Anti-Net Zero Populism

Sunak’s Net Zero policy shift sparks controversy

— Rishi Sunak’s decision to slow down the UK’s shift to electric vehicles, postpone climate targets and scrap other plans have stirred up strong reactions from various quarters, including his own party. Does it make him a strong leader?

OPINION

The failure of British Democracy

— Are Keir Starmer’s right-leaning policies neglecting pressing issues like homelessness and poverty? Why are both Labour and Conservative parties ignoring public support for nationalising key sectors and rejoining the European Single Market?

UK Politics

The Conservatives have seized on cars as a political wedge – it’s a bet on the public turning against climate action

— Today, as in the past, pro-car sentiment is a backlash against nascent environmental protest.

RAAC

Concrete in schools: How missing data and poor funding contributed to today’s closures

— UK schools are contending with a financial crisis, yet the governmental revenue funds are inadequate despite the urgent need for capital for essential repairs in schools. The lack of data on the condition of school buildings adds complexity to planning procedures.

RAAC

School repair crisis: Rishi Sunak under fire

— The UK Government faces scrutiny for reducing funding for school repairs, sparking an outcry from former officials and public figures. As students return to classrooms, or makeshift settings due to unsafe buildings, Downing Street and Rishi Sunak have questions to answer.

OPINION

Poverty in Britain is firmly linked to the country’s mountain of private wealth – Labour must address this growing inequality

— The Labour Party used to radically advocate for common ownership. But as private wealth in Britain benefits from ever-greater tax breaks, anti-inequality sentiment is waning.

UK Politics

Is Rishi Sunak a lame duck? With MPs divided and rebelling, a sense of decline hangs heavy in the air

— With his own MPs blocking his every policy, Rishi Sunak doesn’t appear to be able to get much done.

Climate Change

Don’t look there: How politicians divert our attention from climate protesters’ claims

— By focusing on the disruption caused by Just Stop Oil, politicians avoid having to talk about the substance of their argument.

OPINION

The looming catastrophe for the Tories

— A new poll suggesting a landslide victory for Labour over the Tories at the next General Election discourages an early election for Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives and contradicts Keir Starmer’s claim about needing Scottish votes to win.

UK Politics

UK political landscape faces seismic shift in next election with Tories projected to secure only 90 seats

— In a new poll, the Tories face a potential major setback in the upcoming election. With predictions favouring Labour and highlighting shifts in public sentiment, the political landscape of the UK may be on the brink of significant change.

Immigration

Sending UK asylum seekers to Ascension Island is a legal non-starter – if the government really is planning to do it

— The UK government is briefing that a remote patch of land in the South Atlantic, Ascension Island, could become a processing hub for people crossing the Channel in small boats.

Analysis

The EU is making overtures for a post-Brexit defence collaboration with the UK – but London isn’t listening

— The UK government is reluctant to sign a treaty or cooperate formally with the EU, despite the latter’s interest and the urgent need due to the Ukraine crisis.

Long-Read

UKCA: A symbol of the folly of Brexit

— The UK government has announced an indefinite extension to the use of CE marking for British businesses, which shows that products meet EU standards. This is a major U-turn from the previous plan to introduce a UKCA system, which would have created costly duplication and reduced consumer choice.

Immigration

Tory MP tells asylum seekers to “f*** off back to France” if they don’t like barges

— Amidst the ongoing debate about asylum seekers being housed on barges, Tory MP Lee Anderson’s populist views have stirred controversy.

UK Politics

Britain’s next election could be a climate change culture war

— An argument over London’s ultra-low emissions zone threatens to engulf UK politics and the next general election.

UK Politics

Rishi Sunak’s green backtracking contrasts strongly with previous prime ministers’ efforts

— Past prime ministers could afford to talk big on climate change – but now the impact of the environmental crisis is manifestly real, Rishi Sunak can’t afford to appease those who oppose green policies.