According to a paper obtained by the BBC, the Governments have laid out new proposals that would allow a limited form of censure by the Assembly for individual ministers. It also contains a number of safeguard measures for continuity in …

There’s a fascinating disussion going on over Crooked Timber on whether Internment and the Diplock system might give the US an effective means to deal legally with what it sees as the terrorist threat. It’s based on an original article …

One way to lose friends but perhaps gain wider influence is to blow the whistle on what your conscience tells you is sharp practice, by government or employer. Katherine Gunn tells of her personal experience of becoming a whistleblower over …

An intriguing article from The Guardian which, in my view, fails to provide sufficient background to the story. A British ‘entrepeneur’ has persuaded General Mikhail Kalashnikov, 83 (yes, that General Kalashnikov), to lend his name to a new brand of …

Alexander McCall Smith is one Scotland’s writers of the moment. His novels about a black female detective agency have attracted both major sales and critical acclaim (an uncommon feat). In his time as an academic at Queens he recalls a …

David Trimble’s wife Daphne is to enter Ulster politics, by challenging Jeffrey Donaldson in his home territory. At this stage of the game at least, Jeffrey does not seem unduly worried by the prospect. Discover more from Slugger O'Toole Subscribe …

The people’s favorite Tory, Boris Johnson has finally broken his party’s duck in the political blogging league, thanks to the tireless Tim Ireland. Given his position as Tory spokesman on the Arts and the day job at the Spectator, it …

The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2004 has been announced. Included in the shortlist of 6 is The Master by acclaimed Irish author Colm T Discover more from Slugger O'Toole Subscribe to get the latest posts to …

It’s not all politics and personal diaries. It looks like the blog concept is beginning to penetrate the business world. About.com have just produced a guide to blogging for small business. Discover more from Slugger O'Toole Subscribe to get the …

Well probably not. But there’s a decided change in tone from David Trimble following his most recent back room talks with his counterparts in the DUP. And for once, the secondary Ulster Unionist source is on a similar message: “In …