Absolutely Not The Daily Troll-o-Graph

 Western nations have put their faith in a resurgent Nato instead of Brussels Source - Daily Telegraph  15/05/21 Link That the conflict in Ukraine has become such a debacle for Vladimir Putin – whose sole responsibility it is – has surprised many in the West. For years we had instinctively believed much of the publicity from Russia about its power. Putin in his arrogance was, like us it seems, woefully ignorant of the real capabilities of Russia’s military. He was also poorly advised and briefed, and leader of a crew of pathological liars. His soldiers have been exposed as demoralised boy conscripts, with no idea they were expected to "liberate" Ukraine from "Nazidom". Their weaponry was ill-deployed and often ineffective, their logistics inadequate. They became sitting ducks for highly-motivated, better-armed and above all hugely brave Ukrainians.  Russia has inflicted huge damage on Ukraine, and terrible cruelties on its people, and continues to do so. However, a ...

Britain must not talk itself into a recession. Its economy isn’t that bad Source - Daily Telegraph - 11/05/22 Squeezed by surging energy bills and levels of general price inflation not seen since the 1980s, things are obviously not looking great for many households. There was nothing in the fluff of this week’s Queen’s Speech, setting out a long-term plan for supposedly levelling up and strengthening the economy, to make them feel any better. If it works at all, it will take a long time. Until then, there’s little cause for comfort. But frankly, we don’t need the Bank of England to keep on reminding us of this. Never mind the evident challenges of the global economy: the way things are going, there is a real danger of simply talking ourselves into recession. Leading from the front in the prevailing narrative of gloom and doom is Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England, who warns of double-digit inflation, rising unemployment and economic contraction to come. It is small wonder t...

 Boris Johnson has in interview slammed out-of-office culture across Whitehall  The PM has said full workplaces will be 'more productive' and 'more energetic'  It comes as he says 50 'illegal entrants' will be sent to Rwanda in fortnight  Source - Daily Mail 14/05/22 Link Working from home doesn't work, Boris Johnson declares today as he calls for a return to the office. Hi In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, the Prime Minister says full workplaces will lift productivity and revive town and city centres. Taking a swipe at the out-of-office culture that has taken hold across Whitehall, he adds: 'My experience of working from home is you spend an awful lot of time making another cup of coffee and then, you know, getting up, walking very slowly to the fridge, hacking off a small piece of cheese, then walking very slowly back to your laptop and then forgetting what it was you're doing.' He claims staff are 'more productive, more energe...

Bringing Finland and Sweden on board will significantly the alliance's northern flank following the Russian invasion of Ukraine Sourcev- Daily Telegraph 12/05/22 Link Finland's decision to apply for Nato membership marks a spectacular own goal by Vladimir Putin. It was only after Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine that public opinion in Finland shifted in favour of joining the alliance, a trend that has only grown since. Sweden, too, looks set to apply shortly. This will, all told, deliver a sea change in the security architecture of Europe. The absolute priority is to protect Finland during the application process until Nato's Article Five security guarantee comes into force.  Earlier this week, Boris Johnson signed a joint declaration to provide a UK security guarantee to Finland and Sweden during the ratification process, deepening already strong defence and security relationships. It came after 120 UK troops from the Queen's Royal Hussars and 14 Challenger 2 tan...

Brussels is seeking to use the Protocol to punish the UK. We should fight back with hardcore capitalism Source - Daily Telegraph 11/05/22 Link Never let a good opportunity to bash Britain go to waste: that, it would seem, remains the EU’s guiding foreign policy principle. In a staggeringly ill-timed act of revanchism from apparatchiks still seething from the humiliation meted upon them in 2016, Brussels is about to force Britain to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol, potentially triggering a vicious trade war and, in extremis, a complete breakdown in diplomatic relations. Why such self-destructive stupidity, such demented short-termism, at a time when the war in Ukraine, rampant inflation and the global economic calamity ought to be the only priority? Emmanuel Macron’s latest European vision, which includes a provision for Britain to join a new EU-lite outer circle, provides us with a helpful clue. It sometimes feels as if the French president, his Napoleonesque delusions reawakened...

 French president seeks drastic EU reform but faces backlash from Eastern European nations which fear being treated as second-class citizens Source - Daily Telegraph - 09/05/22 Link Britain could be offered a closer relationship with Brussels as part of a new EU-dominated organisation, Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, as he called for drastic reform of the bloc. The French President advocated a "new European political community" allowing countries such as the UK and Ukraine the chance to choose their level of integration with Brussels. Mr Macron’s plan has echoes of his previous calls for a multi-speed Europe of "concentric circles" and could put the UK on the outer ring of the new organisation. In an apparent riposte to Russian aggression, he said the organisation "would enable democratic European nations who adhere to our values to find a new space for political cooperation". Members would cooperate in areas such as security, transport, energy and investm...

The party leader's role is uncertain and bets are being taken on a successor, with Andy Burnham and Angela Rayner the front-runners Source - Daily Telegraph 09/05/22 Link Sir Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour party has been plunged into its biggest crisis to date over "beergate". Sir Keir is reportedly considering resigning should he be fined over a curry and beer with Labour staff on the campaign trail in April 2021, when lockdown measures were in force. But who could replace him at the top of the party if he was to step down? The Telegraph looks at the runners and riders. Andy Burnham (3/1) A prominent New Labour figure and a member of Gordon Brown’s cabinet, Mr Burnham is serving a second term as mayor of Greater Manchester. Not currently an MP, he has insisted he will remain in post until May 2024 but did not rule out running for the party leadership after that point. He was defeated in the 2010 and 2015 leadership elections, finishing second in the latter. ...