Immigration

How the UK’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is 21st-century imperialism writ large.

— How will asylum seekers relocated from the UK be accommodated in Rwanda, beyond temporary plans to convert a former hostel into a detention centre, and what will happen to those who are not granted asylum? Whatever. For the UK, the UK-Rwanda deal represents yet another business interest in Africa.

Analysis

Boris Johnson should be very worried about what 2022 local council results mean for the next general election.

— There is a strong correlation between local election results and general election results two years later. If that pattern holds, Johnson’s parliamentary majority is at risk. The Conservatives could lose up to 122 seats in the next general election.

Brexit

Brexiters are losing the post-Brexit narrative.

— As brexiters implicitly or explicitly admit to the failures of the Brexit they agreed or supported, whilst denying or ignoring that the cause is the Brexit they agreed or supported, their admissions are accompanied by deceit and denial about the causes of what they bemoan.

War in Ukraine

Russia may declare war on Ukraine on May 9 – and use it as a reason to double down on attacks.

— Western officials say that Russia may officially declare war on Ukraine on May 9. An international relations expert explains why this day is significant, and why a war declaration would matter.

Brexit

Six years of failure.

— Professor Chris Grey looks at some aspects of where these years have now led us.

UK Local Elections

Local elections 2022: Your complete guide to the votes happening across the UK.

— What to expect for Labour and Conservatives in England and Wales, as the pressure keeps mounting on Boris Johnson? What about Northern Ireland where Sinn Féin are favourite to become the largest party?

Analysis

Sinn Féin could become the biggest party in Northern Ireland on May 5 – What it means for power-sharing.

— Northern Ireland is preparing for a potentially seismic election on May 5: Sinn Féin could become the largest party for the first time in Northern Ireland’s history.

Analysis

Democracy undermined: How elections in the UK are changing.

— The new Elections Act weakens the UK’s claim to be a beacon of democracy as 1.1 million people may not cast a vote at future parliamentary elections as a result of this reform.

Brexit

Sometimes, “We told you so” is all that can be said.

— When will Boris Johnson and his many adjutants take responsibility for their lies about Brexit? If ever they do, and until they do, Brexit remains their responsibility, their mess, their guilt, their shame, and their legacy.

France Presidential Election 2022

Emmanuel Macron is reelected but the French are longing for radical change.

— The next five years are going to be harder than Emmanuel Macron’s first term. To succeed he will need to keep radical parties at bay, accelerate measures on climate change, and steer the EU toward a stronger, more independent future.

Brexit

Post-Brexit Britain is going rotten.

— The moral rot of Boris Johnson’s conduct is part and parcel of a deeper malaise in which Brexit and ‘Brexit COVID’ have created a country that is literally and metaphorically rotting away.

COVID-19

Research says Omicron lasts much longer on surfaces than other variants – but disinfecting still works.

— We can’t say whether longer Omicron survivability on surfaces relates to a greater risk of infection. But it is of public health significance to know that wiping down surfaces and hand sanitising with disinfectants are effective methods of killing live virus.

Analysis

Who gets to decide when the pandemic is over?

— We asked over 1,000 people whether the lifting of restrictions in England signals the end of the pandemic – the majority thought it didn’t.

Analysis

British voters want lying politicians to face consequences.

— Does it matter to people what consequences there should be for politicians who break rules or mislead parliament? Yes, they want ministers to be kept in constant check by parliament, courts and the public at large.

Health

People who’ve had COVID appear more likely to develop diabetes.

— A number of recent studies indicate people who have had COVID are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.

COVID-19

Omicron XE is spreading in the UK – A virologist explains what we know about this hybrid variant.

— More than 1,000 cases of omicron XE have been detected in the UK so far. But we shouldn’t be seriously concerned at this stage.