My work on immigration policy for a think tank argues for a more open approach to immigration in the UK, but also one rooted in majority public consent and acceptance. The EU Referendum reminded us of the real and important differences in people’s experiences of and worldview around immigration. Those differences are quite natural and… Continue reading Is the UK really polarised on immigration? – by Jonathan Thomas
Category: Social commentary
Looking for life? Find a place to serve
Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com I shared this quote from Michael Carl on social media this week: As church attendance numbers fade across the nation and online services become very convenient it’s important to remember why church attendance for you and your family matters so much. You can’t serve from your sofa. You can’t… Continue reading Looking for life? Find a place to serve
Leadership is for other people – by Tobias Mayer
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com ‘And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ Exodus 3:11 Leadership is for other people. We hear this refrain, or some version of it, perhaps aloud but more often as a… Continue reading Leadership is for other people – by Tobias Mayer
Begging: the question…
Recently I was in Birmingham New Street station when a man approached me, saying he was homeless and asking for money for food. We were right next to a Greggs so I suggested I buy him some. As there was a queue, we got talking and he said: ‘I’m not really homeless you know,… Continue reading Begging: the question…
‘Truth works’: a lesson for Boris Johnson (and everyone)
Photo by Brett Jordan on Pexels.com The former Australian cricket coach Justin Langer spoke this week about a lunch he had with Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Manchester United football manager. Within two minutes of meeting Ferguson looked him directly in the eye and said: “Just remember son, truth works…always tell the truth” Langer was… Continue reading ‘Truth works’: a lesson for Boris Johnson (and everyone)
Burning disagreement: the Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
In the early 2000s, I worked for a large Christian charity where I organised an optional prayer meeting that started each working week. On one occasion, a colleague used a quote from Harry Potter as part of a reflection. As I recall it was Albus Dumbledore saying: ‘We are protected, in short, by our ability… Continue reading Burning disagreement: the Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling
A crowning ambivalence
‘VIVAT REX EDUARDUS! They crowned a king this day, and there has been great rejoicing and elaborate tomfoolery, and I am perplexed and saddened… Thus wrote the American author Jack London who came to England in 1902 to write about poverty and homelessness. His visit coincided with the coronation of King Edward VII. The 1902… Continue reading A crowning ambivalence
A Sex Pistol’s example of true love – by Anne O’Connor
I read today of the death of Nora Forster. I have to admit her name meant nothing to me but I learnt that she was the wife of John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), lead singer of the infamous 1970s punk band the Sex Pistols. Although she was 14 years his senior, Lydon declared it was… Continue reading A Sex Pistol’s example of true love – by Anne O’Connor
An insurgency against individualism – by Jenny Sinclair
There is much being said about the decline of the West. Those who say it is exaggerated may prefer to avert their eyes, but the decay is real and things are likely to get worse. Lent is typically a time of reflection, repentance and spiritual growth: this year it calls us to reflect and repent… Continue reading An insurgency against individualism – by Jenny Sinclair
Lineker & refugees: politics, punditry & polarisation
Popular communication today thrives on polarisation. Social media channels are not neutral carriers of unbiased opinion, they are shaped to stoke strong opinions which fuel the shallow politics of our age. The current controversy surrounding Gary Lineker, the BBC and his social media comments on the government’s refugee policies is a perfect example. The government… Continue reading Lineker & refugees: politics, punditry & polarisation
