Terrorists, rioters and crocodiles: The political symbolism of an Olympic monster

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in British Politics. The definitive publisher-authenticated version - British Politics, 2014, 9(2), pp. 161-181 - is available online at: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/bp/journal/v9/n2/full/bp201317a.htmlIn August 2005, just a month after the announcement that London had succeeded in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, the UK national press witnessed a brief rash of stories alleging the presence of a crocodile or similar water monster lurking beneath the surface of the River Lea – the river that runs from the town of Luton in Bedfordshire down to join the Thames adjacent to the Olympic site. This story re-emerged in November 2011 when a campaigner against the environmental impact of the Olympics on the river area claimed to have seen further evidence of crocodilian activity. This paper will explore the reasons for the proliferation of this story, in terms both of its function as a metonymic news-hook (it opened up directly related concerns as to the impact, organization and security of the Games) and of its metaphorical significance (its incarnation of a superstructure’s fears of an emerging threat of a monstrous underclass – one which might at once comprise terrorists, rioters and anti-establishment campaigners). It will conclude by suggesting that this monstrous myth might hold within it the possibility of the convergence of populist news media and popular democracy

Power as well as Persuasion: Political Communication and Party Development

This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been reviewed or edited. The definitive version of this extract may be found in the work, Political Communication Transformed by Bartle and Griffiths, which can be purchased from www.palgrave.com.In the run-up to and during the 1997 general election political discourse was dominated by references to the supposed power and influence of the so-called 'spin doctors' and 'image makers'. These terms are often, and quite erroneously, used interchangeably. Those charged with 'doctoring' the 'spin' are primarily concerned with managing so-called 'free' media which is the coverage given politicians by print and broadcast journalists. Working in tandem with this group, the 'image makers' are those marketing experts charged with interpreting popular opinion and developing a strategy to promote their particular party, candidate or leader by use of 'paid' or 'controlled' communications such as advertising...

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Chief executives' news operations A comparative study

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:8318.1709F(ESRC-E--00/23/2197)fiche / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Chris Riddell Contemporary cartoons from the Independent on Sunday and The Independent

Published to coincide with an exhibition of original cartoon drawingsSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:98/03884 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo