RARELY are anniversaries marked by anything more substantial than symbolism and a chance to commemorate, or give vent to collective commiseration of, a past event. But the publication of plans for the foreseeable future of the National Health Service stamps the 60th anniversary of its creation with a tangible milestone, albeit with some brightly flashing hazard warning lights.

Bryan Rostron - Out of Africa

OUR central political paradox here in South Africa, when you compare the rhetoric against reality, is that we have a neo-liberal economic policy often driven with Stalinist ruthlessness.

Kevin Maguire - As I please

AFTER a spring of discontent comes the summer of discontent that will be followed by an autumn of discontent then a winter of discontent before it starts all over again in 2009 with another spring of discontent. The media replays the so-called winter of discontent – the spurt of strikes that helped sign the death warrant of James Callaghan’s Labour Government close on 30 years ago – with a regularity that would earn whoever coined the term a small fortune if he or she had copyrighted one of the most over-used phrases, in its various seasonal guises, in the industrial-political lexicon. I plead guilty to using it occasionally myself, although not with the metronomic frequency of Wapping, the Daily Mail and even The Guardian where scribblers predict a surge of industrial action at the hint of a ballot, constantly readying photographers to capture apocalyptic scenes of burning braziers and pickets waving placards asking motorists (if they can afford the petrol) to toot support as they drive by.

IT MAY be rash, or even foolhardy, to look through the political gloom that surrounds this Government for signs that something more positive is flourishing. But it seems that many people are actually doing just that. Even, if some analysis of this week’s reversal of what was to be Government policy on age discrimination is to be believed, Gordon Brown himself may have seen the light and is preparing to bend towards policies supported by his party and which might actually increase his chances of winning the next election. As one of those involved in the talks about the legislation said: “It’s no accident when the good guys win.”

Cary Gee - Out and about

IF IRELAND had qualified for football’s 2008 Euro finals, the result in last week’s referendum to ratify the Lisbon Treaty might have been different. Or perhaps not. Both the Dutch, who are going great guns in Switzerland and Austria, (Hup! hup! Holland!) and the French who are not, gave the same negative answer when asked the about the proposed European constitutions. None the less, I can think of nothing that so engenders a continental patriotism while allowing fans to fly their own flag as much as the European festival of football. Certainly nothing that is said or done in Brussels could ever hope to have the same resonance, especially among the young.

RIGHT cause, wrong candidate. The immediate reaction in Westminster last week to David Davis’ announcement that he would be resigning to fight his own House of Commons seat of Haltemprice and Howden was bafflement. Was it merely a bizarre vanity stunt or a brilliant tactical crunch on Gordon Brown’s already bruised and battered toes? The answer is not to look too closely to the closeted environs of Westminster for the answer.

Paul Anderson - Out of the Loop

I MIGHT have said it before, but I’ll say it again. One of the most frightening things about middle age is realising that events you consider recent actually took place ages ago.

Joan Smith - As I please

IN THE past couple of weeks, the subject of stalking has been much discussed following the murder of a 15-year-old girl in the lift of the block of flats in London where she lived with her mother.

THE House Commons vote on powers to detain terrorist suspects for up to 42 days without charge was an unedifying abuse of Parliament. It was not, as some have sought to characterise it, a shining example of our elected representatives doing their job and debating seriously a measure which affects national security, and therefore the lives of every individual, against an issue which goes to the heart of the very liberties which are supposed to be protected.

Ian Williams - Letter from America

AT THE time of writing, Barack Obama has finally won enough support to secure the Democratic nomination for the White House, but Hillary Clinton has still not conceded. Perhaps she still hopes her rival may be found in bed with Osama bin Laden or even that one of her “hard-working white voters” may be catalysed by her evocation of Robert Kennedy’s assassination as an example of how primary outcomes can change unexpectedly. She has allegedly told her New York congressional colleagues that she would be open to running as Vice President on an Obama/Clinton ticket. Obama would have to compromise his promise of turning over a new leaf in politics by grafting two of the most unprincipled egotists in recent American politics onto his election campaign.