Clik here to view.
The Manchester Bomb
On Saturday 15 June 1996, my best friend and I – both 16 – had planned to go shopping in Manchester. That morning, my mate was dropped off at our house, in Salford, north Manchester. For reasons...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Evolution of Play
Today, the snow is so heavy that our children’s school shut early. As I type, North Yorkshire looks quite spectacular. Back when I was a boy, a snow day was the best day of the entire year: no school...
View ArticleA True Friend?
On my first day at university, I met a fellow northerner, who I shall refer to as “S”. S and I were both obsessed with football. He lived on the floor above me in our halls of residence. I’ll never...
View ArticleSome Thoughts On Racism
(Caution: the following words are written by a rusty lawyer. On the specific legal issues, the views of a smarter and more up to date lawyer are demanded. I was though personally a successful Claimant...
View ArticleFeeling Saudade’y
Playing competitive football provided the very best times of my life. Until three years ago, when my health went haywire, I was playing football, two or three times a week, even into my young 40s. I...
View ArticleFiring People, inspired by Jung and Peterson
The ultimate life lesson which lawyers usually learn faster than most people is that time is our most precious commodity. This is because lawyers record our time throughout the working day, splitting...
View ArticleThe Net Worth of a (Potentially Bankrupt) Entrepreneur
What keeps entrepreneurs awake at night is the fear of bankruptcy, even if, financially, we are doing just fine. Bankruptcy appears so final. As a lawyer, if I’m bankrupted, professionally I’m...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Burning My Ship: and Some Low Points as a Lawyer
Legend has it that when Vikings invaded a new land, they would burn their boats on the beach, so that a retreat wasn’t an option. Their rationale: this would increase the prospects of a successful...
View ArticleClik here to view.
In the BBC News, and other outlets
On Good Friday, the BBC News website published an article “Could artificial intelligence benefit democracy?” which featured my failed bid to become the MP of Selby and Ainsty, and my non-profit, the...
View ArticleBeyond the Condom Lesson: Parenthood in a Material World
My experience of 44 years of life is that, for circa 80 per cent of people, trying to be the best parent is their primary purpose – but a purpose which we often realise too late. And many leave it too...
View ArticleTalking To Tech Titans
I’m typing in a bed, at 39,000ft, on my way to San Francisco, invited and sponsored by a tech behemoth. This is my first taste of business class travel, something that I am sure that I could get used...
View ArticleSuspending Judgement
I don’t fully know what is going on inside my head and I certainly don’t know what’s going on in my subconscious. And I don’t fully know what’s going in the lives of the people in my house. Even those...
View ArticleNot Even Paying Peanuts
Introduction and Welcome A warm welcome to my avalanche of new subscribers. I’m humbled to have you. Let’s get to it. My Legal Experience In two decades as a lawyer, I’ve worked on thousands of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It’s the weather, stupid
In the winter of 2012, in Bilton, Harrogate where I lived, the sitting Conservative Councillor resigned. Naturally, this triggered a by-election just before Christmas, on 13 December. Nobody, but...
View ArticleUnleashing Infinite Political Potential With AI
Since standing as the first AI-powered candidate in an election in July 2023, I have spoken to dozens of fascinating people all around the world who want to upgrade their democracies and quell...
View ArticleVote Conservative?
Imagine that you require some serious non-standard surgery of the general anaesthetic-requiring type. Imagine that two surgeons visit your hospital bed vying for the right to perform this procedure of...
View ArticleDon’t Envy George Clooney
If you look up the dictionary definition of the word “debonair” it says: “See George Clooney”. Ok, it doesn’t say that, but I’m sure we can agree that Clooney epitomises all things cool, suave and, of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Becoming Human 2
A few months ago I spent the day filming with a TV crew working for the Singapore-based Channel News Asia, for their show Becoming Human 2, all about AI developments in politics around the world. They...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Indebtedness
It’s midnight here in Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife. I’m in my hostel – well, it claims to be a hotel, but the evidence and price suggest otherwise. It’s hot. With no AC or fan, I’ve left my patio door...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Business Lessons from Ponds, Volcanoes and Spring Water
Many years ago, my wife and I lived in a terraced house, with a tiny front garden. For unfathomable reasons, my wife wanted to create a pond, which would dramatically reduce the usable square footage...
View Article