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BEN HABIB, JIM ALLISTER & DAN BOUCHER GIVE US OUR COUNTRY BACK GLOBAL DISCUSSION FORUM EPISODE 06 Give Us Our Country Back: Focusing on the internationally totemic issue of Northern Ireland's people being subject to EU laws over which they have no say, and over which their politicians have no vote. To support Jim Allister's bill, visit: https://www.restoretheunion.co.uk First keynote speaker: Jim Allister KC MP Jim Allister KC is the MP for North Antrim having previously represented the constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2011-2024. He represented Northern Ireland in the European Parliament from 2004-09. A strong Unionist, Jim is an implacable opponent of the Irish Sea Border, a stand which was critical in seeing him returned to Parliament at the last election overturning one of the largest majorities in Northern Ireland to do so. To follow or contact Ben Habib, visit: https://x.com/JimAllister Second keynote speaker: Dr. Dan Boucher Dr Dan Boucher has a PhD in sovereignty and international relations. Author of The Big Society in a Small Country, he was until September 2021 a member of the Conservative Party and stood as a Conservative candidate in Wales. Unable to reconcile himself with the Northern Ireland Protocol, he resigned from the Conservative Party and joined the DUP, subsequently becoming their Director of Policy. Dismayed by the 'Safeguarding the Union' deal that the DUP did with the UK government he resigned his position in April 2024. Widely published in the Belfast Newsletter, Conservative Home, Facts4EU, Comment Central, and Brexit Central, he is writing a book on the impact of the Windsor Framework on the future of the United Kingdom. To follow or contact Ben Habib, visit: https://x.com/DansBoucher Surprise guest speaker: Ben Habib Delightfully eloquent, highly intelligent, well-informed, and occasionally argumentative(!), Ben is a former Member of the European Parliament and now former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. Drawing upon his time as a MEP, Ben has particular insight into the workings of the EU Parliament and the EU Commission. He also addresses the recent fallout he has had with Reform UK Leader, Nigel Farage. To follow or contact Ben Habib, visit: https://x.com/benhabib6 To join us on our next Global Discussion Forum, please sign up to our mailing lists at either: https://facts4eu.org/news https://cibuk.org https://www.commandingthenarrative.com Chaired by: Leigh Evans https://facts4eu.org/news https://cibuk.org Deputy Chairmen: Steven Tripp https://www.commandingthenarrative.com https://x.com/RealStevenTripp https://rumble.com/user/ExCandidates https://spectator.com.au/author/steven-tripp Ben Philips https://cibuk.org Follow us on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CibukOrg Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4GIXhHBogM1McL5EPGP3DT Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/ExCandidates Please share and spread the word! #AusPol #nswpol #interview #podcast #politics #commentary #australia #uk #independent #media #government #steventripp #leighevans #benphilips #brexit #facts4eu #cibuk #CtN #GDF #ukpolitics #benhabib #nigelfarage #reformuk #jimallister #tuv #dup #danboucher #northernisland #greatbritain #restoretheunion
The Belfast Telegraph's Northen Ireland editor, Sam McBride, joins Ciarán Dunbar with his assessment of what's going on at Stormont. Is Sir Jeffrey Donaldson about to jump, and if he does will his party jump with him? The DUP says there's ‘still some way to go' in the negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework – others say the deal is done and we are just haggling over the price. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this week's Deprogrammed, hosts Harrison Pitt of the European Conservative magazine and freelance writer Evan Riggs are joined by Ben Habib, advisor to the Reform Party, former Brexit Party MEP and businessman for a wide ranging discussion on immigration, PM Rishi Sunak, the Reform Party's policies and ambitions and why the Northern Ireland Protocol and why the Tories need to lose badly at the next election --------------- SUBSCRIBE: If you are enjoying the show, please subscribe to our channel on YouTube (click the Subscribe Button underneath the video and then Click on the Bell icon next to it to make sure you Receive All Notifications) AUDIO: If you prefer Audio you can subscribe on itunes or Soundcloud. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-923838732 itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/s... SUPPORT/DONATE: PAYPAL/ CARD PAYMENTS - ONE TIME & MONTHLY: You can donate in a variety of ways via our website: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk/#do... It is set up to accept one time and monthly donations. JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Web: http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk F: https://www.facebook.com/NCultureForum/ Y: https://www.youtube.com/@NewCultureForum T: http://www.twitter.com/NewCultureForum (@NewCultureForum)
Why do we still have ‘peace walls'? Why, a quarter of a century after the Good Friday Agreement, do we still have peace walls? The truth, of course, is that the peace deal ended the conflict, but failed to end division and embed reconciliation. Murdered journalist Lyra McKee famously wrote that more ‘peace walls' have gone up in since the GFA than have come down. There are today over 20 miles of those walls, with the majority in Belfast. The most well known of these separate the Falls Road and the Shankill Road, while televised riots over the Northern Ireland Protocol broke out at the barricades at Springfield Road. In Derry, there is just one ‘peace wall' – which is between the Fountain estate and Bishop Street Without. The Fountain estate is Protestant / unionist and the only part of the city side which is. Yet the southern side of the Fountain estate does not have a peace wall – these are streets which feature terraced housing, much of it in private ownership. And some of that area has become mixed in recent years, with people moving in from other areas, of other traditions, including ethnic minorities and probably some Catholics. So the broader Fountain area is becoming more plural. Because the River Foyle was a natural barrier between the overwhelmingly Catholic city-side and a more Protestant Waterside, we never had the number of peace walls in Derry that became common in Belfast. However, there are two community interfaces on Derry's Waterside and these are not marked by walls. One of these is the separation of the neighbouring Catholic Curryneiran and Protestant Tullyally estates; the other would be between Irish Street and the Top of the Hill. The positive news from Derry is that a programme has been underway for the last 15 years to reconcile neighbouring communities of different traditions on the Waterside, which has led to the creation of a ‘shared village', backed by substantial capital investment. This has gained the support from community groups in both the Protestant Irish Street area and the Catholic Top of the Hill. And a project funded by the International Fund for Ireland is engaged in bringing together the Protestant Fountain and Catholic Bishop Street residents on the city side. While these projects represent real progress, we cannot overlook demographic changes that can add to tensions. The birth rate in Protestant communities is lower than amongst Catholics, even today. There is probably a different attitude to birth control for most Catholics now than in the past - but the Protestant population is significantly older than the Catholic population – and Protestants therefore make-up a smaller proportion of the parenting age population. This demographic trend tends to mean that housing pressure in Catholic areas is greater than in Protestant areas. In turn, this can mean there are empty homes in what would traditionally be regarded as Protestant areas, compared to overcrowding in Catholic areas. That creates social tensions and pressure to shift traditional boundaries. In addition, we have many more mixed religion families; and families with no religion. And, of course, more ethnic minorities who can only find empty properties in traditionally Protestant areas, leading to a greater diversity that is not always welcomed. In fact, the entire population growth in Belfast over the last two decades can be explained by the arrival of new ethnic minority communities. What we see is a watering down of the traditional cultural character of some areas, with some residents – including some with paramilitary connections – trying to preserve the long standing monocultures. Not all of these tensions are easily addressed. The latest Holywell Conversations podcast considers the continuing presence of peace walls and community divisions, with contributions from Kyra Reynolds, development worker at the Peace Barriers Programme, and Alison Wallace, strategy manager of the Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership. The podcast is available at the Holywell Trust website. Disclaimer: This project has received support from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and recognition of interdependence. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Community Relations Council.
War has returned to the European continent, putting many previous divisions into perspective. This has caused European leaders to think afresh about their politics – and raised the question of the United Kingdom's role in European foreign policy. Seven years after the Brexit referendum, the EU and the UK have finally resolved some of their differences through the Windsor Framework. The possibility of a reset between the UK and the EU on foreign policy could be on the horizon. In this year's mini-series, Mark Leonard and Susi Dennison examine what a reimagined EU-UK relationship might look like. In this sixth episode, Mark and Susi welcome former permanent secretary in the UK's Department for Exiting the European Union, Philip Rycroft, who prior to that held several roles in Westminster and Brussels, including in Leon Brittan's cabinet. How is post-Brexit Britan approaching trade deals and regulatory alignment with third countries? How has Brexit affected the movement of people and labour across borders? What are the implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol for the UK's relationship with the EU? And what challenges and opportunities does the UK face in the evolving global economy, particularly considering China's influence? This podcast was recorded on 20 June 2023. Bookshelf: North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell
This week we're looking at the European Court of Justice. How does it operate? How political is it? And is public opinion ever taken into account? One of the chief stumbling blocks in negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol has concerned the role of the EU's top court, the European Court of Justice, and parts of the Conservative Party are ever agitated by the quite separate European Court of Human Rights and its role in adjudicating on human rights disputes. So we have made two episodes looking at these institutions, starting with this one. We're focusing this week on the European Court of Justice. Joining us is Dr Michal Ovádek, Lecturer in European Institutions, Politics and Policy here in the UCL Department of Political Science. Michal has recently published an article on a 2018 European Court of Justice ruling concerning the pay of Portuguese judges. That might seem a little obscure. But it turns out that the case had important real-world impacts, and also tells us a lot about how the court operates. Mentioned in this episode: "The making of landmark rulings in the European Union: the case of national judicial independence." Michal Ovádek. Journal of European Public Policy For more information and to access the transcript: https://ucl-uncovering-politics.simplecast.com/episodes Date of episode recording: 2023-02-23 Duration: 31:32 Language of episode: English (UK) Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Michal Ovádek Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham
Ben Habib runs a successful commercial property investment fund company. In 2019 he was elected as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament. In this podcast we discuss what it felt like to be involved in the Brexit Party, what made him join as well as what happened to Brexit. We discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, race relations, immigration and what the future holds for the UK. Will Brexit get done, or will we return as a fully paid up member to the EU once more? About Doc Malik: Orthopaedic surgeon Ahmad Malik is on a journey of discovery when it comes to health and wellness. Through honest conversations with captivating individuals, Ahmad explores an array of topics that profoundly impact our well-being and health. Subscribe to the show and join our mailing list. Support the show and have access to exclusive contents and perks. To sponsor the Doc Malik Podcast contact us at hello@docmalik.com You can follow us on social media, we are on the following platforms: Twitter Ahmad | Twitter Podcast | Instagram Ahmad | Instagram Podcast
We look in depth at the Windsor Framework, which reboots the Northern Ireland Protocol, why Unionists have rejected it, what it means for both the restoration of the Stormont Assembly and for the broader EU-UK relationship. Europe Editor Tony Connelly and Colm Ó Mongáin are joined by London Correspondent John Kilraine to discuss.
In this episode of Basically, Stefanie talks to Neale Richmond, The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise about Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol. Stefanie asks whether Brexit has finally been complete and where the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland now stand after further months of negotiation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A look ahead to next week where MPs will vote on parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. What would a win look like for the government? The vote has been conveniently placed on the same day Boris Johnson is already in parliament for the privileges committee hearing. The lone rebel of the protocol will have to put his money where his mouth is – which way will he vote? Natasha Feroze speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.
On February 27, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new trade agreement between the UK and European Union (EU) called the Windsor Framework. This comes after years of confusion and empty shelves resulting from the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol, which has been criticized for making it difficult to import goods to Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. Penta Partners Kevin Madden and Rory O'Donnell sit down to decipher some of the nuances surrounding the Windsor Framework, the Northern Ireland protocol, and why these trade agreements have such a charged history. The two outline how the Windsor Framework will change the current Northern Ireland Protocol, particularly with respect to the Irish sea border. They also explain what the new "red lane, green lane" system will look like for the movement of goods on the Irish isle.Kevin and Rory then outline some of the political responses to the new framework in the region. How will Stormont–the Northern Ireland Assembly–respond? And if the Windsor Framework is implemented, how might it positively impact the future of investment and opportunity in Northern Ireland and beyond?
A new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland has been announced. The Windsor Framework replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol - that was deemed unworkable, but does this new deal solve Northern Ireland's trading arrangements? In his speech in Windsor, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said his new framework agreement had "removed any sense of a border in the Irish Sea". It is true that Northern Ireland consumers should certainly have no sense of a border when it comes to buying food, plants and medicines or taking their dog on the ferry to Scotland. But it will still be a trade border of sorts. Moving goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland remains conditional: it will require signing up to trusted trader schemes, providing information on what goods are moving and having the correct labelling. But given the constraints the UK set itself back in 2017 - a hard Brexit with no land border on the island of Ireland - that may be as good as it gets. Rishi Sunak and EU chief, Ursula von der Leyen, seemed comfortable together in Windsor but it's still unclear whether the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland will back the agreement and bring back the power-sharing government. So, is the Windsor Framework a feasible solution? How did Mr Sunak make such progress where his predecessors failed to? If the DUP do reject it, does this mean Brexit can never truly be ‘done'? And what would be the implications for Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the EU if the wrangling over the border continues indefinitely? Chris Morris is joined by: Raoul Ruparel, special advisor on Europe to former UK Prime Minister Theresa May from 2018-19. Tony Connolly, Europe Editor for Ireland's national broadcaster RTE. He is the author of Brexit & Ireland: The Dangers, the Opportunities, and the Inside Story of the Irish Response. Professor Danuta Hübner, a Polish MEP and a member of the European Parliament's UK Contact Group . Also featuring: Sammy Wilson, Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Antrim and DUP chief whip Image: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen during a press conference at the Guildhall in Windsor, Berkshire, following the announcement that they have struck a deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Credit: PA Producers: Imogen Wallace and Pandita Lorenz
The RSPCA is backing a legal challenge which says fast-growing breeds of chicken, which are slaughtered at around six-weeks-old, should not be allowed. The charity The Humane League is seeking a judicial review in the High Court, arguing that fast-growing broilers have intrinsic animal welfare challenges, including being unable to support their own weight. We speak to a poultry expert with the RSPCA and the British Poultry Council, which says welfare standards on UK farms are extremely high. A medicine which controls a serious illness in piglets will soon stop being used, and there's concern that farmers will turn to antibiotics instead. Zinc oxide prevents post-weaning diarrhoea, but when it's excreted in pig slurry it can pollute soils, so its use is ending across Europe. Farmers in Northern Ireland say the new Windsor Framework is not changing enough. Sheep farmers in the province have traditionally bought stock in Great Britain, to bring in new blood to their flocks. But since leaving the EU, and with the Northern Ireland Protocol, that's been much more difficult and in some cases impossible to do. However, the National Sheep Association in Northern Ireland says the new Windsor agreement will do little to help them. Presenter - Anna Hill Producer - Rebecca Rooney
The protocol led to the collapse of power sharing in Northern Ireland's assembly – and empty supermarket shelves. So will the prime minister's Windsor framework solve everything?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
The prime minister has announced plans for a new deal for trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the EU. The government says 'The Windsor Framework' agreement will ensure 'a smooth flow of trade within the UK'. Goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland only will have free passage, and goods then travelling on to The Republic of Ireland will be under separate scrutiny. We speak to the NFU's director of Trade and Business Strategy, Nick von Westenholz, about what this could mean for farming businesses. The past 18 months have seen massive disruption for pig farmers. A huge rise in the cost of production has meant producers have been making constant losses and although they might be keeping their heads just above water, it's the inability to re-invest in things like animal housing which makes their business unsustainable. We speak to a Suffolk farmer whose family produced pigs for more than a century, but now he's sold them all. The farm still produces arable crops and rents out its buildings for business training. Many UK farmers are watching what's happening in the Netherlands, where farmers are protesting over plans to cut ammonia and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. The Dutch government wants to reduce livestock numbers near protected countryside to reduce emissions and has said there will be forced buyouts of the 3000 worst polluting farms if voluntary measures fail. Farmers fear they will be driven out of business, but some of their tactics have been condemned after they staged a protest against the Dutch finance minister holding flaming torches. Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney
Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, discusses the UK-EU deal on resolving Northern Ireland Protocol impasse.
The controversial protocol has been Brexit's most vexed issue for years.
There's a new trade deal for Northern Ireland with the EU. It's goodbye Northern Ireland Protocol, and hello Windsor Framework – but it's unclear whether the Democratic Unionist Party will back the agreement and bring back the power-sharing government. PM Rishi Sunak and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen were all warm smiles in Windsor when they pitched their plan to use “green lanes” and “red lanes” to cut customs checks and allow Northern Ireland a say in new EU rules. Adam gets together Brexitcasters Chris and Katya, alongside the BBC's Ireland correspondent, Emma Vardy, to help us break down the new framework and give us the view from Windsor and Westminster, as well as Belfast and Brussels. Today's Newscast was made by Danny Wittenberg with Madeleine Drury, Cordelia Hemming and Mora Morrison. The technical producer was Phillip Bull. The senior news editor was Sam Bonham.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced they've reached a deal to revise post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland. Mr Sunak says today's agreement marks a "new chapter" in the UK's relationship with the EU. We hear from business owners and economists about what the news means for the future of the economy in Northern Ireland. We get the latest on the story of Bao Fan, the missing Billionaire technology dealmaker in China. His employer now say he's cooperating with Chinese authorities conducting an investigation. And as the World Bank and the Kenyan Ministry of Energy meet to discuss a road map for African governments looking to tap solar electricity, we hear from the BBC Africa Business Editor about how it will be mapped out.
Today Rishi Sunak has reached a revised agreement with the EU on Northern Ireland, and hailed it a 'turning point' for the people of Northern Ireland. But how will the DUP and – more importantly – Tory MPs, react? Isabel Hardman speaks to Katy Balls and Sam Lowe. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.
George Parker, Financial Times Political Editor, and Sam McBride, Northern Ireland Editor of the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent, discuss the likelihood of an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
*) UN human rights session opens More than 100 heads of state and ministers are set to take part in the week-long United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva. The session focuses on issues ranging from Russia's alleged war crimes in Ukraine to China's reported mistreatment of its Muslim minority. A UN report published last year found that the detention of Uighurs and other Muslims by China may constitute crimes against humanity. Beijing denies any abuses. *) Nigeria awaits first election results Nigeria has announced initial results on Sunday after a tight election for the presidency of Africa's most populous nation. The election pits former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress against former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. A surprise third-party candidate, Labour Party's Peter Obi, has challenged the APC and PDP dominance with a message of change and an appeal to younger voters. Announcing first results state by state, the Independent National Electoral Commission said APC' s Tinubu easily won southwestern Ekiti state with PDP coming second. *) Israeli premier says will not freeze building settlements in West Bank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there will be no change in the plan to build illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu's remarks came following a meeting held in Jordan on Sunday, with the participation of Palestine, Israel, Jordan, the US and Egypt. According to Jordan's foreign ministry, Israel had committed to stop discussion of any new settlement units for 4 months and to stop authorisation of any military outposts for 6 months. The Israeli premier denied such reports. *) British premier, EU chief to meet amid talks on Northern Ireland UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hold face-to-face talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as the two sides seek a deal to resolve post-Brexit talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol. In a joint statement, the leaders said they will continue to work towards shared and practical solutions to the longstanding issue. Sunak on Wednesday said any deal needs to ensure sovereignty for Northern Ireland and safeguard its place in the union. *) Football fans shower field with toys for children in quake-hit Türkiye Istanbul football club Besiktas fans have thrown thousands of stuffed toys on the field in a show of solidarity with children who were affected by the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye. Sunday's Besiktas game was paused at 4 minutes 17 seconds after the kick off in memory of the earthquake which struck at 4.17 am local time on February 6, killing at least 44,374 people. The Turkish football team started the campaign, asking fans to bring stuffed toys to be donated to the affected children.
Isabel Hardman hosts the highlights from Sunday morning's political shows. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says there's 'quiet confidence' about the Northern Ireland Protocol deal. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Labour would act in the 'national interest', and expects to support the deal. SNP leadership hopeful Humza Yousaf said that with sustained public support, ‘independence will absolutely be inevitable'. Produced by Joe Bedell-Brill.
On this week's show, Kate Andrews The Spectator's economics editor speaks to historian Andrew Roberts about Britain's hollow army; Arlene Foster on the Northern Ireland Protocol; Andrew Drury on why he has has changed his mind about Shamima Begum; David Robertson on faith in politics and Lucy Dunn defends the meal deal. 00:00 Welcome from Kate Andrews 02:14 Can Britain restock its army? With Andrew Roberts and Tobias Ellwood MP 17:00 Will a deal be reached on the Northern Ireland Protocol? With Arlene Foster 29:42 Is Shamima Begum dangerous? With Andrew Drury 43:36 Can politicians separate faith from politics? With David Robertson 58:04 Is the meal deal on its way out? With Lucy Dunn Theme song written and performed by Jon Barker © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker Publisher Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by prsformusic.com Recording © 2020 Jonathan Stewart Barker 100%, administered by ppl.com
One of the chief stumbling blocks in negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol has concerned the role of the EU's top court, the European Court of Justice, and parts of the Conservative Party are ever agitated by the quite separate European Court of Human Rights and its role in adjudicating on human rights disputes. So we have made two episodes looking at these institutions, starting with this one. We're focusing this week on the European Court of Justice. Joining us is Dr Michal Ovádek, Lecturer in European Institutions, Politics and Policy here in the UCL Department of Political Science. Michal has recently published an article on a 2018 European Court of Justice ruling concerning the pay of Portuguese judges. That might seem a little obscure. But it turns out that the case had important real-world impacts, and also tells us a lot about how the court operates. Mentioned in this episode:"The making of landmark rulings in the European Union: the case of national judicial independence." Michal Ovádek. Journal of European Public Policy
Rishi Sunak continues to try to get his MPs onside when it comes to the government's deal with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Some Eurosceptics have warned that the Prime Minister could see resignations from his government if this is handled badly, with some touting Home Secretary Suella Braverman's name. What's the latest? James Heale talks to Fraser Nelson and Isabel Hardman. Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Cindy Yu.
Today was meant to be the day that Rishi Sunak presented his Northern Ireland Protocol plans to parliament, instead he told the cabinet that intensive negotiations continue with the EU. Is he doomed to repeat Theresa May's Brexit mistakes? Will he need the backing of the DUP for any agreement? Also on the podcast, as prospective SNP leader Kate Forbes continues to defend her views on gay marriage, can her campaign survive? Cindy Yu speaks to Isabel Hardman and Patrick O'Flynn. Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson.
Fionnan Sheahan joins Eamon to talk about the continuing election expenses reporting issues now impacting Sinn Féin. Also the continuing Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations, will Sunak be able to do a deal with the EU as he faces DUP and Brexit hardliners? Fionnan Sheahan is Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, and independent.ie.Recorded on Monday 20th February 2023 Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The contest for leader of the SNP and Scotland's new First Minister takes up the majority of this week's podcast.We try and make sense of the early exchanges and suss out what the key issues will be in the campaign. At this stage much of the focus has been on the candidates' positions on social issues such as equal marriage and the GRR. We wonder at what point this might shift to the economy and the path to Scottish independence.Meanwhile there's been mucho speculation in the mainstream media that Nicola Sturgeon's resignation and apparent fault lines in the SNP emphasised by the leadership election provides an ideal opportunity for Labour to exploit. Our reaction? Aye,right.Back at Westminster Rishi Sunak's plan to reveal an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol impasse looks like its been derailed by an unholy alliance between the DUP and,more importantly, by the ERG. Is there any way out for an increasingly beleagured PM?Just to say @ScotNational has found some people voted many times in their online poll about SNP leadership candidates - mentioned in this podcast - so not sure results are meaningful. ★ Support this podcast ★
Henry Hill, Deputy Editor of Conservative Home, brings us the view of Tory MPs, as efforts continue to reach a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Naomi O'Leary, Europe Correspondent for The Irish Times, provides an update on the negotiations to reach a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Conor Macauley, Northern Correspondent, reports on the prospect for a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol, as Northern Secretary Chris Heaton Harris announces he is progressing an organ donation law through the UK Govt, in the absence of an Executive
Economist and commentator Chris Johns joins Eamon to talk about the challenges facing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Chris also talks to Eamon about the global repercussions should the US be faced with failure in reaching agreement on the debt ceiling before the deadline to increase is reached.Recorded on Friday 17th February 2023. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/the-stand-with-eamon-dunphy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey, who are standing in for Adam, speak to actor and SNP member Brian Cox about Nicola Sturgeon's departure, and who he would like to see in charge of the party. And as Rishi Sunak travels to Belfast to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, they get the latest on developments from Ireland correspondent Chris Page. More NHS strikes have been announced for March. Baron Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, talks about how they could be resolved. Today's episode was presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey and was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The technical producer is Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Verity Wilde.
Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to talk through some of the biggest political stories of the week including Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation and what it might mean for Scottish independence. They also discuss the latest Mick Wallace controversy which surfaced following a viral TikTok video. But first, progress continues on the protocol talks, but how close are we to a deal and what hurdles still remain? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As it looks like the government is about to agree a new deal with the European Union on the Northern Ireland Protocol, Rishi Sunak is in Belfast today meeting with the DUP. Will they accept a compromise? Max Jeffery speaks to Isabel Hardman and Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. Produced by Max Jeffery.
Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey, who are standing in for Adam, speak to actor and SNP member Brian Cox about Nicola Sturgeon's departure, and who he would like to see in charge of the party. And as Rishi Sunak travels to Belfast to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol, they get the latest on developments from Ireland correspondent Chris Page. More NHS strikes have been announced for March. Baron Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, talks about how they could be resolved. Today's episode was presented by Nikki Fox and Emma Tracey and was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Cordelia Hemming and Miranda Slade. The technical producer is Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Verity Wilde.
The Northern Ireland Protocol is back in the news as EU and UK negotiators seem on the verge of a breakthrough deal. But what is the Protocol and is it working? In this week's podcast, IEA Head of Public Policy Matthew Lesh discussed this with Hugh Bennett, former member of the Brexit negotiating team and former Special Advisor to both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
George Parker, Political Editor with the Financial Times, outlines the mood in London with a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol looking imminent.
Tony Connelly, Europe Editor, reports from Brussels on the latest developments with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Discussion with former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib and Sorcha Eastwood of Alliance.
Is a deal over the Northern Ireland protocol really imminent? Due to Northern Ireland's land border with the Republic, there were always going to need to be unique arrangements post-Brexit. A resolution of some kind is being touted, but what might this look like? Amanda Ferguson, a Belfast-based freelance journalist and commentator, joins Ros Taylor to discuss. “I think Boris Johnson knew exactly what he was doing, he just wanted to get Brexit done.” “It should be pointed out that everybody acknowledges there are issues with the protocol.” “We could be in a scenario where the EU and the UK have a deal, but then it's not backed by the DUP – and then we're back to square one.” “There has to be something that satisfies everybody, it can't be just a one way street.” Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/bunkercast Presented by Ros Taylor. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Jade Bailey. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today the Times has reported that a partial agreement has been made over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Why are the government playing down the progress made over the Irish border? Also on podcast, Boris Johnson has been on maneuvres this week, weighing in on the row over sending jets to Ukraine. Has he succeeded in undermining Rishi Sunak? Cindy Yu speaks to Katy Balls and Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. Produced by Cindy Yu and Oscar Edmondson.
Kate Hoey, life peer and former Labour MP, talks to Brendan O'Neill about the problem with the Northern Ireland Protocol, the myth of ‘Bregret' and why Keir Starmer can't be trusted. Read spiked here: https://www.spiked-online.com/ Read Kate's articles for spiked: https://www.spiked-online.com/author/kate-hoey/ Become a spiked supporter: https://www.spiked-online.com/supporters/ Sign up to spiked's newsletters: https://www.spiked-online.com/newsletters/ Check out spiked's shop: https://www.spiked-online.com/shop/ Sponsored by Wondrium: https://www.wondrium.com/brendan/
Jacqui Smith returns to the fray and she and Iain Dale discuss the various strikes affecting the country, the state of the NHS, Joe Biden, Andrew Bridgen, Andrew Tate, sending tanks to Ukraine, Rishi Sunak visiting Nicola Sturgeon, Prince Harry's book and the prospect of an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Smut quota: Almost zero.
On today's podcast:The crisis in Emergency Departments this winter reveals a lack of accountability in the upper echelons of the system, among other issues. Was an attack on TDs with bags of excrement at a public meeting indicative of “a creeping sinister aggression” against politicians, as Ciaran Cannon claimed? Pat explains what is going on behind the scenes in the negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol. How would the DUP react to a deal that left even a much-changed Protocol in place? With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ukrainian doctors battle to keep the healthcare system alive, the Dutch government apologizes for its role in the slave trade and how Norwegians are shunning gas-powered cars for their electric cousins. Also: One man's effort to stop us dehumanizing Ukrainian refugees, how the Ukraine war and Bregret could mark a change in UK-EU relations, and if men won't talk, get them to make something.
The News makes another star appearance (featuring Danny and Derek). This week: A Ukraine diplomatic (0:50) and military (5:50) update, negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol (10:13), Responsible Statecraft's new report on special visas for Afghan auxiliaries (13:54), the new far-right Israeli government (17:53), Ethiopian and Tigrayan negotiations to implement the new peace deal (21:50), Sudan's junta government begins negotiations for a transfer of power (24:31), and the glory of COP27 (27:35). Recorded Thursday, November 10, 2022 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.americanprestigepod.com/subscribe
Tensions threaten to flare again between Ireland, Britain and the EU with a new UK prime minister who has promised to take a hard line on the Northern Ireland Protocol. The death of Queen Elizabeth however put a pause on developments for the period of mourning, and produced some fascinating moments too as her successor King Charles met with Sinn Féin and acknowledged them as the biggest party in Northern Ireland. Naomi and Tim catch up on current events, discuss the Dublin drama turning heads in Brussels, and why the Irish government resembles a rotisserie chicken… Patreon supporters can listen to a bonus debrief episode dissecting the complex Irish reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth over on patreon.com/theirishpassport You can follow us on Twitter at @PassportIrish
Fraser is a Scottish Catholic highlander who now edits (brilliantly) the Spectator in London. Deeply versed in Tory politics, and sympathetic to Boris, he seemed the ideal person to ask to explain what’s been going on in Westminster, what went so wrong under PM Johnson, and who is likely to replace him. It’s a one-stop guide to contemporary British politics in a mild Scottish accent.You can listen to the episode right away in the audio player above (or on the right side of the player, click “Listen On” to add the Dishcast feed to your favorite podcast app). For two clips of our convo — on how Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss compare to one another, and what Fraser calls the “absolutely electrifying” effect of Kemi Badenoch — pop over to our YouTube page.A good complement to this episode is the one I had last year with Dominic Cummings, the brilliant strategist behind Brexit and the rise of Boris. Here’s the transcript. Here’s a clip about Dominic’s break from Boris:To continue the debate over my recent column on Trump and Boris, a reader writes:Here’s a dissent: You are right about Trump. You are wrong about Johnson.Lying comes naturally to Johnson. It’s not just to get out of trouble. He lies about everything. Max Hastings knew this and presciently forecast it would all blow up. It has.Let’s turn to Brexit. First take the term “elites.” This glib, trash term is overused, over-hackneyed and should have no place in your lexicon. Unless very carefully defined, it is completely meaningless. I know as many lawyers and city types who voted for Brexit as did Remain, and likewise for gardeners, carpenters, plumbers etc. The British public was conned, lied to and persuaded there was a problem of the EU’s doing. To be fair, there were problems, some of which can be laid at the EU’s door, but for too many years, blame deflection was the name of the game. Most of the problems the country faced were homegrown. Now look at what has happened: we have a stuttering economy, low growth and haven’t yet introduced the checks at our borders we are supposed to, as it will cause even more chaos — Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted as much. That’s what happens when you erect major trade barriers with your neighbours and largest market. We can debate immigration as much as you like, but the problem has got worse, and as you correctly pointed out, the numbers have increased.Now let’s look at the so-called Conservative Party. Under Johnson, one-nation conservatism died. He killed it. It was replaced, deliberately, by a populist, divisive style of rule, not dissimilar to Trump’s, quite happy to bend or break laws and conventions in order to further its agenda. Its leading persona was Boris Johnson, and to the eternal shame of the Conservative Party, precious few demurred. The problems the country now face stem directly from Brexit: a plethora of unfulfillable promises built on lies. There are still many who think Brexit was a good thing, but there is a growing and significant majority that now recognises it isn’t working and was a mistake. It’s happened, and Keir Starmer is right to say that the next step should be to improve relations with the EU and to see what can be made to work, starting with the Northern Ireland Protocol (putting a border down the Irish Sea was, you’ll remember, a promise Johnson swore he would never do. And then promptly did “to get Brexit done”). All the deceit involved drives me mad, but the Labour Party, by electing a no-hoper and no-brainer in Jeremy Corbyn, made winning a majority inevitable (and remember FPTP didn’t require a significantly higher number of votes to achieve this).It might be too early to write off the Conservative Party, much as I would like to, despite having voted for them most of my adult life. But they are tainted, out of ideas, and despite the diversity you applaud, not impressive. I fear the next few months may prove as entertaining as the last few years.One aspect that you haven’t touched on is the role of the media. It is staggering to see the degree of partisanship on display. The Telegraph, Mail and Express appear to be living in an alternative universe where truth and fantasy commingle without differentiation. And why did the Times, which I read along with the Guardian, pull the blow-job report? This, along with the Londongrad money saga, is for another day. By the way, I am pleased you quoted Marina Hyde. Her sassiness, razor-sharp intellect and acerbic wit are spot-on.We will have her on the Dishcast soon enough. Here’s a reader in London:Sure, there was mounting frustration about Boris Johnson’s lying — not just the lying, but the fact that he invariably had to follow with “oh yes, come to think of it …” But voters, as opposed to MPs, think politicians lie all the time anyway, so I don’t think the cut-through is as great as might be supposed. I think the great point lost in all this is that Boris got his landslide because of Brexit and the increasing frustration with his inability to grasp the potential benefits became a hugely increasing sore, exacerbated by the daily shots of illegal immigrants turning up on our shores in rubber dinghies, often helped by the lifeboat service. This and his inability to grasp until too late how badly the economy was going to hit Mr & Mrs Average was what cost him public support as much as, if not more so, than his economy of truth. Another point not made enough is that Boris seemed to be a prisoner of focus groups and vocal groups of MPs, which meant he was constantly veering from one view to another. He made a string of supposedly exciting announcements that remained just that, never getting anywhere. You can only do that for so long before the public wises up.Yes, it was the MPs who knifed him, but these were MPs getting it in the neck from their constituents for what was (or more often was not) going on. My neighbour tore up his Tory membership card in sheer frustration and told our MP about it. Boris could offer no clear guiding principles we could cling to that would help us bat aside the machinations of Cummings, the BBC et al, who were manifestly on a mission to defenestrate him. In the end, even those who fear for Brexit in the wake of his departure could see there was no other course.Looking back to last week’s episode with Peter Staley, here’s a key moment where he calls the federal incompetence over monkeypox “Covid 2.0”:The whole 20-minute segment on monkeypox is here. Another listener “enjoyed the episode”:I share Mr. Staley’s concerns about the government’s handling of the monkeypox outbreak. I agree with him that the US did a disturbingly poor job of handling the Covid pandemic at the start. However, I have two important qualifiers:The US was hardly the primary “bad actor” in Covid; stupidity and misconduct in other countries was more flagrant and more consequential.I don’t know the details of the bureaucratic mangling of the monkeypox vaccine, but everything Staley reports sounds sadly accurate. However, it seems to me that the core problem early in the AIDS pandemic, and in the past two months with monkeypox, was the unwillingness of many in the gay community to modify their behavior consistent with obvious public health concerns. I was struck that neither you nor Staley mention this, beyond your effort to provide some rational current health advice, which is however strongly tilted toward vaccination over behavior modification.We did urge gay men to “cool it” for a while. Maybe we should have been more adamant. It’s also becoming clearer how this version of monkeypox is spread: primarily through sexual contact. If mere skin-touching were spreading it, then it seems to me the epidemic would be much, much larger, given the crowds during Pride. That means, of course, that we have the ability to help stop it, by not having sex until vaccinated. That’s not sex-phobic or homophobic. It’s just sensible health advice.Another dissenter expands on the reader’s second point:Your discussion of monkeypox really bugged me, for a reason I hope you take to heart. The vast majority of it was focused on the failures of the FDA and CDC, which I don’t take issue with. But the assumptions of the world you live in, particularly when in Provincetown, were alarmingly similar to the assumptions you make (rightfully) about the progressive left — that it takes for granted people not having agency in their own lives.The US government has (probably) failed with monkeypox, as it has with other diseases. Given that, what should people do? You and Staley both took it for granted that you seemed to have a right — almost an obligation — to party hard in P-Town, which the government’s failure was interfering with. It wasn’t until more than halfway through this part of the conversation that Staley and then you mentioned offhand that “some” people were suggesting people “cool it” for a month or so.But listen again to the rest of your conversation about monkeypox. Time and again, you blamed the government for its failures and never said anything about maybe the party boys could do something besides bemoan the inability to get vaccinated — maybe party less or (trigger warning) not go to Provincetown one summer. Self-restraint in the face of a still small but looming epidemic was only on the margins of your assumptions.At this early stage, restraint now among the mostly gay-male monkeypox spreaders would have exponential benefits going forward. Isn’t that a message about social good that is worth the telling?I’m older and was never much of a partier, so I guess it’s easier for me to say this. But the pretty confined groups of A-Gays ought to take some agency in their own lives at this critical time, and maybe give something up temporarily for the benefit of both themselves and a very real group of future A-Gays and B-Gays and whatever letter the rest of us get. Not to mention heterosexuals.As you can see, I take your point. Another listener moves to a different part of the discussion:Your interview with Peter Staley was fairly interesting regarding his participation during the critical years of AIDS. But the conversation became electric when the subject turned to critical queer theory, the indoctrination of children, and the discussion of sex identity in preschool. You kept asking Staley if he thought it was ok to teach children this curriculum and he kept nervously laughing and avoiding to answer and said that you’re confused and banging your little drum. I agree with you: critical theory has hijacked the gay community, gay rights, etc. and there very well could be an anti-gay backlash. Please continue to voice your side and fight for common sense. Your observations of critical theory’s dangerous impact are not anecdotal — they’re unfortunately everywhere.To decide for yourself, here’s a clip of that heated exchange:From a listener in San Francisco:I had never heard of Peter Staley before (I’m a 49-year-old gay man in SF). ACT-UP and Queer Nation had already fallen apart when I landed there in 1993 as a young punk rock guy. So I was interested in hearing his retelling of that period in the late ‘80s. But then the convo moved to gay activism today — and wow. I thought, “Well this is it. This is the denial that so many gay men have about the gender ideology cult.” They are f*****g terrified of speaking out against this. And of course it’s because they know it would mean expulsion from polite Democrat society.I was recently discussing the mass delusion period we’re living through around Gender ID extremism. Someone said we should get ready for a massive gaslighting from people who will tell us that they never believed in this cult.For what it’s worth, I keep hearing from gay men in Provincetown how alienated they are from this ideology, but also how scared they are to voice their concerns — especially about what this indoctrination is doing to gay children. Peter is emblematic of the majority, however, who prefer dismissing these concerns as overblown, and sticking to their own political tribe, which they have now internalized as “LGBTQIA+”. It’s maddening, but a function of real homophobes latching onto the “groomer” discourse, and tribal gays closing ranks in opposition. The real trouble is that the non-profit institutions allegedly representing us are packed with critical theory zealots who experience no pushback, and if they do, purge the dissenters. My view is that gay men should stop funding groups that are dedicated to the abolition of homosexuality. From a parent:It was so hard for me to listen to Peter Staley downplay the gender stuff for kids. My five-year-old stayed up an hour past her bedtime last night because she was worried she could suddenly become male, or that my breasts might disappear. She is extremely confused. At a time in her life when she is only beginning to understand what it will mean for her to grow up and become a physical woman, she thinks her “pronouns” might suddenly change and she might become genderless. Teenaged camp counselors with clear and obvious feminine features are telling her that they are neither male nor female. The worst part of that, is that my daughter is beginning to believe that her sex is determined by her interests and behavior. For example, she thinks that if I swear too much, I may become male. The result is her belief that womanhood is some sort of cartoonish stereotype of old-fashioned gender roles. It’s all so regressive. As a lifelong liberal, I am repulsed by the mainstream push to reinforce gender stereotypes and essentialism. What might be an even bigger crime for a writer like myself is that my daughter — who hasn’t even started kindergarten yet — thinks pronouns are a personal trait, not a part of speech. As horrified as I am at the regressive and sexist gender roles being pushed on my child, I am equally grimacing at the grammatical confusion this creating. Can’t the school teach my kid what a pronoun even is before scrambling her brain? Happy to air your personal experience. It’s horrifying. Another worried parent:I just had the most intriguing conversation with my 17-year-old daughter. She said that if she ever had a child who was trans, she would totally support that. Curious, I asked why. She said, “Because it’s all about who you love, and it’s ok to love different people.”I said, “Hold up, you’re talking about being gay. Trans doesn’t have anything do with who you love.”She insisted that it did. I said again, “No, you’re talking about being gay.” She said, “They're the same thing. Whenever a guy wants to be a girl, it’s because he wants to be able to date other guys. And when a girl wants to be a guy, it’s so that she can date other girls.”I said, “Now you're just confirming it — you are literally talking about being gay. There is no connection. Sometimes a guy transitions to being a woman, but still wants to date women — and will say that he has become a lesbian.”She just didn’t believe me! She shook her head and said something like, “It’s all over TikTok, and 99 percent of the time, when someone wants to be trans, it’s because they’re just trying to be gay.”We changed the subject, but even though this is just one data point (my daughter), I do wonder how prevalent her point of view is among other teenagers who watch TikTok.God only knows. But the attempt to conflate very different gay, lesbian and trans experiences is part of an ideological project, rooted in postmodernism. It is designed to destroy anyone’s coherent understanding of stable human nature. This next listener is on Staley’s side, not wanting to scapegoat queer theorists:I have to agree with Peter Staley that mass indoctrination of critical trans/queer/gender theory in school children is not the cause of any rise in gender confusion and trans identity. Something else is going on. My theory: the biological organism of homo sapiens is undergoing evolutionary reproductive change due to mounting environmental stresses.Let’s start with the simple observation that schools are only one small part of the cultural, political, environmental, familial and technological waters children swim in. One lesson from the story book How To Raise A Trans Inclusive Child is not going to make much of a sexual identity dent in the ocean of information, stress and confusion children are growing up in these days.There are so many other stresses that are going to have far greater biological impacts. Overpopulation is of course the big one that cannot be discussed. There are too many rats in the cage. Humans now live on a planet in which they are constantly bathed in low doses of industrial and agricultural chemicals of every kind. It is in our food, air and water. Developing embryos are all bathed in these chemicals to some degree.Throw in all the current economic and political chaos. Add in the bugaboo of social media and the cultural worship of money and fame. Body modification with tattoos, piercing and plastic surgery is a norm. You can create yourself to be anything.A big change, of course, is the rising equality of women. Economically, that is going to give women a better hand to play in reproductive choice. House husbands are becoming more and more common. Stereotypical gender expectations are pretty much kaput. Let’s not forget the #MeToo movement — that certainly threw a wrench into heterosexual relations.So what are these kids supposed to think about sex and gender? These are just some of the dots that Staley suggested may need a bit more connecting. So it’s a bit of a stretch to pin any rising gender confusion and dysphoria on indoctrination with critical gender/queer/trans theory in school children. That would be about as effective as conversion therapy for gay men. It’s not that simple to convert.But it’s very easy to confuse a third-grader. One more reader keeps another debate going:I wanted to respond to your response to the theory that another reader “wanted to float by you” about the nature/nurture debate over trans identity and sexual orientation. First, I think you dismiss this person’s idea a bit too readily. The possibility that sexual orientation isn’t inborn (even though I agree with you that it’s involuntary) is actually relevant to this discussion. Much of the modern trans movement incorrectly attempts to hitch its claims to the claims made by the gay rights movement, and “born this way” is no exception to this trend. If people are born trans, as this movement claims, then it’s theoretically possible to identify trans children with perfect accuracy and medicalize them before they go through puberty. But if instead, maturing into a trans adult is a stochastic process, then it’s impossible to predict perfectly which kids will persist in their trans identity after puberty. And in such a case, convincing the public to support youth medical transition is a much harder sell.Additionally, I disagree with you on whether trans people choose to be trans. Dysphoric individuals like Lauren Black, who choose to deal with their gender dysphoria without transitioning, complicate the claim that transitioning is the only possible outcome for someone with gender dysphoria. I think there are some people with dysphoria severe enough that medical transition is the best choice for them. But the decision of whether to transition or handle dysphoria in other ways is still ultimately a choice.As always, send your dissents, as well as other comments and personal stories, to dish@andrewsullivan.com. Get full access to The Weekly Dish at andrewsullivan.substack.com/subscribe