Carl Packman
Carl is a health researcher; he writes book reviews for Left Foot Forward. Carl has written for the Guardian, New Statesman, Tribune Magazine, and The Philosopher's Magazine and blogs regularly at Though Cowards Flinch and Liberal Conspiracy. He is currently writing a book on consumer debt.
‘Peace’ to Xi Jinping may be the authoritarian status quo
Since his inaugural address as President of China, analysts and interested parties have been decoding the message that Xi Jinping brings and what change, if any, can be expected in China.
Review: ‘Unhitched: the trial of Christopher Hitchens’ by Richard Seymour
Seymour is way off the mark with this book. His failure to grasp Hitchens's capability for political modification is symptomatic of the curious and dogmatic political tradition that Seymour belongs to.
Book review: The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism by AC Grayling
Carl Packman reviews AC Grayling's The God Argument: The Case Against Religion and for Humanism by AC Grayling.
The wait for action on unscrupulous Payday lenders goes on
Payday lending is back in the news today as two reports are released, one after the other, on changes to the regulatory architecture that oversees the industry. Given how much optimism there was last year with the FCA being given new powers, the meat of these reports will come as a disappointment.
Payday lenders aggressively targeting university students
Payday lenders have started aggressively targeting university students who are struggling with student loans. It's time the government recognised this and took radical action to clamp down on unscrupulous lenders.
George Galloway does debate with some Israelis
Respect MP George Galloway walked out of a debate at Christ Church college at Oxford University last night after being asked a question by an Israeli citizen. Galloway's response before walking out was "I don't debate Israelis".