is at a record low, so why does Labour talk of crackdowns? The Guardian, August 13th 2004 Last chance to hold Blair to account Tomorrow Labour's silent anti-war MPs must make their voices heard. The Guardian, July 19th 2004 Cabal that took Britain to War When Tony Blair swept into Downing Street on May 2, 1997, past the carefully choreographed lines of well-wishers, he took charge of Britain's role in the world with less foreign policy knowledge or experience than almost any incoming Prime Minister? Daily Mail, July 16th 2004 Blair’s off the hook for now, but he’s far from in the clear Some are already calling it a whitewash. It is not. Lord Butler has dangled Tony Blair over the precipice but has, in characteristic British establishment fashion, refused to let him drop. The Herald, July 15th 2004 No more lawless interventions After Iraq, we need a new set of United Nations rules to govern international action against rogue states. The Guardian, July 6th 2004 Book Review: The Perils of Power Anthony Seldon has produced the most comprehensive assessment of Tony Blair yet, says John Kampfner. The Observer, July 4th 2004 What makes a middle-aged dad a soccer yob? What is it about us all? I say 'us' because I am an ardent football fan. I, for my sins, support Chelsea. Daily Express, June 18th 2004 Iraq could force Blair into twilight It is a question that leaves foreigners flummoxed: How can a man who has presided over two landslide election victories and a consistently strong economy be politically doomed? Even his closest allies wonder whether he might stand down this summer. They ask themselves: How could things have gone so badly wrong? By "things," they invariably mean Iraq. Los Angeles Times, May 25th 2004 A Prime Minister at the mercy of events and people he cannot control Through thick and thin Neil Kinnock has remained steadfastly loyal. ...[Now he] has become the latest public figure to join in the growing national pastime – speculating about Tony Blair’s future. Daily Mail, April 27th 2004 The terrible cost of an unethical foreign policy Britain and the US have since September 11 become more selective about the countries whose ethical violations they seek to punish. Financial Times, April 15th 2004 The President's nemesis Despite his slightly smug tone, Richard Clarke offers a devastating critique of George W Bush in Against All Enemies, says John Kampfner . The Observer, March 28th 2004 Now we face a greater danger Europe has just suffered its own September 11. The scenes of carnage at Madrid’s Atocha station will be etched on our minds forever, just like the Twin Towers. Daily Express, March 15th 2004 What chances Howard? ...The most intriguing issue in British politics is not will Michael Howard rejuvenate the Tory party, but does he have what it takes to snatch power from Tony Blair at the next election? Daily Express, March 8th 2004 Why our politicians are never short of tall tales It's the closest Tony Blair has gone to telling people that he feels their pain. Daily Express, March 1st 2004 Safety before all Like a football team five-nil up with 10 minutes to go, the government has been cruising this week in its dealings with the BBC. The passage of time from the Hutton report is, if anything, deepening the gloom among news journalists at the corporation. The Guardian, February 23rd 2004 Don't mention the war The battle between government and the BBC has moved on to new ground. Pressure is being exerted not on how the issue of weapons of mass destruction is covered, but on whether it should be reported at all. The Guardian, February 16th 2004 Sorry's the safest word John Kampfner examines how the BBC is reacting to external pressure, post-Hutton. The Guardian, February 9th 2004 End of the US empire He foresaw the Soviet collapse. Now Emmanuel Todd says America is next. John Kampfner assesses an intriguing vision of the future, After the Empire. Observer Review, February 8th 2004 In Berlusconi and Putin's steps Tony Blair's instincts towards the media have sinister Russian and Italian echoes. The Guardian, January 31st 2004 Goodwill can be salvaged if lessions are learnt Pity the Prime Minister. That might seem a strange sentiment in this week of all weeks. After all, he survived the tuition fees vote by the skin of his teeth and he will regard Lord Hutton's findings as complete vindication. Daily Telegraph, January 29th 2004 The trust between Mr Blair and his party has imploded As the votes were being counted last night, Tony Blair was smiling. It was a nervous smile. The rebellion over university tuition fees had been contained, just. Daily Mail, January 28th 2004 Balance of forces has shifted away from Blair Tony Blair has escaped. He has hung on. But this was desperate stuff. The Herald, January 28th 2004 The Day of Judgement In one terrifying 24-hour period later this month, Tony Blair's fate will be sealed. A Prime Minister who for years has been master of all he surveyed is now at the mercy of others... Evening Standard, January 16th 2004 Two to watch for 2004 John Kampfner nominates Ruth Kelly and Julie kirkbride as the two politicians to watch for 2004. "These two are long-term tips to lead their respective parties - modern, intelligent and media-friendly," he writes. "Could we one day have simultaneously a female Prime Minister and leader of the Upposition." Independent Magazine, January 3rd 2004 Why we need to do a fat lot of good Britons, especially the young, are getting fatter, sicker and lazier. That is the distressing truth, the result of a number of surveys into our eating habits and lifestyles. The government acknowledged the problem a long time ago. It promised to act. So far precious little has been done. Daily Express, December 29th 2003 The end of the road for toll-free driving We do it when we fly. We do it when we go by train. So, I suppose, it's about time we learnt to do it when we drive – pay more for a superior service Daily Express, December 10th 2003 Are there new signs of life in the NHS? A few months ago I went to my GP because I had a dodgy knee... Daily Express, December 3rd 2003 Now Blair will need his own party Howard might be doing a service to Labour as well as to the Tories . The Guardian, November 11th 2003 Is Howard the Tories' white knight? The Daily Express, October 31st 2003 |
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Copyright 2004 John Kampfner et al, All Rights Reserved.