Politics

It’s just 50 days since Keir Starmer took office – so it’s impressive he’s already embroiled in a sleaze row. Amid the growing number of controversies about political appointees, the Sunday Times today features an intriguing story as its front page splash. ‘No. 10 pass for Labour donor who gave £500k’ screams the headline, which adds, in the sub-deck ‘As Starmer crony allegations swirl, millionaire TV mogul gains access to the heart of power.’ Oh dear… It transpires that Waheed Alli, a former investment banker who led Labour’s fundraising for the general election, was subsequently given unrestricted access to Starmer’s No. 10. Alli also organised a post-election reception in the

Many have been emotionally drawn to the green revolution in the belief that renewable energy will restore our personal and community independence. According to this, by investing in green technology, Britain will gain freedom from coal barons and gouging sheikhs, and deliver a grass-roots, democratic energy system. Ed Miliband played into this on Friday when he blamed the energy price cap being raised on the ‘failed energy policy we inherited, which has left our country at the mercy of international gas markets controlled by dictators.’ Others believe green energy represents the free spirit and harmony with nature. ‘What would you rather have in your neighbourhood?’, I remember being asked in

Six men have died on Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji since the start of the climbing season in July. This figure, two more than last year, is especially worrying given that steps had only recently been taken to mitigate the dangers of climbing the mountain. Various restrictions were introduced earlier this year to deal with overcrowding, which has become a feature of the mountain. A cap of 4,000 climbers a day was imposed along with a fee of 2,000 yen (£10). A website giving advice about weather conditions and congestion on the mountain was set up. Prayers were offered in an official ceremony before the climbing season opened. The lesson from

If Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is seriously intending to crack down on ‘hateful and harmful opinions’ – as she has promised to do – she will no doubt need the help of a whole army of narks and snitches to keep tabs on such unwelcome views on social media and report them to the authorities. Fortunately, there is a clear historical example of mass state surveillance for her to draw upon. Indeed, by spooky synchronicity, the last time a senior government minister tried to regulate public opinion by decreeing what people could think and say, he bore the same surname as Ms Cooper. The Tory politician Alfred Duff Cooper was made Minister of