Who could have imagined that in Britain in 2019 we would have Prime Minister Boris Johnson openly suggesting defying the law to push through a “no deal” Brexit that his own government predicts would lead to food, medicine and fuel shortages, the return of a hard-border with Ireland, a meltdown at ports and thousands of job losses?
The harsh impact of austerity is still revealing itself.
When the UK narrowly voted to leave the EU three years ago, I never dreamt we’d be fighting the European Elections this month. Yet the shambles of Theresa May’s negotiations that have left government paralysed and Parliament gridlocked means here we are.
Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck was only 19 when he died on the streets of Wood Green last month from multiple stab wounds.
Whichever way you voted in the Brexit referendum, I struggle to believe you could be happy with where we are now.
It was a powerful and moving show of unity this Armistice Day.
When the Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition announced plans to introduce Universal Credit back in 2010, they said that merging six existing benefits into one would reduce child poverty, simplify the social security system and ensure work always pays.
Parliament broke for the summer with the government hanging on a thread, the Vote Leave campaign (led by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove) fined for electoral fraud and the Brexit secretary confirming plans to stockpile food, medicines and blood in preparation for crashing out of the EU with no deal.
The national debate around Brexit has tragically taken place in an atmosphere of increasing xenophobia, where we are seeing a sharp rise in anti-Semitic, racial and Islamophobic incidents.
We face an enormous challenge providing people with the skills we need in order to operate our economy.
