Change is in the air across the Irish Sea, as Leo Varadkar is learning the hard way Change is the word du jour across the Republic of Ireland right now. As the General Election comes to its final stages tomorrow, the word has become so ubiquitous — in the leaders’ debates and on the campaign trail — it feels it has lost all meaning. For nearly 10 years, centre-right Fine Gael has [...]
DEBATE: Is Labour set to outperform its 2017 result in this election? DEBATE: Will Labour outperform its 2017 result in this election? Is Labour set to outperform its 2017 result in this election? YES, says James Meadway, an economist and former adviser to John McDonnell A solid guide to forecasting British politics is to look at whatever the Westminster consensus thinks, and assume the opposite. The pundits got Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership victory wrong, they got the referendum [...]
Now that the Treasury has stopped making 1p and 2p coins, should we scrap them completely? Now that the Treasury has stopped making 1p and 2p coins, should we scrap them completely? Finn McRedmond, a staff writer at Reaction, says YES. The rising cost of living has eroded the value of pennies, while surveys suggest that now over half of them are left lying around unused. And as cash use falls, [...]
DEBATE: Was it right for Labour to expel Alastair Campbell because he voted for the Liberal Democrats? May 30, 2019 Was it right for Labour to expel Alastair Campbell because he voted for the Liberal Democrats? James A. Smith, author of Other People’s Politics: Populism to Corbynism, says YES. In 2016, in an attempt to prevent Jeremy Corbyn from being re-elected, Labour party officials began invoking obscure rules about conduct deemed irreconcilable with party membership. [...]
DEBATE: With the launch of his new Brexit Party, is Nigel Farage back as a serious force in politics? April 16, 2019 With the launch of his new Brexit Party, is Nigel Farage back as a serious force in politics? Lucy Harris, director of Leavers of Britain, says YES. Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party has come out with an upbeat message and a fresh look – and that’s what many Leave voters are desperately searching for in this [...]
DEBATE: Is Labour’s sudden support for second referendum a good political move? February 27, 2019 Is Labour’s sudden support for second referendum a good political move? Finn McRedmond, staff writer at Reaction, says YES. It is no secret that Jeremy Corbyn is a longstanding eurosceptic. It is also no secret that vast swathes of Labour’s support base are Remainers. So the challenge facing the Labour leadership is this: how do we [...]
DEBATE: Should we celebrate the fact that car sales are down for the second year running? January 8, 2019 Should we celebrate the fact that car sales are down for the second year running? Benedict Spence, a freelance writer, says YES. For all the talk of a fall in car sales in the UK, well over two million new vehicles were registered in Britain last year. It’s a staggering number, and it was only a [...]
DEBATE: Is Labour looking more like a credible government-in-waiting after this year’s conference? September 27, 2018 Is Labour looking more like a credible government-in-waiting after this year’s conference? Finn McRedmond, staff writer at Reaction, says YES. In his keynote speech yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn said to Jim O’Neill, former Tory minister and Goldman Sachs economist: “You’re welcome, come and join us in the new political mainstream.” This was the pervasive sentiment: [...]