The Czech Republic is a state whose political system is heavily based upon parliamentary power with government as the main executive body. This tradition, which was firmly set up after the Velvet revolution in 1989, for a long time implied an indirectly elected president with purely symbolic powers. In this way, Václav Havel was twice […]
The electorate wasn’t sufficiently informed in the 2016 referendum to know whether it was right to leave the EU. The referendum campaign did not give clear answers. The Leave campaign had to rely on colossal lies to present their case. Who knew what to believe? But now it’s becoming clearer by the day what Brexit […]
Today’s visit to London by President Macron is important on a number of levels, not least for triggering the long-overdue debate about whether King Harold would have been a Brexiter. If the loaning of the Bayeux Tapestry is something of a sideshow, then it also speaks the overly febrile nature of British political debate that this was […]
It’s not often I recommend a bot to follow, but I find that HaveWeLeft is a useful daily reminder: https://twitter.com/HaveWeLeft/status/951008276761726979 In all the talk of Brexit and transitions and new relationships, it’s easy to forget that the UK remains a full member state of the EU and will continue to be so for at least another 14 months. My personal […]
Christmas and New Year is a time to think about and hope for ‘peace on earth and goodwill to all men’ (and women, of course). Peace is precious, because around the world there are so many conflicts and disasters that make world peace impossible. From conflicts and disasters come death, destruction and displacement. The world […]
An amendment by the Liberal Democrats to enshrine into law a new referendum on the final Brexit deal was defeated in the House of Commons last night. Amendment 120 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill would have given ‘the people’ a final say on the deal that Theresa May brings back from Brussels. There was […]
Hello Theresa May, I’m an avid follower of your Facebook page. On Friday you posted, “We will deliver on the will of the British people..” That’s great news. Just last year you advised the British people to vote for Remain, which you said would be in the best interests of the country. Couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, […]
My editorial today for the Reasons2Remain campaign: The Daily Mail this morning reported: “Eleven Conservative MPs last night voted to give the Commons a ‘meaningful’ vote over any Brexit agreement with the EU, despite government pleas to let ministers retain control.” The Daily Mail accused those 11 Tory MPs of treachery. We say they upheld […]
As we await the verdict of tomorrow’s European Council on the move to Phase 2, it’s perhaps useful to reflect on the decision-making style of Theresa May. Last night provided a vivid illustration of this, with the amendment to the Withdrawal Bill, which provides Parliament with a vote on the final deal. We might discuss on another […]
Prime Minister, Theresa May, suffered a major defeat in the Commons tonight when MPs voted to curb government powers on Brexit – something she definitely didn’t want. It’s the first time that government has been defeated on its main Brexit legislation. MPs voted to back an amendment by the former attorney general, Tory MP backbencher, […]