Catherine Bennett



Profile:
Full name: Catherine Bennett

Area of interest: Politics, Society, Culture

Journals: The Observer

Email: [mailto:catherine.bennett@guardian.co.uk catherine.bennett@guardian.co.uk]

Website: Guardian.co / Catherine Bennett

Blog: Comment is free...

Agent:

Networks:



Biography:
Education: Lawnswood High School, Leeds; Hertford College, Oxford

Career: Various jobs; Honey Magazine; Sunday Telegraph Magazine: features editor; Mail on Sunday: senior reporter; freelance contributor - The Sunday Times, Vogue, Elle, The Sunday Telegraph Magazine; The Times: writer, 1985/1989; Sunday Correspondent: writer; The Guardian: features writer and columnist, 1990/2007

Current position: Feature writer and Columnist


 * also writes/has written for:

Other roles:

Other activities:

Disclosures:

Viewpoints/Insight:

TV/Radio: Contributions to Start the Week; the Late Show; UK and The Baby Business, BBC2; Spoiling the Child, BBC 1
 * Wrote and presented BBC Television three-part series Strange days, 1996

Controversy/Criticism:

Awards/Honours: Winner of Catherine Pakenham Award

Other: Partner of BBC journalist John Humphrys (see: ‘I've always felt like a bit of a fraud‘ - John Humphrys on his career, his new partner, and the troubles at the BBC - The Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2009)



Books & Debate:


Latest work:

Speaking/Appearances:

Current debate: 

The Observer:
Column remit: Politics, Society, Culture

Section: News

Role: Columnist

Pen-name:

Email: [mailto:catherine.bennett@guardian.co.uk catherine.bennett@guardian.co.uk]

Website: Guardian.co / Catherine Bennett

Commissioning editor:

Day published: Sunday

Regularity: Weekly

Column format:

Average length: 1100/1200 words



Articles: 2011

 * getting rid of sexism in sport. Let's get rid of sport'' - The shock and horror that has greeted Andy Gray and Richard Keys is as nothing to my boredom with football - 30th January
 * me again why we're supposed to be so optimistic'' - From all sides, we are exhorted to be optimistic about the future. Try telling that to a jobless school leaver - 23rd January
 * is the easiest word. It has seldom been so devalued'' - Public repentance is all the rage, as seen at the BBC. Not that Sarah Palin and Bob Diamond are listening - 16th January
 * the postcard from Klosters, George, it said it all'' - How noble. By swanning around on the Alpine slopes, Mr Osborne is taking the heat off bankers and CEOs - 9th January
 * all join in not signing up to this idea of e-petitions'' - David Cameron's pledge to put popular demands to the Commons is neither new nor good for democracy - 2nd January



Articles: 2010

 * Mr Assange, why won't you go back to Sweden now?'' - The WikiLeaks founder's reluctance to face his accusers sits badly with his avowed role as champion of freedom - 19th December
 * it is immoral to deny payment to surrogate mothers'' - Everybody from IVF consultants to the laboratory staff is paid. So we need to reward those who give the most - 12th December
 * Mr Cameron, do stop all that annoying nudging'' - The prime minister believes we can be gently pushed into self-improvement. That smacks only of neglect - 5th December
 * libraries, we will lose a mark of our civilisation'' - 250 libraries are earmarked to be closed, yet the government ignores this huge loss to the community - 28th November
 * are the days of rejoicing over a royal wedding'' - While the media are in a frenzy, public apathy gives a more realistic view of our attitude to Kate and William - 21st November
 * forget that to tweet is human, to forgive is divine'' - Do we really want to become a country that turns twitterers, however misguided they are, into criminals? - 14th November
 * in worse taste – Cameron's photographer or Blair's house?'' - While the Blairs taste in housing improvements is questionable, Cameron has put his his photographer on the payroll - 7th November
 * should stop whingeing about the coalition cuts'' - For the simple reason that both sexes are going to be hurt. And it does nothing for those who will suffer most - 31st October
 * laws should not be made by the grotesquely rich'' - The Radmacher-Granatino case has been great fun, but let's have a grown-up discussion about marriage - 24th October
 * are we letting business big shots alter our society?'' - As a student, Lord Browne was once mocked by his professor. To some, his report may smack of revenge - 17th October
 * a sadist would inflict Dryden on our schoolchildren'' - Michael Gove's plan to put the literary 'greats' back in our schools shows how far out of step he truly is - 10th October
 * we really want to be policed by hobby bobbies?'' - There are certain services – the police, hospitals, care homes – that are too important to be left to volunteers - 3rd October
 * childhood should be more dangerous? Stuff and nonsense'' - We love the world of The Dangerous Book for Boys, but few of us actually want our children falling out of trees - 19th September
 * woman could ever compete with Tony 'cojones' Blair?'' - Given the macho culture of Mr Blair's cabinet, it's little wonder so few of his female colleagues prospered - 11th September
 * the coalition really need this foul-mouthed tycoon?'' - Sir Philip Green is just the latest magnate to advise government. Their record has been a sorry one - 22nd August
 * that's the Top Gear vote sewn up for the coalition'' - Only petrolheads will welcome government plans to save money by cutting funding for traffic cameras - 15th August
 * when was giving people a choice a good idea?'' - The coalition's obsession with self-determination, whether on schools or GPs, penalises the least able - 8th August
 * thing is, Dave, giving is an art. But not that sort of art'' - If the prime minister was trying for cool when he presented the Obamas with a graffiti print, he failed - 25th July
 * 'genius' is only a defence to the morally vacuous'' - The apologists for the film director, like those for Raoul Moat, are guilty of putting loyalty before humanity - 18th July
 * stop moaning and just leave the baby-boomers alone'' - Bashing my generation is the new sport for anyone born after 1965. But could anything be more fatuous? - 11th July
 * Charles, if I may make so bold as to offer some advice'' - We know that the Prince of Wales loves a letter. So, in a desire to broaden the dialogue, here's my missive to him - 4th July
 * At last we can ignore the gurus peddling happiness'' - For all their sunny disposition, feelgood professionals aren't doing very well at lightening the national mood - 27th June
 * Fiona, for giving women another bum deal'' - From the Rear of the Year to the Scottish Parliament, it's been a bad week to be a self-respecting woman - 20th June
 * bribery really the best way to wean people off chips?'' - Health authorities and councils love offering us financial sops to improve ourselves. And do we? Fat chance - 13th June
 * drink laws are driven by middle-class hypocrites'' - There's so much fulminating about Saturday night excesses, nobody pays attention to their own intake - 6th June
 * world is still thriving in the House of Lords'' - Hereditary peers are about to elect two new members. It's democracy, I suppose, but not as we should know it - 30th May
 * pitiful Olympic mascots sum up this sorry affair'' - It seems all that counts in 2012 is getting gold medals. So forget any proper investment in sport - 23rd May
 * you're not online these days you're a second-class citizen'' - People who don't want to – or simply can't – be part of the digital world are being subjected to bullying tactics - 16th May
 * thing the parties agree on – keep women out'' - Welcome to the new middle ages when only sugary stereotypes were allowed out on the campaign trail - 9th May (Election 2010)
 * awful truth: to get ahead you need a private education'' - No election in the last 30 years has shown so clearly that privilege is now almost the only route to power - 2nd May
 * – at least Boris Johnson's father got home'' - The flying ban has proved yet again that resilience is one thing, but deep pockets achieve better results - 25th April
 * ludicrous ban that will only comfort bigots'' - Eventually we'll have to realise that by censoring others from expressing themselves we undermine ourselves - 4th April
 * on. Buy yourself an It bag. It's your duty to your nation'' - Remember the new frugality? Few of us seem to, but that's because of the example our leaders set us - 21st March
 * to us about politics, not your lovely home life'' - The Cameron and Brown personality parade misses the point that voters care about issues, not character - 14th March
 * we should celebrate the end of Asian Network'' - As the BBC announces that it is to axe the station, shouldn't we be glad it has outlived its usefulness? - 7th March
 * push for faith schools just promotes prejudice'' - Despite government reassurances we have no idea what children are being taught in those classrooms - 28th February
 * ho! It's the hunting debate… all over again'' - It must be election time when both major parties revisit the most inconsequential issue of the past 20 years - 21st February
 * don't have to be crazy to run the country but it sure helps'' - We wouldn't tolerate an airline pilot with issues of anger management, so why do we overlook it in government? - 14th February
 * are so many young girls still being lured into the beauty trap?'' - The latest survey suggests that if children are unhappy, it's because they don't like what they see in the mirror - 31st January
 * obesity isn't a disease, why are we funding gastric surgery?'' - Stopping children eating junk food is surely a better way to tackle the problem of Britain's overweight population - 24th January
 * what you like, as long as it meets with the mob's approval'' - As Mike Savage and Rod Liddle are finding, speaking your mind means being damned by a cast of thousands - 17th January
 * we really need advice on how to deal with boomerang kids?'' - Parent Motivators, issued by Lord Mandelson, shows the nanny state at its most patronising and absurd - 3rd January



Articles: 2009

 * sort of society praises vigilantes with cricket bats?'' - Far from being a miscarriage of justice, the jailing of Munir Hussain has seen the law working just as it should - 20th December
 * absurd to think that you can measure happiness'' - If only life were that simple. Promoting that belief means we ignore measures that can really make a difference - 13th December
 * such fans of marriage, Cameron's Tories do seem to split up a lot'' - David Cameron says that a wedding is good for society, but his tax plans seem only to wag a finger at the poor - 6th December
 * many weird lessons, yet so little time for proper teaching'' - The government wants to warn children about domestic violence. It would be best to teach them to read and write - 29th November
 * long last, a newsreader who made us face reality'' - Broadcasters believe that looks are more important than the message. James Partridge proved them wrong - 22nd November
 * England's World Cup bid in the bag? I really hope not'' - Give them to Russia, give them to Spain, but please don't let this country host the 2018 finals of 'the beautiful game' - 15th November
 * to the age of the eco-martyr. God help us'' - Nothing will harm climate change campaigners as much as a judge decreeing that the green movement is a faith - 8th November
 * Gordon, but your body politic doesn't match Putin's'' - What is it with male politicians and their obsession with looks? Couldn't they work rather than working out? - 1st November
 * trafficking? Well, there's a hell of a lot of women suffering'' - Beware those who argue that prostitution is just another job. If it is, why do so many women die in this sordid trade? - 25th October
 * Henry v Nick Griffin. I'd certainly stay up to watch that'' - Question Time had to invite the BNP leader. If only he'd been confronted with a scathing and witty opponent - 18th October
 * they still need us, will they still feed us when we're 66?'' - George Osborne's proposals for a delayed retirement will rob the poorest pensioners of a valuable slice of life - 11th October
 * silence of the ladies who lunch over the ladies who die'' - Suddenly, Sarah Brown loves the limelight – so why won't she condemn the plight of brutalised women? - 4th October
 * princes we trust ... to do absolutely nothing useful'' - Prince William says he doesn't want to be an ornament, but that's exactly what Britain has brought him up to be - 27th September
 * lunatic act that panders to paranoia over paedophiles'' - Legislation intended to defend society against child abusers is actually an indictment of unthinking MPs - 20th September
 * who can you bank on to deliver real benefits?'' - No interest if you're in credit, high overdraft rates and no incentives for being loyal. Lisa Bachelor reckons now's the time to consider your options - 13th September
 * BBC, why oh why don't you just ditch the licence fee?'' - Beset by complaints and facing a generation raised on free information, the Corporation has only one option - 13th September
 * the compassion for the old lags who truly deserve it?'' - The outcry over the Megrahi case reveals the very real plight of old and dying prisoners in English jails - 6th September
 * Alyce Faye, what a shining inspiration you are. To Wags'' - The millions that John Cleese's ex-wife is due in alimony highlight the very strange state of feminism nowadays - 23rd August
 * to Monsanto still leaves a nasty aftertaste'' - Rather than ceding control to biotech companies, the government must take full charge of food policy - 16th August
 * are we so squeamish about paying egg donors?'' - If women are prepared to offer their eggs to childless couples, they should be properly rewarded financially - 2nd August
 * top jobs for northerners? Whoever next? Pagans, actually'' - Labour's desire to ensure fairer representation for all minorities is beginning to look actively disreputable - 19th July
 * it comes to fawning, our politicians are in pole position'' - F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has an inexplicable hold over our leaders. Are they really all just petrolheads? - 12th July
 * whatever became of the great British sex scandal?'' - Our politicians would have to hit long-lost form to match the ardent poetry of a cheating US governor - 5th July
 * just don't get it, do they? Actually, they just don't care'' - It is the phrase that encapsulates a nation's discontent. Shame it's lost on those who caused the convulsion - 28th June
 * one gains from blowing the cover of this secret policeman'' - Naming the award-winning blogger NightJack has had only one result: the silencing of an independent voice - 21st June
 * you thought the age of child labour was over in Britain ...'' - We rightly applaud the sacrifices of young carers, yet do nothing to alleviate their isolation or vulnerability - 14th June
 * time we created special schools for MMR dodgers'' - The continuing resistance by a certain kind of mummy to vaccination is selfish, ignorant and downright dangerous - 7th June
 * may not act like Silvio, but they stink all the same'' - We should resist the growing tendency of people to say scandals are much worse abroad - graft is still graft - 31st May
 * by celebrity? Not if it means Esther is in charge'' - However disenchanted we may be with our MPs, the famous alternatives present a nightmare vision - 24th May
 * hire relatives'' - A new politics: Small surprise that MPs are suddenly united over reform of expenses, but why should we put up with state-funded nepotism? - 20th May
 * spiteful campaign has neither rhyme nor reason'' - Surely there should be statute of limitations on hounding Derek Walcott. After all, his actions weren't unusual then - 17th May
 * Jacqui, let's keep out those dangerous homeopaths'' - When the Home Office bans people, we should at least know why. Surely it can't have been for views on autism? - 10th May
 * time to get in touch with your feminine side, David'' - The Tory leader talks boldly of women having a vital role in politics. If only he practised what he preached - 3rd May
 * don't want to live in a country manipulated by YouTube bullies'' - Laugh at Gordon Brown if you must, but save us from a world dominated by smarmy, techno-savvy politicians - 26th April
 * seeking help from Derek Draper needs therapy'' - If you wonder why psychotherapy is in urgent need of regulation, just consider the actions of this practioner - 19th April
 * for the Malawians who stood up to the Material Girl'' - How shaming that it takes a poor country in Africa to show it's still possible to put ethics before wealth - 5th April
 * would you believe it? The Queen hailed as feminist heroine'' - While we get exercised over primogeniture, the fate of many horribly exploited women still goes unnoticed - 29th March
 * BBC has become the weakest link in children's TV'' - Catherine Bennett: Once home to quality programmes, the corporation now excels only at producing noise and stupidity - 22nd March
 * plain English, Harriet, you're taking the public for a ride'' - The leader of the house promises to tell it to us like it is, which translates as keeping us in the dark – as normal - 15th March
 * to hurt Sir Fred? Well, take away that knighthood'' - It's not realistic or effective to seize the disgraced banker's pension. But his title is quite another matter - 8th March
 * you are being a complete twit about Twitter'' - Networking websites might be full of inane chatter, but there's absolutely no proof they do anyone any harm - 1st March
 * you think women would have saved us. Think again'' - We're told that what the world needs is more females at the top. So, I give you Hazel, Tessa, Harriet... - 22nd February
 * Wilders has just made our leaders look truly idiotic'' - What were the Labour hierarchy doing giving publicity to an obscure Dutch right wing politician? - 15th February
 * Thatcher is dim, but don't pillory her for thought crime'' - People have thoughts which we may find abhorrent, but hounding them leads us down a dangerous road - 8th February
 * Labour really think John Prescott is the new Obama?'' - 1st February
 * licking a fish is not my idea of public service TV'' - Channel 4 says it needs our money to survive, but its obsession with the vacuous doesn't merit our support - 25th January
 * beauty industry is at it again ... it's not a pretty sight'' - Many doctors feel that perfectly normal women need some enhancing. And we Brits are their guinea pigs - 18th January
 * beavers and wolves, why not bring back the black rat?'' - Those who argue for the reintroduction of lost species must understand it will devastate a landscape we love - 4th January



Articles:

 * is this really the great new idea - saving the gas-guzzler?'' - A public bail-out of Jaguar Land Rover would have nothing to do with rationality, fairness or morality - 21st December 2008
 * shows the Elders no respect ... But then, would we?'' - It's absurd to be shocked by one dictator's disdain for wise old heads when we often do the same to our elderly - 14th December 2008
 * Mia! My, my, how can I resist you? Quite easily'' - Any woman who says she doesn't like the movie is regarded askance. Even feminists love it. This is scary - 7th December 2008
 * injured feelings really worth more than a lost limb?'' - For maimed soldiers, Kerry Fletcher's huge award for sexual harassment must have been a further insult - 30th November 2008
 * would we do without the BBC, strictly speaking?'' - Licence fee rebels are hellbent on wounding one of the few organisations that defends national traditions - 23rd November 2008
 * P exposes our need to believe in the perfect parent'' - People swallow hogwash about evil cults but find it hard to accept the realities of child abuse in the family - 16th November 2008
 * mind pensioners, just be nice to Fido and Tiddles'' - The new pet care code shows we still put the welfare of our animals before that of vulnerable human beings - 9th November 2008
 * the time for Guy to rise above Madge's material world'' - Another celebrity divorce ... except this couple have laid some moral guidelines. Will they live up to them? - 19th October 2008
 * teachers must be spies - now that really is a bit extreme'' - Where are school staff to learn their anti-terrorist techniques? Turn to the pages of a John le Carré novel - 12th October 2008
 * this woman die as she chooses, not in a death plant'' - Debbie Purdy says the present legislation on assisted suicide is cowardly. She's wrong - it's barbaric - 5th October 2008
 * did my heart sink when Sarah stepped on to the stage?'' - This season, spouses are essential political accessories, so expectations will be high for Samantha Cameron - 28th September 2008
 * a tip, Gordon. Take no notice of the rubbish revolt'' - Apparently it used to be a British right to have your bin emptied weekly, but it's a bizarre cause for martyrdom - 21st September 2008
 * rich get all the good press. Now let's hear it for the poor'' - Despite Tatler's best efforts, a new report says that media coverage of poverty leaves a lot to be desired - 14th September 2008
 * women and snails still have so much in common'' - Even after three Labour governments, the progress of women's equality moves at a painfully slow pace - 7th September 2008
 * madness makes Tories think that fat is a political issue'' - 31st August 2008
 * me, but I still can't see the point of the Olympics'' - We're basking in the golden glow of the Games, but they are no more than an expensive distraction from real life - 24th August 2008
 * may be hip, but it's horrible. I say that sincerely'' - Political phonies are thriving as our tolerance for their antics grows. Still, David Cameron should beware - 10th August 2008
 * It's only words, maybe. But we must take care of our language - The casual indifference to English, whether written or spoken, is beginning to reach epidemic proportions - 13th July 2008
 * Where are our anti-royalists when you need them the most? - Prince William has been praised for his derring-do on the high seas. We didn't let his father have it so easy - 6th July 2008
 * Since when did politics become the equivalent of potty training? - After trying bribery, the new tactic is to use psychology to manipulate our behaviour. And it's just as likely to fail - 29th June 2008
 * Caroline, tell me, where can I get a nanny like yours? - If the Tories addressed themselves properly to childcare issues, Mrs Spelman could be more easily forgiven - 22nd June 2008
 * Spare us these commissioners bewailing the lot of the young - Sir Al Aynsley-Green is convinced we are dreadful to our children. The facts suggest he is behind the times - 15th June 2008
 * Don't be stupid, be a smarty, come and join in Max's party - Next time you renew your car breakdown insurance, consider the curious case of FIA boss Max Mosley - 8th June 2008
 * Why can't we stop the spread of degrading adverts for sex? - The number of strip clubs has doubled in the last four years, an unforeseen byproduct of liberal licensing laws - 1st June 2008
 * Green politics, like all fashions, has proved sadly transient - For politicians and ordinary people alike, the passion for toting your eco-credentials was predictably brief - 25th May 2008
 * Whoops! She did it again. And she's not one bit sorry - The more Cherie Blair tries to vindicate her husband, New Labour and herself, the more culpable she becomes - 18th May 2008
 * The toffs are back - and, frankly, no one gives a damn - Our likely next government will come from a tiny seam of society. And the nation simply doffs its cap - 11th May 2008
 * I'm game for Grand Theft Auto. You should be too - Those who play the game say that it 'gets their anger out'. Perhaps Gordon Brown ought to try it - 4th May 2008
 * Pity those poor souls who have to cut back and let nanny go - 27th April 2008
 * Clever women must be mad to seek power in this country - 20th April 2008
 * At least the torch shone a light on Olympic hypocrisy - 13th April 2008
 * What a costly way to air the fantasies of a rich old man - Families of soldiers killed in Iraq do not have the luxury of the exhaustive inquiry granted to Mohamed al-Fayed - 6th April 2008
 * They led us to a disastrous war, yet still they prosper - 23rd March 2008
 * Less happy families, more ideas, please - David Cameron's hope that the televised scenes of his home life will persuade us to vote Tory proves how very out of touch he is - 16th March 2008
 * Oh no, not another psychopathic nun - 9th March 2008
 * Trips to war-torn countries are smug, not ethical
 * This great capital deserves a better choice for leader - 17th February 2008
 * It's one sharia law for men and quite another for women - The government is feeble in protecting our values. Now Dr. Williams has given it the perfect camouflage - 10th February 2008
 * It will take more than a parade to pick up our soldiers' morale - 3rd February 2008
 * Why is anyone fooled by this slick operator - As past leaders have found, Richard Branson hasn't made his billions by putting his country first - 27th January 2008
 * Why do so many men still think the sex trade is fine? - 20th January 2008
 * Once there was discretion at the Elysée, now there is farce - President Sarkozy's passions have swiftly destroyed the civilised secrecy enjoyed by our closest neighbour - 13th January 2008
 * In this age of the political 'man-beast', what has become of our dreams of more women in power? - 6th December 2007
 * The Lords were hopping up and down over IVF for lesbians. So were the hybrid Christian rabbits outside - 22nd November 2007
 * Why is the suffering of young soldiers treated so callously compared with that of non-combatants? - 15th November 2007
 * Is the branding of the al-Qaida franchise by the boss of MI5 actually a frightfully cunning plan? - 8th Novemeber 2007
 * The government says Britain has 'shared values' with Saudi Arabia. But we don't subjugate women, do we? - 1st November 2007
 * It's the nightmare scenario at the BBC. I fear that Mark Thompson, like John Birt, is in fact a Dalek - 25th October 2007
 * Is David Cameron promoting the Tory party - or his wife's line of luxury accessories? - 11th October 2007
 * Let's dig up Diana again - 6th October 2007
 * Haven't the police got better things to do than censor art works that offend religious groups? - 4th October 2007
 * Gordon Brown likes to preach his father's values. But who wants a sermon aimed at errant children? - 27th September 2007
 * Something gone wrong at the bank? Blame the panicking customers - 20th Septeber 2007
 * I can think of only one explanation for our prime minister's behaviour: there are two of him - 6th September 2007
 * Did the 'Diana effect' really change the nation? Weren't we already confused and over-emotional? - 30th August 2007



Links:

 * Wikipedia biog.