Any ideas?

A rather striking sight between the Mill bridge and St Paul's - does anyone know what it is and what its purpose is (I'm not being a philistine here - being interesting is fine in and of itself - i'm just curious)?

Web 2.0

Well this is all very exciting! I've just linked twitter to this blog, so you should be able to read updates in the top left hand corner of this blog.

I realise this is a cliche, but how did we live before the web? It seems astonishing (and yet somehow we survived).

Directly Elected Mayors; a justification

Key arguments in favour of direcly electing mayors:

1) It allows great political battles with clear platforms (like the buzz that surrounded Ken vs Boris)

2) Accountability; their is a clear leader that one can back or sack

3) Can allow cabinets of talented people whilst retaining accountability

4) Will become part of the political make-up of the country, and attract talented individuals to local government

University staff set for 5% rise

The BBC today highlights the fact that university staff are due for a 5% pay rise next month. Why is this news only now? This was part of a negotiation almost three years ago, and the RPI provision was agree upon (probably) to prevent the final award being higher and staff have (for once) won this gamble.

Vespas as art

I've just come back from Amalfi where, like most Italian cities, people buzz around on Vespas (if you pardon the pun). They really are very beautifull bikes - look at the battered old red one in this picture; Italians can design every day things exceptionally well!

Some thoughts on the history of ideas

Do any of these justifications for obeying the state remain good today?

Elect the PM

Constitutional reform appears to be on the agenda again; the government is (rightly in my mind) toying with removing the Prime Minister’s royal prerogative rights regarding using troops and signing treaties without parliamentary support, and is also hinting at further reform of the House of Lords. Add to this Douglas Carswell’s column in the Sunday Times this week calling for (a) a right of (policy) initiative, (b) a right of recall for MPs, and (c) primaries for representatives, we can see that reform appears to be on the mind of Conservatives too. Carswell points out that we have a lot to learn from the American political system; and he is not alone in this message, as it was also put forward by Guardian Journalist Jonathan Freedland (1998) in his Bring Home the Revolution, where Freedland also points out that the American system of government is in fact based on British ideas (Penn and Paine, for example). One can learn from the American system of government without being accused of Americanisation.

Whereas all of the above changes would, it appears to me, mark a big improvement to our system of government, there is one I would add – namely the direct election of the Head of Government (not Head of State), who could then appoint ministers from anywhere other than the House of Lords or House of Commons, thereby splitting executive and legislative power. This system would have the following advantages:

(1) It would prevent MPs from being able to gain executive power, therefore increase their independence and enhance their ability to hold the executive to account
(2) Increase direct accountability of the executive – as is the argument for directly elected mayors
(3) Enable a Prime Minister to assemble a cabinet of talented and experienced individuals, not just from a small political class
(4) Allow for a tidy up of the powers of the British Constitution without removing the monarchy

The presidential election will, of course, leave many of us comparing the American system (with all its faults), to the British system (with all its faults). After Ken vs Boris in London we British have a taste for big political beasts fighting it out, and this taste is likely to be increased by Obama vs McCain this year. Lets consider making it a regular thing over here.