Category Archives: Donald Trump

Opinion – Boris Johnson’s ‘Explosive’ Move to Get His Way on Brexit: Suspend Parliament – via Stephen Castle, NYT

August 29, 2019 By in Boris Johnson, Business Administration, Donald Trump, Far-left politics, Jeremy Corbyn, Neoliberal, Politics, Uncategorized Leave a comment

 

Here’s an excellent and very balanced article by Stephen Castle, the London correspondent of the NYT. The article contrasts strongly with British and other European media which is highly biassed. The many comments on the NYT article are worth a read too.

Personally, I wish Prime Minister, Boris Johnson the best of luck in trying to secure a revised Brexit deal from the EU. In recent days, he has shown that he’s decisive, polished and ready to take risks to achieve his goals – in my book, this is leadership. This should be contrasted to Jeremy Corbyn, the Far-Left leader of the Labour Party who seems slow to get off his ‘pot’.

I am amazed at the outrage in the world’s media this morning. Surely, Johnson’s decision is not a surprise? It has been widely debated in the more serious media throughout the Summer. Even Jeremy Corbyn has had his own expert legal opinion. But Jeremy Corbyn has been slow to unite cross-party opposition to the UK government’s Brexit strategy. In contrast, Johnson’s government has quietly moved forward, like a well-oiled machine.

The UK’s constitution is not codified and has served the country well for centuries. Whether Boris Johnson’s decision is questionable in law will be for the independent judiciary to decide. But Johnson’s move is bold and puts his domestic political enemies on the back foot – meanwhile, it ramps up the pressure on the EU to compromise and avoid a no-deal Brexit.

This blog would be incomplete without declaring my political bias. I am historically a ‘One Nation’ conservative. I voted for the UK to remain in the EU but respect the will of the people. Over the last three years, my views have changed to Brexiteer, favouring a Canada ++ type deal with the EU. Why have my views shifted so radically? Firstly, Theresa May’s government consistently botched EU negotiations and secondly, the EU has not negotiated in good faith.

I wish Boris Johnson’s government good luck – they are taking big risks but the rewards are huge too. The context has changed in three years and there are new strategic opportunities. Germany’s export led economy has been crippled by Donald Trump’s trade wars and is widely expected to lead the EU into recession. Meanwhile, the UK represents an enormously under-valued investment opportunity. How far Boris Johnson pivots across the Atlantic in his negotiations with Donald Trump remains to be seen.

Views?

Opinion – The bad news is we’re dying early in Britain – and it’s all down to ‘shit-life syndrome’ – Will Hutton – The Guardian

August 20, 2018 By in Austerity, Boris Johnson, Brexit, David Cameron, Donald Trump, Economics, Extreme left, Extreme right, Far Left, Far Right, Far-left politics, Fiscal Policy, Politics 3 Comments

Will Hutton argues that attention has been wasted on Brexit rather than addressing the ‘shit-life syndrome’ (SLS). This term was coined in America to capture those trapped at the lower echelons of society, viz. Trump’s power-base. Hutton is applying it to a crisis-hit UK plagued by uncertainty about Brexit. I think that there is a case to answer on the SLS that has emerged since the 2008 financial crisis. The SLS will prove be ruthlessly provoked by Corbyn’s Far Left cronies, as much as Farage’s Far Right. Whether they cry blame the immigrants or austerity, the truth will be the same.

The truth is that its weak people who are increasing turning to alcohol, opioids, junk food, and absence of sensible excercise – this is affecting UK mortality rates.

Depending upon your politics, it’s either the responsibility of the state or the individual to redress matters

Many families know people caught-up in the SLS.

Should the second referendum be widened to encompass the SLS or should it be narrowly focused?

Thoughts?