The almost sycophantic enthusiasm for the advice of so-called ‘experts’ displayed in some quarters of the press – notably The Guardian – has always seemed wholly misplaced to me. Do they mean the economists who failed to predict the 2008 recession? Or the parole-board psychiatrists who can’t tell a psychopath from a cycle path andContinue reading “EXPERTS AND MODELS”
Author Archives: Gumpyygreybeard
Bring Back Manufacturing
Just over fourteen days have now elapsed since the government announced legal measures to enforce its lockdown policy. During that fortnight the country has undergone a series of seismic upheavals unprecedented in peacetime. Some have brought out the worst in the British character, some the best. We’ve witnessed the panic buying of loo rolls andContinue reading “Bring Back Manufacturing”
Misplaced Airport
Sometimes the sheer madness of modern life beggars belief. When the proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow was ruled to be illegal by the court of appeal a couple of weeks ago, there was plenty of talk about uppity judges exceeding their powers. That’s certainly an unwelcome trend worth exploring, but it’s utterlyContinue reading “Misplaced Airport”
Chancellors:concert or conflict?
When Sajid Javid resigned as Chancellor of the Exchequer in last week’s cabinet reshuffle, Boris Johnson was described by some journalists as being a brutal bully, and by others as an insecure person needing to be surrounded by yes-men. Of course there are some who are unwilling to concede any virtue in Boris, but evenContinue reading “Chancellors:concert or conflict?”
Huawei Hullabaloo
To someone of my great age (85) and conservative disposition, modern British life contains many irritations and one of them is technological overkill. The motorcar, for example, has been brought to such a high degree of perfection that its manufacturers strain to improve it, and sometimes seek to do so through the addition of electronicContinue reading “Huawei Hullabaloo”
Enemies Of The People
On February 9th 1945 I reached the age of ten. That’s an impressionable age for a young boy, especially if events have a bit of drama attached to them – and in 1945 there was plenty of drama. During the final stages of the war the German concentration camps at places like Dachau, Auschwitz andContinue reading “Enemies Of The People”
Brexit
When we finally leave the the EU and all the fuss is over, a big question will have to be asked. How could so many people have been so utterly deluded for so long? I’m referring to Remainers in general and the Liberal Democrats in particular, who have decided to openly commit themselves to aContinue reading “Brexit”
The election
With the 2019 election campaign nearing its halfway point, some pundits were still claiming that the outcome would be very hard to call, but my view is that the result is easy to predict. My belief is that the various tax and spend bribes will have very little effect and that Labour will lose dozensContinue reading “The election”
About Greybeard
Greybeard is a lifelong conservative Conservative – and having reached 84 years of age, is now a very old one. He believes that great age combined with a sceptical turn of mind gives him a special insight into the fads and follies of today as well as those of the past. He is particularly criticalContinue reading “About Greybeard”
Grumpy Greybeard 