Stories of the week 17 March
Thousands of people came together across the globe at vigils to pay tribute to victims of the New Zealand terror attack. White right wing extremists attacked mosques killing 49 people and streaming the despicable event live to the internet. MI5 was looking into links with right extremist groups in the UK. The Press talked about the threat of ‘White ISIS’.
It has been quite a week. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.
The Government announced a cunning plan to slash import tariffs in the event of No-Deal. However, it seems their plan wasn’t so cunning after all. In fact it was condemned as ‘madness’ and a ‘sledgehammer for the UK economy’.
In theory, these tariffs should never need to be slashed since MP’s also voted No Deal could never be an option. It remains theoretical because the motion isn’t legally binding.
The various votes, amendments and strategies played out this week in Westminster have taken their toll. Both the Conservatives and the Labour party finally suffered splits as ministers and factions could no longer support official party lines.
Theresa May remains intent on trying to get her deal back from the dead for the third time prompting a Labour MP to ask ‘how is it undemocratic to give the people a second vote and we are asked to vote three times on the same thing?’ A very good question.
MPs did come to their senses and realise what a mess we’re in and voted to extend Article 50. Europe are saying, quite rightly, if the UK has a plan they’re happy to agree. If no plan then perhaps no way.
Just to add to the Government’s distress and embarrassment, President Trump told the world how he’d advised Theresa May and was disappointed with the way Brexit was going.
In very saddening and disheartening news, more terrible repercussions from Government cuts in benefits were revealed this week. More than half of Senior School Head Teachers reporting having to wash clothes and feed pupils.
‘It’s our time to rise up’ was the rallying cry as hundreds of thousands of children and young people staged youth climate strikes in 100 countries in a mass Extinction Rebellion. The biggest lesson of the day was teaching adults to stop destroying their future world.
According to one report this week, time travel really is possible. In a seemingly incredible breakthrough, Scientists actually reversed time with a quantum computer. Really?
