Disclaimer: This is not about Putin’s actions towards the Ukraine. I do not, can not, will not make light of one country’s military invasion of another country, whatever the alleged rationale. This is about Great Britain’s, specifically this country’s government’s, reaction to the current situation and its so-called response. By now the facts have sunk in. Russia did invade Ukraine,… Read moreThe mouse that roared in Londongrad
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Right Honourable Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. There are lot of things one could say about this man, none of them flattering. But that could easily be construed as being biased (which I am) and short-changing his achievements (of which… Read moreA cringe fest without equal
“Shame!” Reminiscent of one of the most memorable scenes from Games of Thrones, the House of Commons had its own version of public indignation last week, albeit in a slightly different setting. Meet Owen Paterson. Tory MP for North Shropshire for the last 24 years, previously Northern Ireland Minister, and all around veteran of the political process in Westminster. Next… Read moreGoT in the HoC
It’s eight weeks to Christmas, and in a perfect storm of Brexit, Covid, and supply chain problems, the shit is hitting the fan. Again. It started with the HGV drivers. The pictures of empty shelves in supermarkets and queues around the filling stations have made the news everywhere. The UK is about 100,000 HGV drivers short; 40,000 of those were… Read more“… and cancel Christmas!” (again)
Didn’t come home, this time. History was made, and lost. England made it to the finals of the Euros 2020, and couldn’t finish the task. Properly psyched out by the Italian goalie Donnarumma and his side-step, Rashford missed the box completely: (0:24) and Saka buckled under the pressure. To be fair, that was A LOT of pressure on the shoulders… Read moreFootball
Today is the last Friday in June, and today is OBON Day. Don’t worry if you have never heard of it, no-one on this island really has. And it would have stayed this way, if the UK Department for Education hadn’t gotten involved. OBON stands for “One Britain One Nation,” and started out in 2005 in Yorkshire as a non-profit…. Read moreGet them early
This is what happens when you have the week off, and don’t feel like following the news – the world turns in uncomfortable directions. Where to begin? Let’s start with the one that has the farthest reaching consequences: Arlene Foster, First Minister of Northern Ireland, resigned today. Most famous in Northern Irish politics for the Cash for Ash scandal. Also… Read moreQuo vadis, Ulster?
What does it take for a politician to realise that his career is over, that his influence is diminished, that the dinner speech circuit awaits, and that the rest is history? Alex Salmond was Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party during the first independence referendum in 2014; Nicola Sturgeon was his deputy and his protege. There… Read moreA man’s ego and a nation’s destiny
It is one of those cases where the devil is in the details. When the Brexit referendum machine got into full swing, not one Little Englander gave a thought or a damn about the border between Ireland the Republic and the 6 counties on the north-eastern tip of the island. That border ceased to exist with the ratification of the… Read moreFrom one border to another border
It has now been one full month since the transition period ended and especially trade had to do business under the proper rules of being a third country. And what a joy it has been. Within a week, DPD suspended deliveries between EU and UK, Waterstones (books) and John Lewis (everything household) stopped selling to European customers, Marks & Spencer… Read moreEl Dorado turns into a government-advised exodus
