Chequers Plan News

 

 

Stories of the week 7 October

 

 

Brexit

In surprising domestic Brexit news this week it seems Theresa May has her own problems with Northern Ireland. DUP leader, Arlene Foster, seemed ready to bring down May’s government although she could work with Boris Johnson if he was Prime Minister.

In not so surprising domestic Brexit news, the full implications and impact of Brexit were revealed in terms of employment.  Unskilled males will be hit hardest with up to a million set to lose their jobs. A large percentage of this demographic supported Leave.

Jean-Claude Juncker once again has spoken out on the divisiveness of the UK Press and regretted that David Cameron had not allowed the EU to campaign during the referendum.

Theresa May came on stage at the Conservative Party Conference to the song ‘Dancing Queen’ after her dance performance on a recent trip to Africa.  A European source later claimed Abba called Brexit a disaster.

 

 

Politics

This week’s Conservative Party Conference witnessed divisions in the party come right out into the open.  Boris Johnson made an impassioned appeal to party members for his vision of Brexit whilst Theresa May made an appeal focussed on unity and the promise to end austerity. The Press really did look at this from a wide range of viewpoints.  Take a look and see how they reacted to Boris Johnson’s leadership bid and May’s end to austerity.

 

 

Austerity

Against the background of a teaching crisis, particularly in London, the Government have been accused of trying to disguise funding cuts to education with misleading figures whilst at the same time issuing misleading statements on the amount they actually do spend.

 

 

Society

Whether it’s Brexit or online Social Media trolls, sympathy and compassion are on the decline as sadly most Britons think empathy is on the wane.

 

 

Science

Two fantastic stories from our Science section this week – insect soldiers and Dracula.

Scientists fear that the US plan to genetically modify crops through using insects could also be used to turn them into bioweapons.  The aim is to create drought-resistant crops but the impact of weaponised insects could easily result in food security issues on a global scale.

In another amazing story, vampires may have discovered the elixir of youth or as the headline asks, ‘did Dracula have the bite idea?’  It seems Americans are paying thousands for infusions of young blood.  Top scientists believe it could work.

 

 

World

Thousands of flat-earthers around the world, or should that be across the world, have joined an exclusive dating app.

 

 

Stories of the week 23 September 2018

 

 

Brexit

This week wasn’t a week full of good news for optimistic Brexiters in the ongoing negotiations.

The IMF laid out the harsh economic consequences for the UK in the event of a no deal Brexit.  Although supported by Philip Hammond, arch Brexiters like Rees-Mogg were quick to dismiss the claims.

In more bad news, Jaguar Land Rover confirmed moving to a three day work with jobs to go in the event of a No Deal Brexit.  Other car manufacturers, Honda and Toyota, also warned of difficulties if the UK were to ’crash out of Europe’.

Adding to Brexiter troubles, French president Emmanuel Macron branded Brexiters liars who ‘predicted easy solutions and quit the next day’. Something that was, of course, denied by Brexiters themselves.

 

 

Politics

In more unsettling news for Brexit and the Prime Minister Theresa May, EU leaders rejected her ‘Chequers Plan’ outright at a European summit.  European leaders thought the plan was unworkable and believed that May’s own uncompromising approach forced them to do the same.

 

 

World

Coke and cannabis? Coke have decided to gate crash the booing cannabis product market. Coke announced they were ‘in serious talks’ to develop a cannabis-based ‘wellness’ drink.  The company decided to launch into the market given the potential of cannabis products around the world and the rapid rate of product development in the category.  Cannabis is becoming increasingly used for its anti-inflammatory capabilities and its restorative powers.

 

 

Environment

Very disturbing news this week on the future of mankind from a man-made problem. Scientists have discovered that toxic air pollution particles can reach the womb having been found in the placentas of pregnant women.

 

 

Middle East

With conflict in Yemen driven largely by Saudi Arabia, Save the children are reporting a humanitarian disaster on a grand scale with 5 million children at risk of starvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good news

Good news? Well, at least ironic news.

Despite all the crucial and world-changing news the Press usually focus on, every so often the news includes more light-hearted stories that are just too good to miss.  This week was a good week for those types of stories and here they are.

The author of ‘How to Murder Your Husband’ followed her own instructions and was actually charged with murdering her own husband.

The NHS have been accused of insensitivity after it was revealed that a recent TV advertisement depicting nurses looking after patients featured a song ‘about euthanasia’ playing in the background.

Think technology is so up-to-date? Well, it seems swiping on Tinder is addictive because of a famous psychological experiment in 1948 that ‘transformed pigeons into gamblers’.

 

 

 

Stories of the week 9 September

 

 

Austerity

‘Father battling cancer whose benefits were cut because he was ‘well enough to make a cup of tea’ died aged 56 with just £8 to his name, his family says’. The headline says it all.  There are many kinds of austerity wrapped up in this from universal credit to NHS cuts in finding.  Again, the headline says so much more than we could ever say.

 

 

Brexit

‘Brexit’ became associated with unexpected and exciting situations this week.  None of them were what Theresa May or arch-Brexiters might have wanted or expected.

EU Chief Negotiator, Michael Barnier, rejected May’s Chequers plan and suggested a counter-proposal himself. He was not the only one to reject May’s Brexit plan.  Apart from Labour, DUP leader Arlene Foster, David Davis and other hard-line Brexiters rejected it too.

All this against the backdrop of millions of Leave Voters switching to Remain since the referendum in more compelling evidence for another vote.

To make matters even worse for optimistic Brexiters, China called the UK ‘Washington’s sharksucker’ and accused it of provocation by sending the Royal Navy into the South China Sea.  The UK’s support of the US put any post Brexit trade deal at risk, Chinese state authorities confirmed.

 

 

 

Politics

With continuing calls for a Scottish Independence vote and a second referendum, the Scottish National Party (SNP) have more paying members than the Conservatives for the first time. Labour still have the largest paying membership.

Membership of the Conservative party wasn’t the only thing that wasn’t growing. After the summer heatwave, farmers became increasingly unhappy with Michael Gove and the government’s inaction with any support.

 

 

 

NHS

Just at a time when the NHS faces a severe shortage of nurses, figures show a large percentage of student nurses are dropping out before graduating their courses. This at a time when there are increasing job vacancies and increasing reliance on agency nursing support.

 

 

 

Environment

Two environmental stories this week focussed on the letter ‘H’ – humans and hedgehogs.

Humans. We may become extinct. Since every major rise or fall in temperature in the earth’s history has resulted in mass extinction, climate change could be the time for human beings to be no more according to biologists.

Hedgehogs are disappearing fast.  In fact most of the countryside is devoid of any at all according to scientists.

 

 

 

Technology

If you can’t beat them, join them.  Addicted to smartphones?  Can’t stop swiping. Road signs could be put on the ground so people looking at their phones can see them and reduce the smart phone accident syndrome.

 

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