Right now (and perhaps for some time) one could sum up geopolitics, the current war(s) in the Middle East & any number of other international disputes with the words of George Santayana:
'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it'...
Of course, the Tangerine Tyrant isn't even trying to remember.....
#Iran #MiddleEast #politics #geopolitics #InternationalRelations #war
The annual Al Quds Day march in London has been banned at the request of the Metropolitan Police, on the basis of a risk assessment suggesting it might provoke serious public disorder....
Its seem more likely that this is continuation of the crack-down on public protests related to the Middle East.
The Q. is who did the Met expect to be disorderly? The protestors, or those in counter protests? (and of course how one defines disorderly?).
While Labour suffered a significant backbench rebellion (mostly abstentions) on the Courts and Tribunals Bill, it survived the second reading to enter the committee stage.
So, David Lammy's plan to constrict jury trials remains even though its pretty clear (even by his own admission) it will do little to solve the crisis engulfing the justice system; its almost like that was an excuse & really they just want to stop juries making politically unwelcome judgements!
#RuleOfLaw #politics
h/t FT
The legislation on the practice of espionage is now so widely defined that neither does the person of interest need to be in contact with a foreign power, they needn't even intend their activities to be helpful to another country... only that activities would likely be of interest to that foreign power;
you will be both fascinated & (i'll wager) rather worried by section 3 of the new National Security Act as discussed by @davidallengreen
https://theemptycity.com/blog/2026/03/the-curious-section-3-of-the-new-national-security-act/
The Climate Change Committee has modelled the likely impact of the war in the Middle East on energy prices & compared that to the costs to consumers of a full-tilt green transition towards net zero, and guess what:
the costs of shifting to net zero are a lot less than the costs of (continuing) disruptions to the supply of fossil fuels.
So, not only is a shift to renewables good for the environment, it also make sound geopolitical & economic sense!
Time to commit!!!
As Phineas Harper points out:
'Whether or not Hannah Spencer can change parliament's relationship with construction, she has already changed what it means to imagine a construction worker’s place in British public life, and that’s a start. The buildings we get are, in the end, a reflection of the respect we are willing to extend to the people who build them'!
Spencer's move into Parliament is politically meaningful on a number of levels!
#Greens #politics #construction
https://www.thenerve.news/p/hannah-spencer-plumber-phineas-harper-construction-industry-press
Ella Baron on the disastrous history of US post-war 'reconstruction' - if this is the future for Iran, heaven help the Iranians!
#Iran #politics #StateBuilding
h/t Guardian
Ella Baron on the disastrous history of US post-war 'reconstruction' - if this is the future for Iran, heaven help the Iranians!
#Iran #politics #StateBuilding
h/t Guardian
As Phineas Harper points out:
'Whether or not Hannah Spencer can change parliament's relationship with construction, she has already changed what it means to imagine a construction worker’s place in British public life, and that’s a start. The buildings we get are, in the end, a reflection of the respect we are willing to extend to the people who build them'!
Spencer's move into Parliament is politically meaningful on a number of levels!
#Greens #politics #construction
https://www.thenerve.news/p/hannah-spencer-plumber-phineas-harper-construction-industry-press
On the prompting of @gemlog I am switching to a policy of naming Nigel Farage less in any posts... when I refer to the Fascist Frog, that should be taken to mean Farage, much as my use of the Tangerine Tyrant refers to Trump.
On one level I really don't care what Nigel Farage has to say, but it is worth noting that he has changed his tune on the US/Israeli attacks on Iran somewhat in the last week.... going from war-hawk to 'arguing' for the UK to hold back.
I wonder if it is anything to do with his failed attempt to talk with the Tangerine Tyrant at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend... he's not a man to ignore a snub.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/mar/10/nigel-farage-u-turn-uk-iran-war
Before you celebrate that the Competition & Markets Authority has (finally) for the first time since the ex-UK-Amazon-boss Doug Gurr took over, actually blocked a merger... you should know this is due to the appeal timing out, because a lawyer mis-calculated the time available for an appeal to be lodged (ironically between two legal firms).
Ooops
#regulation #mergers #politics
h/t FT
The legislation on the practice of espionage is now so widely defined that neither does the person of interest need to be in contact with a foreign power, they needn't even intend their activities to be helpful to another country... only that activities would likely be of interest to that foreign power;
you will be both fascinated & (i'll wager) rather worried by section 3 of the new National Security Act as discussed by @davidallengreen
https://theemptycity.com/blog/2026/03/the-curious-section-3-of-the-new-national-security-act/
Here is the count of violence against women & girls put together each year (this for for 2025).
The violence continues even as policing shifts its attitudes & the legal system seeks to increase successful prosecutions.
The problem remains (some) men & their attitudes towards women and girls - this goes beyond toxic masculinity, although that is part of the issue.
Men must refuse to ignore their peers' behaviour(s)!
For once it seems its not so much the police that are obstructing justice in rape prosecutions as the Courts (and defence barristers) not keeping up with new developments in how sexual assaults are investigated (and evidence gathered).
This, of course, will be compounded by David Lammy's attempt to reduce the scope of jury trials (further) & make cases completely reliant on the judgement of judges.
As Rachel Reeves warns the US/Israeli attack(s) on Iran will likely push inflation up, its yet more evidence the Bank of England's continuation of placing wages at the centre of inflation modelling, is looking at the wrong issue.
Rather, as the UK is a relatively open economy (we import a lot of what we need), we are always (particularly) subject to the shifts in global markets.
Wages *do* have some impact in inflation but not as much as class-driven economics supposes!
Q. what should the UK learn from the oil & gas price spikes driven by the attack on Iran?
Some think the windfall tax on oil production should be suspended/ended to encourage more investment....
But, perhaps the real lesson is the UK needs to push the Green Transition further & quicker - energy sovereignty seems better constructed on renewables than a revival of fossil fuel investment(s)!
The case for green energy is strengthened not weakened by war!
Roy Lilley (NHSManagers.net) argues that the idea another review of social care will resolve the issue misunderstands the problem with social care;
the 12 year old Social Care Act, actually contains most of what is needed to start to deal with the problems in social in England & Wales.... the obstruction is not a lack of a strategy or plan, its the unwillingness of the Treasury to fund the complete & proper implementation of the SCA2014.
https://harrowtogether.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/An-Overview-of-the-Care-Act-2014.pdf
The best I've seen for responding to the crazy political times:
@pluralistic interviewed about the idea of "Nuremberg Caucus", boldly and explicitly publicly planning for the day when criminal actions will go to trial so that people understand that criminal behavior is being noted right now (so maybe don't do it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWxKrnNfrlo&t=82s
obligatory note: use FreeTube or PipePipe or other ways to avoid tracking and ads with YouTube
The best I've seen for responding to the crazy political times:
@pluralistic interviewed about the idea of "Nuremberg Caucus", boldly and explicitly publicly planning for the day when criminal actions will go to trial so that people understand that criminal behavior is being noted right now (so maybe don't do it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWxKrnNfrlo&t=82s
obligatory note: use FreeTube or PipePipe or other ways to avoid tracking and ads with YouTube
