Clutching onto my newly bought copy of Politico, I couldn’t decide what was more intimidating: the fact that I’d be interviewing the senior EU correspondent of the paper itself, or that Donald Trump’s face was staring me right in the eye. America’s newly elected president has been on the highlights of every newspaper and social […]
EU
‘Being able to fix people’s problems is a real buzz – it’s what I want to do anyway’ – an interview with Daisy Benson
It is fair to say that 2015 wasn’t the best year for the Liberal Democrats: the General Election saw them lose all but eight of their seats, down from a total of 57 won at the height of Cleggmania. They lost many of their big names, including Vince Cable, Simon Hughes and Lynne Featherstone, and […]
Beyond Brexit: the real danger facing the UK
In Brexit’s immediate aftermath, the creative and scientific industries screamed as their funding was cut and opportunities for international collaboration reduced. But as the dust settles, many of Britain’s most innovative industries have returned to their characteristic pragmatism – to find how to make the most of a challenging new situation. If Brexit must mean Brexit […]
Brexit apocalypse? What apocalypse?
ItI’s been over 100 days since the historic vote of the UK to leave the EU on June 23. In the frenzied weeks running up to the referendum numerous prophecies of doom – yes, the term is appropriate – were made. Have any materialized? We were warned by the then Chancellor, George Osborne, that in the […]
#TheUKDecides: The sound and fury of Brexit
And so a star has been removed from the blue European flag, with 51.9 per cent of Britons voting to rescind a 43-year membership of the EU. The night before Brexit, storm clouds roamed the south coast of England in almost pathetic fallacy, a reflection of the impending economic and political chaos to come. Over […]
#TheUKDecides: Let’s get satirical – ten reasons to vote remain
While reading the morning paper with my breakfast this morning, I was near reduced to a choking fit (I would like to add that it was a Bircher Muesli bowl meaning relative digestion ease, suggesting the severity of the headlines). On 1 June 2016, the EU referendum took a dramatic turn with 52 per cent of Britons […]
Save Erasmus, says professor
An Exeter professor has urged students to take action ahead of the EU referendum, following fears that Brexit would “threaten the future of British students abroad.” Professor Melissa Percival emailed all Exeter Modern Languages students on year abroad placements, sharing a link to Students For Europe petition “Protect our access to the Erasmus+ programme.” An […]
The UK and the EU: Ask the experts event at Exeter University
In light of the upcoming EU referendum, taking place on the 23rd June, the University of Exeter is hosting a neutral panel discussion at the start of term three. The panel consists of six leading professors from the University of Exeter, the University of Cambridge, and the LSE, who will be discussing the referendum and […]
“Peace, prosperity and influence” – an interview with the EU Commission’s Jacqueline Minor
Since its creation, the European Union and Britain’s relationship to it has been one of the hottest topics of political debate. It divided the Labour Party in the 1970s and 80s, and then brought John Major’s government to its knees in the 90s. More recently, the United Kingdom Independence Party has enjoyed a surge in […]
“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, […]