Why I Struggle With “Progressives”
Many of my friends and colleagues would describe themselves as “progressive.” I want to agree with them. I really do. I want to be one, but I can’t and [...]
Still Not Even Paying Peanuts
My usually chilled-ness demeanour (some will not agree that I am ever this) rapidly turned to rage today when I saw a “job” ad from a well-known Quaker-inspired national [...]
A Policeman, a (Former) Lawyer, and a Fire (no fireman)….
This week, one of my kids — along with others I’d taken away — built a fire on a beach. All innocent. All safe. All fun. Their North Face [...]
Lefty Lawyers
Few things irritate me more than the lazy accusation that some legal outcome happened because of “lefty lawyers”—especially when that accusation comes from a politician. For most of my 45 [...]
Dunbar and the Internet
Robin Dunbar—the world-renowned anthropologist—figured out that humans are wired to keep social circles of around 150 people. It’s the upper limit of meaningful connections our brains can handle. Yuval Noah [...]
Arise, Prime Minister Musk
Let me get this out of the way: I’m no longer a practising solicitor and never touched immigration law. But here’s a prediction you won’t see anywhere else: forget [...]
The SEIS Secret: Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me About This?
Why isn’t the Government’s seriously sexy Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) better known throughout society, just as ISAs are? I only came across SEIS recently, and none of the professionals [...]
Speech to the Harrogate and District Law Society in 2018
In 2018, I became the President of the Harrogate and District Law Society for its centenary year. It therefore fell upon me to deliver the centenary speech to circa [...]
Chickens Coming Home to Roost
Former British Chancellor George Osborne, who served between 2010-2016, was a brilliant political operator. However, he was the most damaging chancellor of my 44 years. Brilliant, because when the International [...]
Don’t Envy George Clooney
If you look up the dictionary definition of the word “debonair” it says: “See George Clooney”. Ok, it doesn’t say that, but I’m sure we can agree that Clooney epitomises [...]
