British politics

When I Last Saw Simon Hughes

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:June 30, 2017
Post category:Elections Governance Social Relations
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Reading time:4 mins read

When I Last Saw Simon Hughes

Thursday, two weeks ago I had just come out of hospital after a two-week stay there. As a resident of a Bermondsey, my brother wheeled me to the shops. As we got to shops, the former Santander Bank premises on Southwark Park Road, then turned into the headquarters of the Simon Hughes Liberal Democrats Return campaign.We bumped into the man. Simon Hughes was all alone carrying a large cardboard box out of the headquarters and headed for his yellow-painted black cab which he was known to drive.

My brother and I greeted Hughes, but he barely responded, he looked unhappy. Hughes is usually a cheerful and accessible person, I had chatted with him a couple of times. The June 8 elections had just ended, and the former MP had lost again. It was a very personal irony for me, a very difficult one. I did not want Simon Hughes to come back as my MP.

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Tony Blair and the Case of Campbell’s Law

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:June 28, 2017
Post category:Corruption Elections Institutions
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Reading time:4 mins read

Tony Blair and the Case of Campbell’s Law When sociologist Donald T. Campbell proposed his eponymous Law, one wonders if he expected it to be of theoretical or apt practical…

Reflections on the May Elections

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:May 6, 2017
Post category:Corruption Elections Governance
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Reading time:5 mins read

Reflections on the May Elections: The Relevance of Voters?

Never underestimate the wisdom of the old saying, “what Britain needs is another good war”. Peace, jobs, wages, NHS are boring and appear to be responsible for the national malaise in British politics. Or are they? The May 5th local elections are over, and the June 8th general election is on its way.

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Who Has Ever Seen The Nigerian Declaration of Independence?

Post author:Grimot Nane Zine
Post published:April 17, 2016
Post category:Governance
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Reading time:5 mins read

Who Has Ever Seen The Nigerian Declaration of Independence?

It may surprise most Nigerians that there are disturbing questions over who has ever seen and read the contents of whatever document the “Nigerian Declaration of Independence“ (NDI). This is a part of the inquiry even if it does not standalone. It would be the document that contains the actual terms and conditions of the Independence of Nigeria from Britain, the handover conditions, not some bill.

If Nigeria has signed a legitimate NDI, how come no one seems to have ever seen it even 56 years after Independence? Or is it best kept as a secret? (more…)