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More Royal rubbish

MICHAEL MANSFIELD is no dunce. As far as I can ascertain, the worst criticism levelled at this eminent, left-leaning barrister is that he’s a “champagne socialist”.Read

Farewell to a unique writer

NEWSPAPER columnists come and go . . . and once gone, rarely leave a lasting impression.Read

Oasis brothers lose their charms

ROCK stars used to live fast and die young. These days they just slow down and sell out. When punk’s ultimate anti-hero Johnny Rotten joined a bunch of Z-list celebs in the jungle I thought I’d seen it all. But then he went even more mainstream . . . and started selling us butter.Read

Yes to fat tax!

SHOULD we tax the fat? The UK has so far resisted the temptation to hit porkers in the pocket. The Americans, however, may be about to do just that.Read

I won’t be a guinea pig!

I WONDER which Government minister will be the first to have the new swine flu jab on live TV?Read

Was this girl ever a real soldier?

I’VE no doubt Kerry Fletcher, the lesbian ex-soldier awarded £187,000 damages for sexual harassment, had a thoroughly miserable time at work.Read

Kerry Katona needs a break

KERRY KATONA’s 15 minutes of fame were up a long, long time ago. As a member of Atomic Kitten and more recently a reality TV star, she had a pretty good innings.Read

Wavering conviction

OVER the course of the last two days I’ve changed my mind half a dozen times about the rights and wrongs of releasing Scotland’s most infamous prisoner, Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al-Megrahi.Read

I diagnose panic by our Government

I HAVE consistently said I believe the swine flu pandemic has been blown out of all proportion, and it would appear the evidence backing my stance is mounting.Read

Unfair to the Dragon

I CAN’T help but feel there’s a certain amount of jealousy behind the attacks on millionaire businessman Duncan Bannatyne for backing holidays in the UK while sunning himself abroad.Read

Obnoxious beats bland

WHY should Alan Duncan apologise? The Tory big mouth has made it clear he thinks MPs’ salaries are derisory. Fine. Read

PM needs naked ambition

STAYING on the subject of faceless politicians, Gordon Brown – decent chap that he is – has a real image problem compared to other world leaders.Read

Notto lotto point

THERE’S only one thing that annoys me more than reading about someone who isn’t me winning the lottery . . . and that’s reading about winners who insist it won’t change their lives.Read

Fast car, slow learner

YOUNG men and fast cars are a bad combination. Add booze into the mix, and you have a potentially lethal one.Read

Scumbag should have been jailed

ROBERT REYNOLDS is a pretty snazzy dresser. Crisp, white Timberland jacket, designer tracky bottoms – not tucked in socks, either – and top of the range trainers to complete the look.Read

Paper view

I COULD be wrong. It has been known. But the idea that newspapers can, all of a sudden, charge for online content seems a non-starter to me.Read

Snot so bad to pick

WHAT’S the difference between sprouts and bogeys? You can’t get kids to eat sprouts.Read

It's thigh time for memorial

CAMPAIGNERS calling for a lasting memorial to be created in honour of Sir Bobby Robson have tasted an early victory.Read

Wrinklies are social suicide

HAVING mum or dad as your Facebook friend isn’t social networking . . . it’s social suicide. Not my view, but that of my son and his twentysomething cyber buddies.Read