It's hard to establish how much of this was down to complacency in the British defence establishment, the lack of funds, or sheer hubris. Most likely it was a mixture

Even in a time of straitened national finances, it never pays to underestimate the awesome power of the arts lobby in Britain

When living standards are falling, Westminster needs someone else to blame

Chris Christie joins in the laughs about his weight - but worries it's become a deadly serious issue

People who choose a career of perpetual uncertainty are liable to behave crazily. Just look at Archer, Aitken, Crossman, Phillips, Bevan...

Romanians and Bulgarians will soon have an absolute right to work here; it’s making the Government panic

The two nations have long disagreed over almost everything about Europe. Yet still British attempts to divide them cannot succeed

Suggestions by foreign figures (however friendly) that we had better listen to them if we know what is good for us only bolster the Eurosceptic argument

Private partnerships and competition can help prevent catastrophes like that which saw over a thousand patients die at the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust

Then we thought it was a matter of economics, not politics - and we still do today - but the rest of Europe doesn't