Philip Hammond believes that what is good for the City of London is good for Britain. He represents the Conservative Party as sociological determinism says it should be, a Europhile and the voice of unfettered financial capitalism
Boris Johnson
There were further resignations from Boris Johnson’s “Union unit” last week. As with the ongoing SNP soap opera, personality clashes masked a deeper crisis of purpose. Nobody seems capable of telling a story of what Britain is about.
Source Direct: You Won’t Get Me I’m Part of the Union
“Little to nothing hinted at in Starmer’s speech – or more concretely asserted by Conservative leaders – could even be countenanced by a new state without its own central bank or control over monetary policy. These are ideas for the wrong century, and the gulf is widening.”
Analysis: The coming UK Budget could be a blow to the austerity-mongers – and the left
What does Boris Johnson think he’s doing in Scotland? Perhaps he hopes that showing a little gallantry at the coalface can charm our national pants off. But few political leaders are so ill-equipped for a charm offensive.
Source Direct: Johnson’s Jaunt – Kamikaze Unionism?
The UK passed a grim milestone yesterday, as Boris Johnson announced that officially recorded coronavirus deaths have passed 100,000. Only five countries have crossed this number: ourselves aside, there is the US, Brazil, India and Mexico.
Source Direct: Ukania’s Macabre Milestone
“Food – good food – is not a luxury, and there is nothing you can do, no one you can be, that justifies being deprived of it. The matter must be put beyond question.”
Sean Bell: Food is everything
“Those who look after others may be some of society’s heroes, but they are also sometimes taking on service roles which should be provided by the government.”
Peter Markham: Why Westminster is turning the UK into a group of ‘Justgiving’ nations
Escalating business fears, only to play the last-ditch saviour, also means escalating ERG hopes, only to dash them. Johnson’s game of chicken is therefore bound to outrage someone.
Johnson plays chicken – Aussie rules style
“Apocalyptic fires and floods, cyclones and hurricanes are the new normal,” Guterres will reportedly argue. “Biodiversity is collapsing. Deserts are spreading. Oceans are choking on plastic waste.”
Self-congratulation will not fix a broken planet
“By putting energy into fighting in unison, this deeply unequal Union might yet die a peaceful death that enables each nation to rise from the ashes strengthened, able to shake off the soot of medieval power-hoarding and class conflict in favour of progressive, local democracy.”