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Donald Macintyre's Sketch: David Cameron can be choosy about who he invites to dinner

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:03:12 GMT

Most people are all too aware of the breathtaking successs of companies like Amazon and Google in keeping their vast profits out of the hands of governments across the planet. But the Prime Minister may have been a shade optimistic during his Commons statement on the G8 summit in saying that while the “tax and transparency” issues as discussed at Loch Erne used to be the province of academics, they are now “kitchen table subjects”

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: Another startling fact about William Hague...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:26:49 GMT

Maybe he was simply overwhelmed with pride at so many world leaders gathering in Northern Ireland. But the DUP's Reverend William McCrea's uncharacteristically lyrical question to William Hague about “hopes for successful negotiations' on an EU-US trade agreement during the ”G8 discussions in the beautiful surroundings of Fermanagh“ was surprising. If he had his way we wouldn't be in the EU-which the South Antrim MP recently described as ”a bureaucratic monstrosity that robs the coffers of our nation.“

Rhodri Marsden: These cuddly high-street banks certainly don't fool me

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

For reasons sufficiently mundane for me to have just typed them out, read them back and deleted them, I had to pay a cheque for £9.72 into my bank account last week. This necessitated a rare trip to the bank.

Stuart Hall's brave victims have been through hell for nothing

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:42:27 GMT

It really wasn’t worth it. The young girls who were victims of Stuart Hall weren’t worth it at all.

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: If Syria was on everyone’s mind, why was no one talking about it?

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:08:23 GMT

MPs proved again on Monday that just because a subject is dominating the news, it doesn’t mean they will ask questions about it. Here was Philip Hammond who, as Defence Secretary, would be responsible for arming Syrian rebel forces, if it happens. And first up with “topical questions” was John Baron, the Tory backbencher leading opposition to any such act. And Baron asked him a question about Army reservists.

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: Time for topical questions, but don’t mention the Syrian rebels

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:08:23 GMT

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: Don't expect politicians to ask a topical question, just because something's in the news

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:08:23 GMT

Turkey protests: Government fury at Istanbul protests exposes an authoritarian regime

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Turkish government pulled back from the brink. After making apocalyptic noises about a "final" confrontation with protesters who had occupied an Istanbul park, the prime minister suddenly offered talks. With five dead and 5,000 injured, Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to suspend plans to turn part of Gezi park into a shopping mall until a court challenge is heard, defusing an alarming situation which had prompted condemnation of his government's tactics in the European Parliament.

Immigration is complicated, as Cesar Chavez could tell you

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Today, as Congress gets to grips with the most extensive reform of America's immigration laws in a generation, it's worth remembering that no heroes are spotless – not even the late Cesar Chavez.

Tom Hodgkinson: 'Professional grammarians are desperate to be down with the kids'

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Various blockheads have detected some sort of right-wing conspiracy behind the publication of Gwynne's Grammar, a short introduction to the art of good writing which I have helped to publish. In fact, my plan was to continue the radical tradition of William Cobbett and George Orwell. Both encouraged the British to study our own language in order to sharpen our minds and detect humbug. In his introduction to his own very funny guide to grammar, published in 1817, the fantastically bloody-minded radical Cobbett wrote that he wanted to "lay the solid foundation of literary knowledge amongst the labouring classes of the community; to give practical effect to the natural genius found in the soldier, the sailor, the apprentice and the ploughboy".

Tim Key: 'We built a fire and foraged for food in a Tesco Metro a 15-minute drive away'

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

I love camping, me. I went with my friends from home last week to escape the smoke and gather some nonsense to put in my column for The Independent Magazine. We camped in a Kentish wood full of bluebells. It was actually idyllic.

Iran votes for new president: Farewell Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, we’ll miss you – but not that much...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 23:00:44 GMT

We shall miss him. The cheeky smile, the chipmunk eyes, the Spanish Armada beard, the crackpot President who once claimed that a cloud emanated above his head at the UN – then denied he’d ever said such nonsense – and then confessed that he had when confronted with tape of his holy utterance.

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: Stephen Harper grasps the nettle of international partisanship

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:27:48 GMT

The Canadian Prime Minister addressed both Houses of Parliament today in the Royal Robing Room. Since it’s big enough to have accommodated the entire House of Lords during the Second World War, the Queen must feel pretty lonely dressing up for the state opening here, which is what it’s actually for. But though it’s only No 3 in the hierarchy of venues for these gigs, after Westminster Hall (which has hosted Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama) and the Royal Gallery (graced by Nicolas Sarkozy and Bill Clinton), it was pretty full.

Iran election: Farewell Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, we’ll miss you – but not that much...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:52:44 GMT

Boss deserves credit, but not such a large pay packet

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:19:56 GMT

Stephen Hester was called in by politicians to run a reeling RBS. Today they and his fellow directors threw him under a bus.

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: He may have been coached, but was Sir David Nicholson ready for these Reservoir Dogs?

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:12:15 GMT

The Public Accounts Select Committee members are the Reservoir Dogs of Parliament. It’s not just their capacity to terrorise, but the black humour they use for light relief as they hunt down the multibillion-pound stashes of public money absorbed by government departments.

Greece: State broadcaster ERT monster was created by politicians

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:10:14 GMT

Much of what went wrong with modern Greece left its mark somewhere in the gloomy hallways of the headquarters of ERT, the state broadcaster.

ERT monster was created by politicians

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:10:14 GMT

Much of what went wrong with modern Greece left its mark somewhere in the gloomy hallways of the headquarters of ERT, the state broadcaster.

Turkey protests: This genie should not be tricked back into its bottle

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:07:08 GMT

A new language of freedom and democracy has been emerging in Turkey in the past decade. This atmosphere was created by removing the military’s influence from civilian life and politics and, recently, by opening roads towards peace between Turkey and its Kurdish citizens. The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party deserves applause for these developments.

This genie should not be tricked back into its bottle

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:07:08 GMT

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: Poetry corner or much ado about nothing...?

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:17:54 GMT

Normally we look to Michael Gove for the flash of cold, ideological, steel. Instead we got Mills and Boon. The Education Secretary proclaimed himself “in love” with Diane Abbott. But only, it should be said, after Ms Abbott had thrown herself at the Education Secretary.

Robert Fisk: The Lebanese army fears rise of the Sunni Muslim Salafists

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:56:36 GMT

The Lebanese army claims there is a “plot” to drag Lebanon into the Syrian war. The ‘plot’ – ‘al-moamarer’ – is a feature of all Arab states. Plots come two-a-penny in the Middle East. What the military authorities really fear is that Sunni Muslim Salafist groups – perhaps paid by the same Gulf backers as the Sunni rebels fighting the Assad regime – have embedded themselves in the Lebanese population. The army suspects they exist deep in the northern Bekaa valley around the village of Arsal and in the northern city of Tripoli, as well as in Beirut and Sidon.

Donald Macintyre's Sketch: The only way is Essex - and David Cameron hits the superport's heights to show why

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:02:22 GMT

Possibly to illustrate the point that “Britain’s role in the world” is very much a work in progress these days, David Cameron made a speech about it on a building site.

Matthew Norman on Monday: Chips are down as spudlord takes aim at Cameron

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:14:08 GMT

Everyone is wearily familiar with the stalking horse, but lovers of political novelty may now anticipate the first stalking potato. Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire and supplier of pre-washed spuds and other vegetables to the catering industry, seems poised to challenge David Cameron.

Harriet Walker: 'I will be going to the theatre more often. Covered in suncream. And possibly on my own'

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:00:00 GMT

In a week of life lessons, I have learnt that you should always wear suncream and you should go to the theatre more. And you should do things on your own. And you can do both of these things on your own very easily, should you fancy it.