HomeViews and BlogsColumnistsBarry Gibson

Example set at the top

WITH soaring fuel and food prices and a plummeting housing market, these are tough times. Read

Battle lines drawn over military jargon

THIS week the Conservatives announced proposals to force feckless youths into work. Read

Why shift Sir Alan?

ON the subject of the unspeakably rich (see story above) why was Sir Alan Sugar and his dwindling band of would-be successors moved forwards 24 hours this week? Read

Call it sour grapes – no wine for me!

CALL me a bigot if you like, but I’ve never drunk English wine. Read

Ugly politics and no principles left

A FEW weeks ago, in the wake of the council elections, I wrote on this page that Labour was far from finished and could yet win the next general election. Read

Ridding us of the plastic bag blight

‘ Every single plastic bag you’ve ever used is still out there somewhere. That carrier you used to take your fish and chips home in back in 1991 could be drifting in the sea somewhere’ Read

Why alienate the voters?

YESTERDAY the Post Office announced which branches in north Kirklees are in line for the chop as part of a national programme which will see the closure of 2,500 outlets. Read

Powerless against the force of nature

‘As an Ulsterman it pains me to say this, but during that long quake, I had been scared’ Read

Innocent punished with guilty

A FEW weeks ago I wrote about the Mosquito, a device used to disperse teenagers from outside shops. Read

It’s a good time for we anoraks!

CONGRATULATIONS to all those elected to Kirklees Council last week. Read

Where there’s a Will there’s a way

I HOPE you all enjoyed the bank holiday on Monday. Read

Not on the cards

I SEEMS every time I go into a shop these days I can’t buy anything without the person behind the till asking me if I have a “loyalty” card - or whatever adorable brand name their employer has chosen. Read

Why should they be given a cut in pay?

Why should they be given a cut in pay?

EVERYONE I’ve spoken to about the teachers’ strike is of one opinion; get back to the classroom you overpaid whingers. Read

But this Beeb prog has egg on its face

HAVING worked the weekend I had Monday off, which gave me the chance to enjoy daytime television. Read

That really was a proper interview

I INTERVIEWED Tony Benn this week. Read

Now, as Silvio was saying . . .

LAST week I wrote about the curse of celebrity politicians like Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. Read

The dimming of a once noble flame

‘What further shame awaits this once-proud symbol as it winds its way across the globe to Beijing?’ Read

Terminal illness at ‘premier’ airport

“FIRST the train’s going to turn up on time, then we’re going to get on it, then it’s going to leave; on time.” Read

Now it seems it’s a crime to be a youth

Now it seems it’s a crime to be a youth

MOSQUITOES are coming to Huddersfield. Read

How I hate people’s bad grammar

REGULAR readers will know that poor grammar is a bugbear of mine. Read