Jon Worth's Euroblog

04.04.2006 EU Politics / UK Politics

So you are embroiled in a conflict? Call for a change in the rules!

John Reid used to have a reputation as Tony Blair’s firefighter. The person to send into a government department to sort it out. Then after the 2005 election, the macho Scot was given the macho job in government – Minister

03.04.2006 Technology

Anger and fury about incompetent people

I probably should not have another rant on this blog about incompetent computer users, but I’m afraid I cannot resist it. Simply put, I have been writing little here over the last few days because I have – as ever

31.03.2006 UK Politics

The Mili-bland Blog

David Miliband MP, Minister of Communities and Local Government, has recently launched this blog on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The first impression is a bit off-putting: the colour scheme is a very pastel shade

30.03.2006 Technology

We’re back a-bloggin’

Right then. The sits is still on the same server, but some of the problems I have been having with the blog now seem to have disappeared. Can’t last! Anyway, there will for sure be plenty of posts here in

21.03.2006 EU Politics

So who is against monopolies now?

The only thing about the French attitude to competition to appear in this blog in recent times has been the discussion of the GDF/Suez merger in the energy sector, a merger that has largely been seen as a case of

21.03.2006 EU Politics

The sad life of a computer geek

The blog has been quiet over the last few days as – once more – I have been trying to nurture a webserver back to life. I don’t know where the thing even is exactly – it’s somewhere in Germany

21.03.2006 EU Politics / UK Politics

Polly Toynbee on Sweden again

Polly Toynbee is on about Sweden again in her column in The Guardian today – read it here. The column is not her best argued effort, but this did make me smile: No, Brown will not turn Swedish in one

15.03.2006 EU Politics

Lord Haskins at the UACES lecture: preaching to the converted

I went along to the 2nd annual UACES lecture this evening, with Lord Chris Haskins, Chair of the European Movement. The title of the lecture was “CAP Reform: A Watershed for the European Union?” and details of the lecture can

15.03.2006 EU Politics

Walking on the EU

No, despite the title I have not suddenly become a eurosceptic wanting to walk over the EU. This is far more literal. On the way to Stockwell underground station today – the first time I have walked that way for

13.03.2006 EU Politics

So did they kill him? I doubt it, but it’s dangerous

I don’t want to write much about the death of Milosevic here as plenty of valuable analysis has taken place elsewhere – it is clear to me that the man was evil, and sadly he will not face justice. I

12.03.2006 EU Politics

Demography matters, and now the concerns have a blog

I have today come across this excellent multi-author blog about demography – Demography Matters. For anyone that is concerned about the ageing populations in Europe, what to do about birth rates, family stuctures etc., this should be a worthwhile read.

10.03.2006 UK Politics

March for Free Expression

I’m sadly going to be away from London on 25th but I encourage any people reading this who will be in the London area to go along to the March for Free Expression. One of the organisers is the excellent