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John Kampfner
      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


 
LINKS
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Daily Express

The Independent
Daily Telegraph
The Sunday Times
The Times
The Herald
Daily Mail
Financial Times
Los Angeles Times
 



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