CheshireMar 1
We face the belated end of the political 20th century
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/01/labour-stubborn-defeat-end-political-20th-century-gorton-denton?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#JohnHarris
Labour is stubborn in defeat because it knows this: we face the belated end of the political 20th century

In Gorton and Denton, I heard again and again that people wanted seismic political change – Labour and the Tories are no longer part of that conversation, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
the roamerFeb 23

John Harris gives a critical assessment of the Starmer government's white paper on children with special educational needs (SEND), published today. Some positive aspects, many concerns. Good to see his assessment laid out in some detail: he never speaks without reason.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/23/labours-send-revolution-reform-bridget-phillipson

#SEND #SpecialEducationalNeeds #UKSchools #UKpol #JohnHarris

Labour’s Send revolution is a high-stakes experiment. It also threatens precious parental rights

Bridget Phillipson’s 10-year plan is generous in places, but it has its problems. Not least that it could be trashed by a Reform government, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
the roamerFeb 15

Excellent (if sobering) piece by the Guardian's John Harris on the forthcoming legislation on the reform of SEND provision for children with special educational needs (in England).

Signs are that behind all the big nice words, Keir Starmer's Labour ultimately wants to cut costs, weaken state or school accountability, and remove parental agency.

This debate deserves our attention. If you are in the UK (in England, specifically), write to your MP and tell them to speak up!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/15/labour-send-special-needs-reform-schools-children-parents

#JohnHarris #UKeducation #SEND #SpecialNeeds #UKpol

I fear that Labour’s special needs revolution will instead be a catastrophic letdown

A familiar story is unfolding: of lofty aims undermined by meagre budgets, constant anonymous briefing – and a drive to remove families’ basic rights, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
QMan CollectorFeb 13

CD2 QM_JH_Mass_2015_The_Einstein_Intersection.jpg /John Harris_Mass/

#QManCollector #QMan #scifiillustration #scifiart #fantasyillustation #fantasyart #JohnHarris

CheshireFeb 8
Politicians ‘don’t live how we live’, voters tell me. The Mandelson scandal won’t change their minds
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/08/politicians-voters-peter-mandelson-scandal-keir-starmer?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#JohnHarris
Politicians ‘don’t live how we live’, voters tell me. Morgan McSweeney’s resignation won’t change their minds

Whoever succeeds Keir Starmer will still have an almost impossible task: convincing voters that politicians will serve the people, not themselves, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
CheshireDec 21
Flamboyant, furious and full of hope: CMAT is the sound of 2025
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/21/cmat-2025-irish-singer-songwriter-musician?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#CMAT
#JohnHarris
Flamboyant, furious and full of hope: CMAT is the sound of 2025

The Irish singer-songwriter does what the best musicians do: perfectly crystallising their time while inspirationally taking a stand against it, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
CheshireDec 14
This year, I have seen a glimmer of hope: people are ditching a life led on screens for the real thing
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/14/glimmer-hope-ditching-life-screens-real-thing-phones-online-dating?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#JohnHarris
This year, I have seen a glimmer of hope: people are ditching a life led on screens for the real thing

Whether it’s nightclubs banning phones or a drop in online dating, there are signs that we’re rediscovering the joy of being in the moment, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
CheshireDec 7
Streeting must get off the overdiagnosis bandwagon
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/07/adhd-autism-overdiagnosis-wes-streeting?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
#JohnHarris
The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it

Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
the roamerDec 7

"Why is our health secretary picking over the number of diagnoses, when he could be focusing on why our systems of work, education and care are still so closed off to the people who get them?"

The ever-excellent John Harris dissects the nasty "overdiagnosis" trope, currently promoted by Wes Streeting and our nightmare Labour government. His style is calm and balanced, but I can feel the underlying rage.

John Harris is a good man.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/07/adhd-autism-overdiagnosis-wes-streeting

#autism #ADHD #overdiagnosis #WesStreeting #UKpol #Labour #JohnHarris

The right’s callous overdiagnosis bandwagon is rolling. Wes Streeting should not be on it

Thankfully, we now know more about conditions such as autism and ADHD. The health secretary must not be part of this attempt to turn back the clock, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian
the roamerNov 30

The always-interesting John Harris writes in the Guardian about the increased squeeze on the "squeezed middle" in today's Britain, and how the Labour government has given up on this ever larger part of society.

As someone supporting a two-children family on a single academic salary, I know what it means to be of the squeezed middle.

My objections to the current Labour government are based on broader political concerns, but I certainly share the experience of being abandoned economically, and of seeing my daughters' futures written off.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/30/labour-squeezed-middle-class-budget-families-voters

#SqueezedMiddle #Labour #UKpol #JohnHarris

The ‘squeezed middle’ is back – and this time it could be Labour’s undoing

Last week’s budget left middle-income families anxious and angry. The party is turning its back on voters it can little afford to lose, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The Guardian