Weird.

Also, calling yourself “Director” of something usually implies you have a certain degree of responsibility and control over it.

“Browne did not write that “stuff” about Muslims while at Policy Exchange and you are worryingly ill-informed if you think that he did.”

Who claimed that he did?

Ben

Dean Godson is the Research Director for Terrorism and Security and is therefore responsible for the reports in question. Dean is best buddies with Charles Moore, the PX Chairman. Anthony Browne had no say in what was produced by Dean. Get your facts straight, please.

http://www.lettersfromatory.com

right-wing opinion journalism consists of expressing opinions which match the prejudices of your readership.

Blimey! So the Guardian is a right-wing organ? Or is it the case that the Guardian reader, on perusing his favourite newspaper, is confronted exclusively with opinions which he has never heard expressed before? Where was it that I recently heard a similar sentiment? I think it was one of those kids on Liberal Conspiracy, asserting that the “right-wing” press preaches to the converted! Yes, these righties have a monopoly of just everything that’s reprehensible in the world.

Of course, the real point is that none of this remotely fits you for a career in municipal administration, which requires competence and and appreciation of the effects of your actions for which the previous journalistic careers of both Boris and Browne completely unprepare them.

Don’t forget the Policy Exchange point, but isn’t it interesting that Browne feels he needs to explain himself? Props to yourself and Dave Hill for putting the subject centre-stage. The next step is to ask why on earth he was appointed. On the strength of his previous opinions. Because of the PX links? Because he reliably changes his mind when told? What does he think about Nick Cohen’s welcome of him as the ‘new man to fight political correctness’? What made him the right man for the job, as opposed to, well, virtually anyone else with the barest track record in community cohesion?

I’m not sure there’s a narrative he can construct which adequately explains all of this, which is why I still think he’s an accident waiting to happen.