The Commonwealth Is Not An Alternative To The EU For Britain

Rose tinted. Eric Fischer, CC BY-SA

By Andrew Dilley, University of Aberdeen

A key question in the debate about Britain’s future in Europe concerns the alternative global economic connections available to the UK. The North American Free Trade Agreement, the European Free Trade Association and free-wheeling bilateralism all have their advocates. Yet one other alternative carries particular emotional resonance: the Commonwealth.

For some Brexiters the Commonwealth is the perfect global trading network for the 21st century. At times this position carries a hint of nostalgia. In the leaders’ debate before the 2015 general election UKIP leader Nigel Farage described leaving the EU as a chance to reconnect with the rest of the world, “starting with our friends in the Commonwealth”. Yet is there in fact such an alternative?

UK: What Has The EU Ever Done For Us?

Just what are the fruits of the union? gemstock/Shutterstock

By Simon Sweeney, University of York

Think labour protection, enhanced social welfare, smoke-free workplaces, equal pay legislation, holiday entitlement, and the right not to work more than a 48-hour week without overtime.

The Walking Dead: Why That Final Point-Of-View Shot Tells Us Nothing

Fans are not happy with the end of the Walking Dead season finale. AMC

By Kit Messham-Muir, University of Newcastle

Spoilers ahead for the end of The Walking Dead season six.

The very last scene in this week’s episode of The Walking Dead is more than a little harrowing for fans of this zombie apocalypse drama.

Book Tour: 'A Thousand Stolen Moments' By Connie Ann Michael

The Blurb:

Only weeks back from the war, Emme “Doogie” Sawyer is in trouble. She struggles to fight the war in her head while also trying to build a relationship with Raven – who has recently returned from Afghanistan and taken up temporary residence in her house. Unfortunately, it’s hard to lock down the bad without cutting off the good. Soon, Sawyer begins to slip deeper into the darkness of the war she thought she left behind.

Running from his own mistakes, Raven tries to be the support Sawyer needs to move forward, but he soon discovers that in order to heal, they must rely on their faith more than they rely on each other. Raven takes Sawyer back to his childhood home, to where he hopes they both can find themselves and the faith they left behind. 

Will they be able to find their way back to each other, or will the horrors of war and past mistakes destroy them for good? 

'Hail, Caesar!' To Be Released On Blu-ray, DVD And On Demand On June 7

When the world's biggest movie star suddenly goes missing, it's up to a studio fixer to rescue him in Hail, Caesar!, a star-studded comedy featuring George Clooney, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Jonah Hill, Josh Brolin, Tilda Swinton,  Ralph Fiennes, Alden Ehrenreich, and Frances McDormand set in Hollywood's Golden Age. 

Desert Hearts: The 1986 Film About Lesbian Awakening That Gives Carol A Run For Its Money

BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival

By Florence Sutcliffe-Braithwaite, UCL

It’s 1959, and Vivian, an immaculately manicured and tightly controlled English literature professor from Columbia University, is arriving in Reno, Nevada, to stay on her friend Frances’ ranch while waiting for her divorce to come through. Prospective divorcees have to be resident in Nevada for six weeks: long enough for Vivian to fall in love with casino change-girl and artist Cay, a friend of the family. It’s the beginning of an awakening.

This is Desert Hearts, a 1986 film with striking parallels to last year’s hit Carol. First shown 30 years ago at London’s first gay and lesbian film festival, it returned this year to BFI Flare, serving up a heady mix of 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, casinos, cowboys, and lesbians. The success of Carol and the return of Desert Hearts reflects our need for stories that show not only the difficulties, hostility and discrimination faced by lesbians, but also offer up the possibility of honesty and love.