Paul McNamee

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The widespread fury at the failings of water companies is driving an appetite for more public ownership The Boat Race is a curious phenomenon. Two of the most recognisable universities in the world, bywords for a certain establishment elitism, compete in a sport that is closed off to most people. That the BBC still talk it up and run it live says more about the straitened times the broadcaster finds itself in than the broad desire to see the blues give it some welly at Putney Bridge.

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The importance of trees cannot be over-estimated. Government should be supported in efforts to increase numbers From my house, I see a lot of trees. We live on the edge of the city, just before it butts into the country, and the view from the back, over rooftops, is of trees. They climb out from the White Cart river valley, and up over the hill towards Glasgow. Mostly birch, ash and some oak, they signal the seasons. In winter frost sits between them.

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

This is how the US tariff war could affect your bin collection Last week, a man dressed as a giant rat stood up at a city council meeting in Birmingham to ask about the ongoing bin-collection strikes. He said he was the ‘Selly Oak rat’. I think it was a man. The rats rummaging amongst the uncollected 21,000 tonnes (21,000!) of rubbish in the city recently hit the ‘size of a small kitten’ stage. By the time you read this, they may have got to the size of a dire wolf. Or a big man.

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

There are enough reminders that life is nasty, brutish and short. Let a little light in It comes back to Rod Stewart, as things inevitably do. Or should. Many aspects of the life we live have a Rod-shaped element. Take football. Think of knockout competitions and you will think of Rod, a little jolly following a Celtic victory, drawing teams live on TV for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, in early 2017. We’re eight years on and few moments in football have bettered that.

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Paul McNamee |Paul Mcnamee

The unpopular decision to take money from society's poorest is a lost opportunity for this government to show a little bravery Sinéad Morrissey is a very fine poet. I don’t say this because she’s Irish and because of some inherent loyalty that means I have to say the Irish are the best poets. That would be crazy. Though Irish poets ARE great – obviously. And the Irish value poetry, and when you value something you respect it and take it seriously.