Politics
“Strong political leadership needed at Davos to solve income inequality problem,” says leading academic
As world leaders gather in Davos for the World Economic Forum, Dr Richard Dodgson, Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University, is warning that the gap between rich and poor will only be reduced if political leaders are willing to challenge the status quo. He says: “As the World Economic Forum kicks off, the eyes of the world are on Davos. This gathering of the great and the good from across the globe is positioned as an opportunity for the world’s...
UKIP on course to snatch Stoke-on-Trent seat as Paul Nuttall prepares to throw his hat into the ring
UKIP could pull off a surprise election win in Stoke-on-Trent if party leader Paul Nuttall throws his hat into the ring. Odds of UKIP winning the seat, which was recently vacated by Tristram Hunt, have been slashed from 11/4 to 9/4, with Nuttall is 15/8 to be UKIP’s name on the ballot paper, close up in the betting to market leader Mick Harold at 13/8 and Tariq Mahmood at 7/4. Labour remain favourites at 4/6 to retain the traditionally left-leaning constituency, with the...
Can Blue Monday get any worse? Yes, Jeremy Hunt is now EVEN more richer than you
Back in 2005 Dr Cliff Arnall calculated that today, 16th Jan, is the most depressing day of the year, due to bills coming in, rubbish weather and the xmas buzz wearing off. I can say that I am definitely in that camp today, with a combination of traditional illness and self-inflicted pain from the weekend festivities adding to the malaise. Now Mr Arnall has said that this year is even worse due to Trump and Brexit, unless of course you...
Putting up a fight in the age of misinformation
Think the UK has a free press? You're sadly mistaken, and what's happening to journalism right now should worry you... Whilst the threat of litigation is silencing real journalists and publications, an even darker threat, fake news, is putting them clean out of business. Politicians, climate change deniers, corporations and even countries have been funding fake news to create confusion and division, dilute facts, and pursue agendas. Now they are using 'fake news' as their default denial against allegations. The digital revolution was...
MP’s father “died in my arms” as hospital had no beds
An MP has spoken out about how his own father “died in my arms” when he was sent home, as there were not enough beds available. Toby Perkins bravely spoke out about it during a Commons debate on the NHS, which the Red Cross have labelled a humanitarian crisis. PM May fought back at the claim during yesterday’s PMQs, but this was met with widespread derision from all sides of the political divide. Jeremy Corbyn used all of his six...
Trump and Farage more trusted by public “because they don’t speak like politicians”
Mavericks like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage are more trusted by the public because they don't speak like politicians, a leading language expert claims. The political class who start speeches with reassuring phrases such as 'If I'm honest' and 'let me be clear' actually make them appear less honest. Research found "traditional" politicians such as Theresa May and David Cameron, who use cliches such as 'the honest truth is' and 'believe me', are more likely to arouse suspicion from the...
PMQs 11th January – Red Cross Blue Witless
It is fair to say that Corbyn had a turbulent day yesterday and he needed a strong PMQs to focus the attention on the Government’s NHS failings, and he did. It wasn’t hard to be fair, any politician, member of the public, or child for that matter could have asked Theresa May six times why the NHS was crumbling, stood back and watched her squirm. Corbyn said that 485 people had to spent over twelve hours on trolleys waiting for...
PM May created ‘blind trust’ to control her investments…so we have no idea what is in it
Opposition parties have pushed for the PM to disclose her finances and wealth after it was discovered she had set up a “blind trust” to handle her investments. A “blind trust” allows a way for a person to keep a stock and share portfolio away from the public gaze and a private matter. The use of this type of financial arrangement, might feel like a one rule for us and one rule for them, to the general public struggling to...
Corbyn maximum salary cap plan to reduce UK inequality divides the nation
It didn’t feel great to read about “Fat Cat Wednesday” just as the January depression was about to kick in. To know that UK top bosses earned more in two and a half days than most will make in the whole of 2017, made me want to crawl back into bed, i doubt I was alone. There was a fairly strong public outcry at this shocking statistic, so riding on the back of that Jeremy Corbyn, today, announced he would...