Sam Hinton-Smith
Sam was responsible for Demos’ media relations activity from 2004 to 2006.
- The end of the West? Chris Smith, former Culture Secretary and now Lord Smith of Finsbury, and Richard Koch have just published a book called Suicide of the West. They argue that Western civilization has thrived largely because of six principal ideas - Christianity, optimism, science, economic growth, liberalism and individualism. As these values have come under sustained attack, self-confidence in the West has declined. Smith and Koch see evidence of "a drift towards collective suicide".Demos will be hosting a... continue reading on 3rd May 2006
- Blair the Bard Stephen Pollard in The Times is less enthusiastic, arguing that politicians should 'stay out' of culture. Yet our pamphlet argues that politicians are out of touch with the public when it comes to culture, and that cultural funding needs to be justified by what the public values. As John writes in the pamphlet:The answer to the question ?why fund culture?? should be ?because the public wants it?. Until politicians understand what the public values about culture - and until cultural... continue reading on 30th March 2006 Comments (1)
- Political poetry While our leaders clamber to be associated with pop culture (Tony likes the Foo Fighters, Dave likes the Killers), French premier Dominique de Villepin is a serious, published poet.Perhaps Tony should follow suit. On becoming Prime Minister, M de Villepin observed that "a single verse by Rimbaud shines like a powder trail on a day?s horizon. It sets it ablaze all at once, explodes all limits, draws the eyes to other heavens." Could Tony top that? continue reading on 29th March 2006
- Culture and democracy Norman Lebrecht wrote about our forthcoming report in the Evening Standard earlier this month. You can read the article again here, though its portrayal of our pamphlet isn't entirely accurate. For our own proposals on the future of cultural funding, download the report for free from Wednesday continue reading on 27th March 2006
- Greenhouse joins the bloggerati It's official. The Demos Greenhouse has joined the bloggerati. We're among the world's top blogs according to today's Independent. We're in excellent company, including such titans of the blogosphere as Boing Boing, the Huffington Post, and Instapundit. continue reading on 20th March 2006
- Save the 'Burbs While politicians have focused on tackling the problems of our inner cities and many, including the Prince of Wales, have championed the rights of the countryside, suburbia has been neglected by policy makers. As reported in the Independent on Sunday, Demos is launching an action plan to save suburbia this week at Kingston University's Centre for Suburban Studies. You can also read all about it in the Daily Mail (not available online) and the Guardian. In an editorial, the Indy argues for a... continue reading on 20th March 2006
- Huhne on civil rights The Independent and BBC cover Chris Huhne's speech at Demos yesterday on civil liberties. You can read his speech in full here. continue reading on 16th February 2006
- Free speeches Personal freedom seems to be the big political issue of the week - ID cards, the right to smoke in public places (or the right to work in a smoke-free environment), and freedom from detention without charge. MPs will today vote on the Government's latest anti-terror proposals, including plans to outlaw 'glorification' of terrorism.Writing in the Guardian, Chris Huhne gives a taster of his speech at Demos this afternoon on civil liberties. In addition to opposing the proposals currently before... continue reading on 15th February 2006
- Safe and free? As Demos has been arguing for some time, security is a complex business. Governments no longer have a monopoly over security. And attempts to bolster our collective security have to be balanced against the need to protect civil liberties in an increasingly diverse society. As the Chancellor has acknowledged today, an effective security policy must be founded on democratic accountability:We have to be tough on security measures but the British way of doing it is to be both tough on security... continue reading on 13th February 2006
- Does Cameron face a blue rinse rebellion? Writing in The Guardian today, Vince Cable suggests that Cameron could well be genuine in his stated desire to embrace liberal values and make social justice a core concern of the Conservative Party (or, in the words of Norman Tebbit, build "a new modern compassionate green globally aware party somewhere on the left side of the middle").Building on his recent Demos pamphlet on identity politics, Cable suggests that, whether Cameron believes his own rhetoric or not, his pronouncements are... continue reading on 9th February 2006