UK: As the Tory contenders emerge, so too do their policy blindspots

A Morning Star Editorial | July 11, 2022

The door of 10 Downing Street, London

THE Conservative Party is, without qualification, the most successful political party in Britain.

For most of its history it has proved to be the united political expression of the political and economic interests of the dominant classes in British society.

Where those interests have diverged — and the formidable class unity and discipline of the rich has been under strain — it has been blessed with the good fortune to be opposed by parties like the Liberals and today the Lib Dems, that while they might differ on matters of social policy, rarely depart from a defence of capital often no less ferocious than the Tories’.

How Is The Pandemic Going For You? Trump, Johnson And Bolsonaro In The Swamp

by Alfredo Saad-Filho

Progress in Political Economy | July 23, 2020

The spectacular failures of Brazil, the UK and the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic offer valuable lessons on what must never happen again: wish away the virus, minimise the potential impact of a pandemic on public health and the economy, delay inevitable lockdowns, the list goes on. They also shed a powerful light on the root causes of the devastation.

The first step is to recognise the immensity of the catastrophe (see Table 1).

Table 1: The impact of the pandemic

	Brazil	UK	USA	China	Cuba	Germany	New Zealand	South Korea	Taiwan	Vietnam
Total cases	1,921,824	292,931	3,431,744	85,226	2,432	200,734	1,547	13,551	451	381
Cases per million	8,772.5	4,266.0	9,984.6	59.1	214.2	2,374.7	247.6	262.9	18.9	3.8
Total deaths	74,133	45,138	136,699	4,642	87	9,079	22	289	7	0
Deaths per million	353.9	677.6	408.5	3.3	7.7	109.5	4.7	5.6	0.3	0.0
Excess deaths	54,700	65,700	149,200	n.a.	n.a.	9,800	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
GDP growth in 2020 (estimate)	-9.1	-10.2	-8.0	1.0	n.a.	-7.8	-7.2	-2.1	-4.0	2.7

 

In summary, the human disaster in our selected countries is unlikely to be compensated by a shallower economic downturn – quite the contrary, they are likely to do worse than average – dismantling the argument that protecting the economy should be a priority and ‘if some pensioners die [as a consequence], too bad’.[1]

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is Covid-19 Positive

teleSUR | March 27, 2019

Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a press conference, London, Britain, March 20, 2020. | Photo: EFE

The conservative politician is one of the 11,658 cases reported by the United Kingdom so far.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus, according to what the politician reported in a video posted on his Twitter account on Friday.

 

UK: Union leaders call for unity in fight against Johnson’s ‘cabal of hard-right, free market fanatics’

by Conrad Landin

Morning Star | September 08, 2019

Boris Johnson during a visit to Darnford Farm in Banchory near Aberdeen

WORKERS must unite to kick out Boris Johnson and his “cabal of hard-right, free market fanatics,” union leaders said at the opening of TUC Congress today.

TUC president Mark Serwotka, who leads Civil Service union PCS, told delegates it was time to fight back against the “bleak prospect” of “Johnson and his zealous accomplices controlling a no-deal Britain post Brexit — flogging off anything that isn’t nailed down to the highest bidder.”

UK: Johnson Calls for Election After Humiliating Brexit Defeat

teleSUR | September 04, 2019

 

An anti-Brexit protester wearing a clown costume and a defaced mask depicting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a placard outside the Houses of the Parliament in London, Britain, September 4, 2019. | Photo: Reuters

Boris Johnson’s bid for an election is set to be initially thwarted as opposition parties are united in wanting to prevent a no-deal Brexit before agreeing to a vote.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Wednesday demanded an Oct. 15 snap election after lawmakers seeking to prevent a no-deal Brexit dealt him a humiliating defeat in parliament which he cast as an attempt to surrender to the European Union.

BREXIT-BATTLE: The UK-monarchy could be abolished after Queen approves PM’s plan to suspend Parliament, says Labour MP “Parliament surrenders to EU”: UK newspapers

A Journal of People report

Brexit-battle in the UK is raging. The UK Parliament’s vote to open debate on a motion blocking a no-deal Brexit leaves the UK in a state of chaos not seen in post-WW II period. The chaos has already touched the monarchy there.

The plan to suspend Parliament was heavily criticized by opposition parties and some Conservative MPs.

On Tuesday night in the House of Commons, MPs voted to take control of parliament in a bid to avoid a no-deal exit from the European Union.

Protests against Johnson’s ‘smash and grab’ coup to take place across Britain

by Peter Lazenby

Morning Star | August 29, 2019

PROTESTS are planned across Britain against Boris Johnson’s “smash and grab” coup in suspending Parliament.

More demonstrations are expected in major towns and cities after spontaneous protests were sparked by the PM’s prorogation announcement on Wednesday.

UK: Harness the power of the workers, urge trade unionists

by Marcus Barnett

Morning Star | August 29, 2019

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell

BORIS JOHNSON can be brought down by “harnessing the power” of a united working class, the leader of Britain’s Civil Service union has said, as shadow chancellor John McDonnell warns that the people will not tolerate the suspension of Parliament.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka hit out today at the “cabal of hard-right, free market fanatics” plotting for an election win to “wreak havoc on this country.”

Queen suspends parliament in UK: Uproar follows: “A British coup”

A Journal of People report

A man wearing a mask of Boris Johnson protests outside Downing Street in London, Britain August 28, 2019. | Photo: Reuters

The British Queen approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plea of suspending parliament from early September to October 14. Opponents have accused Johnson of leading a “very British coup”. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, “Suspending Parliament is not acceptable, it is not on. What the prime minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal.”

Corbyn has reportedly written to the Queen about Johnson’s request to suspend parliament and asked the monarch for a meeting on the issue.

Eton wins again: Nearly two-thirds of Boris Johnson’s cabinet went to private school

by Phil Miller

Morning Star | July 26, 2019

Boris Johnson sits with his cabinet, two-thirds of which were privately educated

ALMOST two-thirds of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet ministers are privately educated, making it even posher than David Cameron’s austerity hit squad in 2010.

A study by social mobility campaign group the Sutton Trust warns that we have to go back to John Major’s team in the 1990s to find a more elite group running Britain.