Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The Guardian View on John Bolton: Good Riddance, But the Problem Is His Boss


THE GUARDIAN: Many will rightly celebrate the departure of the US national security adviser. But however welcome the news, it reflects the deeper problems with this administration

No sensible observer of international affairs could lament Donald Trump’s announcement that he has fired John Bolton as his national security adviser – though in typically combative style, Mr Bolton insists that he quit. Whatever the precise manner of his departure, plenty of people in Washington, including lifelong Republicans, are cheering. Many others around the world will celebrate. This is a rare presidential outcome that can be welcomed even by those who despise Mr Trump and all he stands for.

The political demise of the reckless uberhawk who bears so much responsibility for so much appalling American foreign policy in the past, and who had attempted to steer the president towards so much more, is welcome. When he entered the administration last spring – as the president’s third permanent national security adviser in 14 months – he had been arguing forcefully for “preemptive” attacks on North Korea. There was an obvious clash of wills with Mr Trump: unlike the president, he believes in aggressive foreign intervention and an international military presence to match. One fear was that his indisputable tactical skills within the government machine and sheer relentlessness might allow him to prevail. » | Editorial | Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Boris Johnson's Brexit Stalemate | Inside Story


Only a few days ago he said he would rather 'die in a ditch' than ask the EU for an extension to Brexit negotiations. But it seems Boris Johnson may have to admit defeat and find another way to deal with his deeply divided government.

His attempt to call an early election has been thrown out, and Parliament has been suspended for the next five weeks. He needed more than 430 votes to get a snap election - he only got 293.

That's left him cornered if he wants the UK to leave the bloc on October 31st. So, what are his options now? And where does this leave Brexit?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests Bobby Friedman, political commentator on UK politics and the author of 'Bercow, Mr Speaker: Rowdy Living in the Tory Party'; Alex De Ruyter, director of the Centre for Brexit Studies at Birmingham City University; Sonia Purnell, journalist and author of 'Just Boris: A Tale of Blond Ambition'


Sunday, September 08, 2019

Could MPs Take the PM to Court to Force Brexit Delay?


A cross-party group of MPs - including some former Conservatives recently expelled from the party - say they are willing to go to court to stop Boris Johnson breaking the law by refusing to delay Brexit.

The Guardian View on the World and Brexit: Rue Britannia


THE GUARDIAN: A project supposed to enhance Britain’s international stature has only served to diminish it

The case for Brexit rested largely upon two misapprehensions – or, to put it less kindly, lies. The first was the belief that engaging in a deep and broad partnership, with the necessary compromises and disadvantages that brings alongside all its benefits, was an act of treacherous self-sabotage. The second was a wholly unrealistic assessment of Britain’s international status and heft, rooted in a vague, nostalgic vision of its imperial past. A third myth sprang from these two: that a post-Brexit Britannia would emerge triumphant, a beacon of democracy, parliamentary sovereignty and prosperity, shining across the waves.

The last three years have left such ideas in tatters; the last week has ripped the remaining shreds away. Its events have left Britain appearing not only backwards-looking, irrational and divided, but fanatical, bitter, frivolous, chaotic and heedless of any legal or customary impediment to the executive. Boris Johnson promised a stroll to sunlit meadows; now he offers a grim, hellish march towards no deal, and his troops have had enough. » | Editorial | Sunday, September 8, 2019

Saturday, September 07, 2019

Boris Johnson 'Will Be Forced from Power If He Defies No-deal Law'


THE OBSERVER: If PM fails to comply with anti-no deal act passed by parliament this week, he could face jail, legal experts warn

Boris Johnson would trigger a legal and constitutional crisis that would force his resignation as prime minister if he failed to obey a law mandating him to seek another extension to Brexit, according to high-level legal advice obtained by Labour.

The conclusions of a team of leading QCs, which have been sent to the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, make clear that the prime minister would be declared in contempt of court if he tried to remain in No 10 while refusing to obey legislation to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal on 31 October. The new law is expected to gain royal assent from the Queen early next week.

The legal advice, from lawyers at Matrix Chambers, says: “If the prime minister refused to comply with this order, then, while we would be in historically uncharted political territory, the legal position would remain clear – the prime minister would be in contempt of an order of the court and would be exposed to a full range of sanctions.” » | Toby Helm, Michael Savage, Andrew Rawnsleyand Daniel Boffey in Brussels | Saturday, September 7, 2019

France 24 – The Debate: Has Johnson Lost Control? Move to Block No-deal Brexit Triggers Call for Snap Poll


Brexit: The End of the Road for Johnson? | DW Quadriga


Showdown in the United Kingdom. PM Johnson versus parliament; deal versus no deal. The Brexit endgame has begun. Guests: Friedrich Thelen (political adviser), Jon Worth (blogger), Alex Forrest Whiting (DW)

Could Trump Be Crueler Than We Thought?


Donald Trump may be crueler than we had all thought but the people around the world are better than we ever believed.

Sir Nicholas Soames Says Tories Started Resembling 'Brexit Sect'


THE GUARDIAN: Expelled party rebel also attacked Boris Johnson’s leadership and called Jacob Rees-Mogg a ‘fraud’

Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames has launched a searing attack on Boris Johnson’s leadership and Jacob Rees-Mogg, whom he called a “fraud”, adding the Conservative party is lurching towards a divisive, potentially catastrophic form of “hard-right” conservatism.

In an interview with the Times, Soames – who is the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill – said the Conservatives were starting to resemble a “Brexit sect”, after he had the whip removed for rebelling against the Johnson government along with 20 other MPs.

“I am worried about the Tory party because give or take the odd spasm we have always been seen as pragmatic, sensible, good at our job, sane, reasonable and having the interests of the whole country,” he said. “Now it is beginning to look like a Brexit sect.” » | Lanre Bakare | Saturday, September 7, 2019

Thursday, September 05, 2019

PM Says 'Rather Be Dead In A Ditch' Than Delay Brexit – As His Brother Resigns As Minister


It was already a bit of a stretch to see losing his majority, expelling more than twenty colleagues from his parliamentary party and losing three Commons votes as part of an ingenious plan masterminded by his chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

Will Brexit Mean Early Exit for Boris Johnson? | Inside Story


More than three years ago, a majority of voters in the UK said they wanted to leave the EU. But what followed has been a lot less clear.

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, failed to break the latest deadlock over Brexit. On Wednesday, MPs voted down his attempts to trigger a snap election. They also passed a bill blocking the possibility of a 'no-deal' exit from the EU.

Johnson had said he was willing to consider that if no new withdrawal deal was agreed. So, where does that leave the Brexit process? And Johnson's own future?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests Alex Deane, Managing Director and Head of Public Affairs UK at FTI Consulting and former Chief of Staff to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron; Larissa Brunner, Policy analyst at the European Policy Centre; Asa Bennett, Brexit Commissioning Editor at the Telegraph.


The Kochs & the Nazis: Book Reveals Billionaires' Father Built Key Oil Refinery for the Third Reich



Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Ken Clarke Calls Boris Johnson 'Disingenuous'


'I do think the Prime Minister has a tremendous skill in keeping a straight face whilst he's being so disingenuous' - Ken Clarke reacts to the government's defeat. Boris Johnson has been defeated again as MPs pass bill blocking no-deal.

Trump’s Attorney General and Vice-President Exposed for Routing Money into Trump Hotels | The Beat With Ari Melber | MSNBC


VP Mike Pence is coming under fire for staying at a Trump Golf club in Ireland, 180 miles away from his government meetings, after a strong ‘suggestion’ from Trump. Pence’s stay comes days after reports of Barr spending $30,000 on a holiday party hosted at Trump’s D.C. hotel. Richard Painter, former republican White House ethics lawyer, slams Trump for ‘illegal’ and ‘immoral and illogical’ actions, arguing his administration is out to ‘milk the taxpayer right, left and center.’

All or Nothing: Can Parliament Stop Boris Johnson's Brexit Blitz?


Corbyn and Johnson Clash over No-deal Brexit: 'Anti-democratic and Unconstitutional'


Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn clashed over Brexit in their first meeting in parliament since the summer recess. Johnson labelled a rebel bill designed to prevent no deal 'Jeremy Corbyn's surrender bill' and accused opposition MPs of undermining his attempts to negotiate a new deal with the European Union. Corbyn claimed Johnson was attempting to force no deal in a manner that was 'unprecedented, anti-democratic and unconstitutional'.


THE GUARDIAN: Britain is mired in democratic crisis – but it goes much deeper than Brexit » | Aditya Chakrabortty | Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Kindertransport: A Fantastic Act of Love