Section: UK

The prime minister’s pledge of unfettered access for trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is proving as worthless as his many other pledges.

Economist and local councillor John Cole shows how “doughnut economics” ( a concept created by Kate Raworth) might be the key to our way out of the upcoming economic crisis. Referring to key scholars, and an exciting event by the York Green Party, he shows the flaws of neoliberal economic assumptions and how the doughnut could save us all.

The battered Brexit can took another kicking down the road last night as Johnson and von der Leyen, instead of making decisions, agreed to order their negotiators to carry on talking. Unless Downing Street gets real and very soon, we could get a no deal Brexit by default.

Orange Zombie, by Rose Drew

How fitting – and worrying for the ERG – that after almost five years of truth twisting and obfuscation the final concessions on the UK’s red lines are to be made by the slippery charlatan who bears most responsibility for the unholy mess that we find ourselves in.

The government’s shambolic preparations for the UK’s post-Brexit borders after the transition period will lead to disruption and food shortages that could last for weeks or even months, say industry bosses.

Brexit, not coronavirus, may be about to dent many people’s holiday season. By choosing to leave the single market and the customs union, we are making huge structural changes to the transportation of our goods because of the new customs arrangements now necessary at the border. For just-in-time produce such as food that is perishable, or medicines, or manufacturing components (where timing is everything) the delays could be catastrophic.

Dr Stella Perrott talks to some of the “do-gooders” stigmatised by the home secretary, Priti Patel. “No wonder Patel feels she must denigrate and undermine do-gooders but, in doing so, she is attacking the very heart of British society and values.”

“Working on your car again, Tim?” “Yep.” “Checking the spark plugs? Topping up the oil?” “Nah, mate. Taking out the airbags.” “The airbags??!!” “That’s right.” “But why on earth…?” “Don’t want anything to do with them, mate.” “Well, none of us want anything to *do* with them, Tim. They’re just there for emergencies.” “They’re a […]

Charlie McCarthy looks at the internal politics of the Conservative party surrounding the foreign aid budget, which the chancellor has cut in the Spending Review. The cut will have consequences, McCarthy writes, for Britain’s standing abroad, and for our own prosperity as a country.

With just four weeks to go to the end of the transition, the famously vacillating prime minister is apparently yet to decide whether to accept a deal or not. But he may not survive either choice.

Dr Pam Jarvis breaks down the prime minister’s attempts to gaslight the nation, making us question our own reality. Using her background in psychology, she explains how the ‘power and control’ wheel can be used to “control their citizens by pumping out information about how people should think and behave, whilst encouraging them to judge each other against such objectives”.

Dr Stella Perrott discusses a new report that shows that the overwhelming majority of sexual assault perpetrators have escaped consequences. “The criminal justice system, from police and prosecution service to the courts, is riddled with ‘rape myths’, is disempowering of and even harmful to victims”

Andy Brown argues that Boris Johnson is right to maintain covid restrictions – there’s a first time for everything. But having got this right, he’s being undermined by his own backbenchers who claim it will damage the economy. These are the same MPs who are happy to do serious damage to the economy by sticking to their arbitrary Brexit deadlines.

Georgia Lambert discusses the history of women’s football and its modern-day resurgence in popularity. However, sexist attitudes still permeate the sport, and top-tier women suffer a sizeable pay disparity with their male counterparts.

In what looks like a classic bait and switch operation, virtually none of the original promises of Brexit, set out clearly by Michael Gove in his speech of 19 April 2016, will be delivered whether or not a deal is agreed this week.

Sheffield for Democracy has been campaigning for a fairer voting system in Yorkshire, one which ensures that everyone’s vote matters. The group has been getting the stances of Sheffield MPs on the issue, and lobbying them to push for voting reform within their parties.

The new ‘levelling-up fund’ is not fit for purpose, writes Alex Toal. Failing in three key areas: size, corruption and lack of direction, the fund is emblematic of the Johnson government’s key flaws.

Former Conservative MEP John Stevens discusses the ticking clock overshadowing the Brexit deal process. Stevens looks at Ireland, the Scottish parliamentary elections, and the view from Europe as the deadline approaches. He concludes that above all, time is running out for pro-Europeans to make the case for rejoining the bloc.

Meryl White shares the recipe she has for Petits Fours biscuits, given to her by a family in the Auvergne a few years ago.

The next four years will be dominated by the damaging results of Brexit. As the harm becomes clear, the public will be looking for an alternative. Labour needs to be in a position to offer it – not hampered by voting for a deal that it knows already is bad for Britain.

David Goff reviews Michael Ashcroft’s new book on the chancellor, Rishi Sunak. In the review, David criticises Ashcroft for going easy on the chancellor, and not mentioning any of the potential scandals of his career.

The EU-UK trade talks are at a tipping point. A breakthrough or a breakdown is imminent. If talks do breakdown the “level playing field” will be the stumbling block

Jane Thomas breaks down the announcement of Tier 3 for much of Yorkshire, and the impending chaos of the UK’s departure from the transition period. Will there be a national lockdown to help ease the congestion at ports on New Year’s Day? We’ll have to wait and see.

Marcus Cain examines the movement for electoral reform throughout the Labour party. With groups like Make Votes Matter and Unlock Democracy pushing for for a more representative system, momentum may be changing within the party.

How a Holmfirth musician battled the Brexit Blues with electronica and a sense of community. A new book tells the story of an underground revolution in music where no-one got rich or famous but everyone got happy. “The early days were like turning over a stone and finding this whole new world of music-making crawling underneath.“

Munira Mirza, who denies the existence of institutional racism, was picked as the government once again sidelines issues of race in the country. As Dawn-Maria France argues, “it seems unlikely that Munira Mirza’s commission, reporting to Johnson and overseen by Badenoch, will do more than kick the can down the road.”

After a decade of peddling a badly flawed set of economic policies, the latest Conservative Party chancellor has had to ditch many of his most deeply held convictions in the face of the economic and social realities of a genuine crisis. Yet he remains stubbornly determined to ensure the country persists with a hugely damaging Brexit at the worst possible of times.

Chancellor Rushi Sunak delivers his 2021 spending plan against a backdrop of unprecedented risks financial and, for some, existential. These are detailed in what looks like an updated and more apocalyptic version of Operation Yellowhammer about to become reality.

Politics in the UK is fossilised in an earlier time. With a setting which encourages confrontation and is hostile to women. Natalie Bennett writes: “politics needs to catch up with the modern world, and speak to all of our citizens.”