Rod Liddle writes for The Sunday Times and is a former speechwriter for the Labour Party and editor of the BBC's Today programme en-uk Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:37:29 GMT Copyright 2007 Times Newspapers Ltd. custserv@timesonline.co.uk http://www.timesonline.co.uk Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:05:18 GMT Newspapers 144 21 http://www.timesonline.co.uk http://images.thetimes.co.uk/TGD/picture/0,,116979,00.gif Rod Liddle Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:01:00 GMT 2009-11-21T11:36:20Z As usual, the Queen’s speech was greeted with politically motivated derision by the opposition parties, who claimed that it was nothing more than a list of vague and unattainable aspirations that the government would not have time even to get started on before being voted out of office next May. An election-inspired wish list which it had not the remotest intention of realising. Rod Liddle Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:48:00 GMT 2009-11-15T12:28:08Z There is something a little pitiful watching Gordon Brown tell the country how worried he is about immigration, and how it must not be a taboo issue. Like watching a paralytic drunk explaining in slurred tones how he will never touch another drop, and all the while you can smell the paint-stripper on his breath. Rod Liddle Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-11-07T10:27:09Z The reason we have a steadily growing problem with unemployment in this country is that Lord Burns has all the jobs, and there is none left for anyone else. Rod Liddle Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:54:00 GMT 2009-11-14T11:31:38Z A good friend of mine, an almost lifelong heroin user who, more recently, has diversified into crack cocaine and therefore requires a quick blast from an oxygen cylinder before going for a walk, rang me not so long ago with a warning: “Rod, I’m worried about your drinking,” he said. “You’ve really got to look after yourself.” I couldn’t speak for a few moments, out of incredulity and indignation; I consume on average half a bottle of wine per day, which is too much, sure — but to be lectured by a crack-addled skaghead with half a lung and the facial complexion of that character in Munch’s The Scream seemed, to me, pushing it.