In all the Brexit shenanigans that have and continue to engulf the UK, no feeling has been more potent than division. In a binary referendum, a difference of opinion was key. What became striking was how this division continued and only got deeper following the referendum, each side accusing the other of being a traitor, acting in a way that was detrimental to Britain’s future.
More recently, among those who have accepted the vote to leave, difference of opinion has arisen mainly over the decision for Britain’s trading deal with the EU: the Prime Minister’s Chequers proposals or a ‘Canada-style’ deal. Neither option is perfect; indeed, it is difficult to see how any of this proposals could pass the Commons. What I specifically find worrying about a Canada style deal is, not only the issue of the Irish border, but the document of the Institute for Economic Affairs, a right-wing free trade think tank. Its proposals back a Canada-style deal, endorsed by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson, among others. Yet, according to the Guardian, the report contains implicit references to ‘wages, job security, taxes and public spending [being] aggressively lowered. As an organisation, the IEA willing to 'get rid of workplace rights, food standards, environmental protections and data privacy rules.' A bonfire of regulations quite literally. Yet after Theresa May’s disastrous Salzburg summit, an awful humiliation, no cabinet minister severly challenged her plan. While this sounds pleasing initially, myself preferring Chequers over Canada, it does raise concerns over whether the IEA proposals has been wholly put to bed. At least if it had been debated, Theresa May could have exposed its multiple weaknesses, and Cabinet ministers could have resigned if they could not abide by collective responsibility. People voted leave (and remain) for millions of different reasons. To assume all leavers are globalist neo-liberals is both untrue and a dereliction of the referendum vote. ****************************************************************************************************************** The conference season is underway once again. I have nothing much to add to my previous blog two years ago, basically calling them a waste of time. Though I have just noticed the benefit of allowing MPs to spend more time in their constituencies when their conference isn’t on, I still believe they appeal far too little to the public, focusing far too much on dull, internal party policy wonkish procedure. Nevertheless, an interesting proposal has recently come out of the Labour party conference, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner pledging to halt free schools and ‘democratise’ academics. I am no fan of either, a recent piece of excellent investigative journalism by the BBC’s Panorama revealing the shady, unaccountable side of academy trusts. The principle of believing all academies could be funded and audited directly from Westminster was always bonkers. There are other types of schools, however, that Labour could devote far more attention too. Firstly, grammar schools should immediately be reintroduced and expanded, offering poorer, bright children the chance of a private school standard education. The comprehensive clan have had half a century to prove their version of education works. It doesn't. Selection will always exist and already currently takes place by wealth and house prices. Selection by academic merit is surely a fairer form. Conversely, Labour should immediately force all faith schools to convert to ‘normal’ schools or be shut down. Faith schools inevitably harm integration, the future of a child decided by the religion of their parents. When one religion is so intrinsically linked to an educational establishment, a certain narrative of faith will always be presented. Instead, agnostic schools should teach all religions and faiths, so people realize they’re all codswallop. ****************************************************************************************************************** It was with sadness that I read my free morning political email, Red Box, from the Times was to end, now exclusively for subscribers. Though I could only read the introduction to many articles posted, along with the New Statesman's Morning Call, it was a brief, helpful way to learn what political stories were dominating the headlines, and, more importantly, significant for the country. My warming to the email was helped by a shout-out a couple of weeks ago, submitting a trivia question about Vince Cable (before erotic/exotic spasm gate, might I add). Perhaps this just signals an inevitable trend towards more paywalls and restricted access in the print media. Organisations have to make money somehow if we wish to keep reading them. I suppose their only options are adverts everywhere along with requests for donations, something the fine, open Guardian continues to opt for. Or, like the Times, Telegraph, Spectator and, recently, the New Statesman, a wall allowing a limited number of articles for free. Even by creating an account for the latter two, my free access remains finite. How is this solved? By libraries: my college and local library combined all those publications, free for me to explore at my own pace. ****************************************************************************************************************** The country must now begin to come to terms with the fact Bodyguard has finished. One of the BBC’s most successful programmes, every episode left me intrigued as to who the mole – the wicked culprit - really was. By showing episodes at the same time every week, viewers were left in anticipation and suspense as the nation, unusually, settled down to watch something at the same time. I have began my recovery by watching Killing Eve, starring Jodie Comer as ruthless assassin Villanelle, a recognisable face from Doctor Foster and Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri, an MI5 officer. Both fascinating characters, they are on the hunt for one another. So far, the episodes have been gripping, Comer revealing the true absence of emotion and remorse from our antagonist. Oh, meanwhile, manages to mix in humour and light-hearted laughter into otherwise terrible situations. If I wanted to, I could watch all the episodes now, BBC Three making all the episodes available on iPlayer. However, I reject this Netflix binge watch culture, removing suspense and an appreciation for each episode from the viewing process. Though the BBC must modernise if it is to keep up with rivals, future fine drama series should follow the viewing pattern of Bodyguard, a perfect way to bring people together in these oh so troubling times.
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