Martin McGrath
Welcome to my website. I intend to use this space to hold forth on things like politics, books, technology, films and anything else that interests or irritates me.
You can also use this site to see examples of some of the work I've done as journalist, writer and designer. I'm available for freelance work and my rates are competitive and negotiable for good causes.
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Category Archives: Blogging
REVIEW: CAPITAL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY BY THOMAS PIKETTY
I was just reminded of this after a random comment on Twitter (hi @redrichie). I wrote this review back in 2014 for an editor who, in the end, never used it. The row over inequality hasn’t moved on much and, … Continue reading
SOME REASONS TO BE SCEPTICAL OF THE HYPE ABOUT CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA (PART ONE)
Like lots of people, I’ve been thinking about the current row about Cambridge Analytica and their supposed influencing of the US election and Brexit and possibly other elections around the world. I understand people’s anger and I understand the degree … Continue reading
REVIEW: THE HIGH GROUND BY MELINDA SNODGRASS
The High Ground by Melinda Snodgrass (Titan Books, 2016) When I was a child I loved the breakfast cereal Ready Brek – instant porridge whose television advertisements used to feature a young boy protected from the winter elements by a … Continue reading
Posted in Blog reviews, Review
Tagged 2017, bsfa, review, reviews, science fiction, sf, Vector
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LOOKING FOR CORBYN’S MAGIC MONEY TREE
Jeremy Corbyn set out his 10 point policy plan today – with lots of good intentions in it, though it didn’t quite address the concerns I have about Corbyn offering actual detailed policies – it remained a bit vague. In … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Politics
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IT’S ALL JUST A CASE OF (LABOUR’S) HISTORY REPEATING
This is why Miliband prized unity in 2010. Hoped to break post-defeat cycle. Split merely deferred. — George Eaton (@georgeeaton) July 31, 2016 George Eaton’s Tweets (above) made me think about the pattern of Labour history and how the … Continue reading
THE POINTLESSNESS OF COMRADE CORBYN
So, today, Jeremy Corbyn launched his leadership campaign. It was the opportunity for him to make the case that he was the genuine radical that his supporters have been claiming. To put his case that “Corbynism” was the revolutionary (perhaps … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged 2016, Corbyn, Labour, Labour Party, Leadership, Owen Smith, Politics
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WHO WILL REPRESENT THE FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT?
THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A GENERAL ELECTION BEFORE THE TURN OF THE YEAR AND IT IS ALREADY CLEAR THAT THE THREE MOST POPULAR POLITICAL PARTIES – LABOUR, TORY AND UKIP – WILL BE PUTTING FORWARD POLICIES THAT ACCEPT THE … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Politics
Tagged 2016, 2016 General Election, EU, Europe, Labour, Labour Party, Politics, referendum
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WHY SPIDER-MAN BEING RICH IS A WORSE TREATMENT OF AN ICONIC CHARACTER THAN CAPTAIN AMERICA HAILING HYDRA
So, as the last comic book fan with a blog to express an opinion about Captain America: Steve Rogers No.1, I thought it’s probably necessary that I have a suitably clickbait-style headline so that people might pay some attention. For what … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Comic Reviews
Tagged Captain America, comics, Hail Hydra, Marvel, review, reviews
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HURRAH! ANOTHER BLOODY ELECTION OPINION PIECE
I don’t want to be one of those people in the Labour Party who constantly moans about the leadership. My natural instinct is to loyalty. I want Labour to do well because I believe the people I care about do … Continue reading