Steve McGookinElections point to fraught paths ahead
This week’s local elections only helped confirm that the four regions of the UK are run by four different parties, each with their own separate agenda and priorities.
The Conservatives scored significant victories in the Hartlepool by-election and other former Labour strongholds, as the shift in the “Red Wall” which handed the Tories a general election victory in 2019 showed no sign of weakening. The challenge for Boris Johnson is now to appear the Prime Minister for a Kingdom that is really United.
His job was made a little easier by Labour’s apparent disarray in England – at the same time as it consolidated its position in Wales – and leader Keir Starmer’s knee-jerk reshuffle in the election aftermath.
In Scotland, meanwhile, the SNP was returned to a fourth term in government at Holyrood, with a slim overall majority in favour of pro-independence parties; but with Boris Johnson seemingly determined to reject moves towards a new independence referendum, the political landscape seems set for a constitutional tussle.
In the election for Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan won a second term after a run-off victory over Conservative Shaun Bailey.
In Northern Ireland – the only UK region not to have elections this week – the party political focus is not just on the DUP leadership contest, which comes to a conclusion on Friday, but also now on the other main pro-Union party, the UUP, whose leader Steve Aiken announced he was stepping down.
Meanwhile, there was anger this week as it was revealed that the British government was planning to announce a ban on historical prosecutions on the same day as the Ballymurphy inquest verdict.
See Also:
Labour, Pain And A Burning Platform
GE19 – Tories Win Big Majority
Selecting A DUP Leader: Uncharted And Uncomfortable Waters
Rethinking: Mandatory Coalition
Don’t let border poll become the Irish Brexit
***
Patent waiver move as India reels from Covid
The world’s largest cargo plane took off from Belfast this week with medical supplies for India, as the urgent need continues amid a still-worsening situation. A report in The Lancet warned that Covid-related deaths in India could reach a “staggering” one million by August.
France and the US this week backed a waiver on intellectual property restrictions on vaccines to allow poorer countries to increase access to shots, but not unexpectedly there has been pushback from the pharmaceutical industry.
In the UK, the latest travel rules outlined a number of “green list” countries, which significantly did not include Turkey, where Istanbul is the location for the Champions League final at the end of this month between two English teams.
In Ireland, meanwhile…
See Also:
Catching Your Breath: Lobbying For Lung Health In The Time Of Covid-19
Leaders Need To Lead: The Executive and Covid-19
Life Is Harder Right Now. We Should Be Kinder To Ourselves
***
Fight looms over US voting rights
As Republican politicians moved this week to enact restrictive voting legislation in several states across the US, the stage is set for an ideological battle over voting rights ahead of the crucial 2022 midterm elections.
An important element in the tussle over voting rights is the role of the US Supreme Court, and whether or not it will allow states to dismantle existing rules.
Meanwhile a controversial “audit” continues in Maricopa County in Arizona in an attempt to cast doubt on the outcome of last November’s election in the state, part of the perpetuation of the so-called “big lie” by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The Republican party has moved closer to replacing Rep Liz Cheney in a House leadership position after she spoke out against the idea that the election was somehow stolen, and had voted to impeach the former President for his role in the Jan 6th insurrection.
As for Trump himself, his ban from Facebook was extended for at least six months, prompting more predictable – if ironic – charges of “cancel culture” among Conservatives.
In the real world, meanwhile, this week saw disappointing jobs numbers, an indicator that the US economy hasn’t turned the corner out of the pandemic just yet.
On Sunday night, President Biden took emergency measures after the largest fuel pipeline in the US became the target of a ransomware cyber-attack. The attack, which began on Friday, affects nearly half of the east coast’s supply of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel.
See Also:
After Trump, What Lies Ahead For The GOP?
From The Big Lie To A Great Undoing
On Eve Of 100 Days, Biden Offers Bold Agenda
***
Netanyahu fails to form government
Israel is headed for an unprecedented fifth national election in just over two years after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to put together a governing coalition by this week’s deadline. The situation is also complicated by Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu defended the actions of Israeli police against Palestinian protestors after two nights of clashes around the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. Tensions have been rising for some weeks over eviction policies.
See Also:
Could Israel Bid Farewell To Bibi?
***
Stormont set for climate debate
MLAs will on Monday debate the second reading of Northern Ireland’s first piece of climate legislation, which proposes measures to protect water quality and biodiversity, as well as setting a “net zero” carbon target by 2045. Northern Ireland is the only region of the UK without specific climate measures.
The cross-party bill (only the DUP did not endorse the proposed legislation) aims to establish a “just transition” for embracing change across the economy, but farmers say they are concerned about the impact they see to the agriculture sector.
You can watch a live stream of the debate here.
See Also:
Sustainability and the Centenary – Reframing the Next 100 Years
Build Back Differently – How NI Can Tackle Climate Change
***
See Also Last Week’s Five Points:
Also published on Medium.
