EU Referendum

Farage — the Luther of the Democratic Reformation

Nigel Farage has led his Brexit Party to victory in the Euro Elections, and will send 28 MEPs to the European Parliament. While Labour (10 MEPs) and the Conservatives (3 MEPs) sounded muffled notes, Farage's trumpet was clear and unmistakable:…

CofE brexit prayer together peoples vote

Bemused by Brexit? Come to church for tea and prayer – unless your vicar is a Remainer

March 25, 2019
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At this moment of national crisis and international humiliation (which it is), the Church of England is encouraging people to come to church to be 'Together' for a cup of…

Bishop Steven Croft Lords ambition Brexit

Bishop says Brexit is marred by politicians’ personal ambition, and calls for ‘strong, compelling and united vision of the future’

March 1, 2019
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"My Lords, I always rise to speak in this Chamber with some fear and trepidation but never more so than today," confessed the Lord Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev'd…

Theresa May Dominic Grieve Brexit sacred duty

The divine right of Dominic Grieve and the ‘sacred duty’ to prevent Brexit

February 18, 2019
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"My right honourable friend the Prime Minister talks about her sacred duty over Brexit," declared former Attorney General Dominic Grieve in the Valentine's Day debate on the UK's withdrawal from…

Queen Theresa May bloody difficult woman

A “bloody difficult woman”? Theresa May’s relentless inflexibility is a moral mission

January 23, 2019
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Theresa May is undoubtedly a intelligent lady: not only is she an educational and political high-achiever – and only the second woman to succeed to the Office of Prime Minister…

Welby Brexit debate no deal moral failure

Brexit and the ‘moral failure’ of ‘no deal’

January 17, 2019
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In his speech to the House of Lords last week on Brexit, the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke eloquently about the moral responsibility that comes with parliamentary sovereignty, and of the…

Bishop denounces Boris Johnson as an “amoral liar”

January 9, 2019
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It was a good lecture by the Bishop of Leeds, if a little long. Delivered to mark the centennial celebrations of Bradford Cathedral, he expounded some of the root causes…

Happy Brexit Year: control the language, control the argument

December 31, 2018
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"An ennui hangs over British politics and the prime minister is depending on it", wrote Matthew Parris in the Times a few days ago. "Like a thin, wearisome fog it…

Brexit impasse: democracy can be messy – but the alternative is terrifying

December 12, 2018
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'And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee' (1Sam 8:7). It might not end well, but never let…

Lowering the voting age to six isn’t a bad idea: it would give the family its rightful electoral status

December 7, 2018
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Prof David Runciman (Cambridge University) is of the view that an ageing population is creating a democratic crisis: the views of those beneath the age of 18 – the current…

sentamu brexit withdrawal agreement deal

Sentamu: ‘pure’ (‘real’/ ‘hard’) Brexit is “a childish dream”

December 3, 2018
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On the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury was asked about the disparity (/gulf) between the laity and clergy in the Church of England regarding the…

While bishops bicker over Brexit, there is one who shows a better way

November 22, 2018
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Should there be a second referendum (aka a 'People's Vote') on Brexit, the Bishop of Oxford was asked. "My own view is that it would make things worse and it…

Kavanaugh confirmation: somebody was lying about the fear of flying – and that lie could change legal history

September 29, 2018
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For the past few days I have been thinking about the Senate hearing into the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. As I looked forward to it, in…

The People’s Vote strategy is to goad Brexiteers with being frit

July 27, 2018
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"The right hon. Gentleman is afraid of an election, is he?" goaded Margaret Thatcher. "Afraid? Frightened? Frit?" she persisted, with perfectly alliterative thrashings of her serrated tongue. "Could not take…

Soubry: “Since the referendum, the forces of darkness have taken over”

July 22, 2018
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We have become used to the notion of Brexit apocalypse, as the Archbishop of Canterbury observed last year: "They foresee the Four Horsemen of the Book of Revelation (death, hunger,…

eu withdrawal bishops house of lords nick baines brexit

EU Withdrawal: Bishops seek the ‘best shape’ Brexit (as opposed to dreamy Brexiteer ‘wishful thinking’)

May 9, 2018
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In the ongoing saga of EU withdrawal, the House of Lords voted yesterday by 245 votes to 218, a majority of 27, to remain in the Single Market; that is,…

Welby IICSA clericalism deference ashamed

Welby condemns the church’s deferential culture of clericalism and tribalism

March 22, 2018
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"I have seen afresh the insanity of clericalism and of a deferential culture and how we have to struggle against that," the Archbishop of Canterbury said yesterday in his evidence…

Tony Blair and John Major threaten resurgent IRA terrorism if Brexit is fulfilled

March 1, 2018
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"I find it not just disappointing but sickening that people should really be prepared to sacrifice peace in Northern Ireland on the altar of Brexit," said Tony Blair, perhaps mindful…

By supporting a post-Brexit customs union with the EU, Corbyn betrays the poor

February 27, 2018
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Labour's post-Brexit economic policy (this week) is to join a new customs union with the EU, which would apparently retain all the benefits of the present customs union, and ensure…

Brexit: the Bishop of Leeds asks “What’s it all for?” as he condemns the corruption of public discourse

January 31, 2018
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The Bishop of Leeds the Rt Rev'd Nick Baines delivered a measured and thoughtful speech in the House of Lords on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. His theme was basically the…