http://www.ft.com/comment/columnists/brian-groom Brian Groom's Notebook: A wry take on life around the UK en (PICS-1.1 "http://www.classify.org/safesurf/" L gen true for "http://www.ft.com/" r (SS~~000 1)) © Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2013. "FT" and "Financial Times" are trademarks of the Financial Times. See http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/terms#legal1 for the terms and conditions of reuse. Mon, 13 May 2013 18:04:03 GMT Tue, 21 May 2013 10:15:16 GMT client.support@ft.com (Client Support) 15 Newspapers http://www.ft.com/rss/brian-groom http://im.ft-static.com/m/img/rss/RSS_Default_Image.png http://www.ft.com/comment/columnists/brian-groom http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6c1fe8ea-bbba-11e2-a4b4-00144feab7de.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The Royal Mail is being privatised, a great mushy pea mystery, Fergie is uncovered as a Kennedy buff and Scottish summertime, writes Brian Groom Mon, 13 May 2013 18:04:03 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6c1fe8ea-bbba-11e2-a4b4-00144feab7de.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 6c1fe8ea-bbba-11e2-a4b4-00144feab7de http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32f9f722-b318-11e2-b5a5-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct Despite the advantages, the technology raises questions, not least who would be liable for accidents. The public is likely to be wary, says Brian Groom Mon, 06 May 2013 17:59:09 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32f9f722-b318-11e2-b5a5-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 32f9f722-b318-11e2-b5a5-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ecb7f838-a8e8-11e2-bcfb-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The case for a pay increase is compelling but any such move could hurt the interests of workers and the companies that employ them, writes Brian Groom Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:56:15 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ecb7f838-a8e8-11e2-bcfb-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct ecb7f838-a8e8-11e2-bcfb-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26ceffbe-a5b8-11e2-9b77-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct Margaret Thatcher would not have been pleased by how British political leaders are drawing inspiration from Germany, writes Brian Groom Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:17:20 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26ceffbe-a5b8-11e2-9b77-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 26ceffbe-a5b8-11e2-9b77-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c2bc124-a037-11e2-88b6-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The former prime minister has died just as her old foes in the trade unions are considering reprising a day of national action, writes Brian Groom Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:56:06 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c2bc124-a037-11e2-88b6-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 9c2bc124-a037-11e2-88b6-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16d411f8-96db-11e2-a77c-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The question of what constitutes the best working environment invites almost too many answers, writes Brian Groom Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:55:12 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/16d411f8-96db-11e2-a77c-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 16d411f8-96db-11e2-a77c-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/27b87244-9540-11e2-a4fa-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The strongest defenders of the notion that Britain is a bastion of home ownership just happen to be our politicians, writes Brian Groom Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:52:11 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/27b87244-9540-11e2-a4fa-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 27b87244-9540-11e2-a4fa-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/946fdb1c-8fc2-11e2-ae9e-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The former deputy prime minister’s report may introduce some familiar ideas, such as regional government offices, writes Brian Groom Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:09:40 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/946fdb1c-8fc2-11e2-ae9e-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 946fdb1c-8fc2-11e2-ae9e-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/80b44a64-8a3f-11e2-9da4-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct It is one thing to get rid of an unpopular prime minister but it is quite another to put in place a leader who will guarantee victory, writes Brian Groom Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:05:01 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/80b44a64-8a3f-11e2-9da4-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 80b44a64-8a3f-11e2-9da4-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6f4d18a6-7f3f-11e2-89ed-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The long-running debate over which UK metropolis should rank just below London may one day prove entirely academic, writes Brian Groom Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:10:49 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6f4d18a6-7f3f-11e2-89ed-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 6f4d18a6-7f3f-11e2-89ed-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cd7f8994-79be-11e2-9015-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct In the light of scandals involving horsemeat, the National Health Service and banking, we would do well to remember an old maxim, writes Brian Groom Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:47:56 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cd7f8994-79be-11e2-9015-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct cd7f8994-79be-11e2-9015-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06ecfc18-7440-11e2-a27c-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct Nicola Sturgeon has become the life and soul of the party in the near absence of her first minister boss, writes Brian Groom Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:00:40 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06ecfc18-7440-11e2-a27c-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 06ecfc18-7440-11e2-a27c-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/93709812-6ebd-11e2-9ded-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct UK leaders should be wary regarding the ‘mackerel war’, the latest tussle in a long history of friction with the island, writes Brian Groom Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:27:38 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/93709812-6ebd-11e2-9ded-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 93709812-6ebd-11e2-9ded-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2e04bf6-693d-11e2-b254-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The rail project is all very well but ministers could look to the need for an upgrade in education, writes Brian Groom Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:53:37 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a2e04bf6-693d-11e2-b254-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct a2e04bf6-693d-11e2-b254-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6b2daec6-63be-11e2-af8c-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct The evidence shows we should hesitate before attributing familiar quotes to famous people, whether it be Gandhi, Lincoln or Keynes, writes Brian Groom Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:01:01 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6b2daec6-63be-11e2-af8c-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 6b2daec6-63be-11e2-af8c-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3978de08-5e3e-11e2-a771-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct When questioned, most business leaders will admit they want all the trade benefits of EU membership but none of the uncertainty, writes Brian Groom Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:07:02 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3978de08-5e3e-11e2-a771-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 3978de08-5e3e-11e2-a771-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e552e75e-58bd-11e2-bd9e-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct A campaign group wants the UK government to reduce the maximum bet on casino-style fixed-odds betting terminals, writes Brian Groom Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:15:14 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e552e75e-58bd-11e2-bd9e-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct e552e75e-58bd-11e2-bd9e-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6f74a2de-483c-11e2-8aae-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct Although it has had a bad couple of weeks, plenty of things have been going well for the region. Here are my top 10, writes Brian Groom Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:43:04 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6f74a2de-483c-11e2-8aae-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct 6f74a2de-483c-11e2-8aae-00144feab49a http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f3b6d6d0-42c3-11e2-a4e4-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct David McAllister, the half-Scottish prime minister of Lower Saxony, is keeping his views on the 2014 referendum to himself, writes Brian Groom Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:02:01 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f3b6d6d0-42c3-11e2-a4e4-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct f3b6d6d0-42c3-11e2-a4e4-00144feabdc0 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d676b568-3b2f-11e2-b111-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct A golden opportunity to narrow the north-side divide will be passed up even in the face of regional alienation, writes Brian Groom Mon, 03 Dec 2012 20:16:38 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d676b568-3b2f-11e2-b111-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=published_links%2Frss%2Fbrian-groom%2Ffeed%2F%2Fproduct d676b568-3b2f-11e2-b111-00144feabdc0