Archive for December, 2009

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VISUAL ARTS: Skulls beneath the skin – omens are good for Damien

By Tribune Web Editor /Thursday, December 24th, 2009

No Love Lost, Blue Paintings by Damien Hirst
Wallace Collection, London

Of all the British artists who came to fame in the 1980s for exploring fresh and controversial ways of representing the world, none has been more successful – or more problematic – than Damien Hirst, often seen as the uncrowned king of what came to be known as the YBAs (Young British Artists). Hirst’s pickled sharks, pickled sheep and spot paintings took art into hitherto unexplored areas, although they were all subjects addressed more conventionally by early artists.

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BOOKS: Jesus was a Jew and the historical beginnings of Christianity should be seen in that context

By Tribune Web Editor /Thursday, December 24th, 2009

A New History of Early Christianity by Charles Freeman
Yale University Press, £25

There are so many books on the history of Christianity that Charles Freeman’s A New History of Early Christianity is new only in the sense that it is the latest. This is such a well-ploughed furrow, not least by the author himself in his earlier book The Closing of the Western Mind, that I confess to approaching this work with wariness… and weariness, doubting there was much more to unearth.

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By Tribune Web Editor /Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

The war of words between Guido Fawkes blogger Paul Staines and his Labour foes became a real war this week, as Labour and Tory activists were pitted against bloggers in that most bloodthirsty of arenas, a paintball contest. The egregious blogger bore down cruelly on LabourList’s Alex Smith but was himself worsted by Progress’ Jessica [...]

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Interviewing Kim Philby and drinking with the KGB

By Tribune Web Editor /Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Were the security services on to me after I spoke to the KGB? Revel Barker is relieved to find the answer…

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Darling’s decisions: the verdict

By Tribune Web Editor /Monday, December 21st, 2009

Labour has got the politics and economics correct, but tough choices still lie ahead, says Stephen Beer

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Lower voting age means higher turnout

By Tribune Web Editor /Monday, December 21st, 2009

Mike Ion argues that votes for 16-year-olds in Britain would be a progressive and inclusive move

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By Tribune Web Editor /Monday, December 21st, 2009

If Billy Hayes ever tires of tussling with Lord Mandelson and others, a career as a crooner may beckon. The Communication Workers Union general secretary kicked off festivities at last week’s CWU staff party by donning a cowboy hat and regaling the captive audience with his karaoke performance of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”. Less [...]

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Ed Balls: Tax rise the Conservatives want us all to inherit

By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, December 20th, 2009

For most Labour activists, the Christmas break will be the last chance to rest and recharge batteries before the general election campaign begins. In 2010, we face the fight of our lives – a fight we must win.

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Ian Williams: Why not ask the Afghans what they want?

By Tribune Web Editor /Sunday, December 20th, 2009

There are many people and organisations soliciting my support to get the troops out of Afghanistan immediately. Somehow, I can’t share their certainty. Unlike them, I want to know what the Afghans think. Earlier this year, when they were asked in an ABC/BBC/ARD opinion poll, 59 per cent of them wanted Nato to stay and more than 90 per cent wanted the Taliban defeated. Only 4 per cent admitted to supporting the Taliban. That is almost certainly an underestimate, but support is probably not significantly higher.

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By Tribune Web Editor /Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Bah humbug! That’s the Tory attitude to the homeless at Christmas time. David Cameron’s official favourite council, Hammersmith & Fulham in west London, has banned the BBC from hosting a Christmas shelter organised by campaigning group Crisis on the grounds that homelessness is a law and order issue not a social problem. The council, many [...]