Welcome to my blog/podcast and projects website.
At the moment I am producing The Sobremesa Podcast, a regular podcast on contemporary Spain, whilst also pretending to write books.
I will sometimes post short scribblings, articles and updates here along with all the interviews and episodes.

The Sobremesa Podcast is all about modern day Spanish politics, history and society.
It is now available on Google, Spotify and Apple
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Blog posts and Essays
- Nigel Farage is a bigger threat to the left than the Tories. Here’s why.Nigel Farage is a bigger threat to the left than the Tories. Here’s why.
- Keir Starmer: Labour AristocracyLabour Leader Sir Keir Starmer: “I don’t think there is a case for re-joining the EU…that is not realistic” Originally tweeted by BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) on January 10, 2021. On Sunday 10th January, Keir Starmer turned his back on a large group of people that voted for him in the leadership elections. Remain-backing Labour membersContinue reading “Keir Starmer: Labour Aristocracy”
- Shove your ‘Hot Take’Is anybody else tired? I certainly am. Following the threat to democracy, the ‘coup’, the backlash of populism (and any other over inflated name you want to give it) in the United States on Wednesday, all I have seen online so far are personal hot takes. These have mainly been poor interpretations of what wasContinue reading “Shove your ‘Hot Take’”
- What is a ‘Good Immigrant’?Today Pablo Iglesias welcomed the decision to give James Rhodes, a British Pianist and activist, Spanish nationality. With Rhodes only having been in the country for four years, he would be six short of getting the passport if it had not been gifted to him. Whilst respecting his activist work (which I do), some feelContinue reading “What is a ‘Good Immigrant’?”
- Cultural Marxism, Covid-19 and a Broken IdeologyOn the 17th December, Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade, who is also minister for Women and Equality, gave a speech announcing the government’s new approach toward equality. As part of this announcement, the Secretary claimed that recent governments had concentrated on ‘empty gestures’ such as anti-racism and gender equality whilst ignoringContinue reading “Cultural Marxism, Covid-19 and a Broken Ideology”
- Coronavirus: A Test For EuropeThe European Union will not survive coronavirus unless it evolves. To do that it must break its own rules
- Book Review: Fully Automated Luxury CommunismBy Aaron Bastani Published by Verso, 2019 The truth is I had been waiting for this book for a long time, as an avid viewer of Novara media this made me, not only intrigued but also sceptical about this book. As anyone that follows Novara media may well know, the pundits are a bit ofContinue reading “Book Review: Fully Automated Luxury Communism”
- How Communists Helped Establish Democracy in SpainAt 10:30 pm on the 24th January 1977 eight lawyers were working late at the offices of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), one of Spain’s trade unions which was set up by the Spanish Communist Party. At the time Spain was in the middle of a temperamental transition from Franco’s dictatorship to democracy. Many people were tense due to the possibleContinue reading “How Communists Helped Establish Democracy in Spain”
- The History of Spain and Covid-19: Rinse and RepeatIf not having a functioning government in 2019 wasn’t enough drama for the Spanish population, then the introduction of Covid-19 would make up for it. Spanish society has revolved around political crisis since the turn of the 20th century. Being a late bloomer when it comes to industrialisation and the growing of a middle class, SpainContinue reading “The History of Spain and Covid-19: Rinse and Repeat”
- Lockdown diaries: Alan, writer & former psychiatric nurse (UK) — Naked MadridOriginally published at http://www.nakedmadrid.com on March 25, 2020. It’s ok to be stressed, and it’s normal to be losing it. Most of us are. But we are doing it together. “It’s ok to be stressed, and it’s normal to be losing it. Most of us are. But we are doing it together,” says Alan, who used to beContinue reading “Lockdown diaries: Alan, writer & former psychiatric nurse (UK) — Naked Madrid”
- Abolish Eton: Ideological ideas will ruin LabourSocialist ideology overtakes electoral common sense. Abolish Eton shows that Labour is losing its touch.
- Who is looking after the Nurses?300 nurses have died by suicide in the past seven years. This is an average of 43 nurses a year. Who is looking after the Nurses?
- Defining the Left’s cultureWhat do we mean by Left culture?
- A Society for People, not Profits, is why we need Universal Basic Services.Universal Basic Services definition: the provision of sufficient free public services, as can be afforded from a reasonable tax on incomes, to enable every citizen’s safety, opportunity, and participation. Doesn’t sound too bad , does it?
- Future Socialism— Why Socialism is Sexy NowFuture Socialism- we need to look to the future to give home and help shape a world that we want to live in.
- Does Spain have a problem with racism?Does Spain have a problem with racism?
- Night in an Airport24 hours no sleep and too much time in airports.
- Orwell in BarcelonaGeorge Orwell went to Barcelona in December 1936 to fight fascism. If you read Homage to Catalonia you may see the Ramblas very different.
- Spain’s less than picturesque white coast: European slavery lives hereWhen you say Costa del Sol you think of drunk Brits, and the more romantic of us may think of olive farms and flamenco. Well, this is only partly true. What about hundreds of Green houses? And Africans? Recently, I became aware of Norvara Media, a growing underground news channel that has a website, YouTubeContinue reading “Spain’s less than picturesque white coast: European slavery lives here”
- Franco café and a fallen angelJust driving home What could be more Spanish than driving back from Granada; stopping in a no frills services station for a ‘Menu del Dia’ and then seeing one of the legendary black bull signs on the side of the motorway. Well, this was how my Sunday was going until my wife made a suggestion.Continue reading “Franco café and a fallen angel”
- Pub series: The Great British living room.Last in the pub series What can I say about British pubs? Well, they are home! From your generic Wetherspoons with its 1970s carpet and flowery plates, to your local that has been in the family for generations, British pubs are irreplaceable. Many pubs have similar features, from the warmth of the sofas to theContinue reading “Pub series: The Great British living room.”
- Pub series: My new found affection for no-frills Spanish barPhoto from Madrid No-frills As you may well know, there are many bars in Spain: one for every occasion and with several different names. Cafeteria, restaurante, cervecería and all the bars in between. Yet the best –and more authentic ones – have similar characteristics, though not all of them are visible. When I wasContinue reading “Pub series: My new found affection for no-frills Spanish bar”
- Pub series: The Similar Curiosities of an Irish pubI’ve decided to take a small break from moaning about the Conservative party or writing of trying to survive as an Englishman in Madrid. So, I’ve decided to embark upon a series of something I consider myself to be a connoisseur and expert on. Drinking establishments. Far away from the Spanish jammon franchises and AmericanContinue reading “Pub series: The Similar Curiosities of an Irish pub”
- Why joining the Labour Party is like going to the pub.So you arrive to a new town, where you are meant to meet a new group of people. It took you a while to find this group. You um and ah about it, but you join the group and this is your first meeting. Finally get to the destination, which was hard to find, youContinue reading “Why joining the Labour Party is like going to the pub.”