We’re All Democrats Really

/
We’re All Democrats Really

Marcus Walford (President-Elect, Ex-Returning Officer, Lady Margaret Hall) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Literae Humaniores.

‘Our constitution is called a democracy because we govern in the interests of the majority, not just the few. Our laws give equal rights to all in private disputes, but public preferment depends on individual distinction and is determined largely by merit rather than rotation: and poverty is no barrier to office, if a man despite his humble condition has the ability to do some good to the city.’ Pericles’ Funeral Oration (Thucydides I.37)

Read More

What’s next for Theresa May?

/

Julia Hussain (Secretary, ex-Communications Director, The Queen’s College) is an undergraduate in her first year of reading Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Not too long ago, Theresa May walked out the most famous door in the world and joined that most exclusive of political clubs: former Prime Ministers. May no longer dominates the Six O’Clock news and Twitter feeds, with the press now fixing their attention on Boris and Cummings. So with the loss of that most high political officer, what should May do next? The lucrative lecture tour, the insightful memoirs, or more hiking in the Swiss mountains? What can she learn from the mistakes of our other departed Prime Ministers, especially when looking at Cameron’s recent foray into writing?

Read More

Helipads, gold potties, and nose jobs

/
Helipads, gold potties, and nose jobs

Toby Morrison (President, Ex-Political Officer, Ex-Publications Editor, Magdalen College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Apparently, Ed Sheeran is just a normal lad. At least, this is what I read about him when looking at the gossipy pages of the interweb. Specifically when considering his new helipad that is being constructed at his Suffolk Estate,  I must concede that I too want to be that kind of normal lad.

Read More

Dear BMW, I want a terrible car

/
Dear BMW, I want a terrible car

George Wright (Political Officer, Ex-Secretary, Former Deputy Returning Officer, Ex-Treasurer, Ex-Whip, Ex-Committee Member, St John’s College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Some things are certainties in life. The British public transport network is in constant disarray, the entire country becomes inoperable when some snows succumb to gravity, the Pope is a Catholic and so on. Further to this list, I would like to add one more: cars are becoming ever bigger and much worse.

Read More

The Elixir of Youth for the Conservative Party

/
The Elixir of Youth for the Conservative Party

Tom Foster-Brown (Committee member, Pembroke College) is an undergraduate in his first year of reading Engineering.

The Conservative Party is facing a crisis more fundamental than Brexit. Year upon year, it’s voting figures are diminishing, as the typically conservative, older generation are dying. Despite this demographic fact, it is failing to successfully target young voters to compensate for this decline. And so, we must ask ourselves the question - what can we do to combat this?

Read More

Boris is juggling chainsaws – what could possibly go wrong?

/
Boris is juggling chainsaws – what could possibly go wrong?

George Wright (Political Officer, Ex-Secretary, Former Deputy Returning Officer, Ex-Treasurer, Ex-Whip, Ex-Committee Member, St John’s College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Earlier this week, the President submitted a contribution to this blog in which he explained some concerns about the government’s handling of the past few days. They were the words of a man deprived for too long of alcoholic libations, exuding the sort of misery and pessimism to be expected by a mind engulfed by sobriety. Fortunately, though, I am not in Trumpland, so the prospect of a gin and tonic is never more than a few minutes away. Let me, then, pick up where the President left off by taking a gentle perambulation through the events of the past week in politics, albeit without the distraction of a brain preoccupied by an incessant yearning for beer.

Read More

Musings from afar

/
Musings from afar

Toby Morrison (President, Ex-Political Officer, Ex-Publications Editor, Magdalen College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics.

Well folks, here I am trying to enjoy my holiday. Or rather, about as much as one can enjoy a holiday in America under the age of 21. I have never been able to remember quite so much of the previous couple weeks in so much clarity. Oh, how I yearn for a splitting headache in the morning.

Read More

Forget the rules, let’s liberate language

/
Forget the rules, let’s liberate language

George Wright (Political Officer, Ex-Secretary, Former Deputy Returning Officer, Ex-Treasurer, Ex-Whip, Ex-Committee Member, St John’s College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

The challenge of identifying the origins of language is one that has never been resolved by mankind – we possess insufficient evidence or methods of analysis to conclusively explain why I’m writing this using the spelling, words and grammar patterns which are universally recognised as English. Yes, we know that English has been influenced by the Romans, the French and the Saxons to name but a few and going further back, we are aware that most European languages trace their roots to something called Proto-Indo European before branching into their modern families, but no matter how far we attempt to follow the linguistic generations, a definite comprehension of where it all came from will probably remain an unsolved mystery for eternity.

Read More

The Belt and Road: China’s Path to Power in Asia

/
The Belt and Road: China’s Path to Power in Asia

Sam Ruaux (Committee Member, St. Hugh's College) is an undergraduate in his first year of studying Archaeology and Anthropology.

“If a country cannot provide help for developing countries, [they] should at least refrain from obstructing others from assisting these developing countries.” 

This is the response of Ambassador Hou Yanqi, to international criticism of the extension of the BRI (Belt and Road initiative) into Nepal. Of course, there is truth to Yanqi’s words; Nepal suffers from a difficult geography, with significant issues caused by water-flow from mountain glaciers, monsoon waters and rough, mountainous terrain. The complexities caused by these issues are a significant hindrance to the development of Nepalese economic power. Furthermore, the cost of dealing with these issues, in making resilient infrastructure, building bridges and constructing tunnels, compounds these issues. As a consequence, Nepal needs a high level of capital in order to be able to overcome these challenges. Capital which is now being offered to them by the Chinese.

Read More

Come on! Speed up!

/
Come on! Speed up!

George Wright (Political Officer, Ex-Secretary, Former Deputy Returning Officer, Ex-Treasurer, Ex-Whip, Ex-Committee Member, St John’s College) is an undergraduate in his second year of studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

The summer is long and sometimes, rain happens. Sadly, rain has happened with depressing frequency in days of recent, so I have become divorced from the usual array of outdoor pursuits and am instead slumped miserably in my office. One of the by-products of being entrapped by sogginess though has been my rediscovery of the internet – more specifically, the worrying entertainment experienced by perusing a Twitter feed called ‘People Selling Mirrors.’ 

Read More