Europe
UK gives up foreign policy influence post-Brexit
Kirsty Hughes that at a time of major global and European challenges, the UK’s decision to sideline itself and retreat into mercantilism, is an act of folly with ramifications that are much bigger than the…
Europe’s future is Walloon – and Scottish?
“Since then, the economic crisis, the travails of the euro, and the destructive impacts of globalisation have blown that logic apart. Free trade – and its liberal corollary, the free movement of people – have…
Scotland in single market – or not
Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland should at least stay in the EU single market but: “the political and technical complexity of the proposal does raise the obvious question as to whether such a move is easier…
Did England stumble, losing its way?
Reflections on a journey home to Scotland: “As well as being concerned for Scotland, I feel sad for England. If England has lost its way, if it has stumbled and may fall, if there is…
Keep troops happy – and powder dry
“It sounds simple to hold back a referendum until enough people tell you they’ll vote Yes. The complication is that many people don’t know what their choice will be until they can make sense of…
Canny tactics or Brexishambles?
“Brexit may well mean Brexit, as our leaders are fond of telling us, but there is much more to it than waving goodbye. There are good tactical reasons not to trigger Article 50 immediately, but…
May throws down gauntlet to Scotland
“Any options for Scotland to stay, at least partly, in the EU while rUK leaves were always going to depend on political will as well as technical feasibility. Theresa May has made her position clear.…
‘My whole day is Scotland in Europe’
“Scotland would fit right into an axis of cooperation that goes from Ireland to Iceland to Norway and Sweden and to Denmark and Finland. There’s a clear axis into which Scotland fits. There is a…
Sovereignty, 1707 and saving the other Union
“One of the arguments of the Leave campaign, after all, was that sovereignty should be repatriated from Brussels to Westminster, not to No.10 Downing Street.” So: parliament(s) should have the last word on leaving the…
Carney acts, Chancellor delays a vital stimulus
The Bank of England has cut rates to an historic low but: “The experience of other central banks has been similar. They have slashed rates and pumped huge sums into their economies with only modest…
The German (and European) violence challenge
The German chancellor has insisted there will be no change to her country’s policy towards immigration and refugees. “We can manage our historic task – and this is a historic test in times of globalisation…
Ooh la la! The myth of the sexy French
“Each country’s culture perpetuates myths about its closest rivals that often have no basis in reality and which puzzle those from elsewhere”, says the author as she examines the origins of why we always talk…