It is simply appalling to see your country take one hit after another on the international scene. Yesterday at noon, as my plane landed at Luqa airport and I switched on my smart phone, the first news alert I received was that Malta plummeted in the press freedom index. According to Reporters Without Borders press freedom in Malta is in a “problematic” state. It is incredible that in just 12 months Malta was knocked down 18 places, the sharpest drop among 180 countries. I was returning from Strasbourg, home to the Council of Europe. Together with my colleagues from both sides of the house we attended committee meetings and plenary sessions. Over there Malta was on the agenda for all the wrong reasons. It was heart-wrenching to see the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe opening the session by reasserting the Chamber’s resolve to fight corruption and seek justice in the case of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. This … [Read more...] about Yes Prime Minister
Yes prime minister
David Lammy: ‘Kids are getting killed. Where is the prime minister? Where is Sadiq Khan?’
David Lammy is one of those politicians whose public profile has never correlated with his position in his party, or converted into frontbench power, and this sort of maverick celebrity operator tends to attract suspicion. Elected to represent Tottenham 18 years ago, the 46-year-old has at various key moments – the Grenfell fire, the London riots – distinguished himself in the public’s affection by seizing individual ownership of the agenda. To some, particularly in Westminster, this highly personalised brand of political identity is opportunistic self-promotion, artfully disguised as heroism. To me, his politics look sincere and principled, I’ve just never been entirely sure what they are. He used to joke: “I’m not Blair, I’m not Brown, I’m just black.” And he has successfully eluded all association with any ideological faction with such dexterity that he can sometimes look a bit slippery, as if his public persona is contingent on … [Read more...] about David Lammy: ‘Kids are getting killed. Where is the prime minister? Where is Sadiq Khan?’
Prime minister has lunch on NI farm during UK tour
Britain will be a “different” country after Brexit, Theresa May has said. As she conducted a whistle-stop tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom to mark a year until Brexit day, including a trip to a farm in County Down for lunch, the PM called on Britons to “come together” to seize the “great opportunities” she expects as a result of EU withdrawal.Mrs May said additional money will be available to spend on priorities like the NHS and schools once Britain is no longer sending “vast sums” annually to Brussels.But, in a BBC interview, she steered clear of repeating Boris Johnson’s term “Brexit dividend” and twice ducked the question of whether she believes Brexit will be “worth it”.“I think there are real opportunities for the United Kingdom,” she told interviewer Laura Kuenssberg.“I think it’s a bright future out there. And yes, I think Brexit is going to deliver a country that … [Read more...] about Prime minister has lunch on NI farm during UK tour
Former prime minister David Cameron visits Woodford Green school
PUBLISHED: 11:52 28 March 2018 | UPDATED: 13:02 28 March 2018 Liam Coleman Former Prime Minister David Cameron visited Woodford County High School to speak to students about the National Citizens Service. Photo: @David_Cameron @David_Cameron Former Prime Minister David Cameron visited a Woodford school to give an assembly about the National Citizens Service (NCS) to students last week. Former Prime Minister David Cameron visited Woodford County High School to speak to students about the National Citizens Service. Photo: @David_Cameron Former prime minister David Cameron visited a school to give an assembly about the National Citizens Service (NCS) last week. Students and staff at Woodford County High School, High Road, Woodford Green, listened to a speech by Mr Cameron about what the programme does and why he thinks more students should get involved in it. Mr Cameron is a patron of the government-backed programme that brings together young people from different backgrounds … [Read more...] about Former prime minister David Cameron visits Woodford Green school
Britain will be ‘different’ after Brexit, says Prime Minister
News / Scotland by Press Association March 29, 2018, 1:57 pm Updated: March 29, 2018, 4:13 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter Britain will be a “different” country after Brexit, Theresa May has said. As she conducted a whistle-stop tour of the four nations of the United Kingdom to mark a year until Brexit day, the PM called on Britons to “come together” to seize the “great opportunities” she expects as a result of EU withdrawal. Mrs May said additional money will be available to spend on priorities like the NHS and schools once Britain is no longer sending “vast sums” annually to Brussels. But, in a BBC interview, she steered clear of repeating Boris Johnson’s term “Brexit dividend” and twice ducked the question of whether she believes Brexit will be “worth it”. “I think there are real opportunities for the United Kingdom,” she told … [Read more...] about Britain will be ‘different’ after Brexit, says Prime Minister