Opinion
The Irish border: Take out a map and look at it
It's funny that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is called the 'Irish' border. Yes, it's on the island of Ireland, but it certainly wasn't an Irish idea. At least, the vast majority of the island's citizens didn't want the country to be cut in two in the 1920s, and many have campaigned, both peacefully and violently, to put it back together. But not even Irish people in the far south of the island, where the...
The most shocking Hothouse Earth revelation is that it is entirely avoidable
"Once we understand the extremity of our plight, once we no longer deny it, then we just might have the will to try drastically to change course", Rupert Read wrote in The London Economic shortly after the winter cold snap brought a record-breaking chill to British shores. As the continent basks in heat the latest study from an international team of climate researchers shows we are heading for a Hothouse Earth scenario which could turn some of the Earth's natural forces that currently protect us...
Caliph of world’s largest organised muslim community calls for nuclear disarmament
“Pathway to Peace” initiative to launch at UK’s largest Muslim Conference “Seek not to create disorder in the earth. Verily, God loves not those who seek to create disorder” – The Holy Qur’an 28:78 One of the UK's oldest Muslim communities is to launch an international intervention designed to provide comprehensive solutions towards achieving world peace in light of increasing global tension. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's 'Pathway to Peace' campaign aims to present fundamental solutions to some of the biggest challenges...
Labour caught up in a media storm….. again
You've got to admit that Jeremy Corbyn managing to combine being a "Czech spy, Putin collaborator, anti-semitic neo-Nazi, member of ISIS, IRA and Communist Party, with being leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition, and still finding time to grow marrows is bloody impressive", Tom Pride wrote on Twitter earlier this week. With Brexit negotiations entering a crucial stage, reports on cosy relationships between Tory MPs and Steve Bannon emerging and news that the government misled the High Court over its decision to...
Don’t turn your back on print
As Reach, formerly Trinity Mirror, reports significant half-year losses, it is becoming clear that growth in digital revenues will not replace or even significantly offset the decline in revenues from print. However, print remains, and will continue to do so, the main revenue stream for many magazine and newspaper publishers and is key to their survival. Its decision to buy the Express and Star newspapers earlier this year means Reach has an opportunity to reduce its operating costs significantly, whilst...
Brexit spells political and economic suicide for whoever is in charge
"If the government hasn't secured a deal (on Brexit) by this autumn, we should force them to stand to one side," shadow chancellor John McDonnell told CityAM yesterday. With pressure mounting on Theresa May to deliver clarity on Britain's future outside Europe her position could soon become untenable if no agreement is reached by the autumn. Certain bookmakers are offering odds as low as evens on the Prime Minster stepping down this year, and as she faces a battle on two fronts...
The false claims from the right wing about the Prophet Muhammad must stop
Over recent weeks, a number of prominent public figures have publicly launched verbal attacks on the religion of Islam, causing controversy, discontentment and debate across Europe. The most high-profile of these attacks came from prominent Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who in June of this year announced that he would be a hosting a Prophet Muhammad cartoon competition at his party’s parliamentary offices. Wilders has been known for having called for mosques to be shut down, all Muslim immigrants to be...
Do you trust the Conservatives to feed your family?
It's happened. People are finally taking the risks of Brexit seriously. In Europe, politicians are talking about giving Britain the chance to stay in the EU. Prominent Irish media have urged their government to help Britain by extending the Article 50 deadline. And the Independent has launched a petition for a second referendum, garnering nearly 350,00 signatures. Politicians feel free to talk openly about another vote, and publicly hope that Brexit can be reversed. Accusations of being 'remoaners' have largely...
Spam or eggs: Theresa May is stuck between betraying her party or betraying her country
The Conservatives have no way out of their own Brexit trap, Robert Shrimsley wrote in the Financial Times this week. Either they appease powerful party members crying betrayal over her attempts to shift negotiations into soft Brexit mode or she goes hard in spite of the well documented repercussions. It's Spam for her country on the one hand or an egg in the face from her disfranchised colleagues on the other. In Shrimsley's words, it would be funny if we...