The Brexit General Election manifestos: Is this it?

The manifestos of the Conservatives, Labour and UKIP set out radically different visions for Brexit Britain. But – a year on from the referendum – almost nothing in them of any significance is contingent on Brexit. Whether it is re-nationalisation or new arrangements for social care, pensions, tax rises or cuts, industrial strategy, “global Britain”, education or equalities  – all these […]

EU Successes: The Single Market

May wants to sacrifice future British prosperity for a vague commitment to slash EU immigrant numbers I was tempted to say that Theresa May has got her knickers in a twist, but that is not very polite when talking of a Prime Minister. A more acceptable expression – and perhaps a more accurate one – […]

How EU agencies affect our lives – for the better!

The EU referendum “leave” campaign spread the idea that our lives were increasingly falling under the dark influence of unaccountable and overpaid “bureaucrats in Brussels”. This conjured up a picture of hordes of faceless, most likely foreign, people in cavernous offices, beavering away to generate more and more ridiculous regulations through which to control the […]

The EU is more democratic than the UK – It’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Brexiters swear that the EU is undemocratic, complaining that “We can’t throw them out’”, as if the EU were a Federal State like the USA – by the way, even there the President is elected indirectly through an electoral ‘college’ of votes from its states – not directly. But the EU is not a federal […]

Young Voters & the EU Referendum: What’s not working?

With less than two months until polling day it’s becoming increasingly clear that that the pro-EU, but politically disengaged, under-35 voters have the opportunity to play a key role in the upcoming referendum. Only half are currently planning on voting, 1 in stark contrast to the predominantly older Brexiters. Youngsters not participating in politics is […]