Published by the ipaper (30th May, 2016) We live in remarkable times. Indeed, they are so remarkable historians may look back in wonder at this golden age for […]
Aid / Politics
Stop the spin. Focus on the dodgy facts
Published by The Mail on Sunday (17th April, 2016) Democracy deserves to be cherished. As a foreign correspondent, I have covered protests, revolutions and wars around the world […]
Aid / Politics
The dirty dozen
Published by The Daily Mail (15th April 2016) Britain’s foreign aid budget keeps rising. Currently at £12 billion a year, it is due to soar during David Cameron’s two […]
Politics / United States / World
Transatlantic lessons from the Republican civil war
Published by The Independent (2nd November, 2015) Almost from the moment he became a senator four years ago, Marco Rubio has been marked out as a potential Republican […]
Africa / Nigeria
An election that symbolises change across a continent
Published by CapX (6th April, 2015) The message to his country is simple: ‘Don’t expect miracles.’ These are wise words from Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s septuagenarian new leader surveys […]
Africa / Libya
Was it wrong to support the overthrow of Gaddafi?
Published by The Independent (9th March, 2015) There are few historic sites more wondrous than the ruins of Leptis Magna, a Roman city once home to 80,000 people, […]
Africa / Aid / Ethiopia
Sorry Bob – Band Aid has done more harm than good
Published by The Daily Mail (12th November, 2014) Once again, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure have lined up the latest crop of chart-toppers to create another incarnation — […]
Africa / Egypt
Spinning for Sisi? Blair and Campbell accused of links to regime
Published by The Mail on Sunday (1st June, 2013) Victims of last year’s military coup in Egypt have accused Tony Blair and his former spin doctor Alastair Campbell […]
Europe / France / Politics
When rulers are out of touch, voters fall for extremists’ snake-oil solutions
Published in The Daily Mail (April 24th, 2012) However you cut it, Sunday’s presidential election in France was a profoundly depressing result: not just for the French, but […]
Europe / Russia
A new Russian Revolution?
Published in the Daily Mail (December 27th, 2011) Mikhail had not been on a demonstration before. But on Saturday the 46-year-old property salesman joined tens of thousands of […]
Africa / Egypt
We should not fear a Muslim Brotherhood win
Published in The Independent (November 29th, 2011) The resurgence of Egypt’s revolution has overshadowed the start of the country’s convoluted election, so long awaited after nearly six decades […]
Africa / Egypt
Does democracy stand a chance?
Published in the Daily Mail (November 28th, 2011) As I entered Tahrir Square in Cairo one night last week, a motorbike sped out of the clouds of tear […]