David Cameron left his post as representative of Oxfordshire constituency Witney on Monday, eleven years after winning the seat and two months after resigning as prime minister of the United Kingdom after the EU referendum result. Speaking to ITV, he explained that leaving the role was “the right thing to do” as “the circumstances and realities of […]
David Cameron
TheUKDecides: Brexit’s silver lining
The campaigns were fought hard, with casualties on both sides (and although this refers to political casualties, the real-life tragedy of Jo Cox and her message of unity should not be forgotten). Landmarks of the Brexit battle range from the sinister to the downright surreal, from Nigel Farage’s controversial Nazi-esque immigration poster to a flotilla […]
#TheUKDecides: The fragments of Brexit – an analysis of the referendum
It is easily assumed by the distinct binary logic of this result that Britain is fundamentally divided between two rival camps. One is slightly larger but nonetheless it is plausible that a public, a parliament and a nation has been effectively divided into two sides by the UK’s decision for Brexit by a slim four […]
#TheUKDecides: A non-UK perspective on the referendum
The effectiveness of the European Union (EU) has been a politically-controversial topic ever since the formation of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1958. Initially, there was a desire for economic integration between member states that were geographically located within Europe. However, as the membership of the EEC expanded, so did its agenda. Ultimately, the […]
Feminist Friday: Intersectional feminism and corruption
In recent weeks, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has been working to open up a discussion on the problem of corruption around the world. Perhaps it was inevitable in the wake of the numerous corruption scandals which have broken in the last few years, particularly since the 2008 global financial crisis, the Middle East uprisings […]
Calls for Cameron’s resignation
In the aftermath of what even Prime Minister David Cameron had to concede was “not a good week” in front of his Conservative peers at the Conservative Spring Forum yesterday, calls for his resignation have never been louder and more widespread. Mr. Cameron has recently been criticised for his involvement in the Panama Papers scandal, […]
David Cameron visits Exeter… and Conservatives aren’t invited
The Exeter University Conservative Association has not been invited to the Prime Minister’s talk, which is scheduled for Thursday, 7th April. Sir Steve Smith, Exeter’s Vice-Chancellor, sent out personal invitations to a selected number of students and academics to represent the university. The invitation read: “I am writing to invite you to a special Q&A […]
In brief: the EU deal and upcoming referendum
The UK’s membership in the European Union (EU) has been a politically controversial topic ever since Britain joined the then-called European Community in 1973, under the Conservative Prime Minister, Edward Heath. A referendum on Britain’s membership was called in 1975, yet 41 years later and there still seems to be an aura of public discontent about […]
Social media sways political opinion, says Uni research
Academics from the University of Exeter have revealed the results of research indicating how social media affected voters’ perceptions. In a survey of 1,830 participants from 600 constituencies, the team of researchers, which was headed by Professor Dan Stevens and based at Exeter Q-Step Centre and the University’s Centre for Elections, Media and Participation, also […]
“David Cameron is the most dangerous Prime Minister of our time” – An interview with Paddy Ashdown
“I sincerely hope that you’re not one of those selfie-obsessives” Lord Jeremy ‘Paddy’ Ashdown jokes as he enters one of the Forum’s numerous faux-salubrious seminar rooms. Dismissing the accusation, I happily reassure him that the next twenty minutes will not consist of any gratuitous and/or narcissistic camera angles, to which he chuckles. Even in his mid-seventies, […]