By Steve Parkhurst, Senior Editor, USDR.
Looking at the news and opinion out of London each day.
6-26-17
May’s deal with the Democratic Unionists looks like a two-year affair
It theoretically commits the DUP to support the Government for the whole Parliament, but it’s up for review in two years and that’s when the money runs out.
The Tories’ deal with the DUP papers over the cracks, but it can’t work miracles
The ten parliamentary votes provided to Theresa May by the Democratic Unionist Party come at a pretty high price. Not only do they work out at a hundred million pounds apiece in extra spending; there’s also the reputational cost to the Conservatives of parting with cash the country supposedly doesn’t have in order to secure the backing of a party most British voters don’t much like the look of.
6-25-17
Wanted: a revived campaign for Brexit of all parties and none. Without it, Remain may snatch victories from defeat.
The news is not all bad for supporters of Leave. But a weakened Government needs third party support to deliver not so much a Soft or Hard Brexit as a clean one.
6-23-17
Brexit, one year on: How Theresa May fatally ignored the lessons of the Leave campaign’s victory
One year ago on Friday, I mournfully made my way to the polling station and ended my lifelong support for the European Union. Most people don’t change their mind in election campaigns, but the referendum was different.
The economy one year on from the referendum
The Remain campaign told us it would be bad short term news for the economy if we voted to leave.
6-22-17
Theresa May Holds the Fort
Theresa May has never been a scintillating parliamentary performer. She has never been particularly comfortable with that very House of Commons brand of humour that marks occasions such as today. So, in her first major appearance at the despatch box since the election, May played to her strengths. She largely eschewed humour and was instead earnest and serious.
If the Labour party wants to keep my generation, it will have to listen to us
Remembering my grandmother, I know Corbyn’s ‘new kind of politics’ isn’t so new – and growing it means creating a party culture that values more than votes
The DUP : No deal is better than a bad deal
It is proving difficult to explain to some politicians how negotiations work. If you want to buy someone’s house you do not say you want to buy it whatever the price, and then pay up when they take advantage of your folly. If they ask double the market value you refuse.
6-21-17
The May manifesto has gone – and the era of Cabinet politics begins
When Theresa May launched what she called ‘my manifesto’ just over a month ago, she batted away questions about whether it was a Mayite document. But this was faux-modesty. The manifesto was a deliberate move away from traditional Tory thinking.
If Labour wants to succeed nationally, it needs to think locally. Look at Plymouth
Voters in the two marginal seats in my hometown behaved very differently, but the reasons why are clear
6-20-17
People are still angry at the EU elite. Brexit is its last chance to show it can change
The dream of a united Europe excites many of the continent’s leaders, as they have tried to unite their countries with one flag, one anthem, a single currency, a joint army, common (liberal and pro-migration) values, and a common language to boot (remember Esperanto?). But did they stop to run their agenda by the people they claim to represent?
The Brexit debate has been torn back open
The strategic positions of the Leave and Remain camps have flipped
The UK government has become dangerously obsessed with facades
Focusing more on appearances than outcomes is perilous. The Grenfell Tower fire has shown up the shortcomings of stretched public authorities putting up a front
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Across The Pond is edited daily by Steve Parkhurst. Steve is a political consultant, a writer at his blog as well as a Senior Editor here at US Daily Review. Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveParkhurst