Despite 300 police holding back protesters and calls from politicians to ban him, the leader of the UK’s far-right British National Party, Nick Griffin, had his one-hour of fame when he appeared as a guest on BBC1’s prestigious Question Time.
Articles by Alex Mitchell 
Starsuckers: British tabloids caught in the act by filmmakers
The sewers of London’s tabloid newspapers are explored in a documentary film called Starsuckers Predictably, the silence of the tabloids has been deafening.
British Tories try cross-dressing to win next election
Britain’s party conference season has finished and now an army of commentators is picking over the entrails of the spin, the pollsters are cranking up their next surveys and the voters are waiting to have their say when the general election is called.
Labour pains 11 years on … and no-one is listening
This week’s British Labour Party conference in Brighton was supposed to act as a springboard for the desperate re-election hopes of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It failed, writes Alex Mitchell from London.
Blair’s mission from God rings hollow
Former British PM Tony Blair continued his Mission from God last week with a star-billing at a conference at the Vatican. Too bad his actions in office don’t coincide with his Catholic principles.
Bluefin tuna are the new whales
London’s celebrity chefs are taking endangered tuna off their menus and Waitrose supermarkets have banned its sale. How long before Australia follows suit?
Tony Blair’s EU Presidency bid stumbles at the first hurdle
Prime Minister Tony Blair’s conceited plan to resuscitate his political career to become the first President of Europe has been greeted with howls of anger and derision.
UK Afghanistan commitment unravels at remarkable speed
This week’s funerals of the latest casualties has provoked an angry public debate about the war.
Guardian declares war on News International
Under the wily hand of editor Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian has obviously decided to roast News International slowly, writes Alex Mitchell from London.
The Eels and Sharks swim in murky waters
Good old fashioned investigation into the Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks reveals money laundering.
Exit the Accidental Premier … enter Della?
The tumbrils are beginning to roll down Macquarie Street to carry Nathan Rees to a premature execution as Premier of NSW. Meanwhile, a chariot is being polished for Health Minister John Della Bosca.
Pubs get lucky with Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees is reportedly ready to ease his crackdown on alcohol-fuelled brawling and anti-social behavior at “hot spot” hotels.
Police Minister shuts down NSW Upper House for winter
The NSW Legislative Council has never witnessed anything like it. Overnight the upper house was shut down by Government Ministers and won’t resume for a long winter break of 69 days.
NSW Shooters’ Party MPs stick up Premier Rees
For the past two years, NSW Shooters Party MPs, Roy Smith and Robert Brown, have been voting loyally for controversial Labor legislation to secure its passage through the Upper House.
News Ltd. ink-slingers turn on Malcolm
Having uncritically and zealously promoted Malcolm Turnbull’s call for the resignation of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan, News Limited’s stable of metropolitan dailies yesterday changed course.
“Freo doctor” blows across Marrickville and Balmain
Community protest is rising in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Marrickville over the Labor Government’s proposed sale of a heritage-listed school site into 19 apartments.
NSW Budget designed to save the government not the State
The NSW budget has provided the embattled Rees Government with a grab-it-while-you-can lifeline.
Julia takes aim at The Lodge
This will become known as the week that Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard began her ascent on The Lodge, writes Alex Mitchell.
Frank Sartor for Premier in NSW: let the buffoonery begin
Alex Mitchell reports on the absurdity of NSW premiership speculation.
Debus vs Searle: NSW ALP rival sub-ghetto hatred
Bob Debus has been given the almost feudal privilege of choosing his own successor.
Newspaper shock horror: Queensland’s #1 icon is Sir Joh
Queensland celebrated its 150th birthday as an independent State at the weekend with one News Ltd newspaper profiling 150 icons “who we believe played the greatest role in defining Queensland”, writes Alex Mitchell.
Ikin a victim as A Current Affair and Nine sport go to war
Channel Nine’s A Current Affair and its sports department, Wide World of Sports, are at 10 paces, throwing meat pies at each other..
Bligh Budget: written by Kevin and the banks
Anna Bligh’s budget was imposed on her newly-elected government by the federal Government of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the banks.
Politics in Sydney’s barmiest borough: Rockdale
While Liberal and Labor councillors are at each other’s throats all over NSW, not so in Rockdale, where they work hand-in-glove.
Linking Rees with Orkopoulos doesn’t wash
Some sections of the media are repeating highly damaging allegations that Premier Rees was involved in a Milton Orkopoulos cover-up.
