Theresa May News

 

 

 

Stories of the week 21 July

 

 

Brexit

Parliament and a group of Conservative rebels sent a start warning to Boris Johnson over his threat to prorogue Parliament to force through a No Deal Brexit. MPs voted by a majority of 41 for an amendment to a Northern Irish bill that requires a Minister to report on direct rule every week to Parliament thereby negating any chance of dismissing the House of Commons.  The Press saw this as a sign of how fragile a Johnson government would be.

Adding more resistance to Johnson’s No Deal pronouncements, Gina Miller will take Johnson to court if he tries to force through No Deal and a Cross-Party committee in Parliament stated that the most likely outcome and the appropriate way forward is a second referendum.

To add even more insults to Johnson’s injuries, Boris publicly ranted about unnecessary and stupid European food laws using a kipper as an example. The stunt totally backfired and showed Johnson’s inability to grasp detail or the truth when it emerged that the very laws Johnson was moaning about were, in fact, British and not European at all.

 

 

Politics

The Conservative Leadership race rumbles on and continues to reach even lower depths of discord and misery. Philip Hammond stated that No Deal would be economic suicide for the UK and that he, plus other Tory rebels, would be willing to bring the Government down rather than see this happen. Hammond’s fear was further exacerbated when Jacob Rees-Mogg boasted of a No Deal economic boost which Hammond found terrifying that anyone was so misguided or so deceitful.

 

Austerity

Due to appalling Conservative cuts in funding, Theresa May’s legacy will be thousands of UK families dreading school holidays instead of looking forward to them as a time for family fun. The country’s shame lies in the fact that school children will go hungry in the holidays as food banks come even greater pressure to help the many in need.

 

 

Society

After creating the devastating ‘hostile environment’, local councils are unwilling to give the Home Office any information on homeless people fearing unnecessary deportations. The Home Office have been accused of being ‘cruel and inhumane’ as stories of officials falsifying information to evict people from the country.

 

World

New unexpected depths were hit this week by Donald Trump as he continued his fascists and racist attacks on Ilhan Omar and three other Congress women.  Trump encouraged a crowd to chant ‘send her back’ home, in other words back to her country of racial origin. When Omar flew home to Minneapolis she was met with a crowd holding banners saying ‘Welcome Home!’.

 

Environment

Extinction Rebellion’s summer uprising took place this week. Police wanted tougher sentencing for arrested protestors and the group’s famous boats were banned from protests. Nevertheless, activists were able to make their views heard and cause peaceful disruption for the sake of ourselves and the planet.

 

Technology

Artificial Intelligence teaches itself to complete the Rubik’s cube in just 20 MOVES and gets it right every single time

 

 

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 19 May

 

Brexit

As the pressure mounts on Theresa May and the days are counting down until departure, she is determined to bring her deal back for another Commons vote one last time. There seems even less chance of it passing this time unless some miraculous additional offer or change of approach materialises. If the vote, as expected, fails one more time then many pundits suggest there will only be two choices left, Revoke or No Deal.

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Meanwhile, a Remain tactical voting site remainvoter.com launches to show Remain voters which Remain party to vote for in their area to make sure their vote really counts. Angela Merkel this week encouraged the EU to unite and stand up against the tyranny of Russia, China and the US.

This week Nigel Farage showed his true leadership credentials by fleeing the scene of a Road traffic Accident. Police asked McDonalds to stop selling milkshakes during a Farage rally in Edinburgh. It was also revealed that Arron Banks had given Farage £450,000 and MPs are considering investigating a Brexit party fake members scam and dark money pouring into the party.  Meanwhile the trial of Boris Johnson for misleading the public over the referendum continues.  Another reminder of the illegal Leave campaign during the referendum.

 

Politics

Labour announced this week that is was going to renationalise the National Grid as part of its green new deal to cut both emissions and utility bills.

Divisions in the Conservative party continue to plague the country. Reportedly, a tearful Theresa May had to agree to a schedule for her departure. The leadership race is on with all the usual suspects and even some new contenders putting themselves forward for the title.

 

Austerity

It was revealed this week that 1 in 4 northerners are paid less than the minimum wage as yet more appalling stories of teachers feeding school children emerged.  Some Press reported that child poverty has become the new ‘normal’ with an estimated 500,000 more children trapped in poverty since 2010.

 

Middle East

The relationship between the US and Iran is delicately balanced on a knife-edge this week. Supposedly encouraged by Bolton, Donald Trump has upped the war of words with Iran and has sent more ships and troops into the area. Iran has told its militias throughout the region to prepare for a proxy war.

 

Environment

The whole world faced yet another wake-up call this week with the news that more than 20 million babies are born underweight each year. This is a clear indication of health problems to come and a measurement of how healthy our environment actually is.

The plastic crisis continues with more than 414 million pieces of plastic waste found on remote Indian Ocean islands.

 

 

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 75th 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 17 March

 

World

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’.

 

 

Brexit

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.

 

 

Austerity

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.

 

 

Environment

‘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.

 

Science

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?

 

 

 

Top stories of the week 10 March

 

 

Brexit

This week Conservatives ‘lost the plot’ on many fronts according to the Press. Cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, Andrea Leadsom and Karen Bradley were branded ‘muppets’ over astonishing gaffes. And, in two of our favourite headlines this week, Jacob Rees-Mogg says Conservative Government is not Right-wing and the Brexit department’s top civil servant is set to retire just as UK is set to leave EU.

Theresa May launched her big Brexit bribe, throwing money at Labour leave towns in return for Labour MPs’ support for her deal. The bung backfired terribly when it was pointed out that it was not nearly enough to make any real difference and payment would be spread out over six years.

Speaking of ‘bungs’, Conservatives also came under fire as Theresa May prevented a key vote that would have made tax havens more transparent at the same time as it the amount of donations to the party from the same tax havens was revealed.

In more bad Conservative news, 14 members were suspended as it was claimed that Islamophobia is rife throughout the party.

Brexit really does leave a bad taste in the mouth and that’s official. Meghan Markle entered into Brexit row with swipe at US where chicken is washed in chlorine. The UK was urged to reject ‘backward US food standards’.

In more condemnation of the Leave campaign, it was revealed this week that Arron Banks broke an agreement to suspend Brexit campaigning after Jo Cox’s murder.

 

 

Society

The Windrush scandal continued this week with the Home Office accused of complacency with only one victim helped by the end of 2018.  The Department’s failings were so bad there was suggestion of removing immigration duties in the near future.

An alarming report this week revealed that Life expectancy in the UK has fallen by six months in the biggest drop in UK forecasts.

 

 

Austerity

The Government’s brutal austerity was revealed this week as two of the most important aspects of modern day life were thrown into stark relief.

The Government was accused of robbing an entire generation of ‘opportunity’ when more than 7,000 head teachers wrote to millions of parents warned of a ‘school funding crisis’ amid claims of 20% cuts in sixth-form budgets over the past decade. As usual, the Government refused to acknowledge there was anything wrong.

As the knife crime endemic continues to grow and more and more young lives are lost, both Theresa May and Philip Hammond refused to acknowledge that drastic police funding cuts had anything to do with it. You can imagine the outcry that followed.

 

 

Environment

Microplastics found in every lake and river in Britain and Climate change could bring Zika and malaria to the UK.

 

 

Middle East

The sad and complex story of Shamima Begum continued this week as the sad news of the death of her baby came through and the Government were blamed for the ‘callous’ decision to strip mum’s citizenship

 

 

 

Stories of the week 13 January 2019

 

Brexit

In the week running up to the big vote, Brexit was strangely muted but it did take some sinister turns.

Far Right abuse of MPs became completely out-of-hand and then a Conservative Minister warned that No Brexit would be a boost to the Far Right. A claim that was dismissed as Leaver desperation.

In Westminster, MPs backed a cross-party amendment to prevent a No Deal and the chaos that would follow.  Brexiteers even accused the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s warning that the ‘whole world’ is against no deal Brexit as a stunt.  

Prime Minister, Theresa May, took some unexpected twists and turns this week in an attempt to get her deal through Parliament. May met with Trade Union Leaders and Labour rebel MPs to gain support. In the meantime, continuing threats of 2nd referendums and general elections continue to circulate.

The single thing about Brexit the Press could agree on was whatever happened in the vote, Article 50 would be extended.

In the meantime Jaguar Land Rover along with other car manufacturers announced job losses as fears of the UK crashing out of Europe grew.

 

 

Austerity

In really very disturbing news, teachers are reporting that malnourished children are searching school bins for food. Four out of five teachers are paying for school resources using their own money.

The Government also quickly moved to stop more impact of the failed Universal Credit scheme even though in a staggering moment of insensitivity, Amber Rudd said these appalling stories of crushing poverty only happened to one or two people.

 

 

 

NHS

In more bad news for the Government, NHS chiefs have warned that the much-heralded £20bn ‘extra funding’ will not impact waiting times unless staffing problems are met.

 

 

 

World

Donald Trump has broken yet another record. He has succeeded in beating Bill Clinton to the record for shutting down the US Government for the longest time. National Parks and other federal resources have shut down as the stand-off continues on the financing of the border wall.

 

 

 

Science

In an incredibly amazing and highly chastening discovery this week, scientists have found that elephants are evolving to lose their tasks after experiencing decades of ivory poaching.

 

 

Stories of the week 14 October

 

Brexit

This week’s Brexit was all about movement and lack of movement.

The M26 may well become the ‘road to nowhere’ in the event of a no-deal Brexit. At least that’s what the government plans as they undertook secretive studies in night closures this week.

On the other hand, Nicola Sturgeon believes that Scotland is firmly on the move with talk of the SNP backing a second referendum on top of another Independence vote.

Much like a truck on the M26, Arlene Foster and the DUP are going nowhere over the Northern Irish border issue.  They threatened to bring down the government if they didn’t like the final deal.  Now there’s talk of May either dumping the DUP to get her deal through or paying them millions more to ensure their support.

 

 

Politics

This week was grim for the Conservatives on the domestic front.

Despite May promising the end of austerity, Universal Credit has been found to be a catastrophic mistake.  Warnings of riots when the system is rolled out similar to the Poll Tax were made by politicians from all sides.  To make matters worse, Esther McVey admitted people would be worse off under the new system.  To complete the bleak picture it was also revealed that McVey had made charities sign gagging orders to stop them talking about the failure.

 

 

Society

The Army has launched an investigation after videos and photos emerged of far right figurehead, Tommy Robinson, posing with British soldiers in uniform.

In more ‘shocking’ news, Banksy has been voted more popular than the Queen.

 

 

Environment

A UN report this week had a massive impact around the world. We have 12 short years to halve global emissions or face a bleak future.  Time is running out and we have to move fast or face potentially life-ending consequences.

Damaging his ‘green credentials’, Michael Gove did not attend the Climate Change Summit day after the UN report.

 

 

 

Middle East

More bad news for the Government after they were accused of changing the long-held British approach to the death penalty in order to appease Donald Trump.

Saudi Arabia have been accused of the torturing and killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi as the world considers sanctions.

 

 

Technology

There was a bumper crop of stories in our Technology section this week.

In a world first, MPs invited a robot to give evidence on the subject of AI.  The robot will be the first ‘non-human’ to appear before the UK Parliament.

In the US, the first robot farm replaces humans with intelligent machines.

And finally, an ‘alien base’ has been found Google tools.

 

 

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 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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