Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
The loss of Theresa May’s clear Conservative majority has already rocked conventional assumptions, agendas and elites. The realm of the politically possible has been blasted open – because the electoral support for Corbyn doesn’t just reflect a resurgence for British Labour, it has allowed a publicly popular discussion about a whole different political economy.
Having strong left-wing leaders of the Labour Party is an unusual phenomenon for the UK. Corbyn was elected leader with the overwhelming support of the party members but opposition from the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs. This is a contradiction that cannot last indefinitely.
Seeing London, it is easier to understand why the United Kingdom finds it so hard to let go of the expectations of greatness. The idea that Britain still counts – still has a role to play – must be hard to give up when its leaders drive to and from their offices in what feels like the world’s most elaborate movie set.
As the policeman noticed that he was being observed, and his actions photographed, he turned and walked away, escorted by one of his colleagues;
Civil society is also mobilising and activists are mobilising to seize the opportunity. At last there is a deeply offensive target and outrageous behaviour to protest against, instead of the smooth lies and hypocrisy that have been covered over for years by clever PR strategies funded by ExxonMobil and the fossil fuel lobbies.
These answers will not be found by Coleman and a bunch of time-serving, hui-hopping bureaucrats sitting on their chuffs in Wellington. The community must continue to pile pressure on them and their paymasters until the issues start getting seriously addressed.
What has that man done to deserve a knighthood? Was it the pulling of ponytails? Was it the flag referendum? Was it the lies about mass surveillance? Was it the hundreds of thousands of our kids he left in poverty? Was it the failure of the housing market? Was it the exponential rise in electricity prices? Was it for running down the public health system? Was it for underfunding education? Was it for screwing the poor?
Theresa May’s “enough is enough” declaration was splashed across the front pages of the British dailies after the latest shocking terrorist attack. “Enough is enough” is a sentiment that resonates with the public, but many Britons are concerned about the new counter-terrorism measures the British PM is proposing.
Peter Dunne has announced doctors will be able to prescribe CBD – but no products are yet available, and when they are, like Sativex they will be expensive and unaffordable for most people who could benefit from it.
On 5 June 1967, Israel launched its Six-Day War for territorial expansion and population-control in what was left of Palestine following the Nakba and the Zionist State’s unilateral ‘declaration of independence’. The result has been 50 years of belligerent military Occupation – the longest in modern history.