Stories of the week 14 April
The big news this week is that the UK didn’t leave.
A ‘flextension’ was granted by the EU in an act of kindness and common sense to save the bedraggled and confused from No Deal. As you might expect, the Press were deeply divided. Some asked how taking back control ended up as begging the EU to let the UK stay. As Donald Tusk advised the UK ‘don’t waste time’, the Leaver Press saw this as the end for Theresa May as Prime Minister and the end of her proposed deal.
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn continued their talks to find some kind of compromise but to no avail. Conservatives were horrified that Labour was being consulted and that a customs union was being discussed. On the other hand, Labour negotiators were disappointed with the lack of movement on the Government’s Brexit red lines.
In more depressing Brexit news, the enormous cost of the Brexiter fantasy threat of No Deal was revealed. No Deal preparations were stood down with £4bn already spent. Billions that could have been spent on the NHS, Education or Social Care.
In good news for Remainers, Switzerland overturned the result of a referendum because voters were poorly informed. A Remain Labour MP won a local election in a Leave constituency as the appetite for a second referendum continues to grow.
Alarmingly UK voters appear want to embrace authoritarianism according to the Hansard Society.
The Brexit extension requires the UK to hold European elections. This along with holding cross-party talks with Labour has well and truly split the already bitterly divided Conservative party. Expected to take a bashing in the local and European elections, the race for party leadership is definitely on with Boris Johnson in rumoured talks with the DUP.
‘At least you’ll die from old age’ stated a poignant banner carried on more Youth Climate Strikes this week as the young valiantly try to remind their elders of their responsibility to the planet and future generations.
More news this week on how UK arms sales are leading to civilian atrocities and death in the Yemen.
New proposed online laws could threaten the freedom of speech in Britain.
