Michael Lambert: If I Ran Britain — 10 Things I’d Do Tomorrow

Nov 15, 2025 | From scrapping First Past the Post and reforming Parliament, to modernising taxes, encouraging small business, and bringing AI into public service — these aren’t wild ideas. They’re common sense.

For Britain’s Jews, a New and Deadly Sign of Rising Antisemitism

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In the hours after an attack, a blanket of fear and grief fell over synagogues and Jewish community centers across the country.

When Manchester, England, joined Boulder, Colorado, Washington and other cities in the tragic roll call of anti-Jewish violence on Thursday, British Jews were shocked and saddened by the recognition that antisemitism, already on the rise in their country, had mutated again into something deadlier.

Like other European countries and the United States, Britain has recorded a marked rise in antisemitic incidents in the nearly two years since the attack by Hamas militants on civilians in Israel and the Israeli military campaign in Gaza that followed.

There had been no recent acts of targeted violence at synagogues in Britain, although Jewish people and places of worship have featured in several terrorist plots thwarted by the police over the past decade.

“We haven’t had an incident like this here,” said David Feldman, the co-director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Antisemitism in London. “This is, in the most literal sense, extraordinary.” » | Mark Landler | Reporting from London | Thursday, October 2, 2025

How Christians & Christianity Are Being Persecuted in Britain & Europe

Jul 20, 2025

Biggest UK-Germany Treaty since the End of World War Two in 1945

Jul 17, 2025 | Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have officially signed a UK-Germany agreement focused on defence and migration. Starmer described the treaty — known as the Kensington Treaty — as "the first of its kind" between the two nations, calling it a clear sign of "the strength and closeness of our current relationship."

THE GUARDIAN: Merz says he 'deplores deeply' UK's decision to leave EU: In his opening remarks during the press conference with Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz said that he deplored Brexit. He said: The United Kingdom, and I personally deplore this deeply, decided to leave the European Union. / He added that “it is together that we respond to the major challenges of our time”. »

German and U.K. Leaders Sign Mutual Defense Pact as U.S. Steps Back

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The new treaty includes a pledge by both countries to regard a threat against one as a threat against the other, in the latest sign of European nations uniting amid growing instability.

Britain and Germany signed a landmark defense treaty on Thursday, further evidence of how European leaders are drawing together to confront a security landscape scrambled by President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy and President Vladimir V. Putin’s relentless assault on Ukraine.

The Anglo-German accord, signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to London, covers energy, economic cooperation and migration, in addition to defense.

It builds on an agreement signed last October, under which the two agreed to cooperate on mutual defense, with joint military exercises and the development of sophisticated weapons.

The treaty includes a pledge by both countries to regard a threat against one as a threat against the other, declaring that they will “assist one another, including by military means, in case of an armed attack on the other.” That echoed language adopted by Britain and France, which pledged last week to more closely coordinate their nuclear arsenals in responding to threats against European allies. » | Mark Landler and Jim Tankersley | Mark Landler reported from London, and Jim Tankersley from Berlin. | Thursday, July 17, 2025

"No Special Treatment for Islam" - Tory MP Makes Defiant Commons Plea in Blasphemy Debate

Jun 10, 2025 | Conservative MP Nick Timothy introduced a new bill in the House of Commons today, championing freedom of religious expression amidst the ongoing blasphemy debate.

He asserted that the UK "will not tolerate intimidation, violence, or censorship," emphasising that there "will be no special treatment for Islam."

Canada, Europe Planning Defense 'without US at the Centre' for First Time since WWII • FRANCE 24

Mar 17, 2025 | Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Monday warned his country must reduce its reliance on the United States and would turn towards its "reliable" European allies instead on his first trip abroad. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin. He says that for the first time since WWII Canada and Europe are planning for defense 'without assuming the US is at the center of it'.

THE NEW YORK TIMES:

‘Most European Non-European Country’: Canada Turns to Allies as Trump Threatens: Days after becoming prime minister, Mark Carney visited Paris and London to highlight deep European friendships as his country fights back against President Trump’s tariffs and annexation talk. »

Trump's Actions Transform 'Dissent within Canadian Populace' into Staunch 'Anti-American Sentiment'

Feb 13, 2025 | Buffeted by tariffs and threats from Washington, the European Union and Canada seek an economic rapprochement and to diversify trade away from the United States. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective on a looming trade war, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by Dr James D. Boys, Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre on US Politics (CUSP) at UCL.

It’s high time that the UK stopped acting like the US’s poodle. Our place is with the EU, not with the US. – © Mark Alexander

Michael Lambert: The Truth about Money Laundering in the UK

Jan 11, 2025 | London has become the money laundering capital of the world and the government seems unable or unwilling to put a stop it.

Corrupt foreign rulers of some of the poorest countries in the world are able to buy extensive property in London often using British tax havens.

Sheikha Hasina, Nawaz Sharif, the Kenyatta family, and many others are believed to own extensive property portfolios in London. Tulip Siddiq, the niece of Sheikha Hasina is a British government minister responsible for preventing fraud.

On UK High Streets there is an ever growing number of nail bar, American candy shops, Turkish barber shops, vape shop, car wash and other businesses which do not appear to be doing enough business to survive and which are widely suspected of laundering money.

I was told by one of those involved that the government and HMRC know exactly what they are doing but that they would not stop them because they are bringing money into the country and creating businesses.

Brit in Germany: Back in Britain. My Thoughts on England after 16 Years Abroad

Nov 17, 2024 | Going back to visit the UK always brings up a mixture of feelings. The country has definitely changed but so have I. It's always interesting to revisit old haunts and previous ideas we might hold. These are my thoughts and feelings about Britain. If you live there how do you feel about the place?

A Wise, Thoughtful and Observant Norwegian Asks a Very Important Question: What Happened to England?

Oct 26, 2024 | What happened to England? Has the entire UK become a 3rd world country? They call it "Broken Britain", and my heart is certainly broken because of what has happened to my beloved England.

Russia's Influence on the UK | Strippers, Spies & Russian Money | Dispatches | Channel 4

Aug 18, 2024 | The extraordinary story of Russia's covert efforts to corrupt British democracy and politics in the years before invading Ukraine. MI5 declined to comment on the programme for operational reasons.

The Tories are TRASH! The UNITED KINGDOM is FINISHED. It will NEVER be the same again. – © Mark Alexander

Truth To Power: A Trump Win in 2024 Would Be Terrible for the UK

Jul 20, 2024 | What if the unthinkable should happen, and America elects as their next president the former defeated president, the twice impeached, thrice married, 4 times indicted, 6 times bankrupt, 34 counts convicted felon, civilly liable and self-confessed serial sexual assaulter, Donald J Trump?

Already, I can foresee the hundreds of comments from the MAGA cult accusing this video of Trump Derangement Syndrome, but every word of that description is true and irrefutable. I could have added insurrectionist, but as that verdict is not yet established, in a strictly legal sense anyway, I’ll just stick to the established facts.

But more importantly, how would a second term for Trump impact the UK?

Parthenon Marbles Row: Rishi Sunak Cancels Meeting with Greek PM

THE GUARDIAN: Tory source says ‘it became impossible for meeting to go ahead’ after Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged return of antiquities to Athens

Greece’s prime minister has criticised the decision of his British counterpart Rishi Sunak to cancel planned talks at which he had hoped to raise the issue of the Parthenon marbles, as disagreements over the antiquities erupted with renewed vigour.

As aides described Sunak’s move as “wrong and undignified”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting London, voiced irritation at the scheduled Downing Street meeting being called off at the 11th hour.

“I [want to] express my annoyance at the fact that the British prime minister cancelled our scheduled meeting a few hours before it was due to take place,” the centre-right leader said in a statement released by his Maximou office as the diplomatic row intensified.

“Greece and Britain are united by traditionally strong ties of friendship and the framework of our bilateral relations is exceptionally broad. The views of Greece on the Parthenon sculptures are well known.

“I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart along with other international challenges: Gaza; Ukraine; the climate crisis; migration.”

The statement ended with Mitsotakis berating Sunak for failing to rise to the challenge of discussing the fate of antiquities that have spawned the west’s longest running cultural row. “Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his views is never afraid of opposing arguments,” it read. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Monday, November 27, 2023

Fishy goings on in Rishi’s Downing Street hideaway! I hadn’t known before this that being rude to prime ministers of other European nations was in our own prime minister’s remit. Does Rishi's rude behaviour show lack of courage or lack of politesse, or perhaps a lack of both? – © Mark Alexander

Is Brexit Pulling the United Kingdom Apart? | 7.30

Mar 17, 2023 | The disruptive force of Brexit - the UK's 2020 separation from the European Union - continues to reverberate. The long-running issue of the border between the North and South of Ireland was recently resolved but what the long-term consequences of Brexit will be for the Irish people remains to be seen.

Fintan O'Toole is one of Ireland's leading writers and is in Australia for the Adelaide Writers Festival. He speaks to 7.30’s Sarah Ferguson.

Soaring Number of Rough Sleepers in London ‘Extremely Alarming’

THE GUARDIAN: GLA data reveals over 1,700 more people on the streets compared with last year amid cost of living crisis

Rough sleeping is soaring in London, with over 1,700 more people on the streets than last year – a 21% rise, according to figures from the Greater London Authority (GLA).

The increase from 8,329 people seen sleeping rough in 2021-22 to 10,053 in 2022-23 was described as “categorically terrible” by Rick Henderson, the chief executive of the Homeless Link frontline charity, and “extremely alarming” by Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. » | Robert Booth, Social affairs correspondent | Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Good God! The Tories have made a bloody mess of the United Kingdom! It’s an omnishambles! – © Mark Alexander

UK Could Break Up unless It Is Rebuilt as ‘Solidarity Union’, Says Mark Drakeford

THE GUARDIAN: Exclusive: First minister of Wales says bonds that tie UK together have come under ‘sustained assault’ from 40 years of neoliberalism

Drakeford said Anglocentric Tories in London had shown a ‘fundamental disrespect’ for the Welsh and Scottish parliaments. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/AFP/Getty Images
The UK could break apart unless it is rebuilt as a “solidarity union” where every citizen’s rights to public services and financial security are protected, the first minister of Wales, has warned.

Mark Drakeford said the social and political bonds that tie the different parts of the UK together have come under “sustained assault” from 40 years of neoliberalism, a trend launched by Margaret Thatcher in 1979 and then reinforced after Brexit by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

“In order to persuade people in all parts of the United Kingdom that their futures lie together within a restructured United Kingdom, we have to recreate a solidarity union,” the Welsh Labour leader said in an interview with the Guardian.

That included rebuilding the safety net for those sick or out of work, with fundamental rights, he said, to environment, consumer and trade union protections, to human rights and to affordable public services. » | Severin Carrell, Scotland editor | Monday, May 29, 2023

Michael Lambert: Back to Being the 'Sick Man of Europe"

Dec 17, 2022 | I have been in business for more than fifty years since before the UK was a member of the EU. For many years I dealt with small companies in Italy before having to switch to China where quality, reliability and prices were all unbeatable. I noticed how the Chinese were working so hard to produce cheap consumer goods, whereas we in the West seemed to take it easy and enjoy the benefits.

Mrs Thatcher's decision to move to a service-based economy whilst manufacturing declined left us vulnerable. The 2008 economic crisis was the time that we should have decided to concentrate on IT and other high-tech sectors, but instead the government chose austerity. Since then we have struggled and many suffered whilst the rich have become richer. Faced with declining living standards a majority were persuaded that the EU was the reason for our decline and that if we left things would improve.

Now that we have finally left the EU, it is clear to all but the most ardent and disillusioned believers in Brexit that it was a terrible mistake. Our economy is now in a terrible state and deteriorating, and people are angry. The government's response under a very weak and clueless prime minister, Rishi Sunak, is to try to focus the country's anger on desperate asylum seekers who risk their lives to cross the Channel


You can buy Michael Lambert’s book here.

Another great synopsis. I can't disagree with anything you said. It was all the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Thank you! I was going to make Brits' sense of superiority the focus of my comment today, but then you said exactly what I had been thinking. I, too, really believe that one of our biggest problems is the reluctance of Brits to embrace the truth about this country's size and influence. So many people are deluded: they think that Britannia still rules the waves! They just can't get it into their heads that we are merely a medium-sized country, just like other European nations. For years, we were able to box above our weight. But, now, that cannot go on. The sooner we Brits come to terms with reality, the sooner we will heal. One way or another, our destiny lies in Europe. After all, we are Europeans. But believe this or not, I actually know some people who deny even that obvious fact! Again, thank you for your hard work and clearly-expressed message today. – © Mark Alexander

Michael Lambert: UK Becoming an Authoritarian State?

Dec 10, 2022 | The UK is gradually becoming an authoritarian police state. The economy is collapsing and there is a massive cost of living crisis. People are angry and more and more unions are striking or planning to strike causing even more damage to the economy.

The government will find it difficult to concede to any wage demands and will, therefore, have to confront the unions. The former Home Secretary, Priti Patel, introduced Draconian new laws giving the police extensive powers to stop and search without cause, or ban protests for trivial reasons such as making too much noise.

A new bill going through Parliament will give the current Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, even greater powers including being able to restrict those who she even suspects of intending to attend protests and which could also be used to prevent picketing.

We should be very concerned indeed that these powers are leading us towards becoming a police state.


Michael Lambert’s book 'BREXIT - It's not going too well, is it?' is available from his website here.

Macron Says UK and France Must ‘Move On’ from Truss Remarks

THE GUARDIAN: Two leaders appear to smooth over tensions in first bilateral talks in New York but avoid awkward topics

Liz Truss had said the ‘jury’s out’ over whether Emmanuel Macron was a friend or foe of Britain.Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Reuters
Emmanuel Macron has offered Liz Truss an olive branch after her controversial “friend or foe” remarks by saying after their first bilateral talks that it is time to “move on”.

The two leaders appeared to smooth over tensions during their meeting in New York, which No 10 said was dominated by Ukraine and energy security, but avoided the controversial issues of the Northern Ireland protocol and migration.

After the talks, the French president told reporters: “I now believe in proof, in results. There is a will to re-engage, to move on, and to show that we are allies and friends in a complex world.” » | Pippa Crerar in New York | Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Good for Emmanuel Macron! He is the wise one: he is ‘showing better’. This is precisely the advice that my late grandmother always used to advise us to show as children!

The French are certainly our friends, even if Liz Truss doesn’t know this fact yet. The late Queen Elizabeth II knew it. Emmanuel Macron knows it too. Emmanuel Macron is indeed our friend; and a good one at that! It is to be hoped that Liz Truss will soon come to her senses. © Mark Alexander