Ah, but think of the children, they say. Alleviating child poverty should be a moral priority and a bigger priority than financial rectitude. I am all in favour of alleviating poverty – but the kind ...

Regarding Jack Lynch, Lemass’s successor, Stephen Collins quotes approvingly Liam Cosgrave’s judgment that he was “the most popular Irish politician since Daniel O’Connell” – but Collins argues that ...

This is a review of 'The Taoiseach' in the Irish Times by Diarmaid Ferriter, one of Ireland's most respected commentators and historians.

Today is publication day for my new book THE PRIME MINISTERS 1721-2020 - THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP. It was lovely to get an invite to mark the occasion to go on the TODAY PROGRAMME ...

I first appeared at the Fowey Festival at least 20 years ago. My role was to interview Ann Widdecombe about one of her novels. I fell in love with the place and went back to Fowey a couple of times ...

Because of eyesight issues which affected me earlier in the year I have probably read fewer books this year than any other year in my life, But here are ten I have really enjoyed and would recommend ...

If it turns out to be true that the main announcement in the budget is indeed a 2p rise in the basic rate of income tax, however it is dressed up, I would confidently point to November 26th as the day ...

Finding the right Christmas present for men of a certain age can be a nightmare. They have enough socks at this stage to last three lifetimes. That’s why so many sports biographies come out in autumn.

We all know that all good things come to an end at some point, and so it is with this era of the For the Many podcast. Why? Because Jacqui has been elevated to the House of Lords and has been ...

When a high profile prisoner, who has been found guilty of committing sex offences against young girls, is wrongly released from prison, and when you find out that last year 262 prisoners were ...

I don’t envy my friend Jacqui Smith having to look after the university sector. In some ways it ought to be one of the most enjoyable jobs I government. But then you read the lead story on page 2 of ...

Before we get onto my predictions for 2024, let's see how I fared when I made my 2023 predictions this time last year. The answer is not well. A pathetic 2.10! Worst ever.