Devolution review
This week Theresa May announced a review into devolution to make sure UK government departments work in the best interests of devolution. In a move that has been described as “desperate” by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the review will be conducted by Lord Dunlop, former Scotland Office Minister.
Scottish Labour leader announces review to deliver more devolution to Scotland
On Saturday, Richard Leonard, leader of Scottish Labour Party announced a review into the current devolution settlement pledging to bring new powers into Holyrood that would “make a real difference.”
In what many will perceive as a welcomed move for making the case for a more robust devolved parliament and strengthening the union, Mr Leonard also spoke of the need for Holyrood to have “borrowing powers fit for a parliament.”
Mr Leonard spoke about the need to identify what new powers would make a difference in tackling many of the problems in Scotland.
Anne Widecombe : Oppressed people turning on their oppressors
“It’s a great honour to speak on behalf of the largest single party in this place and may I say if I needed any convincing at all that the best thing for Britain is to leave here as soon as possible, it was the way those elections were conducted yesterday because if that is this places’ idea of democracy then that is a serious betrayal of every country that is represented here, because it is not democratic at all and that is just one of many reasons why Britain is right to be leaving this place hopefully on Halloween.
And it is right because it’s a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors: Slaves against their owners, the peasantry against the feudal barons, colonies against their empires and that is why Britain is leaving and it doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going. I represent the South West of the United Kingdom and I found on my first day what this place has decided today to increase to actually increase the size of fishermans meshes, thereby reducing their income by 40% , that’s what you do here, that’s why we are going.”
New President for the European Parliament
Members of the European Parliament have chosen David -Maria Sassoli as the new President of the European Parliament.
In a speech following Wednesday’s result Mr Sassoli spoke about an “imperfect union” and the need for reform calling for the EU to return to the spirit of its founding fathers who swapped warfare and nationalism for peace and equality. Mr Sassoril said “We need to strengthen our capacity to play a leading role in democracy, focusing particularly on the need for reform to the EU's system for asylum seekers. "You can't continue to kick this down the road. We don't want citizens asking, 'where's Europe' every time an emergency happens."
Charles Michel to replace Donald Tusk as President of the European Council
This week Charles Michel the interim Prime Minister of Belgium was elected as the new President of the European Council and will take over from Donald Tusk in October.
Mr Michel is the youngest Belgian Prime Minister since 1845 and has been described as cool headed and an effective conciliator which will come in handy irrespective of how the UK leaves the European Union.
It is worth noting that Mr Michel was one of the first EU politicians to talk about “burden sharing” with regard to migration and suggesting that some member states could lose rights as a result of being reluctant to take in migrants.
Fluff and Blunder alone won’t solve Brexit
Last week Tory leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson were in Perth for the latest Conservative Party leadership hustings and it wasn’t just the Conservative membership that was getting into the political action as a local café advertised its milkshakes and said, “perfect for quenching your thirst while waiting for Boris”.
In an attempt to woo Scottish Conservative Party members both candidates spoke about the need to enhance the UK union and Mr Hunt said, “he would never sign up to an independence referendum.”
One member of the audience asked, “whether a good prime minister needs to be a loyal husband and father” in response Boris said, “I just don’t comment on that stuff.”
Dear Jeremy, its not us, it’s you
In a week that has seen former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister Gordon Brown suggest that a hard line approach should be taken against anyone that expresses anti-Semitic views with party expulsion, the downward spiral for the Labour Party continues and is now at the top tier of the party’s organisation.
John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer and close ally of Jeremy Corbyn is urging the Labour leader to change the party’s policy on Brexit following the party’s poor performance in the European Parliament election.
Currently the party is 18% in the polls and is haemorrhaging votes to remain parties, namely the Liberal Democrats, with one in five voters saying that they would vote for the Labour Party if there was a general election.
With mounting pressure on Jeremy to change the party’s stance on Brexit, it is rumoured that close ally Diane Abbott MP is one of those in his inner camp who is advocating for the policy change and that she and John McDonnell are arguing for the sacking of Karie Murphy and Seamus Milne, two of Jeremy’s closest political advisors.