I stand to be corrected but since 1945 only Iain Duncan-Smith was elected Conservative leader in Opposition immediately following a GE defeat and didn't lead the party into the next election. In… (View Post)

We agreed a 99-year lease with then then Chinese Empire and that lease went to term. The Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984 was (apparently) an agreement whereby the Chinese agreed to maintain th… (View Post)

Manawanui, as you well know, is a Maori word meaning to be steadfast, stout-hearted, tolerant, patient, unwavering, resolute, persistent, committed, dedicated, unswerving, staunch, dogged, tolerant. … (View Post)

I was watching a documentary on the catastrophe of HS2 - now, whether you like it or not, think it's a good idea or not, isn't the issue. The cost of doing the London-Birmingham link has en… (View Post)

I'm afraid you're absolutely right, my friend. Raising basic rate tax to 25p, higher rate to 50p and increasing thresholds by double the rate of inflation would be my approach but pace Blai… (View Post)