SpinningHugo

There were many misconceptions that generated the Brexit vote. It is a misunderstanding to think they were were much to do with an Empire that ended 50+ years earlier with hardly a murmur.

I don;t remember any mention of Empire, or even really the Commonwealth, during the Brexit debate. The result was foolish, but not based upon any nostalgia for an imperialist long gone past.

Excellent letter from the Bishop of Birmingham to Robert Jenrick.

At a time when so many other voices have been silent, the bishops have been admirably outspoken against attempts to stir up division.

The churches do a lot of community cohesion work & do not want to see this trashed for party gain.

I don;t think there is any real memory of Empire nor that it has any significance at all. The current price of an Indian takeaway is much, much more important.

It is as dead as dead can be.

The Big Country is on BBC iplayer.

A beautiful film, every shot is carefully composed.

A great movie on how to be a man (Gregory Peck) and how not to be.

Jean Simmons was one of the great actors of any era.

Difficult to prove, but I think that very badly mistaken. Even very High Tories have no nostalgia for the days of Empire. 50 years ago, maybe. Not now.

So yes, I am *very* aware that British policy in Ireland over centuries could not be characterised as liberal. But the idea that the British, today, are occupying part of Ireland out of imperialist ambition is, I think, a misunderstanding of the situation.

/ends

The Empire in any meaningful sense ended long before you and me were born. Even Farage doesn't try to tap into any imperial nostalgia: there is none.

/1

Well, in a sense, it was. It was a fight between states. Ideologies don't fight, people in organised units do.

But the Tory opposition to fascism has been strong and deep rooted. Jenrick represents something new, imo.

I'm afraid i think that quite a serious and uncharitable misreading of what most Tories think. It really never was about the Germans as a people (quite rightly).

The Tories are, imo, making a huge strategic mistake. They shoud be differentiating themselves from these people, not aligning with them. Not just because it makes electoral sense, but because it is right.

/ends

But.

I don't think anything like a majority of the UK share Farage's views. If he fell under a bus tomorrow, Tice and the rest would be left with ashes in their hands.

/5

Farage is on the bring of destroying the Conservative party. The most successful political party in western Europe of the last, what, 200 years.

Another amazing achievement.

/4

Farage is easily the most consequential politician never (yet) to have been Prime Minister. He has charm, wit and charisma (he just does, sorry). His initially crazy campaign to leave the EU succeeded. Adding credibility to his wider positions.

/3

In the UK, a country with a strong liberal tradition and which defines itself in terms of fighting and defeating fascists, you'd exepect the resistance to be stronger, but the reason why not is tied up with one, almost comic, figure.

/2

It is likely that as WW2 has faded into the distance, so have the constraints on what is an acceptable political position has also changed.

You'd expect this to happen in the US first, a country never occupied by or directly threatened by fascists.

/1

Here is the statue of Lenin that Hesltine has in his garden.

This is my primarypolitical view

The Tory party needs to relearn this double quick. That is the path that enables them to defeat Reform, not this stupid imitation game.

/ends

These stupid people don't understand what makes us a success. What Britains superpower actually is.

Our strength comes from our collective horror at state officials wearing masks seizing people in the US.

/3

The brilliance of Britain is that it is a concept. Its whole point is it is a *liberal* place.

We don't care what religion you are, what colour your skin is, what your backgorund is, what your beliefs are. We don't subject anyone to the choices of others.

We invented liberalism.

/2

I hate to sound like some ancient old throwback, but I don't recognise the country I am living in.

When did racism become acceptable again?

Why do we have to rely on ageing retired Engand fullbacks for guidance on the misuse of flags?

/1

Plato's objections to democracy raise their ugly head again.

What we need is government by Philosopher Kings, people unafraid to make the Hard Choices that are needed.

eg me.

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

What on earth has happened to the Tories? This wouldn't have been acceptable in 1965 let alone 2025.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Top tip for those thinking of a JD or law masters programme.

If the University in question offers you upwards of 50 options, that is bad. Over 150, very bad indeed.

Ideally (rarely achieved) the choices should be limited to 25 or so.

If you listen to Donald Trump and other politicians, it would seem that the flow of migrants illegally crossing Europe’s borders is an unstoppable tide. We explain why the latest data show the opposite econ.st/48cBd5F

Photo: AP

OK, let's take this seriously. I had an odd half an hour and via Apple Books had a quick look at the three claims I knew most about - two re the post-Brexit bilateral preferential trade agreements replicated from the EU versions and one about cheaper bananas. All are wrong or wildly implausible. 1/n

I do indeed know who Conor Gearty was.

Nobody is claiming that the rule of law or democracy are trumps, overriding any other concern. Rather, the ECHR comes at a cost both in terms of the rule of law, and in terms of decision making not being made through democratic process.

The "necessarily" above is false.