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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Tag Archives: parliament
LABOUR’S BETRAYAL OF SYRIA
War has always been a topic that has caused the Labour Party problems and it seems increasingly possible that whether or not Britain should bomb Syria has the potential to create deep, and possibly irreparable, splits in the modern party. … Continue reading
SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW LABOUR WINS IN 2015
So this year’s elections are over, and lots of people are using the results as an excuse to try and shift their favoured political parties around, so I thought: “Why should I miss out?” I don’t think the European election … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged 2014, parliament, Politics
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THE ART OF POLITICAL FUTILITY
Last night my Twitter feed filled, briefly, with closely cropped images of protestors in V for Vendetta/Guy Fawkes masks making some noise outside the Houses of Parliament and comments criticising the BBC for not covering what was, obviously, an epoch-making … Continue reading
FRIDAY’S WORDS OF WISDOM: DEFENDING POLITICS BY MATTHEW FLINDERS
Writing in defence of politics and, indeed, politicians is always a potentially risky pastime. The overwhelming public perception of politics is so cynically negative that anyone who speaks out in favour of those who take on public office is immediately … Continue reading
Posted in Friday Words of Wisdom
Tagged academic, books, friday wisdom, parliament, Politics, reviews
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LIB DEMS, THE NHS & THE DOG THAT NEVER BARKED
Politics is a funny thing. Or, rather, people’s expectations in politics are funny. Yesterday morning, I confess, I woke up rather confused. There seemed to be lots of people rushing around claiming that the Lords were going to save the … Continue reading
IT’S TIME FOR LABOUR TO GET OFF ITS KNEES
So, Ed the Leader has spoken. It was one of those speeches that I’ve got too used to as a member of the Labour Party where our representatives say some sensible things but then wrap them around a wad of … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Labour, parliament, Politics
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IS POLITICS “A LITANY OF FUTILITY”?
So watching the (mostly dreadful) debate in Parliament today about the riots, Paul Graham Raven (@PaulGrahamRaven) made a comment in a tweet that hoping for progressive change in politics in the “last decade feels like a litany of futility”. Being … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged laws, optimism, parliament, Politics
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DID THE NETWORK BEAT MURDOCH?
Judging by the excitement in some circles it appears that there are an awful lot of people who believe that something fundamental has changed this week as the disgraceful antics at the News of the World finally bubbled to the … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging
Tagged New media, parliament, Politics
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WHY I’M NOT HAPPY WITH THE AV RESULT EVEN THOUGH I VOTED “NO”
WHY I’M VOTING “NO” TO AV EVEN THOUGH I SUPPORT ELECTORAL REFORM
Actually, that title should probably read, “Why I’m voting “No” to AV because I support electoral reform”… Electoral reform is something I’ve been interested in for many years. I’ve been a bit of a nerd about electoral systems (amongst many … Continue reading