Opinion

We are heading for an all-or-nothing deal with the EU. It's over two months since the Referendum on whether the UK should leave the EU, and a few things have started to happen. Firstly, we have a new team in government, led by Theresa May, who seemed determined to make Brexit happen, and make Brexit work. These people seem bloody minded, are impervious to evidence and are happy to steamroller due process. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also anti-EU, will uphold the referendum and is an electoral disaster. An extremely weak opposition. The Labour leadership contender Owen Smith seems much more amenable but probably lacks enough support in the wider Labour Party. The Remain campaign Remain shambolic. They have now rebranded themselves "Open Britain" and seem indistinguishable from the Leave campaign. The man to really fear is David Davis, the Minister for Brexit. He seems to be in favour of "Flexcit", using EEA as a stepping-stone to leaving the EU, but

I was just watching the F1 Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, and was struck by a couple of sentences which occurred in the space of about 10 minutes. On a (male) racing driver, by a man: "apart from being tall dark and handsome, what do we know about Manor's new driver?" On David Coulthard, by a woman, "he's completely gorgeous". No similar comments on females were made. I have no problem with this, but I wonder how feminists would have reacted if the genders of the drivers were reversed? I could imagine them using this as further "proof" that society is inherently sexist, is objectifying women, and that the value of a female is still tied to her appearance. If you look at glossy magazines and calendars, they are full of well toned topless men. A Google search for "sexy male calendar" yields more hits than a similar search for "sexy female calendar." I don't care, but I do mind feminists claiming that only females are obje

Brian lives with long-term partner Eugene. But Brian is always grumbling, and one day they decide to split up. Act 1: The breakup Scene 1: Brian : We need to talk. Eugene : Uh oh, okay then. Brian : You've changed and I'm not happy any more. I don't like living under your rules. You need to change... Eugene : I'm not sure I can. Brian : That's it, I'm walking out. Scene 2: Brian : I need to take control of my life. I'm leaving. Eugene : Fine, just go. Brian : I'll save so much money because I won't need to pay any household bills. Eugene : You are an idiot. Brian : I save so much time on paperwork. Eugene : You are still an idiot. Brian : I won't need to see your stupid friends any more. Eugene : But my friends are great and really help us out. Brian : I really mean it. I'm going. Eugene : Well, what are you waiting for? Act 2: The separation Scene 1: Brian : Before I go, I have a few demands. Eugene : What? Just go away already.