Opinion

There’s precious little in the news other than Brexit, but not much in the overall situation is actually changing. I think I’m experiencing a kind of Brexit numbness. On the one hand, there’s precious little else in the news right now, as is entirely appropriate given that we’re about six weeks away from an act […]

The reality of Britain’s position after it leaves the EU is becoming clearer As the Brexit discussion continues, at ever-higher volume with ever-decreasing coherence, its enthusiasts have found a new concept, a new mantra, to shout it at ever-increasing frequency. It has become impossible to say that the UK will get a fantastic deal from […]

Liam Neeson’s comments have given license to others to expound extreme views One of the more embarrassing stories my late mother would relate about my childhood concerned one of her friends. This lady, it seems, really mystified me. I could not understand why her dress stuck out in front. I would ask my mother over […]

By picking a fight with Ireland, the UK might turn one of its closest allies against it, writes BONNIE GREER. My primary school in Chicago long ago was primarily African-American and Latino. But every March 17 we became something else: Irish. Each St Patrick’s Day we wore ‘the green’ – hats or shoes. The boys […]

With so many reasons to abandon Brexit, writes MITCH BENN, Remain is winning the battle by a significant margin. There are literally hundreds of compelling reasons to abandon Brexit, and precisely one reason to go ahead with it. Every week that passes provides us with another couple of dozen entries for the ‘really very good […]

March 29 is a full stop, writes JAMES BALL, and it is hard to see a way back for Remain afterwards. March 29. It’s the date we’ve heard more than any other – a new contender for Groundhog Day – and the latest Brexit-related issue that Theresa May is digging in on. She is insisting […]

The Queen has attempted to rejoin the current political extremes over Brexit by pleading for a (presumably) centrist common ground on the issue. As a staunch Remainer, this for me will be impossible unless and until we have a second referendum. The first one was based on lies, alternative facts, deceit, project fear, financial irregularities […]

MITCH BENN discusses why links between Brexit and how it compares to past wars Britain have been involved in should not be made. I’ve long thought that there should be some sort of ‘swear box’ system in operation in political journalism, except with interviewees being required to cough up for clichés rather than profanities. I […]

BONNIE GREER on how British populism is fuelling Brexit in England. It took me a few seconds to realise that the man checking tickets at the barrier was the only human official there. I was in a hurry, practically running off my train and I’d made a mistake so needed help with my ticket. But […]

JAMES BALL discusses his fears about the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on businesses in the UK. For anyone who foolishly still held any hope in the ability of the UK’s politicians to avoid the worst of Brexit, this week surely marked the final, bitter disappointment. Tuesday night – which saw MPs vote on […]

MITCH BENN discusses the problems with a no deal Brexit and what the works no deal have become. Almost immediately after the spectacular failure of the prime minister’s Withdrawal Agreement last week, the question was asked throughout the land: ‘Okay, so now what?’ And this question was answered by everyone: ‘Literally nobody knows.’ However, one […]

Readers welcome the scrapping of charges for EU citizens and have thoughts on ideas for Theresa May’s Plan B. The announcement of the scrapping of the charge for application for settled status of EU citizens is to be welcomed. The government should go one step further and grant to these same citizens the right to […]

As the vote on Theresa May’s Plan A replica approaches, with the Irish backstop still the critical obstacle, many will find it inexplicable that the party propping her up, the Democratic Unionists, are virtually the sole representative voice in Westminster for Northern Ireland where 56% voted Remain in 2016. Meanwhile the party representing the majority […]

JAMES BALL debunks the ‘Lexit’ argument that the EU prevents Britain from implementing left-wing policies. As we grind ever-closer to the end of the beginning of Brexit, confusion abounds over Labour’s position on leaving. Its members and its voters overwhelmingly support a second referendum, and still overwhelmingly support Remain. Labour party policy, however, does not. […]

BONNIE GREER explains how Phil Collins and Ethel Waters helped her to escape the herd. British Pop and Rock musician Phil Collins of the group Genesis performs onstage at the Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, June 7, 1980. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) – Credit: Getty Images One of the ways that I use to cause […]

Cowardice and appeasement in the face of thuggery is always deplorable but there’s a specific reason it’s a bad idea in this instance, says MITCH BENN SKZ cartoons – Credit: Archant In a previous column I dealt with the concept of ‘privilege’, in as much the word is used with regard to the concept of […]

Mitch Benn provides a handy guide on how to tackle the most common arguments supporting Brexit. Last week, you may remember, I promised to enumerate some of the most frequently trotted-out arguments in favour of Brexit and against a final deal vote, along with some handy responses, should you wish to, in rhetorical terms, ‘take […]

‘They made a godawful mess, a mess of which only a handful seem to understand even the most basic of elements.’ On Tuesday night, the UK’s members of parliament made once-in-a-century history. More importantly to those of us in the country right now – and the hundreds of millions of people we trade with – […]

Readers of The New European give their verdict on Channel 4’s Brexit film. Forgive me if I don’t join the chorus of approval for Brexit: The Uncivil War. As well as lying about the £350 million and Turkey, Vote Leave broke electoral rules and have been referred to the police by the Electoral Commission. They […]

As things begin to fall apart Bonnie Greer looks back at the late great writers who will define the next 12 months. Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939). (Photo by George C Beresford/Getty Images) – Credit: Getty Images Three writers come to mind at the beginning of this momentous year: two who seem […]

It’s not the short-term jolt you need to fear – it’s the years of grind and decline says James Ball. The way most of us talk about no-deal Brexit, you could be forgiven for thinking it would cause only short-term chaos – because we focus on queues at the border, shortages and other elements of […]

There is a new political party in Europe, and this is big news because it is the first truly pan-European party, ever. It is called Volt, and it is set to electrify the political scene in all European countries with its positive message on pan-European cooperation and the strength that will come from a more […]

East Yorkshire born campaigner, CHEVAN ILANGARATNE, sets the stall for how Labour’s leader could get the Leave voters of Hull on side in a second referendum campaign. This amazing city of Hull embodies the Labour traditions just as much as any in England. I’m exceptionally proud to have in my party the talents of your […]

Mitch Benn on why the real 2019 is going to be weirder than sci-fi’s vision of the future My favourite movie is Blade Runner. Specifically the original 1982 theatrical cut. That’s the one I saw when it came out, that’s the version which was the first (and for a while only) movie I owned on […]

Bonnie Greer on the administration-defining showdown awaiting Trump and Mueller in 2019 In the United States, 2019 will be a kind of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with Washington D.C as Tombstone, Arizona. Special counsel in charge of the investigation into Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential election, Robert Mueller, is the Wyatt Earp figure. […]

James Ball says Chris Grayling’s £14m ferry farce suggests it’s time to stop taking a collective nap and start panicking Transport Minister Chris Grayling. Photo: Getty Images – Credit: Getty Images If it weren’t a portent of the possible collapse of our country in three months’ time – Happy New Year everyone! – the case […]

A People’s Vote – or a second referendum – is the opportunity to give Britons that second chance to stop and think, writes BOB HALE. How many times have we heard someone say ‘in hindsight I would not have said that or in hindsight not done this’? Those of us supporting a People’s Vote are […]

The 1930s and 1940s created a template for festive films which is as powerful now as ever, writes BONNIE GREER. While filming Discovering: Christmas Films, which will be shown on Christmas Day and over the season on Sky Arts, it suddenly became clear to me that it was the Baby Boomer generation that discovered this […]

A grouchy MITCH BENN stays up late hatching a plot to finally put an end to Brexit. Every Leaver in Britain loved Brexit a lot… But the Gritch, who lived just outside London, Did NOT! The Gritch hated Brexit! The whole Brexitshambles! So he sat in his shed and he grumbled and rambled. It could […]

Early in 2018 the chances of no Brexit seemed totally out of reach, but the battle is now between a second referendum or the disaster of no-deal, writes JAMES BALL in this week’s Deconstructed. Let’s start with the good news: over the course of 2018 the chances of stopping Brexit – and the movement for […]

Theresa May’s sense of duty will go only get her so far. MURRAY HAWTHORNE says that she needs to show leadership to end the parliamentary stalemate she created. Theresa May won her vote of no confidence – but only just. Her 200 votes comprise a hollow victory; she herself a leader in purgatory on borrowed […]

There are still many questions to think about when it comes to another EU referendum. Former Conservative party adviser BARNABY TOWNS argues that anti-Brexit campaigners should be pushing to stop the Article 50 clock first. When the history of the Brexit crisis is written, the decision to trigger the Lisbon Treaty’s Article 50, setting the […]