Brexit
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From Russia with… love?
Russia still poses an active threat to the UK, according to the Government’s Integrated Review, published in March. Vladimir Putin stated in 2019 that a government’s duty is to create a stable life for its citizens. He went on to say that liberal democracies have failed in providing this stability for people. This was the…
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Our Door Stays Open
Reflections from the European Parliament by Terry Reintke, MEP It has been more than a year now since we had to say goodbye to our UK colleagues in the European Parliament. We sang “Auld Lang Syne” together and tried to look ahead as the damaging decision for the UK to leave the EU was finalised.…
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Government Breaks NHS Promise
Time and time again during the election campaign of 2019 the Conservative Party assured us that the NHS is not for sale. In March 2020, when the UK started trade negotiations with the US, Prime Minister Johnson declared that the NHS was not on the table. Yet less than a year later American owned Operose…
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Join or Slip Away
The 1990’s offered hopeful days when the peace process started in Northern Ireland. It took years to finalise what has become known as the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. The EU has created the longest period of peace between the member states since Roman times because it offers countries an opportunity to discuss and work…
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Cause and Effect
There are reports today that the EU is taking the UK to court. Why are they being so nasty? Well, maybe they’re not? Some people would argue that it is the only step they can take when the British government has broken international law and the duty of good faith. The Brexit deal was rushed…
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Vaccine Chancer
The British Government has been lauded for its successful vaccination programme to stem the spread of Covid-19. Government ministers and the tabloid press like to give the impression that Britain is “world beating”, as if it was a competition between countries. But if it were a competition – where is Britain on the chart above?…
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Do You Hear The People Sing?
In a press release issued on 9 March 2021 the Government states that they want to – among other things – “Strengthen police powers to tackle non-violent protests…”. The “non” in that quote is really rather worrying. Many hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, have made their voice heard over the last few years, marching through…
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Freeport Fibs
When the Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented the budget on 3 March 2021 he proudly announced that Britain will get eight new freeports. He said: “A policy we can only pursue now we’re outside the European Union:Freeports.Freeports are special economic zones with different rules to make it easier and cheaper to do business.” Read the whole…