Author

Mobile phones: that's why our kids are getting rickets again - Clive Smith

It was common during Victorian times, almost eradicated in the 1950s, but now it’s making an alarming comeback. Rickets. A disease affecting the bones through vitamin D deficiency. And I can see why...

Opinion

Hatari representing Iceland, performs live on stage during the 64th annual Eurovision Song Contest held at Tel Aviv Fairgrounds on May 18, 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

OPINION: Eurovision is not the place to make political statements

I was once told by a landlady that if I ever sang karaoke in her pub again that I would be barred. As a result, I’m probably not best placed to judge someone’s ability to sing.

Opinion

Clive does not want to see a return of the Donald Trump blimp

Donald Trump deserves some respect from our rude politicians – Clive Smith

Within minutes of it being announced that Donald Trump would be visiting Portsmouth as part of the 75-year anniversary of D-Day the bed wetting began in earnest.

Opinion

Debris are seen inside Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, Tuesday, April 16, 2019. (Christophe Petit Tesson, Pool via AP)

OPINION: The Notre Dame fire is incomparable to Grenfell

I always find it quite surreal when large buildings go up in flames. Especially ones with such historical significance, such as the Notre Dame cathedral. I’m all for protecting beautiful and important architecture – because without history, what are we? – but at the end of the day... it’s just a building.

Opinion

I’m no anti-vaxxer, but we should be free to choose - Clive Smith

I love a conspiracy theory. I’m sure one day someone will find me on Portsdown Hill in a tin hat trying to find the alien testing facility or down at Southsea beach pinging laser beams along the sea trying to find any curvature in the Earth.

Opinion

Pink performs on stage at the Brit Awards 2019 at the O2 Arena, London

OPINION - The Brit Awards were a load of rubbish

The Brit Awards were on the TV the other day and I can honestly say I’ve never even heard of half the acts on there.

Opinion

Clive things Prince Philip would make a great Brexit negotiator

Let’s put no-nonsense Prince Philip in charge of Brexit – Clive Smith

I wrote in my column last week about the Bird Box challenge, where people are driving around blindfolded and crashing. It comes from the Sandra Bullock film of the same name. Of all the people doing it Prince Phillip was one of the last I’d have thought of…

Opinion

Dogs want meat, not bowls of salad leaves and radishes – Clive Smith

Given the choice between a salad and a bit of meat a dog isn’t going to be eating lettuce leaves and radishes any time soon. So why have I been reading lately about the rise in the number of people feeding their dogs on vegan diets?

Opinion

Economic migrants should be returned to France, says Clive

Economic migrants should be towed back to France – Clive Smith

At the time of writing 94 people have so far been caught crossing the English Channel from France. And the flow of people will only get larger unless something is done to stop it.

heritage

Next year, might she play God Save The Queen on that piano? One hopes so.

The Queen should hit back and wear a unicorn onesie next year – Clive Smith

Well that’s Christmas done for another year and I don’t remember asking Father Christmas for a double chin, but there we go.

Opinion

Has this case made a mockery of the law?

The only right this man should have is the right to hang – Clive Smith

This country has been plagued by child abuse and exploitation scandals in recent years with Rotherham council overseeing the biggest ever seen.

Opinion

Life IS unfair so it’s a lesson best learnt young – Clive Smith

A school in Liverpool has banned its pupils from wearing expensive brands such as Pyrenex and Canada Goose into school in the hope it will prevent ‘poverty shaming’.

Opinion

Clive wants to know why more cash is being used in the McCann case.

Madeleine McCann hunt continues but at what price? – Clive Smith

What great news! The government is throwing more money at the Madeleine McCann case. I’m totally convinced that after all these years, all the hours and all the money invested so far – £11.6m and counting – that this latest £150K will finally make the difference and bring Maddie home.

Opinion

The aftermath of the Thousand Oaks shootings.

Gun control in the US will not stop mass shootings – Clive Smith

There’s hardly a day gone past this year when America hasn’t experienced a mass shooting. The Thousand Oaks shooting in California was number 307 this year.

Opinion

jpns-ACH-131118-theresa may at Lewes bonfire

If you cheered when Mrs T died, spare me your outrage – Clive Smith

The media has been awash with the story of the six people who set fire to a cardboard model of Grenfell Tower in their back garden. Thank God the police acted so quickly in dealing with this. For a while I thought they were going to waste their time investigating the endless stream on stabbings in the capital.

Opinion

Debenhams’ demise: why go when you can shop at home? Clive Smith

With news that Debenhams is planning to close 50 of its stores there were more headlines being bandied around about the ‘death of the high street’ and ‘grim news for the retail industry’.

Opinion

It's fireworks season, just live with it, says Clive

Banning fireworks would just create a black market – Clive Smith

It’s that time of year when fireworks are being set off at all hours, the loud bangs have got guinea pigs cowering under their straw beds and predictably there are calls, yet again, for fireworks to be banned.

Opinion

What's wrong with dads hugging their sons or daughters?

What’s wrong with a dad wanting to hug his kids? – Clive Smith

Former glamour model Danielle Lloyd has faced criticism after claiming it is ‘creepy’ for fathers to hug their older children in public. The 34-year-old mum-of-four said ‘it does feel awkward sometimes, especially for children who are going through puberty’.

Opinion

A policeman pointing a gun at Khalid Masood on the ground outside the Palace of Westminster

Police chief should lose his pension and knighthood – Clive Smith

A former commander in the Metropolitan Police has criticised Sir Craig Mackey for locking himself inside a car and watching one of his officers being murdered just yards away during last year’s Westminster terror attack.

Opinion

An Hawaiin monk seal trapped in discarded polypropylene fishing nets

Well-meaning beach-cleans will not beat world’s pollution nightmare – Clive Smith

I don’t think a day goes by when plastic pollution isn’t being mentioned. It’s the environmental issue of the moment. The poor old polar bears and the melting ice caps aren’t getting much of a look in any more.

heritage

Clive Smith

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