Taking a chance on Chuka

Chuka Umunna, formerly of Labour and ChangeUK, is now a Lib Dem. As might have been entirely expected, reactions are split. Some praise his conviction and look forward to absorbing him into the Liberal cause, whilst others damn his weasel ways and call (not for the first time, nor unreasonably) for a by-election. After all, …

Rory vs Boris

The results are in and the first ballots cast. Four contenders are out, with six remaining. Already Boris Johnson has more votes than most of the candidates combined, though he holds only around a third of the support of the entire MP electorate (330 in total). It seems impossible that he could fail - except, …

An Absence of Negotiation: May vs Trump

It seems like a contradiction: one represents the ultimate populist, celebrity leader; one, the ultimate traditional, Conservative establishment. Yet both have held their respective governments to ransom over problematic foreign policy: for Trump, the trade war; for May, exacerbating Brexit. Both have reached for the claim to hold a people's mandate in order to override …

The Descent of the Executive in British Politics

To many, British politics is unrecognisable compared to its pre-referendum state. At that time, though some had issues with the ideologies and policies at play, the system itself largely functioned as intended. You had a Prime Minister who would - and did - resign when the situation indicated they could no longer credibly sustain their …

Understanding the Local Election Results

It's only 4:30pm and only 202 of 259 councils have declared results, but patterns are already becoming apparent in these elections. It's impossible to ignore the giant blue bar descending on the left of that results graph: the Conservatives are losing, and losing hard. Theresa May, of course, still sees these results as a mandate …

The Case for History as a Societal Resource

For many of us, the subject of history is most familiar as a school memory. It tends to evoke one of two things: dates and numbers to be memorised and regurgitated, or a dull list of nationally significant events. Neither, as the common opinion goes, is that compelling. Consequently, history is seen as a very …

A Note on Definitions: politics, policy and the constitution

We hear an awful lot about how Brexit is breaking the UK constitution, written though uncodified as it is. It certainly seems that way: politicians are running amok regardless of party discipline, the minority government is pushing the limits of what the executive and parliament can do, MPs are abandoning their parties altogether, the parties …

Division! Forgotten Origins in Brexit

The Brexit whirlwind moves ever onward. In the process it increasingly drains the word 'meaning' of definition like a dementor drains happiness. Each day, politicians make passionate speeches (or write passionate articles) about a position they may not have held even yesterday - and then proceed to vote in the opposite direction. Each day, fellow …

Thoughts on Brexit and the general public: frustration and a people’s vote

Just some quick notes on a sentiment I've heard expressed across class and economic backgrounds which was just summarised neatly by one member of the public in Hartlepool: that we've negotiated for two and a half years, it's got us nowhere. We wanted to leave, so let's leave now. Common phrases include: for it to …

Bridging the communication gap: applying business skills to creative fields

I've been thinking a lot recently about bridging the communication gap between social groups, whether they be industries, political parties or social classes. Though in earlier incarnations the internet allowed unprecedented freedom of communication, as tracking software, tech giants, legislation and big business increasingly find ways to get a handle on the web, we're starting …