Populism and dogmatism have replaced empiricism and pragmatism, leading to an ideological frenzy, the perpetrators of which are in a constant civil war with their opponents. It is a psychodrama that has cut through political divides, carved apart families and neighbourhoods, to finally break its way through to the very top of the State and […]
EU
Three Men In A Vote – Cameron, Johnson, Gove (And Larry)
If we are going to play a blame game like David Cameron does in his memoirs, I would personally blame Mrs Pickleworth who lives in Sunderland, and the people like her who voted Leave in a frenzy of anti-European fantasies. She has never held a UK passport because the furthest that she has travelled is […]
Has Europe Lost Control Of Democracy?
Up to now it has been a harsh year for European politics. For the UK, Brexit has resulted in Westminster losing its grip on a political process and, if it is not careful, will also lose control over its representative democracy. Elsewhere in Europe, the populist AfD is progressing in Germany, the Italian coalition is […]
Operation Yellowhammer: A Hitchhiker’s Guide To No-Deal Brexit
The leaked Yellowhammer report evokes “EU exit fatigue” but it is the English who are tiresome. “Readiness will be further limited by increased EU exit fatigue caused by the second extension of Article 50” How my heart bleeds for the English who having been knackered by a farcical referendum and exhausted by negotiations […]
Boris Johnson: An Agitator Within The Law
Like it or not, Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament is perfectly legal. The Queen might very well have choked on her porridge, she gave the prime minister her blessing and paved the way for Parliament to be muted whilst Brexit is being irrevocably defined. It’s a sad state of affairs for UK democracy, of course, […]
“Mother Democracy, Shut The F*ck Up”
Forget about Boris Johnson’s comforting words reassuring us that MP’s will have sufficient time to do something about avoiding a no-deal Brexit, the prorogation of parliament is an affront to democracy. In delaying the Queen’s speech until October 14th, Johnson is doing nothing less that bypassing democracy. In shutting up Westminster, he has effectively forced […]
EU Must Resist Boris Johnson And His Tantrum
Negotiation is an art of give-and-take, and UK prime minister Boris Johnson wants to give nothing and take all. Johnson and his so skillfully skewed cabinet that is bent on a no-deal Brexit seem to forget that not so long ago he evaluated the chances of a no-deal Brexit as one in a million. Judging […]
“Cods Of War” – French Fishermen And No Deal Brexit
Are we going to see a “Fisherman’s Suit” movement? The colour is definitely the same. For those of you who have been to France just for your holidays, the chances are that you really do not know what the French are like. You have probably not tasted what it is like to be caught, day […]
You Shift If You Want To, Boris – The EU’s Not For Shifting
Boris Johnson is quickly gaining a reputation of being the most deluded and cynical prime minister ever. After having promised to build the Mancunians a Lego railway set for their troubles, he now insists that the bigwigs in Brussels change their tune by abandoning the damned Irish border so that the Brexit negotiations can be resumed […]
Boris Johnson Can’t Deliver Trains, Let Alone Brexit
I want to be the prime minister who does with Northern Powerhouse Rail what we did with Crossrail in London. And today I am going to deliver on my commitment to that vision with a pledge to fund the Leeds to Manchester route. – Boris Johnson 2019 There are a few words […]