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Labour party antisemitism Britain 

Jewish dismay increases after the Peterborough by-election

Melanie, , ,

The Brexit Party narrowly lost yesterday’s Peterborough by-election by 683 votes. For a brand-new party registered only four months ago, that was a significant achievement. What a pity, though, that it didn’t actually win the seat. According to national polling by YouGov, the Brexit party has opened up a staggering six point lead over Labour and the LibDems, suggesting that more than a quarter of voters would back it in a general election. To do that, however, voters need to be persuaded that the party has a credible chance of…

judges Britain Israel 

Whoever becomes Israel’s prime minister, judges should be put back in their box

Melanie, , ,

Israel’s electoral crisis has put politics on hold. One important casualty is the attempt to curb the power of Israel’s Supreme Court and legal establishment. This was the policy single-mindedly pursued by outgoing justice minister Ayelet Shaked, who Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked from her post this week after she lost her Knesset seat in last month’s election. The controversy over judicial activism has echoes beyond Israel, particularly in Britain: who in a democracy should have the ultimate whip hand, politicians or the judiciary? Israel has been transfixed by the…

Europeans lose minds and moral compass Britain Culture wars Europe 

Europe starts to fray at the seams

Melanie, , ,

The European parliament elections last week have provided further graphic evidence that Britain and Europe are in the throes of a profound political and cultural upheaval. In Britain, Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party pulverized both Labour and the Conservatives by winning many more seats than either to become the largest single party in the European parliament— within just five weeks of being created. Since Farage’s party stands for Britain leaving the European Union with no withdrawal deal, many Conservatives rightly believe that whoever they elect as their new leader (and therefore…

conservatism Culture wars 

Jewish conservatism is the key to our survival

Melanie, , ,

In his new book The Second Mountain, the American writer David Brooks says something that shocked me. After a long night of the soul Brooks, a distinguished New York Times columnist, has realised that what should drive us is not worldly ambition and achievement. What’s more important is to live a moral life and put others first. Accordingly, he’s also come to realise that the hyper-individualism now dominating the west, the ideological pivot of left-wing politics, is inimical to human flourishing. This is all part of his moral and religious…

UK Britain 

From the frying-pan into the fire?

Melanie, ,

It would appear that Mrs May is about to resign. We’d do well to be a little cautious about whether this is actually going to happen. Just saying. We are reading that her resignation will be announced tomorrow. Then she will remain prime minister until the Conservative party elects a new leader. In normal circumstances, this would seem a strange way to govern a country. After all, by what authority would she do anything at all as a kind of post-political mortem prime minister? But then, these aren’t normal circumstances,…

antisemitism Britain Israel USA 

The groups who hand antisemites their get-out-of-jail-free card

Melanie, , ,

What has caused the deeply alarming upsurge in antisemitism across the West? As many have observed, there are three principal sources: the political left, Islamic culture and neo-fascist or white-supremacist cults. One further factor, though, is crucial. Never disappearing altogether, antisemitism can be kept to a low level by condign social disapproval that deems antisemites to be totally beyond the pale. If, however, that social stigma is lifted and society tolerates, excuses or sanitizes antisemitism, then it roars out of control. That’s precisely what is now happening. In America, astoundingly,…

no-deal Britain 

How the “May cell” and Remainer establishment are undermining UK and western security

Melanie

As you may have noticed, I’ve been taking a break from the political mayhem to recharge the mental and emotional batteries which were in danger of overheating. I’ll be getting back to normal posting soon (and doubtless getting back just as soon to yet more overheating); but for the moment I would strongly urge you to watch, read and pass on this absolutely vital and deeply frightening lecture by Professor Gwythian Prins, one of the founders of the invaluable Briefings for Brexit website, which he delivered to the Heritage Foundation…

Israel 

Madonna chooses freedom singing at Eurovision

Melanie, ,

The singer Madonna has announced she’ll be singing at next month’s final of the Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv before an estimated global audience of 180 million viewers. She intends to perform two songs, including a new one from her forthcoming album. Cue all the too predictable outrage from those who demonize Israel. Jewish Voice for Peace launched a “Tell Madonna to Choose Freedom” campaign, claiming that “there’s no neutrality in situations of injustice,” and calling on the star to “stay home” and “lend your voice for freedom.” Would…

Britain 

Given these suicidal conditions, how could any MP possibly agree to a further extension?

Melanie

Yvette Cooper’s bill, designed to kick Brexit into the long grass and passed last night by the Commons on a majority of one, is at the moment of writing going through the House of Lords on its way into law. This is constitutionally and morally deeply objectionable. Normally only the government, not backbench MPs, can initiate bills that become law. That rule has now been torn up by  a Remainer-dominated House of Commons. Normally, bills receive weeks of scrutiny in both Houses of Parliament. That’s now been upended with this…

Britain 

How to fail? Actually, it’s how to succeed

Melanie, ,

A book being published later this week is entitled How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned from Things Going Wrong. This is surely a misnomer. For the book is actually a primer on how to succeed by learning from your mistakes or misfortunes. The book’s author, Elizabeth Day, describes it as part memoir, part manifesto in which she writes about dating mishaps, surviving your twenties and failing at relationships, babies and sport. She plays upon her own misfortunes including divorce, a miscarriage and childlessness. And she’s right that transformative moments…