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We've got the whole world, in Trump's hands

Donald Trump is cornering a willing Keir Starmer (Image: Getty Images) I yearn to visit the United States one day. I have it all planned out - seven cities across seven states, at least three nights in each. And each seven locations have meaning, influenced by my interest in TV, film, music and politics - plus a bit of sunshine and beach in the middle. In my mind, it will be the ultimate adventure, perfect for me, someone who isn't big on travel beyond European cities. However, I face two obstacles to this US trip - one, finances. I totted up how much it would cost me, and if you consider flights, hotels, food and other spending money, it will cost around £5,000, five grand I do not have and probably won't have for a good while. And secondly, the politics, which keeps reaching new levels of volatility. So much so, if its President, Donald Trump, carries on, we'll be comparing the US to North Korea and Iran.  I may sound extreme, but when you consider incidents like the deat...
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Done right, digital IDs can save lives

Sir Keir Starmer has a challenge to convince people over digital ID plans (Image: The Guardian) If we're to treat survey results as gospel, I find myself in the minority on a big debate. It appears I am one of the very few in support of a 'digital ID' . It had taken me a while to come to this conclusion as, since the idea was explored under Tony Blair's government in 2005, I really wasn't sure what the point of the concept was. But 18 years later, I feel that an identification of some digital kind is necessary, and potentially lifesaving, as I'll explain here. The digital ID has been brought into the British political limelight again thanks to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He wants to bring them in on a mandatory basis, as a way of proving we have a right to work in the UK. It forms part of his cunning plan to halt illegal migration and illegal labour - similar schemes are already in place abroad and are said to be doing well. According to a government pres...
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Easing asylum backlog takes a patient, global effort

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron earlier this year (Image: The Independent) Britain this summer was seemingly dominated by a wild debate about 'patriotism' - who is 'truly' patriotic, who is 'more' patriotic, and which patriotism is the 'right' patriotism. These are interesting questions to be had, and a part of me is glad we're having these discussions - it's healthy to understand what the consensus is every now and then. It started so well when England women's national team won the Euros . Even I was pleased for England.  But then it appeared we swiftly moved on from that positive feeling, to something rather uncomfortable. Patriotism was given a completely different meaning, fuelled by digital and traditional media channels and several parts of the country. The situation around asylum seekers and refugees living in hotels has taken centre stage, and the UK government officials feel cornered, torn in the middle, struggling to strike a ...
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Now isn't the time to choose a favourite baddie

Donald Trump and Benyamin Netanyahu (Image: Financial Times) I have been rather reflective of late. The global news agenda is dominated by powerful people doing unimaginably awful things, or at least capable of doing so - and they are seemingly given a free pass, having their evil justified, trying to find a reason why their actions aren't that bad compared to the 'other side'. And this is driving me absolutely mad. The less I hear from Benyamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and others, the better this world will be. Here we have, at least three cunning maniacs, at it for their personal gain to dominate countries, nationalities and ideologies. Farage has no power, but he is being tipped to be the next UK Prime Minister , for no good reason at all. He gets a few votes from those bored of a Labour government, and critics start getting giddy. Trump thinks of himself as a puppet master, and through his crippling tariffs and mafia-like tactics, is sending his country an...
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The 'cancel culture' myth

Let's cancel the term 'cancel culture' once and for all (Image: Fox News) In recent months, we have seen the UK's Supreme Court declare ' what a woman is ', the rise of the 'far right' in the United States and larger parts of Europe and the centre-left being accused of echoing words which were deemed unacceptable the day before. These stories as isolated items don't seem a big deal but, through their individual merits, have become significant societal shifts. That's largely thanks to the campaign groups who led them. For a long time, they have been playing cry wolf, sharing viral sop stories about how their 'plight' has resulted them being on the verge of 'losing everything', including relevance. With victories heading their way, and their crocodile tears turning into money eyes, it is fair to say that 'cancel culture' is officially over. Let's be honest, 'cancel culture' never existed. The myth has brainwashe...
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Labour must do better when pitching 'unpopular' policies

Sir Keir Starmer and his cabinet (Image: The Independent) Former Home Secretary, David Blunkett has summarised the first nine months of this Labour Party government best. When he appeared recently on BBC Radio 4's Today Podcast , he praised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on his handling of areas such as international diplomacy, as well as some domestic policies. The key improvement needed moving forward, to do better on 'spin'. Blunkett compared how easy the Prime Minister he worked under, Tony Blair, had it in his first years in the late 1990s compared to Starmer's in the present day - and although Blair announced similarly challenging and seemingly unpopular policies, such as the introduction to university tuition fees, he was able to still get on the side of the UK public, which is an area you could argue that Starmer is struggling with.  When you listen to Blunkett, you could tell he wanted to avoid saying the word 'spin', as it is deemed a derogatory term ...
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World leaders won't regret turning their backs on Trump

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump during their public fallout in February (Image: People.com) By the end of Donald Trump's presidency - whether it is at the end of his second term or earlier - his actions and words will form only a small part of his legacy. The largest part of his legacy will be determined by the character of other world leaders towards him. Who will do anything to 'woo' him, and who will stand up for their country against his narcissism, bullying and blatant attempts to send the world - America included - crashing? There is a sense of Trump calling all the shots, and he's absolutely revelling in it while the US markets crumble, major economies mull over their next, tricky steps, and nations in the middle of wars are facing even greater and fearful futures. For example, you may see in the news that 'Ukraine war end is in sight' with a proposed  ceasefire agreement on the table. However, in reality, if Trump gets his way, this time next year ...
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