Steve McGookinBritain wrestles with fallout from Brexit ‘deal’
As usual with British politics these days, the success or otherwise of the trade agreement between the UK and EU will inevitably be in the eye of the beholder.
After “canceling Christmas” Prime Minister Boris Johnson obviously was keen to talk up the benefits for Britain. The deal “won’t immediately see children sent up chimneys” he said, so at least there’s that.
Predictably, Johnson’s supporters rallied round his “achievement” while opponents of Brexit pointed out the deal’s shortcomings. But even though the backing of some hardline ERG members might still be in the balance, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has already indicated he will whip his MPs in parliament on Wednesday in support of what he called a “thin” deal, making it all but certain to pass.
The deal will also have to be ratified by the EU member parliaments, a process that will last into the new year. But as chief negotiator Michel Barnier put it, “the clock is no longer ticking.”
Pro- and anti-Brexit positions – and a general relief at what is at least for now a symbolic end to uncertainty – were reflected in the reactions of our own politicians and business figures in Northern Ireland.
The Dublin government, meanwhile, said that it would take up the slack left by Brexit in funding the academic Erasmus programme for students from the North.
See Also:
Reinforcing Northern Ireland’s In-Betweenness
An End In Sight to Northern Ireland’s Economic Purgatory?
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Covid vaccine rolls out as ‘new’ strain spreads
There is optimism over the effectiveness of the Astra-Zeneca/Oxford vaccine, which looks set to be approved “within days” as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine began to be rolled out across Europe.
Here in Northern Ireland, new Covid restrictions came into force on Boxing Day.
The “new strain” of the virus recently discovered in the UK continues to show up in other countries, leading to further travel restrictions.
Vladimir Putin announced that he would take Russia’s own Sputnik vaccine. In the US, perhaps predictably, the issue has become politicized as some lawmakers who had previously doubted the seriousness of the pandemic lined up for the vaccine, while others weighed the impact of setting an example for the public.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warned that the Covid pandemic “will not be the last” and people should adjust to a situation where epidemics are “a fact of life.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “The pandemic has highlighted the intimate links between the health of humans, animals and planet. Any efforts to improve human health are doomed unless they address the critical interface between humans and animals, and the existential threat of climate change that’s making our earth less habitable.”
See Also:
The Covid-19 Vaccine Explained
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Trump golfs before relenting on Covid relief
With 24 days remaining in his presidential term, Donald Trump spent Christmas at his golf course, ignoring pressure to sign a Covid Relief Bill that, while widely seen as insufficient to address the needs of those most vulnerable to the economic effects of the virus, would at least provide some financial lifeline for many out of work at a difficult time.
He was finally prepared to relent late on Sunday night, theatrically signing the bill into law and issuing a statement explaining what he hoped to get out of the delay. The Bill also includes measures to fund the federal government, which would have shut down at midnight on Monday without authorization.
Trump has also been conspicuous by his silence over a still mysterious bombing in the centre of Nashville, Tennessee on Christmas morning.
Earlier in the week, the President caused more controversy with a series of pardons of close associates and campaign allies. Over two days he pardoned more than 40 individuals, with speculation that more could follow before he leaves office on January 20th.
After Trump used Twitter to warn Iran of retaliation following a rocket attack on the US embassy in Baghdad, the Washington Post’s David Ignatius writes that senior national security officials are alarmed and that until Biden’s victory is finally certified, the US remains vulnerable to both foreign and domestic developments.
Writing in the Irish Times, Fintan O’Toole looks back on Donald Trump’s chaotic and dangerous term in office, saying that the president “has unfinished business – the republic he wants to destroy still stands.”
All eyes are now on the January 5th Georgia Senate run-off elections and the potential flashpoint of the certification of the electoral college votes in the Senate the following day. After presiding over that ceremony, Vice-President Mike Pence – himself currently skiing in Colorado – gets out of town on a foreign trip. Among his first stops will be…
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Israel set for fourth election in two years
A row over setting a budget for 2021 led to the collapse of the country’s coalition government and set up a showdown between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partner, Defence Minister Benny Gantz. The election will likely be held in the middle of March. Netanyahu and Gantz had contested three previous inconclusive elections; in April and September of 2019, and again in March this year.
Meanwhile over Christmas, Israeli warplanes attacked Iranian targets in Syria…
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So, farewell…
Northern Slant Editor Connor Daly takes a look back at some of our best work of 2020 in his Review of the Year. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers and the wider Northern Slant community a peaceful and optimistic new year. Stay connected with us as 2021 unfolds.
Many of us will be more than happy to see the end of what has been a surreal and tragic year; while we can only look forward to better days to come.
Among those we lost in 2020 were some larger-than-life figures:
From the world of politics, SDLP icons Seamus Mallon and John Hume – read Fionnbharr Rodgers’ appreciation of Hume for Northern Slant here – as well as Alliance politician David Cook, the first non-unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast, and Betty Williams, co-founder of the Peace Movement and Nobel Laureate in 1976.
We said farewell to veteran journalist Chris Ryder, childrens’ author Sam McBratney and Manchester United and Northern Ireland football legend Harry Gregg.
Also passing was poet Derek Mahon whose words, in his 1979 poem Everything Is Going To Be All Right, are probably the best way to leave this year behind.
Also published on Medium.
