Graham Morton

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity”. “Be curious, not judgemental”

[Libby @LibbyMag]

Mummy’s etiquette lesson of the day: don’t use “in good grace” of yourself. That’s for others to judge.

[Financial Times @FT]

Nigel Farage’s Brexit rallies were funded from the EU budget https://t.co/rhWTi0785p

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Not a fan of knighthoods etc but Chris Mullin deserves recognition. One of the most principled and courageous figures in politics in my lifetime. And a brilliant diarist to boot. We need more like him.

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

In Scotland’s beautiful Dunblane Cathedral today to celebrate the life of Jim Wallace.

Joining Jim’s wife, Rosie, and members of his family, were Members of the @UKParliament & @ScotParl - from right across the political spectrum - along with Church leaders @churchscotland and members drawn from different Christian traditions, including Edinburgh’s Catholic Archbishop, @leocushley.

Jim and I served together in @HouseofCommons and @UKHouseofLords remaining good friends throughout.

Jim’s last political appointment was to be made a member of @HumanRightsCtte, which I chair, and whose members I represented today.

Jim’s parliamentary and church work, as Moderator of the Church of Scotland, was captured in a reflection by the Reverend Fraser Macnaughton and in outstanding eulogies from Jim’s brother, Neil, former First Minister @LordMcConnell and parliamentary colleague (Lord) Nicol Stephen. @LordSpeaker @CommonsSpeaker

[FT Opinion @ftopinion]

Why birth rates are falling everywhere all at once — The Big Read https://t.co/zdYq5CtWSh

[Financial Times @FT]

FT Exclusive: Four months after its establishment, the organisation’s financial fund set up by the World Bank has received no money from donors, according to four people familiar with the matter. https://t.co/yzANaf2mVN

[Michael Berkeley @MichaelBerkele2]

On Private Passions at noon @BBCRadio3 historian Michael Wood who has explained the Trojan War, the Story of India, the Story of China and a people’s history of Britain. His Music today includes Monteverdi, Bach, Messiaen and Chopin.

[Michael Berkeley @MichaelBerkele2]

Producer Clare Walker and Members of the excellent Private Passions production team (Matthew Dodd L and Graham Rogers R) at the Voice of the Listener and Viewer Awards where PP was named Best Radio Music and Arts Programme.

[Financial Times @FT]

Reform UK ran a council for a year. Things went badly https://t.co/ecwOKHmzXR

[Sebastian Kraemer @sebkraemer]

While the Criminal Cases Review Commission held new DNA evidence to show he should never have been convicted, Peter Sullivan remained in jail for 23 more months

https://t.co/BWKsme3kOz

[Graham Morton @scepticallyopen]

Book review: The Cadence of a Song: The life of Margaret Fay Shaw by Fiona J. Mackenzie

“Ian Bradley reflects on an incomer accepted”

@ChurchTimes

https://t.co/8JtCTTZuXO

[Financial Times @FT]

Are British voters now ready for a burst of American-style religious politics? Or are a minority of true believers misjudging their strength?

The new Christian networks raise the question, writes Henry Mance: https://t.co/OplRGdl7c2

[Financial Times @FT]

International law has been pushed aside as great powers go to war. But, argues historian Margaret MacMillan, it is needed more than ever: https://t.co/WJSxTDUh4d

[Martin Wolf @martinwolf_]

Martin Wolf: We must not underestimate the peril for democracy https://t.co/eksTX775z2

[Dominic Grieve @dominicgrieve_]

This is a very odd post from a Conservative who says he believes in freedom of expression under law and is a principal spokesman of the Free Speech Union.
I appreciate that he does not like Islam and there is no reason why he should. As a Christian it is not my faith.
But the use of Trafalgar Square ( with permission) for religious events Christian and other goes back a long way. There have been prayers and hymns, chants and religious events performed there in the past. If such an event 'shouldn't happen again' it raises the question of whether this is to apply to all religious events or just to Muslim ones. If to all, then we are moving like France to imposing secularism as a norm and it is contrary to our national tradition and does not seem to have helped develop social cohesion there.If just to Muslims then it is an act of discrimination against them without any lawful basis. To achieve it you would have to enact discriminatory legislation targeted at Muslims. Is this what Nick Timothy is advocating ?

[Marina Cantacuzino MBE @MCantacuzino]

Please @amolrajan don’t use aggressive, rude & hectoring language with your interviewees on @BBCr4today. You’re so much better than this. Actually it’s a sign of weakness & suggests to us listeners you’re over invested in the answers. But most of all because we switch off.

[Nicky Campbell @NickyAACampbell]

My new podcast ‘Don’t Say a Word’ came out this week. What was once ok is no longer acceptable. Words, books, jokes, people. Right or wrong? And who decides? Grey areas are the new high ground. ‘Certainty’ is a curse. So I wrote this. Link in the article.

https://t.co/3vzs591a2T

[The Times and Sunday Times @thetimes]

Identity is the addictive junk food of Scottish politics https://t.co/vw7o3rWKfk

[Ruth Davidson @RuthDavidsonPC]

So sorry to hear of the death of Jim Wallace. A hugely significant political figure and an absolute gentleman.

He wore his intellect lightly, and his quiet, twinkly humour ensured you always came away from conversation having enjoyed the exchange - even in disagreement.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Jim Wallace played a significant part in establishing the Scottish Parliament. Embodied the old Liberal home rule tradition. His liberalism was principled - not centrist, fence-sitting. Exemplary service in the Scottish Cabinet and Parliament. We need more like him in politics.