The JSPrice Perception

Merkel at the front centre, as she has been in global politics for nearly 15 years (Image: Express & Star) By the end of next year, Angela Merkel will no longer be Chancellor of Germany, and I'll be one of many who will be genuinely sad to see her go. In 15 years as the biggest cheese in European politics, Merkel has almost single-handedly taken over the role as Leader of the Free World, which I argued was up for grabs in 2018 . It is difficult to deny her influence on the world stage and by her departing from it, will leave a big hole in global politics. Merkel has been Chancellor since 2005 and led her Party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to four general elections wins (federal elections, as they're called in Germany). Certainly, she had to rely on other parties to form a majority government, but it was always 'Mutti', as she is affectionately known (translated, 'mummy'), who would wear the trousers. Merkel is often trusted to lead the...

Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer (Image: Politicshome.com) I would like to start this article by expressing my delight when I heard that Sir Keir Starmer won the Labour leadership election. He was somebody who I voted for and, as I argued in January, him working with Angela Rayner as his Deputy will work wonders. They've been close colleagues over the past few years, both have respect for each other and they also have respect across the broad church Labour has developed. Starmer's leadership is at its infancy as I write this, but he couldn't have received a warmer welcome . When the result was announced, you could sense the delight and relief from previously disengaged members and Labour politicians. His shadow cabinet appointments went down really well too. 'Hurray, we have adults instead of children in Labour's front bench again,' I read many social media posts state. 'Rejoice, the Tories have a proper opposition,' cry out political commentator...

Sadiq Khan at a school in south west London (Image: Wandsworth Guardian) I had fully intended to dedicate this post to previewing the Mayor of London elections, which was due to take place in less than two months' time. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Sadiq Khan will need to wait another year to fight for his place as City Hall's top boss. The decision to delay the election isn't down to the day itself, but due to the campaign period. While the UK government hasn't advocated a ban on mass gatherings as I write this, the majority of the sporting authorities and local governments have taken actions into their own hands. I feel personally punished with no Premier League or EFL football for at least three weeks. While I don't want to delve into the coronavirus crisis so much on here, all I will say on the matter are; listen to the facts and don't listen to speculation and hysteria. I strongly feel the media is doing a disservice to its pu...

Dominic Cummings (Image: Sky News) When 14 million Brits turned up to vote for the Conservatives on Thursday 12th December 2019, how many of them did so because they wanted Boris Johnson to continue as Prime Minister? Getting a precise figure for this will be impossible, unless we interviewed every single voter. However, I'm not sure if most of them went to the polls thinking that Johnson won't be the most significant figure in 10 Downing Street. It has been two months since Johnson won the general election for the Tories and yet there have been decisions made under his watch that has provoked people to say 'Oh, Boris wouldn't have done that'. In recent weeks, we have seen the potentially turbulent future of the BBC discussed , the cherry picking of journalists he wants to brief on important national matters and the sudden resignation of Sajid Javid as Chancellor. Writer and Sky One's The Pledge panellist, Rachel Johnson, also sister of the Prime Minis...

Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Business Insider) The Labour Party leadership contest has begun. Between now and Saturday 4th April, five MPs are vying to become Leader of the Opposition and five more are pitching to be Labour's Deputy Leader. There are lots to be said by all ten over the coming weeks and as a member myself, there is a bigger part of me that is intrigued than nervous about how it all turns out The current atmosphere in Labour is bruised yet solemn. Since Labour's last election win in 2005, there has been five Prime Ministers, and the last three having come from the Conservatives. And with the general election in December 2019 being such a crushing one for the party in red, there are a host of challenges that their next leaders need to tackle, once they are voted into their roles. This particular leadership election is one that Labour need to do right. It made a mistake when they voted for two leaders - in Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson as his deputy - when...

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Image: Page Six) I have never been to the United States, but there is a part of me that wants to go tomorrow. I'd love to experience Miami beaches, bask in the Hollywood ambience and visit Seattle simply down to the fact Frasier was based there. There is a general fascination towards its glitz and glamour and intrigue towards its politics because it is overstated, dramatic and bigger than any Coronation Street plot. There is a part of us that craves Americanism to settle in Britain, but at any opportunity that this happens, we cannot wait to get rid of it. In politics, regardless of a US Presidents' popularity, we often got annoyed by their presence in the UK. Whether it was George W. Bush with Tony Blair and commentators crying foul of their reliance of each other during in the Middle East conflict. Or whether it was Barack Obama and David Cameron with their chummy appearances during state visits and his apparent interference during the...

Coleen Rooney and Dominic Grieve Looking back, 2019 has been a funny year. For me personally, it has meant two house moves, job changes and watching some unforgettable concerts. But in the outside world - or the UK anyway - it can only be summed up by Brexit and Boris Johnson. At this time of the year, I usually review the past 52 weeks and conclude with who I think is deserving of my Person of the Year accolade (no prizes, I'm afraid). In previous years, the decisions were easy, but for 2019, I found it difficult without even thinking about the nonsense around Brexit and the recent general election. TIME Magazine's Person of the Year is Greta Thunberg , the teenage environmental campaigner who travelled across continents in an attempt to inspire fellow young people and world leaders to take global warming seriously. Thunberg's instant rise to fame has been admirable to say the least, but her challenge to convince sceptic yet powerful governments in Brazil , China ...