Just back from a very interesting evening with Nick at Red Lion Square. "Democratiya.com", "The Euston Manifesto", "Engage" and "Mishcon de Reya" hosted "a conversation with Nick Cohen". Author of "one of the most discussed current affairs books of the new year" (Guardian) Cohen tells the story of how parts of the Liberal-Left of the 20th Century ended up supporting the far Right of the 21st in the shape of Islamic extremism. Interviewing Nick was Anthony Julius, lawyer and academic, founding member of both Engage and The Euston Manifesto, and author of TS Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form.Nick (middle) was an absolutely brilliant speaker, even though I do not agree with all (but that is not the point) of his views. I must write up my review of his book (which was the topic of my first ever post).
In the meanwhile I must post this quote again from Nick (my favourite) "George Galloway, was a bombastic Scottish Labour MP who combined blood-curdling rhetoric with a whining sentimentality, like many a thug before him".
By co-incidence the above picture of Tom, Nick and I was taken by James Purnell MP, Minster of State for Pension reform (a subject close to my heart). I must get a better camera.
