Week of Mar 28 – Apr 3

Across the Pond

Posted on March 28, 2017 by sparkhurst in Across The Pond, International // 0 Comments

By Steve Parkhurst, Senior Editor, USDR.

Looking at the news and opinion out of London each day.

4-3-17

Theresa May calls attack on asylum seeker ‘abominable’ and backs Tory MP who described attackers as ‘scum’

Theresa May has condemned the “despicable” attack on a teenage asylum-seeker in London as she urged the public to help the police catch the boy’s attackers.

War threats over Gibraltar are rightwing imperial fantasies

Sending ships to southern Spain only makes sense if you buy the delusion that Britain’s future involves rekindling empire, both economically and diplomatically

A tampon tax is bad enough. Using it to fund anti-abortionists is a disgrace

Women have no choice about having periods. To give tax raised on sanitary products to a group that seeks to limit their choice further is unconscionable

4-1-17

Britain and the EU probably will reach a trade deal. Here’s why

For all the bluster, both sides will be better off with as few barriers as possible

It’s a bit late now for second thoughts about the National Living Wage

The new higher minimum wage comes into effect today, and some on the left are expressing doubts

Mea Culpa: Lord Who? Let’s use more democratic names

Grammar glitches and style stumbles in The Independent this week

3-31-17

‘Great repeal bill’ offers little detail and even less security

MPs, campaigners and lawyers sound alarm bells about the purpose, powers and practicalities of the Brexit bill

Globalisation is slashing inequality – here’s how

Globalisation is to thank for plummeting poverty

The debate about Britain’s future is already settled. There will be an Open Brexit – because we have no other choice.

There is much more to politics than an affordable state and competitive taxes. But both will be indispensible for survival, let alone prosperity, after we leave the EU

3-30-17

Now is not the time to cut the number of MPs – the Great Repeal Bill will require all hands on deck

Today the government has presented its strongest argument yet against its own plans to reduce the size of the House of Commons.

The future of Mr Carswell

Knowing how keen some of my contributors are to discuss UKIP and its role, I feel I must mention the recent loss of UKIP’s one elected MP. Mr Carswell no longer feels UKIP has a task given the decision to leave the EU. He believes that was its main proposition, and therefore thinks it is redundant now that has been adopted by the public. Others in UKIP think there is a continuing role in the future for the party, as they seek to define its stance on a range of issues other than our relationship with the EU.

As Europe falters, Britain strides free

The EU is crumbling because it has failed to deliver growth

3-29-17

Scottish parliament votes for a second referendum – but Theresa May is unlikely to sway

The Scottish Parliament has voted 69-59 for a second Scottish independence referendum. This is no surprise. But it does lend more force to Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a second referendum. She can now say that she has her parliament behind her when she presents the UK government with her request for a Section 30 order.

The walk away option is real

The EU has constantly underestimated UK unhappiness with the EU and our resolve to leave as a result.

A great day for British democracy

Today is a great day for British democracy. One of the greatest ever, in fact. Tune out Project Fear, with its overblown claims that Brexit will cause economic collapse and possibly revive fascism, and just think about what is happening today. The largest democratic mandate in the history of this nation, the loudest, clearest, most populous democratic cry Britons have ever made, is finally being acted upon.

The pound and the letter

Some said the pound would tumble more when we sent the letter.

3-28-17

Too many in Europe still think Brexit can be stopped. We must show them we are serious

Spending the last few days in Germany, I have found people here puzzled, offended, and feeling slightly bereft by the prospect of Britain’s exit from the EU. They consider they are losing the one other major country that has a strong sense of financial and economic discipline, and they are right.

David Cameron’s larynx joins the Labour party

Given that Owen Jones, Glenda Jackson and Derek Hatton are just a handful of the figures to recently turn on Jeremy Corbyn, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Labour leader is turning people off Labour. So, Mr S was surprised to learn of Labour’s latest recruit, in today’s issue of the Times.

Labour is vanishing from the news

It’s not because of a vast conspiracy. It’s because Corbyn’s Party isn’t interested or competent enough to produce interesting positive stories.

Henry VIII clauses

Henry VIII legislation is a pejorative term for laws passed without Parliamentary approval. The EU has been good at using such powers. Henry VIII sometimes passed laws by proclamation, without reference to Parliament. That is exactly how the EU legislates when it puts through directly acting Regulations. The UK Parliament cannot amend or vote down such laws, but just has to accept them as good UK law. Once we have left the EU there will be no more directly acting Regulations that Parliament cannot vote down.

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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