I’m not religious, but I still went to synagogue yesterday for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. This I did for two reasons: to keep my dad company (my father who art in Streatham, not my father who art in heaven) and because I like the festival’s self-improvement vibe – spending one Continue reading

There are hundreds of Holocaust memorials worldwide, 69 in the United States alone – from Nashville and Nebraska to Missouri and Mississippi. Most are incongruously located thousands of miles from humanity’s greatest crime. Here in the UK the Holocaust is, to quote survivor Ben Helfgott, “part of our collective national history”. Yet ask 100 random Continue reading

We all sense it. The calm before the storm. Before you can say ‘Facilitated customs arrangement’, Westminster will reconvene to face down its greatest challenge of the 21st century. The British prime minister, his majority now hanging by a gossamer thin thread, refuses to rule out suspending Parliament to get the UK out of Europe Continue reading

For 100 years the Labour Party was the broadest church in politics. That all changed the moment it passed into the tender loving care of Team Corbyn. Suddenly, faster than Margaret Beckett could say “let’s put Jeremy on the leadership ballot to broaden the debate”, it was bludgeoned into a groupthink mentality that would have Harold Wilson, Continue reading

Abuse victims are often the last to recognise their plight, kidding themselves things will change. This tragic delusion was evident last week when the Jewish Labour Movement decided to stay in a malign marriage with an emotionally distant spouse who secretly wants a divorce. Jeremy Corbyn, the old charmer that he is, pretended he wanted Continue reading

Every year the Eurovision Song Contest sees political feuds and friendships exposed like a Bucks Fizz girl’s knickers. Balkan, Nordic and former Soviet states all brazenly bloc vote. Russia could turn up with Gary Glitter playing Leader Of The Gang on a balalaika and still pocket douze points from Belarus. A 2008 study by Dr Continue reading

Remember when Rachel Riley was just the lovely numbers lady on Countdown who only set social media alight when she spelt out something rude? (Longwinky, anyone? Classic telly). Well, her Longwinky days are over. In recent weeks Rachel has been promoted from teatime times table expert to flag bearer in the bitter fight against ministates. Continue reading

Be shocked by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s wicked ban on disabled Israeli swimmers at the World Para Swimming Championships in his country, but not surprised. Zealots of his ilk are turning Muslim antisemitism across Asia and the Middle East into an epidemic, poisoning everything from politics to sport. Even the Miss World contest is not immune. Continue reading