The Palace In The Sky
One of the worst parts of politics, is actually the reason that most politicians get into it in the first place: the networking effect. In fact, it is rather more than this. Included in the are the contacts, the favours, the influence and as leading politicians in the Labour government have shown, the freebies. However, a Taylor Swift ticket here, or a football match ticket there, pale into insignificance as far as President Trump’s $400m Boeing 747-8. Depending on who you listen to, this is the worst form of political opportunism, or a great way of saving the US taxpayer money. Given the well publicised activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), perhaps the “Palace In The Sky” is actually in line with the Trump administration’s desire to cut waste. This is only partially true as after President Trump theoretically leaves office (without a third term), the plane will be donated to his presidential library foundation. Trump has termed the whole affair a “no-brainer.” However, those on the left are touting the sleaze angle, while those on the right suggest that alleged “jihadis in suits” mean that this is a latter day Greeks bearing gifts situation. What would be an interesting potential scenario, and a way of gauging such complaints at the deal, is whether those against it would be against $400m being given to healthcare, defence, welfare or the arts from the Qataris, or any other grateful / friendly nation to the US. Alas the reality of the giving or receiving of gifts on a national scale is that with very few exceptions, the friendliest nations tend to be rather less generous, or rich, than those in a more challenging geopolitical category. Perhaps more importantly, it may be regarded as more morally upstanding to have gifts / favours et al all out in the open, rather than behind closed doors.
The eGates of Heaven
One of the best things about travel in the EU before Brexit in 2016 was the ability for Brits to move and live all over the Schengen zone, without having their passport stamped and treated like a person who should not be there. Since then of course, there is the EU queue and the others, meaning that one has had to return to a very 20th / 19th century status of being with the Rest Of The World. Of course, it did not have to be this way. The pre 2016 system was in place, and there was apart from revenge / spite, no need for our EU friends to change it. But it was for the authorities here, to show the people of Britain that they made the wrong choice. They also ensured that there would be no cutting of red tape, and of course, doubled and tripled immigration. But at least it does look as though the good people of this “Sceptred Isle”, this “Island of Strangers” may soon be able to go through the eGates of the EU just in time for summer. All of this seems to be part of the UK-EU reset, clearly designed to bring us back into the fold after our apparently deluded exit from the internal market. The only worry is if Chagos is anything to go by, how much we are paying for the privilege and for how long?
Island Of Strangers
Speaking of the “Island of Strangers” concept, which the Prime Minister served up this week, we seem to have a new phrase in the great UK immigration saga. For the 1960s it was Enoch Powell’s “Rivers of Blood,” for the 1970s it was Margaret Thatcher suggesting that some people were feeling “rather swamped,” and now Keir Starmer going with the “strangers” concept. What is interesting about the concept of the stranger is that it can mean two things. The first is someone who is unknown to another, and the other, someone who is known, but regarded as different. In fact, it could have been the case that Starmer was pointing out that after 70 years of immigration we are diverse, and not an “island of strangers.” But alas, it would appear we are a diverse island of strangers. However, the reality of where we are is not the problem. It could be the case that without immigration the UK would be immeasurably worse. The problem remains that with both (former) major parties backing mass immigration for decades, there has been no electoral mandate for it. The message of Brexit – a back door immigration vote was doubled down against, leaving the door open for Reform to exploit with increasing success. The island of strangers comment may be another instance in which the Labour leadership has shot itself in the foot by trying to curry favour.
