Jeremy Corbyn News

 

 

Stories of the week 9th June

 

Politics

The state visit of Donald Trump took place this week against the usual background of hypocrisy, fake news, demonstrations and controversy.  But according to the President himself, ‘the Queen had never enjoyed herself so much’ as she did during his visit.  Whilst Conservative Party Leadership hopefuls queued up to meet Trump along with Trump’s ‘good friend’ Nigel Farage, other politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan who came in for a barrage of tweets from the US leader, joined protestors to condemn the visit..

Fears for the influx of chlorinated chicken and other horrendous imports from the US as part of any post-Brexit trade deal were heightened this week. Both Trump and the US UK ambassador made statements on how the NHS was up for grabs in terms of any future trade negotiations. The uproar was immense and the subject was dropped. For now.

The Brexit Party was in the news this week for two big stories.  Much to the ire of Brexiter press, the Brexit Party lost the Peterborough election and the chance of getting the first Brexit Party MP into Westminster. Labour won the election with the Brexit Party coming second and the Conservatives a humiliating third.

Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage refused to appear before a European commission investigating why he had not declared almost half a million pounds given to him by long-time supporter Arron Banks, himself under investigation for electoral crimes.

 

 

Brexit

In more disastrous Brexit news, Ford announced this week that it was closing its Welsh engine plant with a loss of 1700 jobs.  Adding to the concerns, Ford also said that a No-Deal Brexit would put a further 6,000 jobs on the line.

With UK economic data weakening all the time because of Brexit, growing sections of the Press asked have we learnt nothing from D-Day and the forces that are keeping Europe united are stronger than those trying to tear it apart. A message Brexiters just want to ignore.

 

 

Environment

In a shocking and chilling report this week, Humanity could end by 2050 from ecological collapse, disease pandemics, lethal heatwaves and even the threat of nuclear war. The case for more Extinction Rebellion on a global scale could not be stronger.

But there has been some climate good news this week. The Greta effect is making children push their parents to be greener. Theresa May has promised zero emissions in the UK by 2050 as public concern over environmental issues reaches a record high, although this can be rolled back by future PMs. The Danes rejected populism in their elections to focus on the climate emergency.

 

 

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.

In bizarre news for the UK’s now verging on comedy government, Boris Johnson was forced to delete a tweet claiming that he had voted in the local elections wher there wasn’t any voting taking place at all in his constituency. Also, Scottish Tory Leader, Ruth Davidson, has prevented Boris from appearing at the Scottish Tory Party Conference. Boris is anything but potential leadership material for a great many Conservatives.

 

 

Environment

At last some great political news for the UK. Jeremy Corbyn, after the Labour Party expressed report for Extinction Rebellion, begged MPs to declare a Climate Emergency which they dutifully did. The Climate emergency is the first official recognition of the huge and devastating impact climate change is having on our planet. It’s hoped that more governments will do the same and a number of environmental decisions can now be taken in the UK with this as its official position. A report was also released stating that the UK should target zero carbon emissions by 2050.

 

 

World

Venezuela’s President Maduro survived an attempted coup this week led by his political rival Juan Guaido. Donald Trump supported the coup whilst Putin supported the President, both leaders taking the world back to the 1960s with violent clashes with the military all over the country.

 

 

 

Stories of the week 28 April

 

Brexit

Cross-party talks continued this week surrounded by a mutual blame game. Jeremy Corbyn accused the Government of not budging an inch on their red-lines and no sight of compromise in sight. Theresa May, on the other hand, accused Labour of simply trying to destroy the Conservatives. Something they seem to be doing well enough by themselves.

 

 

Politics

The big news this week was a serious leak in the Cabinet. Details of a secret meeting regarding the giant Chinese telecoms company Huawei’s role in the roll-out of 5G. Security forces were investigating how the leak took place. Ministers were accused first then they blamed civil servants.

Nigel Farage is back. The Brexit Party is set to benefit at the European Elections at the cost of the Conservatives. Some local Conservative activists are refusing to even canvass in the upcoming euro elections. The Brexit Party have nothing but constructive plans for being a real thorn in the side of the European Parliament. It’s a real Hua-dunnit, one headline read.

Donald Trump is due to make a UK state visit to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of D-Day.  The police bill for his three day visit is expected to be more than £18m. It is likely the President will address US troops rather than angry MPs who still want him banned from Parliament. The Press are divided broadly along the same split as Brexit. Nothing surprising there.

 

 

World

 

ISIS claimed responsibility for carrying out bombings of churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. In the atrocities, nearly 300 men, women and children were killed.

 

 

Austerity

In extremely disturbing news, food parcels from the food bank network reached a new record high in the last year. In even more proof of the cruelty and failure of Universal Credit, 1.7 food parcels were distributed over the past 12 months.

 

 

Environment

Humans are putting almost 1 million species into risk of extinction as a new report states that far from being reduced, de-forestation is on the increase.

Greta Thunberg addressed UK politicians and condemned the UK’s policy on fossil fuels. Extinction Rebellion continued their protests to save ourselves from ourselves and a new Banksy was revealed. A little girl holding the Extinction Rebellion logo.

 

 

Stories of the week 14 April

 

 

Brexit

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.

 

 

Politics

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.

Conservative Adviser, Roger Scruton was dismissed from Government for his ‘white supremacist’ views after claiming Islamophobia is a propaganda invention, all Chinese people are ‘replicas’ and George Soros has an empire in Hungary.

 

 

World

 

 

Julian Assange was arrested and removed after seven years of refuge in an Embassy in London. Complex arguments are now on-going on the question of extradition to the US or to Sweden.

 

 

Environment

Vehicle pollution is causing more than 4m cases of child asthma each year. The UK is the worst in Europe with up to 30% of cases directly linked to toxic air.

‘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.

 

 

Middle East

More news this week on how UK arms sales are leading to civilian atrocities and death in the Yemen.

 

 

Technology

New proposed online laws could threaten the freedom of speech in Britain.

 

 

 

Stories of the week 7 March 2019

 

 

Brexit

This week it seems there was only one major theme with a thousand subplots – Brexit.

In rapidly growing concerns about the rise of white right-wing terrorism, pro-Brexiters left suspicious devices to disrupt the rail network.  Just what Brexit needs, delays to transport to add to the threat of lengthy customs checks.

Theresa May was accused by Tories of reaping disaster on the party for doing what should have been started nearly three years ago, and opening cross-party talks with Jeremy Corbyn. After three days, Labour says nothing has changed as May refuses to budge whilst there are other reports that Corbyn and May are trying to make any agreement water-tight against a future Brexiter Tory leader, say, for example, someone like Boris Johnson.

It’s official, Conservative divisions throughout the Brexit negotiations have made the UK a source of ridicule and pity for the rest of the world.

The Press also point out Gove’s and Johnson’s connection to the illegal Leave referendum campaign and wonder why such illegality and fraud is going without further review and action.  It seems Brexiters have cheated their way to victory but nobody is willing to take action.

The Press ask ‘is Brexit over’ as a Labour leave constituency votes in a Remain Labour MP. MP’s have taken back control with a series of indicative votes as Conservative peers try to filibuster their way through preventing No Deal being taken off the table.

The Cabinet is split. The Conservative Party is divided but one way or another, like it or not, Article 50 is going to be extended. The question is for how long. Europe want either no extension or a long one whilst the Tories want a short extension to try and get through their deal.

The option of a 2^nd referendum grows closer every day. New polls suggest the majority of the public want to have another say.  Pressure is piling onto Jeremy Corbyn from Labour MPs to have another vote. Pressure is piling onto Theresa May from Conservative MPs to do the exact opposite and not give the people the final say.

In more dire No Deal Brexit warnings, Brexit has directly cost £66bn to date which doesn’t take into account the £900 billion that has already left the country. The mighty UK Services Sector has shrunk for the first time since the Brexit vote and more than 10,000 riot police are put on standby for No Deal civil turmoil.

 

 

 

Stories of the week 16 September

 

 

Brexit

Bank of England chief, Mark Carney, joined in with the various government warnings on a No Deal Brexit.  After alerting the public to the facts that a No Deal Brexit would be as bad as the 2008 financial crisis with rapidly rising interest rates and unemployment along with rapidly falling house prices. Carney was, of course, accused of spreading doom and gloom by Brexiters.

In more Brexit financial news, New York replaced London as the world’s top financial centre as uncertainty over Brexit continues.

 

 

Politics

After his burqa row, Boris Johnson continued with his inflammatory language commenting on Theresa May’s ‘Chequers Plan’.  Johnson decided to liken it to the Prime Minister putting ‘a suicide vest’ on the UK economy.

In more Boris Johnson news, the Government has been accused of ‘a power grab’ through changing constituency boundaries.  These proposed changes will reduce the number of MPs.  It will also reduce the majority of many Conservative MPs and puts both Boris Johnson’s and Jeremy Corbyn’s seats at risk.

 

 

Society

The Home Office warned of an ever-growing terror threat from the far right. For the first time there were more white people arrested on terrorism charges than any other ethnicity.

Mark Carney was back with more disturbing news. The Bank of England are considering the possibility that with the new industrial revolution and AI, people may never be able to retire in the future.

 

 

Austerity

This week Austerity stories demonstrated how cuts are having a real impact on everyday lives.

The Home Office admitted it had no idea how budget cuts were affecting the Police even though the Police were also preparing for civil unrest in the case of a No Deal Brexit. Proof of the effect of cuts wasn’t long in coming.  London’s Met Police dropped tens of thousands of cases.

The NHS financial crisis has long been in the news but this week it emerged that the NHS is selling its land at an increasing rate.

A report also revealed some incredible inequality in the UK. People in wealthier areas enjoy 19 more years of good health than people in the poorest areas.

 

 

Middle East

There have been many gruesome stories in the Syrian conflict. Idlib appeared to be potentially one of the worst with the UN predicting a humanitarian crisis if Assad’s Idlib offensive continued. Despite talk of attacks and counter attacks amongst the super powers, the threat of chemical weapons and the potential for one of the worst atrocities of the war, a ceasefire was established.

 

 

Environment

Two great stories this week really stood out.

After freak blizzards in Africa, there was snow on the Savannah and a US state didn’t like the idea of rising sea levels so passed a law against it.