I’m a liberal-minded social democrat: I believe in a more equal society which upholds personal freedoms, with a state which is humble but not small. I want us to attack poverty and reduce the gap between rich and poor, as fast as I can and as slowly as I must.

I am a convinced, but pragmatic, pro-European. I believe we should engage with the continent and the world in which we live. I’m half-Scottish and half-English, and I value our own Union too. I have ideals, but I see politics as the art of the possible and I don’t disdain compromise. Despite everything, I live in hope of seeing a government which broadly agrees with me someday.

I write about British and centre-left politics, partly to reduce the urge to throw things and partly in the hope that people might be interested in – and maybe even persuaded by – what I have to say. I often write about:

• Brexit and EU issues – trying to make the best of things since the 2016 referendum (and up until then, writing about and in favour of the EU before it was too late)
• centre-left politics – including general policy, political strategy, foreign policy and ethical issues
• Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Union at large – including constitutional and Brexit issues
• how our democracy is working and our political culture is faring – from democratic reform to the role of Parliament
• other issues, as and when – usually but not exclusively to do with UK politics.

For the avoidance of any possible doubt, I write on my own behalf and no one else’s here.