The Banker V the Bully
22/01/2026
This week, Jo reflects on Trump’s chaos, Europe’s uncertainty, and why standing up to power now matters more than appeasing it.
Creeping slowly back to Europe
04/12/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo explores the growing recognition that Brexit has had serious economic and social costs for the UK. Changing global events are making closer cooperation with Europe increasingly important. Jo argues that now is the time to rebuild relationships and rethink how the UK engages with its continental neighbours.
AND SO IT BEGINS…….
06/11/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo looks at how a new wave of leaders — from New York’s Zohran Mamdani to the Netherlands’ Rob Jetten and the Greens’ Zack Polanski — are connecting with voters through energy and optimism, while Labour seems stuck in the November gloom.
JUST DO IT !
23/10/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo discusses the political chaos surrounding the grooming gangs inquiry — a stark reminder of how victims are failed time and again. With mistrust in institutions and endless delays, Jo asks whether another inquiry will change anything, or if it’s time, as Michael Heseltine once said, to Just Do It.
A Decent Proposal
25/09/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo reflects on the Liberal Democrat Conference and considers how Ed Davey’s appeal to decency, community, and middle England could counter Farage, Reform, and divisive politics.
TRIPLE LOCK TERRORISTS?
13/08/2025
In this week’s blog Jo examines the arrests of hundreds in Parliament Square for holding signs backing Palestine Action, now a proscribed terrorist group, and the criticism that such laws criminalise peaceful protest while doing nothing to help Palestinians.
COVER UP, COCK UP AND CONSPIRACY
17/07/2025
In this week’s blog, Jo looks at how a super injunction was used not to protect lives, but to protect ministers from scrutiny over a leaked email that exposed thousands of Afghans to danger. Years of silence, no accountability, and now, finally, questions they can’t ignore.
Double Vision
05/06/2025
Who knows if the Prime Minister is a fan of Cher but one of her biggest hits ,‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ might be on his mind.
Beyond the bunting
08/05/2025
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with bunting and street parties, prayers and speeches, grainy footage and crackly sounds from a lifetime ago it’s almost impossible to imagine what it meant then.
A different sort of zero
20/03/2025
In her latest blog, Jo Phillips questions Kemi Badenoch’s U turn on the UK’s net zero targets.
Keir’s Cool Could Reduce The Heat
27/02/2025
In the first few weeks of his Premiership, there were grumblings about the amount of time Sir Keir Starmer spent out of the country but it might just be that the benefit of those early meetings with European leaders, Donald Trump and others is about to be realised.
Call Casey – Yes Minister
23/01/2025
Jo asks why is Whitehall not recruiting more people like Dame Louise Casey? And why are successive governments not implemented her recommendations?