Guy Aitchison (London, OK): Our Kingdom was set up early last summer to provide a space for informed debate and analysis on the remarkable constitutional upheavals taking place in the UK and its democracy, and the further reforms anticipated under a Brown premiership. With bills of rights, ID cards, Lords Reform, EU “Treatitutions”, 42 days, Salmond, Plaid and Paisley, not to mention the Institute of Britishness and similar schemes, there’s been no shortage of things to discuss. Today, ahead of what will almost certainly be a decisive year, we launch a new section of the site: Our Kingdom Reviews. Reviews will sit alongside the lively debate of the daily blog, and the in-depth analysis of the articles section, as a place to discuss the ideas and thinking shaping the democratic future of the UK. We will have regular weekly book reviews, as well as reviews of pamphlets, lectures and research papers contributing to the debate on what is currently (but for how long?) Brown’s Britain. In the spirit of Our Kingdom, this will, of course, be an open and democratic debate; anyone who feels inspired to contribute is encouraged to get in touch with me at guy.aitchison@opendemocracy.net. If it’s fair, critical and relevant to the themes of Our Kingdom, we’ll publish it (and you might even get a free book!). Also, let me know if there is a publication you want to see covered.
We launch with two strong reviews that couldn’t be more timely: tomorrow, A C Grayling’s latest book on liberty reviewed by Jane O’Grady; today, a review by Peter Oborne of Simon Lee’s Best for Britain?: The Politics and Legacy of Gordon Brown. Oborne finds in Lee’s account some fascinating insights into the intellectual journey of our current PM, from full-blooded 70s Marxist to crypto-Friedmanite and cynical champion of all things “British”. What lies behind Brown’s attempt to re-brand Britishness? And what, if any, intellectual basis does he have? Read Oborne’s review below.
