Oscar Young looks at the latest Westminster scandal and whether it indicates time for change in the government.
David Cameron
David Cameron: an unfortunate legacy
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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, […]
A very Conservative Christmas party
T he best thing, the truly best thing about Christmas is…” “I think you better stop there Prime Minister, we talked about tact…” “Pigs in blankets, Osborne! Nothing like getting your sausage slapped between a roll of…“ “Bacon?” “Spot on Osborne! Why do those Labour chaps have hardly any food this year?” Looking down the […]