News and Opinion

He was supposed to be its biggest fan, but Donald Trump has just declared war on Brexit, says ANDREW ADONIS Terrible news for the Brexiters: Trump has declared war on Brexit. The good news is that he has done so in time for us to reassess the value of the EU for our trade and […]

The government has been accused of a “total betrayal” of EU nationals living in Britain who believed their future status had been secured post-Brexit. Former ambassador Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, who wrote Article 50 which triggered the formal withdrawal process, warned that the exodus of essential workers would only speed up. The independent crossbencher made […]

Heard the one about the comedian being sued by an ex after she used him in her act? IAN WILKIE says it is no laughing matter Stand-up comedian Louise Reay is being sued by her ex-husband for defamation after allegedly referring to him in a derogatory manner during her show at the Edinburgh Fringe. The […]

“A price worth paying” is the Brexiteers’ answer to everything. But, says MITCH BENN, they’ve yet to specify what it’s worth paying for I had a stand-up gig in Norwich the other night, and I’ll be honest, I wasn’t especially looking forward to it. It’s not that there’s anything objectionable about the comedy club in […]

Vladimir Putin is not going to be brought to heel with vague threats we might not send Prince Edward to football’s global jamboree Cancel the World Cup! Tear down the stadia! Burn the Panini albums! Rescind Clive Tyldesley’s flight to Moscow (actually, definitely do this one). For foreign secretary Boris Johnson has told the Commons […]

It was years of failure on immigration by then prime minister David Cameron and home secretary Theresa May that caused Brexit, argues Progress director RICHARD ANGELL In the roll call of guilt for why Brexit happened, it is the names of two people ostensibly on the ‘Remain’ side of the debate that come to my […]

The UK economy will benefit from sticking as closely as possible to European Union rules after Brexit, a senior MEP said after talks with Theresa May. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, said he wanted the UK to sign an association agreement with the EU to cover its relationship after leaving the bloc. Meanwhile, […]

Ousted Ukip leader Henry Bolton today attempted to channel Disraeli as he launched a new political party. Mr Bolton, unceremoniously axed from the Ukip leadership last month following a row over racist texts sent by his girlfriend, said OneNation would serve “a need for a truly professional political party that believes in Britain, that preserves […]

In the bicentenary of Frederick Douglass’ birth, the city of Newcastle is remembering the pivotal, if little-known, role it played in the life of one of America’s greatest sons. When President Donald Trump spoke at a breakfast to launch black history month last year, he gave the impression that he thought Frederick Douglass – the […]

The Conservatives have abandoned decades of pragmatism in pursuit of a pipedream. A former adviser to William Hague argues the Party desperately needs a rethink. Will Darkest Hour sweep the board at the Oscars? Its theme of Britain standing alone heartens Brexiteers on both sides of the Atlantic. Channelling Gary Oldman’s Winston Churchill, Tory and […]

Donald Trump had Britain’s best interests at heart, said the Brexiteers. As he now threatens the world with a trade war, they’re being remarkably quiet One of the most curious assertions of the Brexiteers was that America, and, more specifically, Donald Trump, had Britain’s back. That, despite wildly diverging priorities and interests, Uncle Sam would […]

Patients’ lives could be put at risk after Brexit unless there is progress on continued research co-operation with the European Union, Labour is warning. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth will say it is “utterly unacceptable” for there to be uncertainty about the arrangements after Brexit. He will also promise that Labour would ensure medics and […]

The prime minister has said the government was looking at customs arrangements between the United States and Canada as a possible solution to the Irish border issue – despite it having armed guards. Speaking in the House of Commons, Theresa May, in answer to a question from Labour MP Emma Reynolds, said: “There are many […]

Why Labour and Tory propositions on Brexit are much less than they appear. The recent Brexit propositions of Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May have succeeded only in adding to the muddle. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire/PA Images – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images If you’re a politician, or a toddler, it is possible that you now believe […]

The New European’s Editor-at-Large on his passion to halt the madness of Brexit You sometimes get the best answers by throwing back questions to the people who asked them, and seeking the wisdom of crowds. So, Monday night, Edinburgh, and in the question and answer, a man asks me, having heard me on Brexit, Trump […]

Claims Theresa May’s chief of staff leaked an explosive letter Boris Johnson sent to the PM highlight the toxic atmosphere in the cabinet. Perhaps not surprisingly the claims have been denied – but the letter was leaked to the media by someone for some reason. What is undoubtedly true is that the cabinet remains at […]

The European Union could throw out Theresa May’s plans for a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, Ireland’s foreign minister has said. The Prime Minister has committed to leaving the EU customs union which guarantees tariff-free trade, but insists a hard border can be avoided through technological solutions and placing no new restrictions […]

Should Britons be able to keep their European citizenship after Brexit? PROF VOLKER ROEBEN investigates Brexit as a process not only has consequences for the economies of the UK and the remaining EU states, it has consequences for each of us as individuals. These consequences concern the European citizenship that each national of an EU […]

The wearing of the Islamic veil is one of the most controversial political topics of the 21st century. Sociologist Agnès De Féo finds out what life wearing a niqab is really like. Islamic headscarves and veils continue to be the subject of intense debate in Europe. Countries’ approaches toward the burqa and niqab, which cover […]

So much about Italy’s imminent election seems wearily familiar, but there are also sinister echoes of the country’s more distant past. There is a whiff of déjà vu about Italy’s general election, which takes place this weekend. The likely outcome is a weak and possibly short-lived government of the sort that long characterised the country. […]

POTUS is not the only one cowering away from the gun control debate, as new polls suggest little faith in change. The political bullets over gun control are flying in all directions and Donald Trump is ducking, diving and diverting desperately. But he’s far from alone in that as Republican and Democrat leaders on Capitol […]

Why the West End show starring Suranne Jones is certainly not one for the faint-hearted. It never ceases to amaze me what little due diligence some people are willing to put in before they commit the best part of a couple of hundred quid – not to mention a couple of hours of their lives […]

Stormzy is one of Britain’s most popular musical artists. This highly-political voice is ready, willing and able to take on the establishment, argues Adam de Paor-Evans. At the Brit Awards grime artist Stormzy won both best British male and best British album. But it was his acutely insurgent performance at the close of the live […]

As bungling Boris Johnson offers his solution to the Irish border problem, the former transport secretary sets off across the nation touring Leave areas. I live on the Camden-Westminster border, impassable earlier this week because of heavy snow. Patrols were sent out to restore trade and free movement, on the foreign secretary’s personal instructions. Boris […]

Everyone scoffed when Boris Johnson said Britain could ‘have its cake and eat it’ outside the European Union. And yet it seems Theresa May has chosen that slice of nonsense as the government’s starting position for negotiations. The prime minister apparently wants all the plus points of a soft Brexit – no tariffs, deals across […]

Theresa May has attempted to set out details of her vision for a future economic relationship with the EU. In a speech at London’s Mansion House, the prime minister set out five “foundations” to underpin the new relationship – including binding commitments to fair competition and a new arbitration mechanism to resolve disputes. She repeated […]

The bloodbath in Eastern Ghouta is a characteristically brutal chapter in the annals of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy. This time, though, he might not get away with it. The blink-and-you-miss-it ‘humanitarian pause’, brokered by Moscow to briefly halt the bloodshed in Eastern Ghouta, underlines an essential truth of the Syrian slaughterhouse. In this conflict, there […]

The latest episode of the New European podcast is available now. This week Richard Porritt, Steve Anglesey and Geri Scott analyse the week’s big speeches – and heap praise on the former prime ministers battling to save Britain from Brexit. The team also take an in-depth look at what Jeremy Corbyn’s address means for Labour […]

In this week’s diary column, Liam Fox longs for his drinking partner and Rebekah Brooks lets bygones be bygones Rebekah Brooks. Picture: PA/Yui Mok – Credit: PA Archive/PA Images If Liam Fox looks a trifle morose in the photograph above – a reader snapped the International Trade Secretary downing beers at Munich Hofbräuhaus with some […]

He offers no insight, no expertise and no reasonable debate – and yet here was Nigel Farage for the 32nd time on Question Time. He did, however, offer mock horror at Sir John Major’s sensible Brexit intervention, contradiction over what he had and had not said before and several rambling monologues – we have seen […]

The Trade Secretary who travelled all that way for a packet of crisps. Even if you were one of the unlucky ones caught in a British blizzard, the real ‘beast from the east’ this week was President Xi Jinping’s manoeuvre to secure himself as President-for-Life over the mighty market-Stalinist economy of China. That puts our […]

Steve Anglesey names the worst Brexiteers of the week 10. HENRY BOLTON and JO MARNEY As the Gomez and Morticia of Brexit tour the chat show circuit, Henry has revealed what first attracted him was Jo’s ‘sagacity’ – never heard it called that before – while his lover has given their relationship the hashtag #Jolton. […]