No Deal News
Stories of the week 9th June
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.
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.
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 21 April
The news this week was dominated by Extinction Rebellion and global protests about the political and economic terrible lack of action and commitment to tackle climate change and potential human extinction. Initially in London, the relationship between police and well-mannered, non-violent protesters was peaceful, even jovial sometimes. However, the Conservative Government whilst falsely claiming to be listening to the protestors ordered the police to get tough with people and move them on.
The Press were deeply divided over Extinction Rebellion. As you would expect, the Conservative, Brexit-backing, more right wing newspapers dismissed protestors as ‘middle-class Marxists’. Whatever side you’re on, it is impossible to dismiss the drive and commitment of these protestors trying to save us from ourselves. One teacher has lost their career through volunteering to be arrested. More ‘rebellions’ are planned.
It was revealed this week that the cost of No Deal planning has topped £4bn in a Brexit scenario nobody except hard-line Brexiters want. But huge sums of money was not the only cost of No Deal. Thousands of the UK’s rarest orchids were bulldozed to make potential truck parks in Kent.
In another huge blow for Brexiters, Nancy Pelosi confirmed in Dublin that there was no chance of a US-UK trade deal if the seamless Northern Irish border was threatened by the UK leaving the EU. Pelosi reminded the world that US politicians were instrumental in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and were unwilling to compromise.
Labour MP and Remainer, David Lammy, accused Jacob Rees-Mogg, Boris Johnson and the rest of the ERG of being like Nazis. The recent spread of right wing doctrine by ERG members would seem to support Lammy’s view that even this Nazi comparison is not strong enough.
Ahead of the Euro elections, Facebook countered the threat of right wing groups by banning far-right groups including the BNP, EDL and Britain First.
More shocking news this week on austerity and inequality.
In dramatic and emotional scenes that touched the world, an immense fire engulfed Notre Dame. The cathedral was reportedly only thirty minutes away from total collapse. A human chain passed historic objects and relics from hand-to-hand to save them from the fire. A rescue fund was launched with billions of euros promised which in turn created its own set of problems internally in France.
It has been a little while since Donald Trump has been in the news but here he was again this week. In a nutshell, the Mueller report was published this week and did not clear Trump from obstructing justice. A growing movement for impeachment is threatening the President’s future.
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.
