7 Comments
User's avatar
Keith's avatar

I'm always interested in which fiction books the people I subscribe to like. So, what are yours?

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Ben Hegarty's avatar

Improving reading skills feels like one of only a few things that government has really delivered in the last few years. Are there lessons to be drawn from that success in the multitude of other problems facing the country at the moment?

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Neil's avatar

I'm perpetually disappointed by government failure to even try to address the obesity crisis. What do you think should be done about it? Or would you just leave well alone - personal freedom and all that? (Susie, not Neil - can't be bothered to work out how to log him out and me in).

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Christian's avatar

You are about to be sitting on an economy class flight to Auckland with a twelve hour stopover at Ulaanbaatar airport (where you cannot leave the terminal building). The airline does not offer in flight entertainment (and neither does Ulaanbaatar airport), however, you get to choose to sit next to a person (fictional or non-fictional) of your choice.

Who would you choose from among the following categories (and why):

- current British politician

- former British politician

- non-British politician (past or present)

- fictional character

- religious figure

- sportsperson

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Firestone's avatar

How have you been shaped by living in Southeast Asia?

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Henry Anderson's avatar

Only just discovered your Substack in the past couple of weeks and really enjoying your insights. Keep up the good work!

My question is this. You show a high degree of religious literacy and understanding of/sympathy for socially conservative views and lifestyles (many of which are religiously-informed), yet as far as I can tell you don’t have a personal faith. Could you explain a little about why that is (if that’s not too personal) and, more broadly, what do you think could be done to improve religious literacy and sympathy across Whitehall amongst politicians, policy thinkers and civil servants (as my experience is that it is often pretty lacking)?

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Edrith's avatar

Thank you! And a great question.

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