High pressures squeeze and crush, but low pressures damage too. Losing the atom-level buzz that keeps us held safe in the balance of internal and external pressure releases dangerous storms, disorientation and pain, write ROX MIDDLETON, LIAM SHAW and MIRIAM GAUNTLETT
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Hunt's hustlers' network grows
SOLOMON HUGHES takes a look at the history of the business ambassadors set up under David Cameron, as Jeremy Hunt prepares a similar scheme to put his hand-picked spivs in the place of actual diplomats
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt speaks at the Policy Exchange, London
EDMUND GRIFFITHS makes a robust defence of sortition, the chosen method of picking attendees for the new left party’s inaugural conference from the membership at random, but sounds the alarm on the eye-watering number of suggested delegates
The NEU kept children and teachers safe during the pandemic, yet we are disgracefully slandered by the politicians who have truly failed our children by not funding a proper education recovery programme — here’s what is needed, explains KEVIN COURTNEY
The appalling bigotry and bias of London’s police force has been obvious for years – and the police leadership does not appear inclined to do anything about it, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE
As Holyrood elections approach, BRIAN LEISHMAN MP argues that Labour’s time has come — to open a new chapter which puts an end to the years of managed decline
ASSAF TALGAM talks to an Israeli Communist lawmaker about the need to use every tool of democratic and non-violent struggle; how Israeli society has changed since October 7 2023; and the persecution of the left in the parliamentary arena
NEW Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he will “broaden the pool of talent we tap into for our ambassadors” by getting “businesspeople” into “key ambassadorial posts.” What could possibly go wrong with Hunt’s plan to hire ambassadors from “outside the Civil Service”?
Well the government already did a dry run for this by hiring a bunch of “business ambassadors,” and it looks pretty bad.
They are sort of junior ambassadors, rather than the full ambassadors in Hunt’s new plan. They are members of the business ambassador Network, a group of government-appointed businesspeople who lead trade delegations, have “1-2-1 meetings with senior government ministers” and host “high-level incoming visitors.” If Hunt’s new business ambassadors are anything like the old ones, we are in trouble.
More from this author
The new angle from private firms shmoozing their way into public contracts was the much-trumpeted arrival of ‘artificial intelligence’ — and no-one seemed to have heard the numerous criticisms of this unproven miracle cure, reports SOLOMON HUGHES
It is rather strange that Labour continues to give prestigious roles to inappropriate, controversy-mired businessmen who are also major Tory donors. What could Labour possibly be hoping to get out of it, asks SOLOMON HUGHES
Keir Starmer’s hiring Tim Allan from Tory-led Strand Partners is another illustration of Labour’s corporate-influence world where party differences matter less than business connections, writes SOLOMON HUGHES
MBDA’s Alabama factory makes components for Boeing’s GBU-39 bombs used to kill civilians in Gaza. Its profits flow through Stevenage to Paris — and it is one of the British government’s favourite firms, reveals SOLOMON HUGHES
