Is The Bank Of England Independent When It Comes To Brexit?

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By David Cobham, Heriot-Watt University

The Bank of England has been attacked by Leave campaigners for articulating what they deem to be pro-government, pro-Remain views about Brexit, when it should supposedly be independent. Governor Mark Carney’s comment that leaving the EU is the “biggest domestic risk to financial stability” provoked the criticism that he is breaching the bank’s independence. But it seems more likely that this is a case of shooting the messenger in order to distract attention from the message.

Is Britain Safer In Or Out Of The European Union? This One's A No Brainer

PA/Gareth Fuller

By Christopher J. Fuller, University of Southampton

Ever since the Islamic State assault on Paris in November 2015, Brexit campaigners have sought to draw a link between Britain’s partnership with Europe, and the vulnerability of its cities to similar attacks. In the days after the atrocities, prominent Leave proponent Richard Tice took direct aim at In campaigners when he said: “never again should they say the United Kingdom is safer in the European Union.”

Until Britain takes back control of its borders, argues UKIP’s Nigel Farage, it cannot be “isolated” from the threat posed by Islamic extremists. The use of the word “isolated” should not be overlooked – it holds a special place in history, and reveals the fantasy in the thinking of those advocating the UK’s exit.

The belief that, in an ever-more interconnected world, Britain’s geography could somehow allow its government to pull up the drawbridge, as if Britain is some sort of impenetrable fortress, is simplistic and old-fashioned.

Live And Let Die: Did Michel Foucault Predict Europe's Refugee Crisis?

Asylum seekers are held at the Macedonian border. EPA/Georgi Licovski

By Stephane J Baele, University of Exeter

In March 1976, philosopher Michel Foucault described the advent of a new logic of government, specific to Western liberal societies. He called it biopolitics. States were becoming obsessed with the health and wellbeing of their populations.

And sure enough, 40 years later, Western states rarely have been more busy promoting healthy food, banning tobacco, regulating alcohol, organising breast cancer checks, or churning out information on the risk probabilities of this or that disease.

Foucault never claimed this was a bad trend – it saves lives after all. But he did warn that paying so much attention to the health and wealth of one population necessitates the exclusion of those who are not entitled to – and are perceived to endanger – this health maximisation programme.

Biopolitics is therefore the politics of live and let die. The more a state focuses on its own population, the more it creates the conditions of possibility for others to die, “exposing people to death, increasing the risk of death for some people”.

Rarely has this paradox been more apparent than in the crisis that has seen hundreds of thousands of people seeking asylum in Europe over the past few years. It is striking to watch European societies investing so much in health at home and, at the same time, erecting ever more impermeable legal and material barriers to keep refugees at bay, actively contributing to human deaths.

Why Pulling Out Of The EU Won't Give Britain Complete Control Over Its Affairs

And all the invitations just dried up. EPA/Andy Rain

By Eunice Goes, Richmond American International University

For years, crusaders of the Eurosceptic cause have claimed that all the evils of the world will disappear once Britain leaves the European Union. British fishermen and women will be able to fish as much cod as they like and greengrocers will be able to weigh Brussels sprouts in pounds. Britain will regain control of its borders, parliamentary sovereignty will be restored to its former glory and the great brotherhood of English-speaking countries will be rekindled.

But so far these grandiose promises have not been accompanied by any explanation of what exactly will happen after Brexit. No scenarios have been described apart from vague references to remaining part of the European free-trade zone. It’s about time they spelled out their case.

European Youth Expect Tough Economic Future

• Nearly a third (29%) of young people in Europe feel their finances are in a poor condition 

• Two thirds (66%) of people in Europe feel young people have to make more financial decisions than the older generations did when they were young  

• Some 75% of people across Europe agree it is more important for young people today to learn how to manage money

Almost one in three (29%) young people across Europe are barely in control of their finances*.

A new international study of financial behaviour questioning about 15,000 people across 15 nations reveals there is widespread concern about the financial prospects of the younger generation.

Divided kingdom: How England Could Force A Brexit, Even If Others Vote To Stay

Black Zack, CC BY-NC-SA

By Rachel Ormston, ScotCen Social Research

As the debate over Britain’s future in the European Union gathers pace and heat, there has been much discussion of what might happen if voters in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales disagree. What if the UK were to leave based on the English vote alone?

Would such an outcome provide the “material change” in circumstances cited by the SNP’s leadership as a potential trigger for a second independence referendum? What would such a decision mean for support for independence in Scotland and Wales? Could there even be implications for the peace deal in Northern Ireland, as the Irish prime minister recently suggested?

At the same time, rather less attention has been paid to the potential for another, equally plausible, outcome. What if England votes narrowly in favour of leaving the EU, but is kept in Europe by its more Europhile UK neighbours? Could such an outcome trigger calls from England for further loosening of ties within the UK?

Don't Buy The Stereotype: White Working-Class In England Are Not All Against Multiculturalism

By Harris Beider, Coventry University

Once upon a time white working-class people were seen as a political problem. Now they are back in fashion – celebrities such as Adele and David Beckham are proud to talk about their working-class roots and politicians are falling over themselves to win their support.Their votes have also been a key battleground in the Oldham by-election.

Political parties and politicians – albeit for different reasons – are keen to win the support of white working-class communities. This is partly the result of the rise of the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP) as a political force – despite only having one seat in the House of Commons, the party managed to secure 3.8m votes – and a disproportionate amount of coverage – in the May 2015 general election.

Right-Wing Populism Is Surging On Both Sides Of The Atlantic – Here's Why

Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University

On both sides of the Atlantic, right-wing populist parties are enjoying another moment in the sun. In Europe, the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) recently doubled its vote in a state election. Fellow travellers are making headway across Europe – France’s Front National, Hungary’s Jobbik, Bulgaria’s Ataka, and the party formally known as True Finns.

Many explanations for the European surge point to a xenophobic knee-jerk reaction to the refugee crisis, but that’s far too simplistic; the phenomenon is hardly confined to Europe. Look at the surprising success of Donald Trump in the US’s Republican party primary campaign. Many of his fellow candidates are struggling to keep up with his firebrand pronouncements, not least his proposal to deport millions of illegal immigrants.

So why exactly are these leaders and parties enjoying such success – and are they really all birds of a feather?

Daily Mail Reverts To Type As Media Makes Sense Of Paris Atrocities

John Jewell, Cardiff University

You can trust the Daily Mail to lead the race to the bottom and its coverage of the Paris terror attacks was no different. On November 17, while the world was still reeling from the atrocity in which 129 people died and hundreds more were injured, the paper carried a cartoon featuring imagery sickeningly evocative of 1930s anti-Jewish Nazi propaganda.

Nelson's Column: #UKIP's Politics of Fear

Friday, 13 November 2015. Terrorists strike in Paris, France, killing over 140 people and injuring hundreds of others. The world mourns. David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn offer their condolences and condemn the terrorist attacks. And France closes its borders to prevent the terrorists from escaping and also heightens security. 

UK: Don't Disappear! - #RegisterToVote [Video Included]

Image via HopeNotHate

The following is an email from HopeNotHate I've received earlier today and I'm sharing it here because the advice given in it does actually concern everyone who hasn't registered to vote yet, whatever their political views... 

Definitely worth a read.

Stay visible!

Loup Dargent

UKIP And The Queen Photoshop - Has UKIP Gone Too Far This Time?

Someone in UKIP must have had their dates mixed up and thought that it was April Fool's Day already... Either that or they don't actually have a clue about how things work when it comes to British politics and the Monarchy...

UKIP has somehow crossed the line there. We all know that the Queen would not endorse any political party (and that she does not vote!)... So, photoshopping her in order to give the impression that she is a UKIP supporter has to be a major royal no no.

Obviously I cannot speak (and I would not dare doing so anyway) on behalf of the Queen, but I don't think that she'll be amused when she sees that.

If you want to make your own mind up about the whole affair, the pic should still be available for viewing on here, but, just in case it got "accidentally" deleted, I've also posted a screencap of it below...

Janice Atkinson - Do The British Voters Really Want That Woman To Represent Them In Europe?

UKIP MEP candidate, Janice Atkinson, might have misunderstood the "get your finger out" expression that day she decided to let her finger do the talking when challenged about some the UK Independence Party's policies (click here for more details) but there is no excuse for any politician to behave in such fashion (and, no, I'm not talking about her pink jacket here) while canvassing for votes.