Tag Archives: Brexit

Reflections on elections

Last Thursday was the first significant electoral event in the UK since the 2019 General Election and since COVID. As well as local council elections, there were votes for metro mayors, the devolved assemblies/parliaments and a by-election in Hartlepool. So, what did those election results tell us about he current state of the parties. LabourContinue reading “Reflections on elections”

It’s not just whether we get out of the pandemic but how that matters

The British approach to vaccine roll out has on one level been impressive. There were two important decisions made. The first was to go in early and negotiate contracts to ensure a good supply of the vaccine. The second was the calculated risk to extend the period between first and second dose in order toContinue reading “It’s not just whether we get out of the pandemic but how that matters”

Showing Up: Alternative Hope

In this chapter, we start to think more about idolatry and the alternative (false) hopes that people living in urban neighbourhoods are offered.  Showing up, is the stage where we start to think about why idolatry offers false hope by showing up its failings and flaws. Idolatry offers false hope because whilst for a timeContinue reading “Showing Up: Alternative Hope”

After Brexit: This is the beginning of the debate not the end

The Brexit transition period is over and so today, some of those who have remained opposed in principle to the UK leaving the UK have announced their intention to re-join. This is their democratic right and Brexiteers who campaigned for many years to leave should respect their right to campaign for what they believe in,Continue reading “After Brexit: This is the beginning of the debate not the end”

Freedom of Movement or engineered movement?

One of the problems that we have with talking about Freedom of Movement is that what people are usually either defending or objecting to is engineered movement.  What do I mean by this.  Well, it relates to a great question that people have been asking.  Most debates about the costs and benefits of immigration focusContinue reading “Freedom of Movement or engineered movement?”

Freedom of Movement?

This is my third article in a mini-series of opinion pieces linked to Brexit and the end of the transition phase.  Here I want to talk about freedom of movement. This applies to: Goods Services People Now, there are people around who believe that there should be complete control on movement. They do not thinkContinue reading “Freedom of Movement?”

Is there a Biblical argument against immigration?

In my article about Brexit, I explained that I did not see the key issue as immigration. In fact between you and me, it was one of the things that so easily could have turned me off against the whole referendum.  Ironically even though Brexit focused on immigration, it wasn’t really a debate about itContinue reading “Is there a Biblical argument against immigration?”

We are literally broken by our hyperbole

Every year, my wife and I have a kind of traditional conversation. I ask her what she is working on and she tells me that she is preparing the “persuasive writing” class for her students where they will learn about a number of rhetorical devises.  I then respond with a grumble about how that isContinue reading “We are literally broken by our hyperbole”

Breaking International Law? (2) The Internal Market Bill

Is the UK Government in a position where it has been forced to go back on its treaty agreements with the EU through the Withdrawal Agreement?  In brief, the issue is this. We have devolved governments in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is therefore possible for those governments to implement legislation relating to foodContinue reading “Breaking International Law? (2) The Internal Market Bill”