Boris Johnson News

Top stories of the week 13 October

A big Brexit news week this week. Boris Johnson has been all over the place. After the European Union dismantled his plan point-by-point but a last minute meeting has potentially thrown the whole situation on the head. In what is being called 48 hours of tunnel talks, negotiations are re-opening. Next week and the week after will be more important as all things now secret are revealed. High among them is that Northern Ireland will be the price to pay for Brexit.

Earlier in the week Boris Johnson was called a traitor.

Politics

More bad news for Boris Johnson this week as the stories about his relationship with a pole-dancer refuse to go away. As the Daily Mail so aptly put it – Boris Johnson’s ‘technology advisor’ Jennifer Arcuri ‘loudly and proudly boasted of “Boris bruises” on her thighs after romp with him’, her friend from the time Milo Yiannopoulos claims

Society

The threat of Right Wing Terrorism remains at Red alert in the UK. This week the Press found that ‘a reckless Tory party is resorting to pantomime authoritarianism’ while the ‘Far right poses as protectors of women to target Muslims, official extremism report finds’.

Middle East

Donald Trump withdrew US forces from Syria leaving the Kurds at the mercy of Turkey. As soon as Tump issued the orders, Turkish troops and armoured vehicles began massing on the border with Syria. Hours after the last US forces left Turkey launched airstrikes killing civilians including women and children. The Kurds believe they have been betrayed and the consequences of what Trump hs done will lead to the return of ISIS

Environment

This week saw the launch of more Extinction Rebellion civil unrest around the world. Fake blood was sprayed on to the bull statue in New York and in London fake blood was sprayed onto the Treasury. This began a week of climate action including taking London City Airport in the same style as the King Kong protestors. The police have clamped down hard on the climate activists making more than 1300 protests in the first week of protests alone.

Boris Johnson was in the news yet again for saying the Extinction Rebellion were crusties and that Margaret Thatcher was greener that Greta Thunberg. Is that so, Mr Johnson.

Stories of the week 6th October

Brexit

Boris Johnson launched his once-and-for-all take-it-or-leave-it what-a-special deal- this-is plan for Brexit which quite frankly left everyone disappointed at best and confused at worst. The European Union wanted clarification because, as usual, what was written down stated one thing whilst Johnson was verbally saying another. Needless to say, European leaders who already suspected Johnson of not really trying for a new deal were not surprised when Johnson’s plan put two borders in Northern Ireland when all negotiations to date had categorically stated that no border and no border infrastructure should be in place in the country. Johnson’s plan also gave the DUP and on-going and final veto, something that was greeted with fury from other political parties in Northern Ireland. But Johnson being Johnson hinted that this could change. Yet another example of all things to all people Johnson or not untrustworthy, unbelievable Johnson.

The Press said that Johnson was playing a bad joke on the British people and even loyalists in Northern Ireland were being driven to support reunification over Johnson’s new deal or no deal plans. The EU said that his new deal was a backwards step, totally unrealistic and no legal surety or basis for future talks at this stage.

Politics

Boris Johnson and the Conservative party have been taking to task because of their threatening, inciting and war-like terminology in Parliament. Johnson even dismissed death threats to MPs and disgraced the memory of Jo Cox. This led the Press to say that the Conservative Party has become the party of resentment, the party of fear and the party of right wing threats. Conservative Party ministers keep the same rhetoric about riots if Brexit isn’t done.

The rise of right wing terrorism is now the greatest threat to UK security and this week saw Jacob Rees-Mogg quote from the Far right’s playbook on anti-Semitism. This, the Press said, proved he is unfit for office and should be deselected. Something the Conservative Party will not do. Another Tory icon, Dominic Cummings, was accused of lying to undermine MPs. There’s a surprise.

Boris Johnson and the Jennifer Arcuri affair refuse to go away. Johnson keeps denying it but more and more evidence is appearing of something dishonest and fraudulent goings on with taxpayers’ money.

Environment

As Extinction Rebellion prepare for mass protests shocking reports emerged this week about the state of British wildlife. This is not the Amazon burning or Indonesia on fire, it’s like ‘football’s coming home’ except this time it’s the Climate Emergency. There are an incredible 13 per cent less species than in the 1970s because of pollution, climate change and farming destroying habitats. Now many more animals and plants are on the brink of extinction in the UK.

Stories of the week 22 September

Environment

This week saw the largest Climate Strike so far with millions marching around the world to stop the rapid destruction of our planet. As thousands are choking on smoke from the fires in the Amazon and Pacific islands are disappearing under rising sea levels, school children inspired by Greta Thunberg and adults inspired by Extinction Rebellion took to the streets in cities around the world.

This in a week that also saw proof that toxic air and micro-plastics are crossing through the placenta and affecting unborn children.

But in good news, American citizens are waking up to the Climate Emergency and in the UK 85% of adults are concerned by the Climate Crisis. In the UK, Labour has pledged to plant a million trees on NHS property.

Politics

This week saw the culmination of the Supreme Court’s review of whether Boris Johnson acted unlawfully by misleading the Queen over the prorogation of Parliament. Brexit and Tory press tried to push this as unelected judges standing in the way of the will of the people but they didn’t try too hard. All other press viewed this as a fight for democracy and freedom against a dictatorial executive. The Supreme Court is expected to reveal its decision in the coming week but legal experts are expecting a shock for the Government. They say that the fact that the judges talked about potential remedies at length and also refused to announce their judgement with reasons to follow means that that are going to find against Boris Johnson, now a Prime Minister who misled the Queen. In the summing up, Lord Pannick said the Mother of Parliaments had been silenced by Boris Johnson, the father of lies.

Boris Johnson came in for more public humiliation this week at the Mercury Music Prize ceremony when prize nominee rapper Slowthai performed brandishing a severed Boris Johnson head and encouraged the audience to sing ‘F Boris’.

The Liberal Democrats launched ‘the fight of our lives for the heart and soul of Britain’ as they pledged to revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU without a referendum if they were in power. The party led by Jo Swinson saw a wave of new support with their decision to remain.

Brexit

This has not been a good week for Boris Johnson at all. He faced international humiliation as he refused to take part in a press conference because there UK protestors angry at his No Deal Brexit stance. Johnson had met the Prime Minister of Luxembourg who continued with the press conference and pointed repeatedly to an empty podium. More international embarrassment for the UK.

Stories of the week 15th September

Brexit

The appalling and disastrous implications of No Deal were revealed this week when Parliament forced the Conservative government to reveal details of operation Yellowhammer. Even then the Government refused to release full details and tried yet again to spin and lie their way around the topic. Food shortages, medical shortages and civil unrest are just some of the things to look forward to from the Conservative’s negotiating strategy.

In response, the Rebel Alliance of opposition parties are considering all options including a second referendum which would leave the Tory party high and dry without a leg to stand on.

As Boris Johnson continued his kamikaze European exit strategy, a Northern Ireland poll revealed that people would rather re-unite with Ireland than remain in the Union. Nicola Sturgeon plans for a new Independence vote for Scotland after the forthcoming general election and now there is a growing move for independence in Wales.

Johnson and the Conservatives in a stark display of putting careers and party politics before national interests are determined that the UK should suffer in order to keep their voters happy. What a noble group of people.

Politics

As the press reported, from Birmingham to Berlin, crowds came out to protest against Johnson’s anti-democratic prorogation of Parliament. These ‘Stop the Coup’ protests took place around the UK and in international cities around the world. At the moment Parliament was being prorogued, opposition MPs tried to keep Speaker John Bercow in his seat so the closure couldn’t take place. MPs joined together to sing Jerusalem, Bread of Heaven and Flower of Scotland – all battle hymns of the Union.

Legal challenges against Johnson proroguing Parliament were launched in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The action in Scotland found Johnson’s move was illegal with many Judicial experts claiming he should resign immediately.

In more bad news for Johnson, he was accused of being a ‘Pound Shop Dictator’ and ‘no better than a bank robber’ after Johnson threated to ignore Parliament’s Brexit Act instructing the Prime Minister to seek an extension.

Having expelled 21 rebels, the Tories suffered more losses as MPs defected from Johnson’s disastrous and insidious strategy. It has become increasingly clear that No Deal is an ideology rather than any practical course of action.

Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party are seeking a pact with the Conservative who have so far denied they have any interest in creating any kind of agreement. This of course means that the pact between the two political parties will eventually happen.

Stories of the week 8 September

Politics

Where to begin on a monumental week in Brexit Politics.

The new Rebel Alliance defeated Johnson this week on all fronts. The opposition parties plus 21 Conservative party Rebels were able to block Johnson’s suicidal move for No Deal. Johnson immediately expelled the Conservative rebel MPs from the Party which led to even more resignations from high-ranking Conservative Politicians. Critics said Johnson was turning the Conservative Party in the English National Party.

Johnson’s attempt to silence Parliament was met by demonstrations across the country and across Europe. The public and politicians were clear in their condemnation of Johnson anti-democratic move. Demonstrations were not the end of it. Legal challenges to the silencing of Parliament were bought in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England as the courts were being asked to step in and defend democracy. Johnson was even quoted in court as calling Parliament a nuisance.

Johnson had a terrible week all round. Parliament took control and was able to force through a law making Johnson seek an extension or get a deal. No deal Brexit was taken off the table. Johnson said ‘he’d rather die in a ditch than delay Brexit’ it seemed that parliament are now pointing the way to the ditch. To add further insult to injury, Parliament also seems set to deny Johnson his much promised October General Election. The Rebel Alliance of Tory rebels and opposition parties want to see an Extension to Article 50 or a deal before they will consider approving an election. Johnson now has limited options. He must obey the law or resign. If he does not obey the law he would be subject to arrest and imprisonment. If he resigns, the Rebel Alliance would form an alternative government.

We are watching the Conservative party rip itself apart as highly respected and highly experienced Conservative Politicians are either thrown out of the Party or resign before they are pushed. Johnson’s close adviser Dominic Cummings came under brutal criticism for his role in creating the utter chaos that is now the Conservative Party.

Brexit

It became official this week as Johnson tried to push for his No Deal Brexit exit plan more news flooded out about the catastrophic impact a No Deal Brexit would have for the UK. Supermarkets confirmed food shortages, the car manufacturing sector would collapse and mortality rates would rise from medical shortages. Jacob Rees-Mogg was forced into a humiliating apology to a doctor for decrying the doctor’s true description of the situation.

World

Despite Hong Kong deciding to withdraw the China extradition law, protests continue as tensions mount between protestors and the Chinese authorities.

Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, 95, who ruled over the decline of the country, died in hospital in Singapore this week. Mugabe was the vicious and notorious leader of the country for decades.

Stories of the week 1st September

Brexit

STOP THE COUP. That’s the headline this week. Boris Johnson and his unelected adviser Dominic Cummings have taken the idea of being unelected to extremes this week by deciding that MPs (those who have been elected) should not have a say on Brexit. In a pure attack on the UK democracy and the UK constitution Johnson has decided to close Parliament so he can push through the hard Brexiters dream of No Deal Brexit.

Johnson has dressed this up as Parliamentary business as usual disguising it under the need for a new Queen’s speech. It’s dubious that this is necessary as this is not a newly elected government. Additionally the length of the suspension is far longer than ever before. There was shock as a Tory minister actually told the truth and was caught on camera saying that the real reason was the reason everybody suspected – to push through Brexit and Johnson has been caught lying in public office yet again.

Following Johnson’s attack on democracy and his intent to push through No Deal, legal challenges against the Government have started in Northern Ireland, Scotland and also in England with cases being heard in the coming week.

The nation has risen up to protest against the attack on democracy with protests around the country and even in some European cities. Some protesters carried umbrellas in support of the civil freedoms being fought for in Hong King where democratic protesters carry umbrellas. Protests will continue with many more being planned in the coming weeks including talk of a general strike.

Politicians from across all the other political parties are forming a ‘rebel alliance’ coming together to create an alternative parliament if Johnson succeeds in shutting Westminster down. There are two choices ahead. Stop No Deal and a vote of No Confidence to bring Johnson down and move towards a general election.

Environment

Fires continue to burn in the Amazon with politicians, corporations and fund managers bring pressure on Brazil to take significant and fast action before the lungs of the world disappear completely.

Stories of the week 25th August

Brexit

The Press noted that Boris Johnson looked twitchy and nervous as he met Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron this week. Both European leaders ensured that Johnson was left in no doubt that he had 30 days to come up with a solution for Northern Ireland. It took Jonson less than 30 seconds to lie in a public statement. He was quickly corrected by Angela Merkel.

More news on the much-promised UK-US Trade Deal this week and most of it grim. It appears that not only will the UK suffer from potentially hazardous US food safety standards with delicacies like chlorinated chicken but also the US is eyeing up the NHS. The same medicine costs 10 to 20 times more in the US than it currently does in the UK and people fear of a huge cost explosion for prescribed drugs.

A new video games ‘Brexit Royale’ will depict the population of the UK fighting each other to the death to survive in post Brexit Britain.

Politics

In true Star Wars style, a new ‘Rebel Alliance’ has formed to bring down the Johnson government’s and prevent No Deal. Members from all parties including a large number of anti-Brexit Conservative MPs are launching a No Confidence vote and setting up an interim Government of National Unity while Johnson considers closing Parliament to push through his No Deal. A striking example of Johnson’s abuse of power.

Boris Johnson was branded a known liar and was accused of adopting the same communication strategies as Putin. His facebook chat ‘direct to the people’ is a deliberate ploy to avoid Press scrutiny and questioning in a direct copy of Putin use of the social media website. In the first broadcast, Johnson took less than 10 seconds to lie.

Austerity

In more distressing news on the outcomes of the Conservative Party’s near decade long destruction of benefits, tens of thousands of children in the UK are growing up in diabolical conditions having been housed in shipping containers. Critics say this is the Government’s abject failure to address homelessness and poverty.

Environment

In appalling and devastating environmental news, the Amazon is on fire. France and Ireland threatened to block and EU Trade Deal with Brazil because of the Brazilian Government’s inaction in tackling the blaze.

Reports emerged this week stating that people will have to ditch cars for the UK to possibly meet its carbon zero targets by 2050. Not such a bad thing wouldn’t you agree?

All the top stories of the week 18th August

Brexit

Boris Johnson upped his No Deal broadcast game as the Rebel Alliance of cross party MPs united by the consequences of No Deal for the country. The Alliance plans to bring down the Tory Johnson government and launch a General Election.

Another No Deal for the UK is coming. Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi once again reiterated the fact that if Brexit threatened the Good Friday Agreement in any way then the much promised US Trade Deal by Trump and Johnson will not take place. This was in addition to stories arising that chlorinated chicken and other US food were high on the list while Brexit will decimate UK agriculture.

Politics

The cross party rebel alliance will not suffer the contempt for Parliament that Johnson is currently spouting. Their plan is to launch a No Confidence vote as soon as Parliament returns from its summer recess. Unelected Dominic Cummings has laid out a plan to try and push through No Deal before the Parliamentary and the judicial systems in the UK can stop it.

World

Civil unrest in Hong Kong continued this week as tension grew between protesters and the Chinese Government. Satellite pictures revealed armoured vehicles massing on the Chinese side of the border with Hong Kong along with threats from Beijing that China could take military control of Hong Kong in under an hour.

Middle East

Encouraged by Donald Trump, Israel took the widely criticised move of banning congress women IIhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering the country. This was widely seen as an attack on democracy by the rest of the world as well as in the USA.

NHS

Austerity and Tory cuts continue to take their toll on the beleaguered NHS. For the very first time in its history, patients are having to wait for more than 2 weeks to get a GP appointment. This on the back of reports stating that GPs are misdiagnosing patients because appointment times are too short.

Environment

Arch Brexiter Arron Banks made jokes about yachting accidents as Greta Thunberg set sail across the Atlantic for a UN crisis summit on the Climate Emergency. Greta has caused a major upturn in teenagers and children reading environmental books.

As Greta sails, scientists warn that micro plastics have already reached the Arctic and are contaminating the air around us. Not so amusing now, Arron, is it?

Top stories of the week 11 August

Brexit

Boris Johnson continued his delusional march towards No Deal this week. His optimism is wearing particularly thin as more disastrous news emerges daily. A Business Disaster Fund is being set up to save the UK’s biggest employers from going bankrupt. The UK is entering a recession and No Deal will be economically devastating with bookmakers already taking bets on which foods will be rationed first.

It’s also becoming increasingly apparent that No Deal will mean the break-up of the Union. The majority of Scots now support independence and a popular swing to leave the UK is growing in Wales and Northern Ireland. UK Army combat units are already 40% below strength and the break-up of the Union will lead to further devastation of the UK’s armed forces.

The long awaited trade deal with the US hit more problems this week. Despite Donald Trump enthusiasm for the deal, he threatened to refuse any negotiations until the UK dropped its move to tax the US tech giants. Congress has already stated that no trade deal is possible if the Good Friday Agreement is threatened in anyway. On top of all this, the UK was accused of being ‘too desperate’ to get a good deal.

Politics

Unelected Dominic Cummings has been accused of becoming a dictator by the Press. Cummings commented that even after a vote of no confidence, Johnson would refuse to step down politically turning the UK into North Korea. Such an eventuality would necessitate the Queen becoming involved in front line politics because only the Monarch can dismiss a Prime Minister and appoint another. A move that would have seismic repercussions. The Press are divided. Pro-Brexit Press say bringing the Queen into politics is a disgrace. The rest of the Press state that Johnson refusing to act democratically is the real cause.

True to form, Boris Johnson continued his long track record of not telling the truth by claiming he would make a £1.8bn new cash injection into the NHS. The fact that this money was already in the NHS budget and not additional funds at all was quickly revealed.

World

Two mass shootings in 13 hours claimed 29 lives in dreadful atrocities in the US. Donald Trump was accused of creating racial tensions and turning the US into the United States of Hate. Trump was slated for ‘making America hate again’. Later the President blamed mental health, computer games and social media. He did not mention white right wing terrorism or gun laws at all. Trump had a hostile welcome when he visited one of the scenes.

Stories of the week 4 August

Brexit

Boris Johnson and his Cabinet are pressing ahead with the No Deal threat refusing to speak to EU leaders until the Irish backstop is withdrawn. The only thing is that they’re not listening to Johnson because they say the deal is done and negotiations will not be reopened.

Food shortages, raised illegal immigration, panic buying are just some of the things predicted with No Deal and, as usual, Brexiters are in denial over the impact No Deal will have. The head of BMW and other business leaders are pleading with Johnson to listen to business to avoid an economic catastrophe with huge job losses. He’s not listening.

Donald Trump calls Boris Johnson my ‘mini me’. Both Trump and Johnson have talked up a great UK-US trade deal ahead. But wait. All is not as it seems. First of all, Congress say they will not pass any trade deal if peace in Ireland is jeopardized in any way. A major block for Johnson’s ‘drop the backstop’. Secondly, Trump himself won’t allow a deal unless the UK drops its plans to tax digital giants like Google, Microsoft and Apple. The question is will Johnson stand up to Trump?

Politics

Bad news already for the new Prime Minister. Tory rebels are already threatening Johnson’s No Deal promise threatening to cross the floor and join the Liberal Democrats or stand as independents. As many as 24 Conservative MPs are ready to jump ship. That’s not all. Johnson was jeered for the third day in a row as he visited Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It seems he’s disliked everywhere but England.

In a nightmare for Brexiters, Remain parties formed an alliance to win a by-election and reduce the Tory’s previous 8,000 majority. Boris Johnson does not have a legitimate franchise and the Conservatives have an untenable majority of one.

Austerity

In grim news this week it emerged that almost 5m people in the UK are in working poverty with 4 in 10 children living in child poverty. What’s even worse is that the summer school holidays, usually a wonderful time for children, will see millions of children go hungry as schools shut and school meals are no longer available.

World

Political ideologies continue to collide as protests in Hong Kong continue. China is taking an increasingly hard line against activists and protestors with more arrests and more strong-arm tactics used.

Donald Trump continued his racist attacks on four congress women resulting in shootings, targeted racial ad campaigns and more hate across the US.

Environment

The remarkable Greta Thunberg is sailing across the Atlantic in a yacht to a UN Climate summit to live by what she preaches and refrain from carbon causing travel.

As the 10 hottest years on record in the UK have all happened since 2002, Ethiopia planted 350m trees in one day. Scientists say that the UK needs to plant 1.5bn trees as British weather is getting hotter and more extreme.

Stories of the week 21 July

Brexit

Parliament and a group of Conservative rebels sent a start warning to Boris Johnson over his threat to prorogue Parliament to force through a No Deal Brexit. MPs voted by a majority of 41 for an amendment to a Northern Irish bill that requires a Minister to report on direct rule every week to Parliament thereby negating any chance of dismissing the House of Commons. The Press saw this as a sign of how fragile a Johnson government would be.

Adding more resistance to Johnson’s No Deal pronouncements, Gina Miller will take Johnson to court if he tries to force through No Deal and a Cross-Party committee in Parliament stated that the most likely outcome and the appropriate way forward is a second referendum.

To add even more insults to Johnson’s injuries, Boris publicly ranted about unnecessary and stupid European food laws using a kipper as an example. The stunt totally backfired and showed Johnson’s inability to grasp detail or the truth when it emerged that the very laws Johnson was moaning about were, in fact, British and not European at all.

Politics

The Conservative Leadership race rumbles on and continues to reach even lower depths of discord and misery. Philip Hammond stated that No Deal would be economic suicide for the UK and that he, plus other Tory rebels, would be willing to bring the Government down rather than see this happen. Hammond’s fear was further exacerbated when Jacob Rees-Mogg boasted of a No Deal economic boost which Hammond found terrifying that anyone was so misguided or so deceitful.

Austerity

Due to appalling Conservative cuts in funding, Theresa May’s legacy will be thousands of UK families dreading school holidays instead of looking forward to them as a time for family fun. The country’s shame lies in the fact that school children will go hungry in the holidays as food banks come even greater pressure to help the many in need.

Society

After creating the devastating ‘hostile environment’, local councils are unwilling to give the Home Office any information on homeless people fearing unnecessary deportations. The Home Office have been accused of being ‘cruel and inhumane’ as stories of officials falsifying information to evict people from the country.

World

New unexpected depths were hit this week by Donald Trump as he continued his fascists and racist attacks on Ilhan Omar and three other Congress women. Trump encouraged a crowd to chant ‘send her back’ home, in other words back to her country of racial origin. When Omar flew home to Minneapolis she was met with a crowd holding banners saying ‘Welcome Home!’.

Environment

Extinction Rebellion’s summer uprising took place this week. Police wanted tougher sentencing for arrested protestors and the group’s famous boats were banned from protests. Nevertheless, activists were able to make their views heard and cause peaceful disruption for the sake of ourselves and the planet.

Technology

Artificial Intelligence teaches itself to complete the Rubik’s cube in just 20 MOVES and gets it right every single time

Stories of the week 14 July

Politics

The big stories this week in Politics are all around the Conservative Leadership race.

Boris Johnson was accused by the Press of being a spineless coward as he refused to support UK Ambassador to the US, Kim Darroch and threw him under a bus. Despite Brexiteers accusing Remainers of making the UK a vassal state of the EU, the Press say that Johnson has done exactly the same thing with Brexit making the UK a vassal state of the US. ‘Ordered by Trump, sacked by Johnson’ and ‘Trump said jump, Johnson said how high. MPs from all sides, including a host of Tory MPs condemned Johnson for his lack of leadership.

It also seems that Conservative Party members are completely out of step with the rest of the country. Johnson has a huge lead over Jeremy Hunt with Party members according to Polls. However, Hunt is far more popular with the rest of the country with voters saying Johnson is an ‘irresponsible, self-serving buffoon’. But the real bad news for Conservatives is that the majority of voters polled say that neither Johnson nor Hunt would make a good Prime Minister.

MPs passed an historic and long overdue vote this week when they voted to bring the same level of human rights to Northern Ireland as enjoyed by the rest of the UK. MPs voted to allow abortion and same sex marriage in a landmark step.

Very bad news for the Brexit Party this week. Polls show that the party’s popularity is in sharp decline. Perhaps that may be something to do with outbursts such as these when a Brexit Party MEP said that the Royal Navy should attack EU fishing boats. A national embarrassment.

Brexit

There was more dreadful news on the potential fallout from a No Deal Brexit this week. BMW is moving engine manufacturing; Ireland say that the Northern Irish backstop debate is being badly and irresponsibly handled by both Hunt and Johnson; the UK faces decades of decline and Brexit will signal the end of the Union. Project Fear was the usual unbelievable Leaver reply. Even the Head of the World Trade Organisation stated that Johnson is not grasping the truth of what post-Brexit trade looks like. Trouble ahead.

Environment

This week saw massive shock waves on the environmental front as big hitters and big events hit the headlines. David Attenborough likened the fight against the climate emergency to the fight against slavery and warned of civil unrest in the face of our climate crisis. Prince Charles even warned that we have 18 months to save the planet. The UN revealed that we have one major climate event every week and a report found that city dwellers have billions of toxic are particles lodged in their hearts.

World

Violent protests continue in Hong Kong. Carrie Lam has said the extradition bill is dead but it’s not withdrawn as Joshua Wong, leader of the protest groups, states that the British police commander should face the consequences and pay the price for police action.

Technology

It seems it’s worth taking a gamble on Artificial Intelligence. A robot beat top poker players in a major breakthrough for AI.

Stories of the week 7 July

Brexit

This week revealed yet more ways the Brexit fantasy dream is turning into a real nightmare. In devastating news for the UK’s future trade, Canada refused to roll over the same deal they have with the EU for the UK. After years of negotiations, the Canadians refused to budge putting all future trade deals up for grabs in terms of conditions.

Local Councils in the UK are set for more misery after an £8bn EU fund for local growth will disappear in 2020.

There were several warnings this week from the likes of Theresa May and Liam Fox that the Union would not survive No Deal Brexit. Despite a poll of Conservative Party members finding that they prefer Brexit to keeping the Union if the choice had to be made. A sentiment supported by Nigel Farage.

Women are set to head-up EU institutions for the first time including Ursula Von Der Leyen who called Brexit ‘a burst bubble of hollow promises’.

Politics

The Conservative Party Leadership contest took a dangerous and worrying turn this week when it was revealed that Party Members are about to elect a Prime Minister who is not trusted by UK secuirity services. State secrets and sensitive material were routinely kept from Boris Johnson because he can’t be trusted with keeping them.

Boris Johnson also launched a bizarre proposal to review sugar tax. Despite facing a backlash from medical professionals and other politicians, Johnson’s move wasn’t so strange when it was linked to paving the way for US high sugar food imports and the fact that his advisors have financial links to high-sugar drink brands.

Both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were ridiculed for their No Deal Brexit threats with Philip Hammond claiming it would cost £90bn whilst other MPs are plotting to make sure Parliament can prevent it.

Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party became even more of a national embarrassment this week as they childishly turned their backs on the EU anthem at the opening of the EU Parliament in Brussels. The Press were far from impressed.

World

The heart-breaking protests in Hong Kong continue as China starts to clamp down hard on any unrest. Despairing Hong Kong freedom fighters are taking their own lives in the ultimate sacrifice for personal freedoms. The world is doing little but watch.

Donald Trump faced a severe backlash for militarising the traditional US 4^th of July celebrations through adding military vehicles and troops to the White House Parade. All the heads of the US armed forces were absent as a sign of protest as President Trump proudly proclaimed that the 1775 Revolutionary army took over airports.

Austerity

Five former chiefs of Scotland Yard announced this week that Government cuts had reduced policing to dangerously unsafe levels resulting in a feeling of lawlessness across the UK. Make no mistake, they said, the blame for this lies firmly with the Conservative Party.

Environment

This week scientists claimed that the answer to the Climate Emergency is right in front of our eyes. Planting 1 trillion trees would capture enough carbon to make a difference. Greta Thunberg thanked OPEC for saying Climate Activists provided the greatest threat to oil and Prince Charles along with Chris Packham are planning an environmental summit.

Top stories of the week 23 June

Politics

Contenders in the Conservative Leadership race were dubbed the worst boy band ever as the Press slammed 5 out of touch Tories. The Press noted that the promises were becoming wilder and more unrealistic and the facts contenders were spouting were becoming further and further removed from the truth. It’s down to two now, Hunt or Johnson.

The Conservative Party hit new lows this week when its approach to both violence against women and the climate emergency were revealed in the worst possible way. Police were called the flat shared by Boris Johnson and his lover Carrie Symonds. A neighbour recorded the violent argument between the two with screaming and smashing plates. Johnson then continued to dodge Press questions on the topic.

Continuing the Conservative theme of violence and abuse aimed at women, Conservative Minister Mark Field was suspended for physically assaulting a female Greenpeace protestor. In what quite frankly was an embarrassing and puerile excuse, Field said he thought she was armed despite being in an event with the highest security and the woman in an evening dress where disguising a weapon would be almost impossible. So another Conservative MP telling the truth.

Brexit

MPs are taking the metropolitan Police to court over their delaying the investigation into the Leave campaign. MPs say the delay is politically motivated. Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, shredded Boris Johnson’s claims of avoiding economic damage in the event of No Deal and forecast UK growth down to zero.

World

More demonstrations and clashes with police in Hong Kong this week over China’s newly proposed extradition law. Leading activist, Joshua Wong, was unexpectedly released by authorities. Wong then vowed to continue to protest against Beijing-backed leader Carrie Lam whom he branded a liar and a coward. As protests entered the second week a solution appeared to remain out of reach.

Environment

Environmental reporters face being murdered. EU states swing behind becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Pollution from microplastcs in UK rivers is worse than the Pacific garbage patch while 60% of land in the UK is polluted with ammonia. Just to add to the desperate news, this week saw more evidence of the devastating sea ice melt in Greenland.

Top stories of the week 16th June

Brexit

Fresh out of new ideas, Boris Johnson has gone back to the tried and trusted route of threatening to withhold the £39bn divorce payment to the EU. However, as usual, this appears to be yet another empty promise since reneging on a sovereign debt would severely impact the UK international standing and financial rating. In other words, it would hurt the UK far more than the EU.

D Day veterans, Labour Party activists and an increasing number of MPs are coming round to support a second referendum to end the deadlock on Brexit

In an effort to prevent a disastrous No Deal Brexit, MPs launched a bid to stop a future hard-line Brexiter Tory leader from throwing the UK under a bus with crashing out of the EU.

Politics

Boris Johnson’s launch campaign speech was fact-checked and found to be grossly untrue. His threat to pay the £39bn EU bill has been rubbished and his tax cuts only help the wealthy elites like himself. Welcome to the future of the UK.

World

Protests against Chine in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition Bill have become increasingly aggressive and hostile. Authorities have closed Government offices and police have used rubber bullets on crowds.

Environment

Good karma! Radiohead foiled blackmail hackers and helped the planet too. Radiohead singer, Thom Yorke, was hacked and blackmailers demanded £150,000 ransom to prevent 18 hours of material recorded at the time of OK Computer to be released on the internet. In a great reversal, Radiohead have put the material online for sale. For 18 days, people can buy the 18 hours of material for £18 with all proceeds going to Extinction Rebellion.

Stories of the week 2nd June

Brexit

It turns out the Brexit Party wasn’t the overall winner in the European Elections. The majority of voters supported Remain parties in the latest demonstration that Remain is the will of the people. In another strong example of how Brexit no longer is flavour of the month with voters, the Liberal Democrats have surged ahead in the polls leaving the Conservatives and Labour tied in third place behind the Brexit Party.

As the days tick past there is a growing argument in the Press about what awaits, a straight choice between No Deal and a 2^nd Referendum.

Politics

Conservative Leadership candidate and favourite to become the next Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been summoned to appear in court. A private case has been bought against him for repeatedly stating lies about the £350m pounds a week famously put on the side of the Leave Campaign bus.

The Conservative Party leadership race nearly really does have more chiefs than Indians with more and more riders joining the race. Most contenders are hard-line Brexiters promising to open up re-negotiations. Europe couldn’t have made a clearer response by splitting up their negotiating team and stating that negotiations were concluded and would not be re-opened under any circumstances.

The Leadership race has seen recent wounds remaining unable to heal as Tory grandees and Remainers warn against the political suicide of No Deal. The UK car manufacturing sector took another potentially mortal blow with production down 44.5% and the future of British Steel remains unknown.

This week saw the publication of yet another report pointing the finger at the UK and its Territories as the world’s greatest enablers of tax avoidance as the use of food banks continues to rise and record number of UK children are in poverty.

National Health

Record GP closures are up a staggering 700% under the Conservative Government as nearly a half a million people have been forced to find new surgeries or go without medical covers.

Stories of the week 19 May

Brexit

As the pressure mounts on Theresa May and the days are counting down until departure, she is determined to bring her deal back for another Commons vote one last time. There seems even less chance of it passing this time unless some miraculous additional offer or change of approach materialises. If the vote, as expected, fails one more time then many pundits suggest there will only be two choices left, Revoke or No Deal.

Meanwhile, a Remain tactical voting site remainvoter.com launches to show Remain voters which Remain party to vote for in their area to make sure their vote really counts. Angela Merkel this week encouraged the EU to unite and stand up against the tyranny of Russia, China and the US.

This week Nigel Farage showed his true leadership credentials by fleeing the scene of a Road traffic Accident. Police asked McDonalds to stop selling milkshakes during a Farage rally in Edinburgh. It was also revealed that Arron Banks had given Farage £450,000 and MPs are considering investigating a Brexit party fake members scam and dark money pouring into the party. Meanwhile the trial of Boris Johnson for misleading the public over the referendum continues. Another reminder of the illegal Leave campaign during the referendum.

Politics

Labour announced this week that is was going to renationalise the National Grid as part of its green new deal to cut both emissions and utility bills.

Divisions in the Conservative party continue to plague the country. Reportedly, a tearful Theresa May had to agree to a schedule for her departure. The leadership race is on with all the usual suspects and even some new contenders putting themselves forward for the title.

Austerity

It was revealed this week that 1 in 4 northerners are paid less than the minimum wage as yet more appalling stories of teachers feeding school children emerged. Some Press reported that child poverty has become the new ‘normal’ with an estimated 500,000 more children trapped in poverty since 2010.

Middle East

The relationship between the US and Iran is delicately balanced on a knife-edge this week. Supposedly encouraged by Bolton, Donald Trump has upped the war of words with Iran and has sent more ships and troops into the area. Iran has told its militias throughout the region to prepare for a proxy war.

Environment

The whole world faced yet another wake-up call this week with the news that more than 20 million babies are born underweight each year. This is a clear indication of health problems to come and a measurement of how healthy our environment actually is.

The plastic crisis continues with more than 414 million pieces of plastic waste found on remote Indian Ocean islands.

Stories of the week

Brexit

Reports this week claimed that dozens of millionaires, many of whom supported the referendum, are leaving the UK because of Brexit. Rats and sinking ships come to mind. Speaking of which, a crowdfunded campaign to launch a prosecution against Boris Johnson for lying about the £350m per week payments to the NHS on the side of the bus? Remember that bus? It looks like it’s coming back for Boris.

Cross-Party talks appear to be coming to an end with no compromise or agreement in sight. This puts the potential for a second referendum or people’s vote right back on the table which is the option becoming increasingly favoured by the public.

Politics

Threats and abuse of MPs is reaching record and unacceptable levels in a clear indication of what Brexit has dome to public order and public decency in the UK.

As polls show the Brexit Party going ahead of the Conservatives in the forthcoming European elections, party leader Nigel Farage decided to stick to his Leaver values and left the site of a road traffic accident. Nothing like showing your true leadership credentials by ‘legging it’ from an accident scene before the police arrive.

Society

In shocking news for the UK, a Dutch court has refused extradition of an accused drug dealer to the UK because of the inhuman conditions in UK prisons. The cuts to funding and privatisation conditions have become intolerable and now UK prisons are considered unsafe and inhumane.

Environment

Almost every country in the world apart from the US has signed up and agreed to reduce plastic pollution. Scientists are looking at ways to reflect sunlight away from earth to reduce heat. Labour are also considering de-listing major polluting organisations from the FTSE 100 as part of their New Green Deal as toxic air pollution in the UK doubles the threat of lung disease and is currently affecting nearly 3m children.

Science

This week saw a major and historic breakthrough in the fight against the growing threat of antibiotic resistant superbugs and the lack of any real investment in the next generation of antibiotic drugs. In a world first, a teenage girl in the UK was the first person to have a deadly superbug infection successfully treated with a genetically modified virus treatment. An amazing breakthrough offering hope to humanity.

Stories of the week 5 May

Politics

Local Elections took place this week and in no uncertain terms it was a Remain backlash against pro-Brexit parties particularly the Conservatives and the Labour Party. Pro-Remain parties the Liberal Democrats and The Green Party surged ahead at the polls. The Conservatives lost hundreds of seats and control of numerous local Councils in what was seen as voter rejection from both Remainers and Leavers who have been dissatisfied with how Brexit has been dealt with by the Government. In no uncertain terms, voters across every region have shown their opinion and their voice by this overwhelming landslide victory for Pro-Remain parties in the clearest signal yet that the mood and the opinion of the country has changed in the almost three long years since the referendum.

In more bad news for the Government and for Leavers, Gavin Williamson was instantly dismissed by Prime Minister Theresa May for potentially breaking the Official Secrets Act and certainly for failing to adhere to the Ministerial Code. Williamson was found guilty of leaking vital security information over the possible inclusion of Huawei technology in the UK’s infrastructure. The highly embarrassed Prime Minister wants the matter close but not so Gavin Williamson who continues to plead his innocence despite having admitted he talked to the Press soon after the high level security meeting but didn’t mention this. MPs want a Police probe. The Government are saying that’s up to the Police. The Police are saying actually it’s the Government’s decision. Williamson could face up to two years in prison if found guilty.