I do not envy Rachel Reeves or any other senior UK government figure tasked with negotiating our future trade deals. Economic growth is the centrepiece of the government’s manifesto and Reeves sees the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the EU and the US as the key players with whom increasing
It is relatively easy to dismiss Elon Musk’s increasingly bizarre and frenetic tweeting as the work of one ill-informed and ignorant individual, with a bit too much free time. Afterall, that is what X is now mostly for – the spreading of half-witted nonsense by lazy, credulous, and conspiracy-minded simpletons.
Something unusual happened to British people in Baku in November 2024 when asked where they were from. After years of being a little embarrassed by their country, for once, attendees of COP29 from the United Kingdom could feel some pride in answering that question. The UK that had just raised
As the dust settles from the fallout of a second Trump presidential victory the process of finger pointing has begun amongst Democrats and armchair political strategists around the globe. One reason borne out of the initial breakdown of voter statistics is the gravitation of young white men towards the Republicans,
What is the Role of a Modern Labour Government in a Dangerous World? The geopolitical situation the new Labour government finds itself steering Britain through in its first year in office is unfamiliar, volatile, and dangerous. British values and interests are tested not just by distant threats but by issues
Donald Trump’s second and clearly comprehensive triumph entirely changes the way we must think about our continent’s security. This victory will require higher spending and deft diplomacy. One early result is that the EU is adjusting its cohesion budget to release many billions to defence and security. This is the
As Ken McCallum, Director General of MI5, delivered his latest threat update, he ran through the list of usual suspects when discussing state threats. What unites these states is that they view foreign aggression as a means of domestic security – attempting to weaken Western democratic states to strengthen their
Millions in the Middle East live on edge as the region teeters on the brink of all-out war. One actor is primarily responsible for the looming destruction and suffering of ordinary people who desire peace and prosperity: the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran. For nearly half a century,
The world watches with deep anxiety how Israel will respond to the 200 ballistic missiles launched at it from Iran on Tuesday night. In April a similar attack, mounted by hundreds of drones, was launched in response to an Israeli strike near to the Iranian consulate in Syria. What followed
In view of the return of war in Europe and the unprecedented global challenges, the Joint Declaration by Prime Minister Starmer and Chancellor Scholz is promising. Europe – not just the EU – needs to be strengthened as a global player, and German-British relations in particular could become an important
