Kameel4u/Shutterstock.com This year – 2020 – has been shocking. If I try to find a silver lining, I think it might be this – that finally, the need for effective planning to address long-term problems has come under the spotlight around the world. A pandemic planning committee had been scrappedContinue Reading
Recent research has revealed a number of expressions that have entered everyday use since Brexit started. Terms like “Article 50”, “no deal”, “hard border” may now seem just part of life but they were seldom, if ever, used before Brexit. New and interesting phraseological patterns have also arisen around someContinue Reading
Plenty of political spin has already been applied to the post-Brexit UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement. This not only glosses over much of the detail, but it can also be decidedly misleading. For example, Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, has claimed that “there will be no non-tariff barriers toContinue Reading
To misquote Shakespeare, our Brexit negotiating revels now are ended. The tempestuous talks did not lead to a dramatic walkout, even if it at times the UK government gave the impression this was a feud worthy of the Montagues against the Capulets. The negotiators ignored the background noise and succeededContinue Reading
The term ‘Judeo-Christian’ serves political agendas. 1000 Words/Shutterstock Upcoming elections in the Netherlands and Germany in 2021 will test the strength of the radical right, which has a distinct vision of European identity. In contrast to those who view democratic values as essentially secular and universal, and not tied toContinue Reading
Still image from the 1940 propaganda film 'Christmas Under Fire' produced by the Crown Film Unit. BFI Archive At Christmas 1939, Britons had been able to maintain a semblance of normality. The blackout prevented displays of lighted Christmas trees in front windows, but there was no rationing and Britain’s keyContinue Reading
robzs/Shutterstock The government is planning to change the law so that social media companies like Facebook and Twitter will have no choice but to take responsibility for the safety of their users. Plans to impose a duty of care on online services mean companies will have to determine if contentContinue Reading
Now that restrictions are tighter in a number of areas, avoiding paying the price in 2021 may be more achievable Shyntartanya/Shutterstock The festive period heightens the sort of inner conflicts that have characterised 2020. On one hand, it is socially responsible to keep our distance. On the other, it feelsContinue Reading
British tourists hoping to travel to Europe in the new year will need to cancel or postpone their trips until the restrictions are lifted Andy Rain/EPA The combined forces of COVID-19 and Brexit have created massive uncertainty over where British people can and cannot travel. A number of countries rapidlyContinue Reading
In order to honour the rights of victims of crime, chronic under-funding in the criminal justice system needs to be addressed. Andy Rain/EPA Nearly a quarter of a million victims and witnesses of crime in London are waiting to have their cases heard in court, according to the city’s mayor.Continue Reading
