‘From Saudi to Sheffield: is football still the beautiful game?’ I will be one of the speakers at this debate at the exciting Battle of Ideas Festival 18-19 October 2025.
This debate will take place on Sunday 19 October, 11:00—12:30, Church House Café, Westminster, London. This is a link to the website for the debate: From Saudi to Sheffield: is football still the beautiful game? Debate introduction: ‘I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important, than the Champions … Continue reading
‘Tourism’s Horizon: Travel for the Millions’ book edited by Jim Butcher including a contribution from me on Venice.
This book is published on 6 October 2025 by Goodfellow Publishers with a link to a 35% discount here: Tourism’s Horizon: Travel for the Millions book announcement There will be an online book launch on 12 November through this link: http://Access via: https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/8433efff045b47239da7bb133f402f3a Further details of the book are below:
Battle Book Club: Running the Risk – From Shark Attacks to Nuclear Disaster
Battle of Ideas Festival 18 October 2025, 16.45-18.15, Westminster Room, Church House, Westminster, London. Please join us at this event: Battle Book Club: Running the Risk – From Shark Attacks to Nuclear Disaster This is the book: ‘RUNNING THE RISK: Understanding life’s biggest risks and how we build a safer future’, by David Burrett Reid. Here is … Continue reading
‘Stop moaning about Jeff Bezos’s wedding.’ My article published by Spiked about protests against the Bezos and Sánchez wedding celebrations in Venice.
As protests grew and a march is scheduled from 5 pm on 28 June, I explored why some activists are demonstrating against these wedding celebrations. This is a link to the article published on 28 June: Stop moaning about Jeff Bezos’s wedding I welcome any comments.
The Venice entry ticket restarts with new clampdowns
The ticket required to enter Venice for most day-trippers began operation again on 18 April 2025 after it stopped in July 2024. Officially labelled the ‘Venice Access Fee’, day-trippers need to book and pay to enter the city between 8.30 am and 4 pm on 54 designated dates between 18 April and 27 July 2025. … Continue reading
Debate about nuclear power at the Battle of Ideas Festival, including my introduction and contributions.
There is the link to the YouTube film of the full debate below. Note that the Battle of Ideas festival is not an academic conference and sessions have a variety of formats. This festival debate required short introductions, emphasised debate, content and placed primary importance on involving the public audience in discussions with the speakers. … Continue reading
‘A populist surge is coming’. Anti-establishment parties could be about to transform European politics in EU parliamentary elections 6-9 June. My article published by Spiked.
Polls and surveys leading up to the EU parliament elections indicate growing support for populist ‘right-wing’ political parties. However, this could change in the elections, especially depending on voter turnout. My assessment was published on 4 June 2024 by Spiked and can be read free by clicking on this link: A populist surge is coming … Continue reading
‘Is the EU going cool on Net Zero?’ Farmers’ protests and populist parties have weakened formidable EU climate policies that threaten to impoverish Europeans. My article published by spiked.
As we approach the EU parliamentary elections on 6-9 June 2024, some populist parties standing in the elections reject environmental policies that threaten European livelihoods and they could help push back against these. Although changing EU Net Zero laws and directives will be very difficult, European farmers have shown that concessions against the EU Green … Continue reading
‘Venice ‘bookable’: Italians lose freedom of movement.’ My article published by Good Tourism (GT) about the problems for the first ‘bookable’ city.
Two weeks after the start of the Venice bookable ticket to enter the city at certain times on specific dates, many of the deterimental impacts for local people have become evident and local protests have been held. I outline how Venice City Council has established the principle and enforcement of its right to end freedom … Continue reading
‘How Italy and the UK lost control of their borders’. My article about migration issues published by Spiked.
This article was published on 23 December 2023 and can be read by clicking on the link below: How Italy and the UK lost control of their borders The text of the article is also here: How Italy and the UK lost control of their borders Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni are failing both migrants … Continue reading













