John Oliver on British election chaos and the Brexit disaster to come (video)


John Oliver reviews the UK’s general election clusterf*ck and the implications for Brexit. “The United Kingdom, the country that’s been saying ‘yas queen!’ for centuries, held a national election this week. There wasn’t actually due to be one for three … Continue reading

Election laws can’t cope with data harvesting – which suits politicians fine (video)


Political parties are making increasing use of data analytics to track voters’ behaviour on sites such as Facebook and Twitter in order to send them political messages they will find persuasive. Parties have been campaigning on Facebook as part of … Continue reading

Ian Hislop’s right: Murdoch’s cosy relationship with Tories should be investigated (video)


The reciprocal closeness in the relationship between journalism and power is a prominent feature of British political history. In times of war or national crisis, media organisations are expected more often than not to behave as if they were an … Continue reading

Shout loud, Remainers – democracy means giving the majority a hard time (video)


As the Brexit debate deteriorates in quality at an alarming rate, it appears that any hope of Britain returning to its democratic senses is receding fast. The most recent cases include Ian Duncan Smith dismissing Kier Starmer, shadow Brexit minister … Continue reading

Samantha Bee takes down US media faux objectivity and Trump campaign lies (video)


There is little doubt that the result of the EU referendum is nothing short of a catastrophe for the future economic security of the UK. Of course, any objective observer of the period leading to the vote may not have been … Continue reading

President Trump: can he really win? (Dispatches documentary video)


“Donald Trump versus Hilary Clinton is on. It’s shaping up to be the most vicious, divisive election in living memory. Continuing to stoke outrage and controversy and behind in the polls Matt Frei asks if Donald Trump can really make … Continue reading

Boris Johnson: Britain’s undiplomatic new diplomat-in-chief (The Conversation) (video)


Within hours of taking office, the UK’s new prime minister Theresa May picked one of the most undiplomatic people in modern British politics to serve as the United Kingdom’s diplomat-in-chief. The surprise announcement that former London mayor Boris Johnson is … Continue reading

Andrea Leadsom, personal scrutiny and the pressures of modern British politics (The Conversation) (video)


Andrea Leadsom’s decision to withdraw from the Conservative Party leadership contest dramatically concluded the search for Britain’s next Prime Minister. But as Theresa May prepares to enter 10 Downing Street it’s worth reflecting on the levels of scrutiny now facing … Continue reading

Brexit: what does the US think of what we have done? (video)


Being British means that, for most of my life, I have been able to share in that certain level of condescension that we have when it comes to our American cousins. You know the one. The one that sneered at … Continue reading

John Oliver vents his spleen over UK’s Brexit vote (video)


“John Oliver, already known as a vocal opponent of Brexit, has delivered a furious monologue attacking the British prime minister and key figures in the campaign for the UK to leave the EU. “The United Kingdom,” the British host of … Continue reading

The Big EU Reality Check: whatever you do, don’t rely on your gut (video)


Last night the BBC finally decided that it was time that the great British public was given some actual facts about the EU referendum instead of the usual ding-dong political head to head style shouting match. In The Big EU Reality … Continue reading

John Oliver destroys the case for a Brexit (video)


John Oliver’s epic take-down of the case for Brexit, “Brexit the Movie” and UKIP is a thing of great and hilarious beauty. If you have a vote this Thursday, but still have no idea what a Brexit is or why … Continue reading

Britain and the EU: For Richer For Poorer? (documentary video)


“Ahead of the EU referendum, Laura Kuenssberg examines the economic costs and benefits of EU membership. She talks to politicians and business leaders on both sides of the debate in a bid to find out what leaving could mean for … Continue reading

Fact Check: how much does the UK actually pay to the EU? (The Conversation and Newsnight video)


For every £2 we send to Brussels, we get £1 back and it comes back with a tag on it on what we have to spend it on. Gisela Stuart, Labour MP and joint head of Vote Leave, speaking on … Continue reading

How Brexit could hurt UK-US trade (The Conversation and video)


Barack Obama’s visit to Britain, brings with it plenty of chatter about the so-called “special relationship” between the US and the UK. Coming as Britain prepares for a referendum on European Union membership, the visit has already kicked off a … Continue reading