Opinion

While much of the country consists of the sort of constituency wherein, to quote the late great Alan B’stard, they’d elect a hatstand if you stuck the right colour rosette on it, hatstands is what we’ll get. Events are developing at a dizzying rate, and I’m currently suffering the after-effects of some not entirely successful […]

If you have the misfortune to be paying close attention to Brexit – a sensible choice, even if not one likely to spark joy – this week has, on the surface of things, looked like an exciting one. If you have the misfortune to be paying close attention to a Brexit – a sensible choice, […]

‘We are in a time – and rightly so – when we believe people who say that they have been victims of assault of any kind. We have to, because so many people have lived their pain, their lives unbelieved.’ Jussie Smollett poses for a booking photo after turning himself into the Chicago Police Department […]

‘If TIG should call by-elections so should the MPs in the ERG or linked to Momentum’ Labour and Tory representatives say MPs in the Independent Group (TIG) should call by-elections in their seats as they were originally elected on another party’s manifesto. If this is the case, why is it that MPs such as those […]

SARAH PENNIE says Remain still does not have a clear message to put to voters. Anthony Daly (Letters, TNE #132) is right, and I wonder too why a positive Remain message is not being put across. We have accused the Leavers of failing to offer a plan, but where is ours? Leave had a campaign […]

Readers write to The New European after seven Labour MPs quit the party to create The Independent Group. Leave aside for a moment The Independent Group’s mostly justifiable reasons for breaking with Labour, what I am concerned about is the damage this potentially does to the fight of our lives as we head towards March […]

Why The Independent Group must work to earn the support of Remainers. There is, as they say, nothing new under the sun; every event, however startling and novel, has its roots and causes in previous events, and similarly, every event, however unusual, will find its echo somewhere in subsequent events. It’s not often, however, that […]

Bonnie Greer pays tribute to the prize-winning writer who was driven by her determination to tell stories of burning importance. I moved to London to write. Usually African American writers went to Paris because of the lure of the French capital that stretched back to the Harlem Hellfighters returning in triumph wearing their Croix de […]

It’s finally happened. After more than two years of dithering and indecisiveness, the UK has a new sort-of-but-not-quite political party. Labour MPs Chris Leslie, Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey have announced their resignation from the party. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA – Credit: PA On Monday, seven MPs finally […]

We are writing as active and committed members of the Labour Party because we feel our voice is being ignored by our own party. We enthusiastically voted for Jeremy Corbyn precisely because he promised to listen to his members and put them at the heart of everything he did. We believed that and went on […]

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 […]