Europe needs to get real on defence; Britain needs to get real on Europe
13 February 2025
Post
22 February 2009
3 minute(s) read
Recent Posts
How Will AI Change The World? (Ep 1)
How will AI reshape the way we live, earn, and design our lifestyles over the next decade? With investment in AI increasing a billion fold the last 12 years – is this a gold mine or a class... Continue12 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
478. Farage’s Crypto Megadonor and the Graduate Jobs Disaster (Question Time)
Why has a crypto billionaire living in Thailand donated £9 million to Nigel Farage's party, Reform UK? With a graduate jobs crisis in full swing and rising debt, what are the prospects for y... Continue11 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
477. How Trump’s Security Strategy Destroys The Old World Order
Has Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy officially upended 80 years of American foreign policy? Why does it warn of Europe's "civilisational erasure" while downplaying threats from its tr... Continue10 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Our politicians should be more like Peter Malinauskas
On political funding and social media, Malinauskas has shown real leadership. Our government should take note... Continue10 December 2025
165. Anna Wintour: Culture, Influence, and the Power of Decisive Leadership
Why should everybody get fired at least once? As the former Editor-in-chief of American Vogue, how does Anna Wintour use fashion as a cultural and economic force? Why is Anna’s leadership s... Continue8 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
4 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
475. The Budget Backlash – and Trump’s Plan to Profit from Peace in Ukraine
Is the media too negative about Reeves and Starmer, or are they simply out of ideas? What has the relentless Budget turmoil and fallout done to already low levels of trust in the Government? ... Continue3 December 2025
Posted by Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell’s diary: Where is Reform’s money coming from?
Real journalists would want to know whether any of the party's finances came in rouble form... Continue3 December 2025
I canonly assume the double appearence of the name Jade only refers to the one?
You see when I hear the name Clint, I automatically think of Clint Mansell from Pop Will Eat Itself 😀
I think Manny, Baron Shinwell of Easington, deserves posthumous inclusion in your list of recognisable first names.
Barack
Roger and Rafa. Especially when a couple!
You forgot Cilla, Pelle and of course Maggie tho I do wish I could forget Maggie
Prince!
Mum 😉
What about Axl?
Very amusing exercise. Personally I agree with your choice of Napoleon Bonaparte who I guess is known 90% by his Christian name and 10% by his surname. The only other historical figure (that we were considering and who actually have more than just one name) who runs him close to being recognised just by one name is Winston Churchill, but he is nearer to 50/50.
I should imagine that there would also be a strong case made for Jesus although, on reflection, I think he too should be bracketed (only for the purpose of this exercise – before they get even bigger headed!) with Bono and Sting and others whos one name really is unique.
Did you have any thoughts on the “Actor born to play this Role” idea?
btw. Engelbert Humperdink was a real person (composer 1854-1921), he just isnt the one most people FIRST think of, who ‘borrowed’ both the original’s names. Very cheeky, but probably the basis for another game……!
Cleopatra unless of course she was called Mabel(Or Phylis ) Cleopatra and Ive got it wrong !
Have to say all I can think of when I think of Cleopatra is either carry on Cleo (infamy infamy everyone has it infamy) or Morcambe and Wise (cough -ARSENAL!) .Amused me anyway
Alastair
The baguette was not invented by Napoleon. It’s a myth. Napoleon’s army travelled with mobile bakery units and wore uniform trousers which would not be suitable for transporting bread! The baguette became popular after French labour laws were changed in 1920, meaning that bakers could not make bread before 4am. The baguette bakes more quickly than other loaves, which was a godsend for bakers.
Incidentally, Napoleon’s great grandson, Juan Bonaparte, lived in my ward, Streatham South in Lambeth, at 11 Fontaine Road to be precise.
Mark