Should politicians be punished for lying?

2nd October 2025

Politicians lie. In other news, the sky is blue, and water is wet.
Lying in politics isn’t new, it’s expected. In fact, as Ralph Keyes wrote in The Post-Truth Era (2004), we live in a time where deception has become routine, not just among politicians but within the public itself. From Lenin’s infamous mantra, “A lie told often enough becomes the truth,” to Nixon’s refutation of Watergate, to Bill Clinton’s carefully crafted denial about his affair with Monica Lewinsky, the list goes on. Deception has always been a tool of power. It wins elections. It maintains control.

Should politicians be punished for lying?

Kitty Ramsay: Spanish Civil War Hero, Political Trailblazer, and WHS alumna

26th September 2025

As students at this school, we rarely pause to reflect on the remarkable women who have walked these halls before us and the enduring legacy they have left on WHS and the wider world. To honour these women, we are launching a series of articles celebrating some of WHS’s most impactful alumnae and there is no better way to begin than by sharing the story of Katharine Marjory Stewart-Murray, Duchess of Atholl: a pioneering politician and hero of the Spanish Civil War. The timing is especially fitting, as a new biography, ‘Red Duchess: Kitty Atholl, A Rebel in Westminster’ by Amy Gray, has just been released. Read on to discover more about her extraordinary political career, activism, and lasting influence on WHS.

Kitty Ramsay: Spanish Civil War Hero, Political Trailblazer, and WHS alumna

Why do we suddenly remember what someone has said, 5 minutes after they have said it?

26th September 2025

Have you ever been in an intriguing conversation but suddenly ‘lose your hearing’ as they say something. So, you awkwardly laugh and say ‘yes’ or nod your head like you heard them, the itching feeling of what they said nagging you at the back of your brain. When moments later, you suddenly remember what they’ve said, replying appropriately to them. But only to leave them looking confused to say, ‘you only just answered the question I asked you 5 minutes ago, now?’

Why do we suddenly remember what someone has said, 5 minutes after they have said it?

Why Autoimmune Diseases Disproportionately Affect Women

25th September 2025

Autoimmune diseases affect around 1 in 10 people in the UK. However, women are over 85% more likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease than men. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Common examples include rheumatoid arthritis, coeliac disease, psoriasis, and type 1 diabetes. The general symptoms of all autoimmune diseases include fatigue, inflammation and/or nerve damage, skin rashes, aching, swollen joints. The non-specific nature and commonality of these symptoms often result in misdiagnosis or dismissal.

Why Autoimmune Diseases Disproportionately Affect Women