The anthropology, sociology and psychology of religious cults has revealed many things that are extremely relevant to our current political climate — and to those people who make money and amass power peddling conspiracy ‘theories’ to the susceptible. My postgraduate research was on apocalyptic cults and, after 2012 came and…

The terms visionary and genius are overused but they are both applicable to Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. The extraordinary Jesuit priest, palaeontologist, geologist and philosopher anticipated the evolution of a global collective mind. He also suggested that this would ultimately enable humanity to merge with a supreme consciousness. …

Over the past decade or so we’ve seen a resurgence of far-right mobs on the streets in the UK, US and other countries. …

It’s easy to get caught up in mocking Jacob Rees-Mogg. Many of us have done so but in doing so we can miss opportunities to expose something more sinister than his anachronistic pseudo-toff figures of speech, costumes and distractions. The first time I set eyes on him was in 1999…

The Conservative Party got rid of Liz Truss in a matter of days! And even Boris Johnson, who rehearsed for the job for decades, was out quicker than a GB News presenter who tells 'his truth’. So it’s astonishing that the party has kept atrocious Rishi Sunak for so long…

In Britain we have phrase “handbags at dawn”. It refers to people appearing ready for a fight but actually just posturing. Those involved are often not especially fit for or skilled at fighting. The term popped into my head as soon as I heard that car seller and expensive firework…

The first thing to say is we are approaching a quarter of a million Covid-related deaths in the UK. This is a shocking number — the populations of several towns wiped out! And it’s shocking that the broadcast media rarely mentions it. …

As a mental health practitioner who moved via anthropology into journalism, I’m fascinated and appalled by the approaches being taken by Donald Trump and Boris Johnson. It’s so shameless that it’s ridiculous— but, as with all cults, there are many who eat up the lies. The narratives they are peddling…

Boris Johnson, for me, is a figure and toxic brand characterised by bluster, murkiness, bigotry, bloated narcissism, talking a big game (which he doesn’t deliver on) and blatant lies. His dwindling (yet loud) clique of MP supporters throw the same blustering drivel into the world, via media interviews and social…