Stories of the week 24 February
Brexit pressure blew Westminster wide open this week with both parties suffering major splits and defections. The new Independent Group formed this week as the clock counts down to leaving. A group of Labour MPs left to seek a new referendum and a group of Conservative MPs left because of the ‘Ukipisation’ of the Party and the continuing Tory threat of No Deal. The Press, unlike the MPs, didn’t know which way to turn. Brexiter Press were running scared of the new group whilst more liberal, remain Press hoped for some kind of breakthrough. There were recriminations, denials and accusations flying around as the various newspapers tried to come to terms with the fast-forming new political landscape. You can see how all sides of the Press lined up on the issue right here.
In other news, it was still a pretty bad week for Brexit. Aviva moved assets worth £9bn out of the UK to Ireland. The US will support Ireland and not the UK over the issue of a hard border. Tariffs on food will send prices soaring in the event of No Deal and the former World Trade Organisation boss warned that Brexiter No Deal trade plans are nonsense.
In more devastating news, Honda announced it was closing its Swindon plant. Brexiters immediately took their usual position of denial and denied it had got anything to do with Brexit. Remainers pointed to the recently signed free trade agreement, the largest ever made, between Japan and the EU as the final nail in the coffin for the UK car industry. Within seven years Japan will be able to import cars directly into the EU with zero tariffs making their investment in Brexit Britain redundant.
The troubling case of Shamima Begum, the UK ISIS bride now with child, hit the headlines this week. The Press, as you would expect, tried to ramp up the anti-Islam sentiments. The Government was accused of running away from the issue by removing Shamima’s UK citizenship. A move that was seen as dangerous, racist and illegal.
In moves harking back to the Cold War, Putin has threatened to target both the US and Europe with nuclear missiles if Trump deploys intermediate range missiles to the EU.
In continuing harrowing environmental news this week, Australia will let toxic sludge be dumped near the Great Barrier Reef, the biggest threat to health in the UK is air pollution and plummeting biodiversity will severely damage food production.
And in our favourite headline of the week, a 12 year old created a nuclear reaction in his playroom lab.
