Wednesday 15th July 2026
Blog Page 327

The fall of ‘Super Mario’ – Draghi resignation now risks adding to Italy and Europe’s political turmoil

Oliver Hall
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The fall of ‘Super Mario’ – Draghi resignation now risks adding to Italy and Europe’s political turmoil

In February 2021, former ECB chair Mario Draghi finally brought to an end a period of political stalemate in Italy.  All parties had finally accepted him as the leader of a coalition government and vital structural reforms finally seemed like they might be possible at the hands of a man almost universally trusted and respected – traits extremely rare in Italian politics.  Now though, with his coalition on the brink of collapse and his resignation rejected, the country finds itself in limbo yet again and adding to the seemingly ever-growing list of problems for Europe.

The coalition had been on shaky ground for a while and it was last week that the final domino finally fell.  The ‘Movimiento 5 Stelle’ or ‘Five Star Movement’ abstained from a flagship vote on the Prime Minister’s €23 billion aid package for families affected by the cost-of-living crisis with leader Giuseppe Conti claiming that the support was insufficient.  This left Draghi offering his resignation to President Mattarella, citing an end to the ‘pact of trust’ in his government.  His resignation was subsequently rejected and the country is now waiting for him to address Parliament ‘to provide a clear picture of the political situation’.

Aged 80 and now deep into his second seven-year term, Mattarella seemed to have found the perfect man for the job when he appointed Draghi last year.  Fondly known as ‘Super Mario’ in his home country he was able to unite parties from across the political spectrum with the expressed aims of ending instability and leading the recovery, both financial and social, from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Now though, Conti has seen his party’s support and size wane and many see this move as an attempt from him to force an early general election, currently scheduled for 2023, and revive his own support at the cost of the country.

If that is the case then the move is nothing short of grossly irresponsible, coming at an extremely dangerous time for both Italy and Europe as a whole.  The ECB is in the final stages of launching its long-awaited ‘antifragmentation package’ that will seek to narrow the splitting up of yields between indebted nations and the organisation’s most financially stable countries.  With the Italians currently looking likely to roll over €200 billion of debt this year and the ECB looking likely to raise interest rates even further on Thursday, political stability and cooperation are needed from the Southern nation now more than ever.  As much as these policies don’t sound flashy or exciting, they are central to the Bank’s programme to aid country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation crisis and any more delays will only make things worse for people across the continent.

Meanwhile, Italy itself finds itself at the forefront of the West’s cost of living crisis.  Here, the impact has only been made worse by its particularly heavy reliance on Russian energy and its close historic financial ties – exemplified by the split in the Five Star Movement itself earlier in the year after Conte questioned the government’s support of Ukraine in the current conflict.  The PM’s support package might have passed this time but a minority government that struggles to pass policy is more unsustainable and outright dangerous to its population now more than ever, in an era where decisions need to be taken quickly and pragmatically.

It is worth stressing that this is not the fault of Draghi himself.  He can hardly be held to account for the continued reluctance of Italian politicians to find a successor to President Mattarella and former Prime Minister Conte. 

The leaders of Italy’s biggest political parties must, now more than ever, put the interests of their people at the forefront of their minds.  While a general election and the infighting they inevitably provoke may now appear an enticing opportunity to many, it risks coming at the cost of further delaying the structural changes that the country needs and sacrificing the needs of ordinary people in the middle of a historic financial crisis.

Image:  CC 2.0:  European Central Bank via Flickr.

What future awaits the Conservative Party?

Karishma Khosla
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What future awaits the Conservative Party?

Boris, what have you done?  

Why has Boris Johnson had to resign?  

Recent events from within 10 Downing Street have proven that the government cannot continue to operate with Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. The resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak on July 5th, sparked by a scandal with Johnson’s Deputy Chief Whip, and the chorus of pleas for him to step down from his own party catalysed the apparently inevitable resignation of Boris Johnson. The reality is that Johnson’s term, plagued with a constant stream of political misconduct – from the secret parties to Johnson’s handling of Chris Pincher – could not continue and, at last, Johnson’s leadership was toppled with one too many a scandal. But the problems facing the Tories run deeper still.  

Will there be an early general election?  

The next General Election is due to be held in January 2025. As a result of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, the only way to trigger an early election is if the current PM chooses to.  

Both theoretically, and in practice, there is no requirement that the new PM ought to call for a general election, as seen when Brown succeeded Blair in 2007. Thus, although many are seeing this political turmoil as requiring an early general election, the decision ultimately lies with the successor of the Conservative party. Currently, it seems unlikely this will happen as trust in the Conservative party is steadily collapsing and whilst more democratic, it won’t be in the party’s best interest to call for an early election.  

Who will be the new Conservative Party Leader?  

After his landslide win with 80 seats in 2019, Boris Johnson secured the PM role. However, why he clawed onto his title as Prime Minister for so long is most likely the result of his inability to recognise his flaws, and the feeble argument that he had a direct mandate from the people. Moreover, the lack of a clear successor was likely instrumental too.   

Consequently, there now appears a mass of contenders. One of the old favourites was the newly elected Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadim Zahawi. His remarkable first action in office was to ask for Johnson’s resignation, perhaps a strategic move to win the trust of some of the Conservative electorate. While he had initially seemed a viable contender, the latest ballot has eliminated Zahawi. 

Instead, the odds currently seem to be leaning in favour of the past Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak. However, this could be a dangerous choice: despite his heroic attempts to save the economy amidst the pandemic, his far-right policy and strategy since have been damaging to the working class. His cuts to government spending and tax hikes have harmed both the economy and the standard of living; all the while, Sunak, as the speculatively labelled richest MP, has been accused of tax avoidance himself.  

Having already been thrown in the deep end once with his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer at the start of the pandemic, it is almost honourable that he believes he can restore faith in the Conservative Party. However, the unfortunate truth is that Rishi Sunak may win in the power struggle to find Johnson’s successor, but the man isn’t as good as his PR and this reality will be felt the hard way if he steps up. His slick marketing campaign and well-chosen moves, words and even the timing of his resignation create a façade for a man who most likely will not prioritise the wellbeing and needs of this country any more than we have seen Boris Johnson do.  

Alternatively, we have seen Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss put their hats in the ring both with promises of tax cuts. Such policy changes will reverse the efforts of a defensive Rishi Sunak who claims he was channelling the money towards funding the desperate NHS.  

However, in my opinion, the underdog, Kemi Badenoch, is perhaps the best candidate. Although well-educated, Badenoch has a somewhat different background to the others having grown up in Nigeria. Formerly the Equalities minister, Kemi understands the struggles faced by the most vulnerable in our society. Her plans to have broad but focused tax cuts are indicative of her focus on not overpromising with the campaign slogan ‘It’s time to tell the truth.’ An honest politician? An honest Tory? Will she be the breath of fresh air this country needs or is she, albeit well-intentioned, too naïve to survive in the world of politics?  

Can the Conservative Party survive? 

Speaking from Downing Street, Boris thanked the millions of people who voted Conservative at the last election and said the reason he fought so long to remain in office was because “I thought it was my job, my duty and my obligation to you.” Frankly, Johnson’s recent actions and the lack of remorse in his resignation speech indicate the growing schism between his priorities and duties, and the needs of this country. Betrayed by Johnson’s dishonesty and ill-discipline, we must ask if any Conservative leader can be trusted to end the UK’s economic paralysis and successfully restore this country generally. 

Johnson’s disregard for the rules and his disrespect to the country and to the mourning Queen the night before Prince Phillip’s funeral could perhaps be traced to his membership of the exclusive Bullingdon Club during his Oxford days, with their notorious reputation for trashing restaurants and student rooms alike. Moreover, Johnson’s consistent wanton disregard for the interests of the nation in both his departure and in government, illustrates the dangers of allowing him to remain in the role as caretaker PM. Such a choice will cause further irreparable damage to the Conservative Party, the economy and this country, but crucially the policy changes we require should not be decisions taken by such an untrustworthy character.   

In his resignation letter, Sajid Javid recognised that “sadly … the public are concluding that [the Conservative Party] are now neither [popular or competent]” and unsurprisingly many are fearful for the future of the party. However, with a general election over a year away, there could be a possibility that the Conservatives regain the country’s support if they select the right successor. This calamity could be a second chance for the Conservatives, as the prospect that the party would be facing a terminally damaged Johnson at the next general election has collapsed. His departure gives the Conservatives a chance to reset and attempt to present a new face to the electorate; an opportunity to claim that the problems with this government all start and end with Johnson. This argument is increasingly difficult for them, but it is certainly one they will attempt to make so the question will be whether the electorate are convinced. Afterall, the Conservatives saw off the threat of Corbynism, broke the deadlock on Brexit, saved jobs with the furlough scheme and delivered the rollout of the vaccination programme, but has this all been overshadowed by the constant scandals?  

The current political volatility could be indicative that after 12 years, the country may return to a Labour government following the next general election. Starmer described Johnson’s resignation as “good news for the country” but it will be interesting to see if the Labour leader himself can recover the UK economy from the “profound” damage caused and the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. However, the opposition party is waiting to see who emerges from the Conservative leadership contest – whoever does will surely lead the Tories into the next election. It will then be necessary to see how well Starmer is able to critique the fundamental approach and ideology and, crucially, convincingly set out the alternative.  

Given the insurmountable evidence of continual abysmal behaviour from the Conservative party, there is no doubt in my mind that they will not execute the job well. Despite his being better intentioned, I still have doubts whether Starmer would do a better job. Regardless, there is a vacancy behind that gloomy black door at Number 10 and the race is on to see who wins… and how long they’ll stay!  

Image credit: CC-BY-SA-4.0

Tips for being sustainable when travelling

Heather Needham
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Tips for being sustainable when travelling

Sustainable travel

With the biodiversity and climate crisis at the forefront of many minds, students are trying to lessen their negative impacts on the environment when they’re travelling abroad for study, work, or leisure. Travelling can leave huge footprints on the environment.  Therefore, if we visit a destination abroad, we should do our bit to reduce this impact by educating ourselves, being more eco-friendly and environmentally conscious.

Here are my top tips for being a more sustainable student abroad:

Learn about your chosen destination 

There are many green cities with sustainable policies that you could choose as your destination. Sustainable cities might have car-free zones, bike lanes, vast green open spaces, use renewable energy, and recycle waste to reduce carbon emissions and impacts on the environment. Learning about the different environmental issues facing the country you plan on visiting, as well as the sociocultural laws and customs, will make you more informed about how to pack and be more respectful. No country or area has the same environmental and sociocultural considerations. You can get to know the country that you’re planning to visit by reading the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice which details guidance for over 190 countries.

Did you know that taking long-haul flights can produce more emissions than people generate in a year? This is the reason why you should try selecting a destination where you don’t need to travel by plane and instead arrive by other low-carbon means of transport such as trains or buses. For instance, in Europe, you can travel far across the continent via the train network. However, sometimes flying can be the only way to reach your chosen location – if that’s the case you should try get a direct flight in order to minimise your carbon emissions.

How can I be more sustainable when packing?

You can be more sustainable and environmentally friendly through the items you pack for your trip abroad. On my most recent trip to Krakow I took a reusable water bottle and tote bag to ensure that I wasn’t buying or using any unnecessary plastic items. Water can be expensive to buy in other countries, and plastic bottles are bad for the environment as they take decades to degrade. Some cities like Paris have public water fountains where you can fill up your water bottle free of charge. When I was in Colombia, I saw people using collapsible water bottles that are perfect for travelling with minimal luggage as they take up hardly any room. Another handy tip is to bring your own refillable coffee cup – lots of places abroad offer discounts if you have one. Packing reusable containers can help reduce your plastic waste.

Moreover, some countries have a plastic bag tax and have banned plastic items such as straws and wipes. Therefore, we can do our bit by not importing these products into the country and instead bringing environmentally friendly alternatives. Other items that can be swapped for more sustainable versions include reusable razors, bamboo toothbrushes, bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner. Some toiletries can be damaging for the ecosystem or economy of countries. For example, organic, non-toxic, and reef-safe sun cream doesn’t contain chemicals that damage marine life and therefore, can protect our oceans.

If you’re unsure about what you are allowed to import to your new destination, check out the FCDO Travel Advice to inform yourself of the rules and regulations. I used this website to read about how much liquid I could bring in reusable containers and the size of bottles permitted in different size luggage bags for my recent trip to Tenerife. Here it’s clear that by swapping your normal daily habits for more environmentally friendly alternatives, it can make being a sustainable traveller possible.

How can I be more sustainable with my purchases?

You can stay in sustainable accommodation, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, limiting water use, turning lights off and unpluging devices when they are not in use. Buying local food not only supports local businesses and is more sustainable, it is also one of the best ways to expose and immerse yourself in another culture.

Instead of taking private taxis, you can opt for more low-carbon emission alternatives such as trains, buses, trams, and subways, as well as emission-free transport like cycling and walking. One of the highlights of my trip to Amsterdam was navigating the city by bike. Not only was cycling the best way to explore the canals of UNESCO World Heritage, it also was low cost and had the lowest impact on the environment compared to other modes of transportation. The city is covered by well-designed cycled lanes – no wonder Amsterdam is nicknamed the ‘cycling capital of Europe’. Other well-known cycling cities include Barcelona, Berlin, and Copenhagen.

As well as choosing more sustainable forms of transport, you can select environmentally friendly recreational activities that have no impact on wildlife or ecosystems. In Tenerife, I had the opportunity to snorkel with turtles and observe them up-close in their natural habitat – it was a magical experience! I was impressed with how the organisers encouraged us not to touch or disturb the turtles in any way to reduce damaging impacts on them.

Image credit: Leah Kelley via Pexels.

Mo Farah – How Britain’s greatest athlete enhanced his legacy even further

Oliver Hall
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Mo Farah – How Britain’s greatest athlete enhanced his legacy even further

Mo Farah is a four-time Olympic gold medallist, the only man in history to achieve a historic long-distance ‘double-double’ by successfully defending his 5000m and 10 000m titles in 2016 and is undoubtedly among the greatest athletes ever to represent Great Britain in any sport.  I, like much of the British public, have long admired him for not only his remarkable talent but his kind and down-to-earth nature in the face of adversity on and off the track.  However, by openly revealing that he was trafficked illegally to the UK as a child servant on Tuesday morning he somehow found a way to gain even more respect from me and those around the world.  His athletic achievements are nothing short of extraordinary, but these latest revelations couldn’t have come at a more important time and will only enhance his legacy yet further.

The sad truth is that our country’s politics has never been more divided.  In the midst of a leadership election for a Prime Minister that very few seem to truly want we are a nation still reeling from the messy outcome of Brexit and the Union is in more danger than ever.  Despite being the foundation of much British success throughout time, immigrants are facing more unjustified hate and backlash than ever.  At the same time, light is only just beginning to be shone on the huge number of child slaves and servants in the United Kingdom, brought here by human traffickers from all over the world.  This is why Mo Farah’s story is more important now than ever and why his openness is even more admirable than it might at first seem.

I am a runner, a big runner.  It’s one of my true passions and that is perhaps why I have always loved Mo so much.  Also a member of the generation defined by London 2012, I was lucky enough to be in the Olympic stadium to see him win the 5000m on that famous night.  Farah’s relentless drive in the face of adversity whilst also managing to focus so much on his family has endeared him to me even more over the last decade.  There is perhaps no athlete that I love more and I firmly believe that his four Olympic gold medals, six world titles and six European Championship medals will see him go down in history as one of the greatest athletes we have ever produced.  On Tuesday, my respect for him rose even higher.

Farah announced that he was illegally trafficked to the UK as a child and exploited as a servant.  His real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin and, at the age of nine, he was flown to the UK by an unknown woman and made to work for a family he lived with, caring for their children and completing domestic tasks.  In the BBC documentary in which Farah tells all he also reveals that his father was killed in Somalia in 1991 during the period of extreme civil unrest, ‘tearing his family apart’.  A few years later, he was sent to Djibouti to stay with other members of his family and shortly later child traffickers took him to the UK. 

The documentary shines a remarkable light on child trafficking into the UK with Farah giving extraordinary insight into the truly traumatic experience.  He talks of his initial ‘excitement’ of flying for the first time, shows the viewers copies of his fake visas, and tells of how he has spent much of his life dwelling on the guilt he feels for assuming the other Mohammed Farah’s name and identity.

Last year, the ONS reported a nine per cent increase in the number of reported child slavery victims in the UK, rising to a staggering 5 500 potential cases.  Modern slavery cases also rose by 27%.  And yet still experts assert that the true number of victims is far higher than these figures suggest.  Covid-19 lockdowns and outdated reporting mechanisms mean that in a country where public awareness of child slavery is low, more young people are at risk than ever.  Farah’s hope in revealing his story is that people sit up and take notice and reaction in the immediate aftermath at least shows some promise that the general public might just be shocked into awareness.

Amongst the tragedy of the story, there were too rays of hope and kindness.  When Farah was first allowed to attend school in year 7 it was his PE teacher, Alan Watkinson, who noticed that sport transformed a previously ‘alienated child’ who barely spoke English.  He then referred him to social services and that led to Farah being adopted by a Somali family.  The teacher went on to help him apply for Britain citizenship, allowing him to compete in competitions in Latvia where he made his name on the athletics circuit and would eventually become the Olympic champion’s best man.

Farah’s story is one of incredible tragedy but also one of resilience and hope in spite of adversity.  Many tell athletes to ‘stick to sport’.  Tackling social and political issues has never been made easy for them and history is full of sportspeople facing backlash for standing up for what they believe in on issues ranging from human rights to anti-racism protests.  By telling his story world he has shown just how important it is for those with a platform to speak up and as a result, I only hope that people will begin to take notice of the silent victims of child traffickers in our country, perhaps thinking twice next time they deride immigrants for ‘stealing jobs’ or ‘clogging up resources’.  Mohammed Farah is a great athlete but above all, he has shown himself to be a truly special human being.

Image: CC 2.0: By Marco Verch via Flickr.

The Trade Union Scare

Laura Koscielska
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The Trade Union Scare

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) conducted industrial action on Tuesday 21st, Thursday 23rd, and Saturday 25th June, in order to pressure employers into improving pay and working conditions of their workers and prevent significant job cuts. The reaction of the media was hysterical – it was neither faithful to the idea of keeping the public well-informed, nor was it fair to the trade union and workers themselves. In the end, this response became a small-scale ‘trade union scare’, which points to a wider demonisation of workers undertaking industrial action and trade unions as a whole. 

I am able to understand why someone might feel mildly suspicious about the term ‘strike’ – a big portion of this attitude in Britain seems to have come from the events during the miners’ strike of 1984–1985. It was a chaotic dispute accompanied by violence, which echoes through our heads to this day. It is, however, immensely unfair to assume that every strike is inherently ethically problematic, which is what some media did in the case of recent rail action conducted by the RMT. 

Kay Burley, the Sky News presenter, naggingly questioned Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, about what the workers running the picket line will do when someone attempts to cross it. Shortly after, she made a reference to the miners’ strike, to which Lynch responded: “Does it look like the miners’ strike? What are you talking about?” The interview felt aggressive — overall, it seemed as if Burley tried to provoke an emotional reaction from Lynch and make him appear in the wrong. 

On another occasion, Richard Madeley from Good Morning Britain asked Mick Lynch whether he is a Marxist, because, supposedly, if he is one, then he is “into revolution and bringing down capitalism”. Lynch responded: “Richard, you do come up with the most remarkable twaddle sometimes. I’m not a Marxist, I’m an elected official of the RMT, I’m a working class bloke leading a trade union dispute about jobs, pay and conditions, and service, so it’s got nothing to do with Marxism, it’s all about this industrial dispute”. This question appeared bizarre, both because of its use of loaded language, as words such as ‘Marxism’ and ‘revolution’ have strong ideological connotations, and irrelevance to the matter. 

Lynch was also intervewed by Piers Morgan on his talk show Piers Morgan Uncensored, where Piers seemed to have tried to undermine the credibility of the unionist by pointing out that his Facebook profile picture is The Hood, an evil character from the 60s science-fiction series Thunderbirds. Morgan insisted: “Well I’m just wondering where the comparison goes, because he was obviously an evil, criminal terrorist mastermind, described as the world’s most dangerous man who wrecked utter carnage and havoc on the public.” After this odd interview, many people on Twitter and Facebook decided to make their profile pictures The Hood in display of solidarity with Lynch. 

Apart from provocative questions and statements of certain journalists, the most condemnable part of the overall discussion around recent rail strikes is misinformation, which is evident in framing the issue only in terms of salaries of train drivers. It can be found all over the internet and television. The average salary of a train driver is nearly £60,000 and so strikes are unnecessary, we are told. But it is worth knowing that train drivers were not included in this dispute for the most part. Strike action organised by the RMT included signallers, maintenance workers, ticket collectors, and cleaners, whose salaries are lower to those of train drivers. Additionally, most train drivers are represented by a different trade union, the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF). 

Another example of trying to juggle data is citing an average pay of rail workers. This is what Grant Shapps did in one of his speeches, where he claimed that “The average train driver earns £59,000, the average rail worker earns £44,000, the average nurse, £31,000”. The £44,000 figure includes train drivers and does not take into account other workers involved in the dispute such as cleaners, making it unreliable in reference to the RMT strikes. According to the RMT, their workers’ median salary is £31,000, which is much lower to the average salary mentioned by Shapps. 

These events show that there seems to be a prejudice against trade unions and strike action. There is a lot of emotive language and misinformation aiming to hurt the workers’ cause. However, the response of the media is somewhat understandable – the disruption in transportation was heavy and certain voices pointed at the effects that strike action will have on individuals. For example, the principal of Hereford Sixth Form College stressed that industrial action will affect exams and professor Robert Thomas said that it will lead to loss of lives due to a further delay in cancer treatments, as oncology services are at a particular breaking point.

Mick Lynch responded to professor Thomas’ argument by saying that rail workers are not responsible for problems within the NHS and emphasised that the union keenly wants a settlement of the dispute. Industrial action is entirely preventable if employers and workers come to an agreement.

However, it is also worth asking: how can workers respond to unjust circumstances and work conditions if their demands are largely ignored? It is iniquitous to offer someone a wage that does not keep up with inflation and meet their basic costs of living. It is also unfair to act disloyally towards employees who kept railways running during the pandemic. 

The media discussion around rail strikes was mature enough neither to understand striking workers, nor to be honest with the British public. Strikes are not the end of the world and trying to portray them as such is a massive overreaction. Although Mick Lynch is claimed to have won this media battle, it is worth carefully thinking about the prejudices that striking and unionising workers have to face in moments like the recent industrial action.

Image: SoThisIsPeter, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Complicated Legacy of Shinzo Abe

Iseult de Mallet Burgess
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The Complicated Legacy of Shinzo Abe

I was in class when Shinzo Abe was assassinated in a city I had visited several weeks prior. The incredulity was palpable in Japan – not least because of the paucity of murders of any kind here, and the use of a gun in a country with among the world’s most stringent gun controls. But perhaps the most staggering thing of all was the target: Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was one of the most consequential – and controversial – leaders in postwar Japanese history. 

Politician and kingmaker, Abe sought to rewrite Japanese history at the expense of atonement. He was intent on reconfiguring Japan’s place on the international stage – a goal inherited, perhaps, from his father and grandfather’s nationalist politics. Abe was indeed born to occupy the highest ranks of Japanese political power. His maternal grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, was a fierce nationalist and suspected Class A war criminal who led Japan from 1957 to 1960. Abe’s father, Shintaro Abe, served as chief cabinet secretary. Both Abe’s father and grandfather were hugely influential figures in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) – the conservative party that has ruled Japan with few interruptions for 70 years – as was Shinzo Abe himself. 

Abe’s first year in office in 2006 was marred by scandals and missteps, and his sudden resignation in 2007 followed a heavy loss for the LDP in the upper house legislative elections. In 2012, however, the LDP returned to power, and Abe to prime ministership – he remained in power until 2020, largely unchallenged due to his influence in the LDP.

As Prime Minister, Abe sought to reassert Japan’s presence in international affairs. He cultivated strong relationships with such world leaders as Donald Trump and Malcom Turnbull, but exacerbated tensions between Japan and its East Asian neighbours with his blatant revisionist views – particularly after his 2013 visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial symbol linked to Japan’s militarism during WWII. Abe’s unwillingness to fully acknowledge Japan’s aggression and atrocities during WWII ultimately enshrined his status as a highly controversial figure, particularly to China and South Korea, which had suffered under Japan’s militarism during the war. 

Abe’s most cherished goal was to revise Japan’s ‘pacifist’ constitution; a goal he never achieved. Abe was clear that much of his effort in this regard was to exonerate the name of his grandfather. Nonetheless, he did, in 2015, manage to pass legislation allowing Japan to take part in overseas combat missions alongside allies. This was hugely controversial, sparking anti-war protests that hadn’t been seen in Japan since the 1960s Anpo demonstrations. 

The success of Abe’s economic program – ‘Abenomics’ – was dubious. It was intended as shock therapy for Japan’s moribund economy after more than two decades of deflation. As political branding, Abenomics was a success; certainly, the word made its way into the global lexicon. The policies themselves, however, fell short of Abe’s own economic target, and exacerbated economic inequality. Japan slipped back into recession in early 2020.  

For all Abe’s flaws, the LDP did manage to win six straight elections under his leadership; the length of his tenure enabled Abe to establish long-standing relationships with world leaders in a way that other prime ministers have had difficulty matching. Beyond his perception as a hawkish nationalist, he was pragmatic and savvy in foreign affairs. He did, in many ways, make Japan an important player in global policy. His tenure also generated momentum in Japan’s foreign policy, and Prime Minister Kishida’s assertive response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can be considered a result of Abe’s legacy. 

Abe’s death will undoubtedly have shaken the LDP’s long-term policy agenda; the party has lost a centre of gravity. But beyond that, it is, in some measure, a symbolic loss for Japanese people in a society of such scarce violence.

Image: Ajswab, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

“Colorful Queer & Bright”: Jasper Soloff Reflects on His Creative Style

Jack Twyman
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“Colorful Queer & Bright”: Jasper Soloff Reflects on His Creative Style

Jasper Soloff isn’t afraid to call Hollywood out on its false virtue signalling regarding queer representation. In a comment on Instagram in May, the 26-year-old Los Angeles based director and photographer decried the casting of the upcoming movie adaptation of the Casey McQuinston novel  Red, White and Royal Blue. It followed the systemic pattern prevalent in the entertainment industry that sees Hollywood ‘profit from Queer storylines, but not cast queer people’. Soloff has photographed many notable cultural icons such as Billie Eilish and Pete Davidson, and he is open about the role his queer identity plays when he approaches his work which has featured in Vogue, GQ and Cosmpolitan. We began with a discussion of his  journey to creating such self-assured and dynamic content production:

Jack: Can you give readers a sense of who you are and how you got to be where you are today?

Jasper: I started photography while I was studying at Sarah Lawrence College, NY, originally using black and white, which I really loved, and then progressing onto colour. It was just a great way to express myself, but I felt that I really started owning my personal artistic style when I went to Central St Martins in London where I studied fine art; I started coming out more with my sexuality, being braver and had reached a new stage of my life where I was ready and open to showcasing that within my work.

I communicated being gay and queer through the colours I was using in my work – with a very energetic and ‘out’ style – playing with makeup, gender-bending, clothing, really just expressing myself and taking lots of self-portraits. This was when my learning was progressing into me from student into an artist.  

After London, I came back to New York, and that’s when I started shooting pictures of a lot of my queer friends, mainly through run-and-gun shoots on my rooftop. I had my first celebrity client soon after with Brandon Flin, who was dating Sam Smith at the time, and the photos went viral on the internet. So I think that was just when I realised that this creative style I had developed could become a commercial success. 

That was the beginning of the ethos that I bring to my work, which is about showcasing queer talent and identities and to really showcase them as strong people, and their brilliant individuality; its really been a great tool for me in that regard. 

Realising sexuality is a big part of any queer person’s life journey growing up – and you call your work a form of expression: ‘colorful queer and bright’ –  is this what initially attracted you to the field?

I was initially attracted to the field when I was a dancer as I thought that it would be a really great way for me to capture movement. But that soon progressed onto identity and personality and the ways that photos can evoke feeling and the way it can be used as a form of expression. Like dance, film could be used as a tool to express and be yourself and I could use photography to capture those moments in time and document them. I think that the honesty of the art form is really cool because you really get to learn about someone when you are photographing and directing them in a film. It’s unique in that I feel like it’s an incredibly vulnerable experience to be captured on film or photograph. You learn so much about people, the way they interact with a camera and it’s my goal and job to make the subject feel comfortable, as that’s when the most honest important work happens. 

Growing up did you find many people on screen that you could relate to? Is the lack of this something that inspired you?

There was definitely a lack of representation within the queer community. I was really attracted to musical theatre, and I especially loved Cabaret and Chicago: The Movie Musical. I was inspired by the way that filmmaking could be a medium of expression through movement and dance, acting and singing. It was always so vibrant and fun and the creativity that surrounded it was so beautiful. Filmmaking could capture expression so dynamically, especially in Chicago and also the end-scene in Cabaret, with that character super fluid in their sexuality; it was really cool to see and made me feel that ‘Oh maybe I could be creating work like that someday. But definitely growing up there was a huge lack of queer representation for me, especially people who I could really look up to in the queer community like actors or singers even, it was just hard to find. 

How have you navigated being in the media industry with your identity – can it be polarising at times?

Luckily I feel like I’m hired for my identity, rather that it being something that I am forced to hide, because they know that I am out, and queer and that my work expresses and showcases that. So while personally I haven’t really had an issue I do think it is really difficult for a lot of people to be open in their jobs. This is a really sad reality as it is such a huge part of a person’s identity. If you can’t feel confident that, as a queer person, you will be treated as an equal in the workplace then we as a society need to address that immediately. Everyone deserves to feel comfortable in the place that you are working, especially when that too is such a huge part of all of our lives.

What particularly frustrates you about seeing straight actors continuously cast for queer storylines? 

What particularly frustrates me about gay actors playing straight roles is that straight actors have such a plethora of roles that they can play authentically. The power that we have as queer people to play roles that are about our lives is extreme. Growing up if you don’t see people who are openly gay playing openly gay roles on TV, its really hard to see that there’s a silver-lining to our struggles. If we’re continuously looking up to straight actors playing gay roles, its really unhealthy to believe as a child that ‘Oh one day I’ll gonna grow up to be like him’ because one day you find out that actors actually straight. I feel that there are so many people in the entertainment industry who are queer and we should be rewarding queer people by allowing them to play a truthful storyline that aligns with their identity. 

You work with people from a variety of backgrounds and have worked with drag race winners – drag race is such a huge cultural phenomenon and media presence – how far has representation come and how far is there still to go? 

We have come a long way in representation, particularly in the entertainment industry, but there’s always just so much more that we can do to make people feel included and make people feel loved. This is needed especially so that they can look up to the people on TV shows and in sports and feel like they can see themselves. There’s very few openly gay athletes and this representaton really matters in the media because so many more lives will be saved if we can look up to people and see ourselves in these successful figures.  I think this is always going to be something that can be a place where we can grow from. 

From an outsider looking into the US it seems the politics there is becoming more regressive – are you apprehensive for the future? 

I think that a lot of politicians focus on the wrong thing. Right now there’s a huge gun violence problem in America and yet Texas is busy passing laws banning drag queens from performing in front of  minors – it’s just really disturbing to see that. I hope that we can see through this hateful rhetoric and come to a place where we realise that these are just distractions. There is no point to being hateful towards the queer community; it doesn’t help anyone in anyway. Instead, we should be focusing on the real issues which would include regulating  guns and saving lives in America, not banning queer peoples’ self expression..  Guns will soon have more rights in America than gays and women, and I honestly can’t help thinking that we are beginning to live in a dystopian nightmare. 

What advice would you give to another queer person hoping to enter the entertainment industry?

My advice to content creators and artists is to really just be themselves unabashedly. You become stylized in your work  by focusing on who you are as a person and how your perspective differs from the people around you; just stay strong in that. As a queer creator I can say that a lot of my success has been attributed to being honest and not being afraid to say ‘This is who I am’. I know that while I may have lost jobs for being who I am, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far without being unapologetically authentic. So really, just be yourself. 

Linacre name change donation under government investigation

Charlie Hancock
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Linacre name change donation under government investigation

A £155 million donation to Linacre College from a Vietnamese billionaire is under investigation by the UK government over concerns about the donor’s alleged links to the Communist government of Vietnam.

In 2021, Linacre announced it would change its name to Thao College after a memorandum of understanding was signed with SOVICO Group. The company’s president, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, is the first woman in Vietnam to become a self-made billionaire, having built her fortune in the aviation and petroleum industries.

After news of the agreement broke, Cherwell reported that climate groups and alumni of Linacre College had raised concerns about the donation. The Oxford Climate Justice Campaign cited concerns over SOVICO Group’s partnerships with fossil fuel companies. Alumni raised concerns that changing the College’s name would erase its history.

Julian Lewis MP, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, told the Telegraph it is impossible to have “genuinely independent companies operating in totalitarian Communist countries”. 

“Since the end of the Cold War, Communist regimes have been far more successful at subverting Western societies by using huge sums of money to worm their way into positions of control than they ever managed by ideological infiltration,” he added.

Then-Education Minister Nadim Zahawi proposed new laws in June requiring academic institutions to declare donations of over £75,000 from overseas, fuelled by concerns that authoritarian regimes could influence freedom of speech and teaching.

The donation to Linacre College is currently undergoing the final step of the due diligence process the College commissioned.

As part of the memorandum of understanding, SOVICO Group has agreed that all of its subsidiaries will produce net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and will produce annual reports on their progress towards achieving this.

Linacre College told Cherwell: “Major donations are approved by the College’s Governing Body in addition to the University’s Committee to Review Donations and Research Funding, both of which follow a robust, independent process, taking legal, ethical and reputational issues into consideration.  All donations are in line with government guidance and laws.  We have additionally engaged with a considerable number of key stakeholders to ensure that important information is shared as appropriate.  

“The vast majority of alumni and current members of the College have expressed support, enthusiasm and excitement about this wonderful opportunity. The donation will not only allow us to create the largest portfolio of scholarships for post-graduate students from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds of any college in Oxford, it will also enable us to create a new campus, built to Passivhaus standards, that will be a major step in our ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions.”

The University of Oxford and SOVICO Group have been approached for comment.

Image Credit: Trezatium/CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Balliol student ejected from accommodation

Isaac Ettinghausen
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Balliol student ejected from accommodation

A contentious week of mounting disorder saw one disgraced Balliol student ejected from their accommodation.

Boris Johnson, former president of the Oxford Union as well as of Balliol’s comedic “Arnold and Brackenbury” society, is being forced to vacate his accommodation at 10 Downing Street. This follows his Thursday morning resignation from the leadership of nationwide comedic society, the Conservative Party.

The resignation followed pressure from other hacks, including former slate member Rishi Sunak (Lincoln College) and historic Union rival Michael Gove (LMH), who turned on their leader in a move surely inspired by last term’s Union antics.

Speaking to reporters outside the accommodation block in Central London, (a neighbourhood just past Cowley), Johnson emphasised that he has enjoyed his extended rustication: “I’ve travelled to every part of the United Kingdom […] I found so many people possessed of such boundless British originality”. A sentiment that has, no doubt, crossed many reader’s minds on a Thursday evening visit to Bridge nightclub.

What next for Johnson?; finding another job with a 2:1 in Classics could indeed prove difficult. He previously edited conservative zine “The Spectator” (available at Common Ground), and it has been speculated that he may return to journalism. Perhaps on his return to Oxford, he will hole up and relax by working on a low-profile undergraduate publication such as the Oxford Student. 

Meanwhile, the fate of his vacated role next term is unclear. Oxonians Sunak, Truss, and Raab (Lincoln, Merton, LMH) are speculated to run for the post, but given how tumultuous the leadership campaign has been, it is not impossible that come Michaelmas it could even be filled by grad student Keir Starmer (Teddy Hall) or, God forbid, Cantabrigian Tom Tugendhat. Oxford (and, I suppose, the UK) awaits with bated breath.

Where do we go from here?  Reflections on a day of chaos in Downing Street

Oliver Hall
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Where do we go from here?  Reflections on a day of chaos in Downing Street

Where do we go from here?  Reflections on a day of unprecedented chaos in Downing Street…

The past few years in British politics have repeatedly defied belief but Thursday 7th July will go down in history as the most chaotic, bizarre, and extraordinary day that our country has seen in decades.  This morning, it was barely possible to make a cup of tea before returning to the television to learn of another ministerial resignation or letter from newly appointed cabinet ministers calling for the Prime Minister to go. Chris Mason taking the phone call from Downing Street to confirm Boris Johnson’s resignation live on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme perhaps perfectly summed up the incredulous nature of the morning’s proceedings. The big question now though is what on earth happens next?  Where do the Conservative party and the country go from here?  As it stands, the PM insists that he will stay on until a new leader is announced, but is that really feasible?  Who is best positioned to succeed him? One thing is certain, the turmoil is far from over…

Who Next?  The Runners and the Riders

The main reason why Johnson has survived in post for so long in spite of countless scandals that would’ve buried leaders of the past has been the lack of an apparent successor. Now the Conservative party is facing a leadership election with contenders from across the political spectrum, as it tries to decide its future.

Liz Truss

Bookies odds – 7/1

Long-time favourite of old-time party members but counting many enemies among fellow MPs, the outspoken Truss has never been afraid to make her leadership ambitions clear. Much like Johnson, she has been happy to bend her political beliefs to fit with her rise to power after backing remain in 2016 only to become one of the biggest supporters for a hard Brexit in recent years. Brash and brazen with political stances branded by many as ‘Thatcherism on steroids’, she certainly wouldn’t offer the dramatic change in tone and direction needed if her party is to stand any chance of rescuing themselves at any approaching election.  She may also struggle in early stages of the leadership race, with several MPs declaring privately that they wouldn’t back her.

Nadim Zahawi

Bookies odds – 8/1

Zahawi was centre stage in the political chaos of the last 48 hours after being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday night, doing the media rounds defending the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning, and then calling for his resignation on Thursday.  His political stock rose substantially as vaccines minister during the pandemic and, popular amongst his colleagues, he now appears to be one of the favourites to succeed Johnson.  The only thing standing against him may turn out to be his relative inexperience in government. 

Rishi Sunak

Bookies odds – 4/1

There are few men in history who have had such a dramatic rise to fame and fall from grace as Rishi Sunak. An unknown among the public when appointed as Chancellor he attracted fans throughout the pandemic with generous furlough and ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ schemes before becoming embroiled in the Partygate scandal and brought down by questions over his wife’s non-dom tax status.  There’s a chance that his shock resignation on Tuesday night might just have saved his chances and he is sure to be a front runner if he can convince MPs of his credentials.  Equally, his resignation letter suggested that his could be ‘his last ministerial job’ and a return to pre-political life could certainly prove to be an attractive proposition for the former banker.

Sajid Javid

Bookies odds – 7/1

Having already failed twice in leadership elections could it be third time lucky for the man who initiated the final chapter of Johnson’s prime ministerial career?  Although his dramatic move and speech after PMQ’s will appeal to some, few can really doubt his own personal motivations for moving against the PM when he did and that kind of ‘snakery’ as Number 10 likes to call it has been enough to see others named Michal Gove get the sack.  Javid would offer something different in terms of a political direction and would appeal as a more stable set of hands but his flip-flopping hasn’t won him many fans amongst MPs and party members.

Penny Mourdant 

Bookies odds – 5/1

Who? I hear you ask.  The bookmakers’ favourite that’s who!  Mourdant finds herself in the bizzare position where not having any experience working in recent cabinets will be seen as one of her biggest strengths.  If you are in search of a metaphor for the dire state of the Tory party then this is it.  Being a long-time Brexit backer makes her palpable to the right of the party and the ERG but her membership of the liberal Conservative ‘One Nation’ caucus means that she has a fairly wide reach.  She has perhaps the fewest enemies of any of the obvious contenders.  Then again that is inevitable when you consider that she has never held a post of significance within government.

Tom Tugenhadt

Bookies odds – 14/1

‘The rebels’ choice’, Tugenhadt is one of the few likely runners who has spoken out against Johnson from the start.  The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee slammed him for his performance as Foreign Secretary and has remained critical ever since.  His rhetoric always focuses on a renewal of traditional conservative values, the meaningful substance of that rhetoric unsurprisingly remains in the dark.

Jeremy Hunt

Bookies odds – 11/1

Hunt will undoubtedly frame himself as the man who stood up to ‘Johnson the bully’ and never served in his cabinet.  In reality, insiders suggest that his close relationship with Theresa May meant that he was never invited to – a quite extraordinary thing when you consider the amount of ministers Johnson went through.  Hardly a superstar as health secretary Hunt would represent a return to the more traditional style of government of Theresa May and although that be unexciting to some MPs, large swathes of party members could be convinced by a reassuring return to relative normality.

Ben Wallace

Bookies odds – 5/1

The defence secretary never resigned from the cabinet but did just about manage to squeeze in a letter calling for Johnson to go before the final decision was announced.  The former soldier is broadly seen as reliable and undramatic, both potentially very attractive characteristics at the moment.  He has won international acclaim for his dealing with the Ukraine crisis and the general public would be sure to back him on that but he is notable for his lack of experience in all other areas of government.  Despite his popularity, he has also previously stated his desire to take on the role of UN Secretary-General in the future and that may yet prove to be his next step.

So, in conclusion, the race remains very much open.  Dozens are sure to declare their leadership bids over the coming days and countless campaign websites will no doubt be launched within hours but the stark reality is that none of the options are pretty for the Conservatives.  The party is in a mess, politics is in a mess.  Opposition parties insist that Johnson cannot remain PM whilst the process continues and any caretaker would get the chance to audition their potential on the biggest stage.  It still remains to be seen how long the elected leader will stay in post.  Can any of those listed above really stake a claim to Johnson’s record-breaking mandate from 2019?  A general election may very well be on the cards and, if that is the case, then the calculations change all over again for the MPs with the fate of the nation in their hands…

Your Thoughts

We asked you to sum up your thoughts about our departing Prime Minister’s time in office and departure itself – it’s safe to safe that the responses were mixed and I am happy to report that you didn’t hold back!

Charlie Aslet on the nature of Johnson’s departure:

“Boris Johnson’s resignation had as much dignity as a streaker at a football game. He clung to power until even his unkempt reflection was telling him it was time to pack it in. Some people would have thought it honourable to jump before being pushed. Not Boris. He was beaten up by all his closest friends and colleagues, his trousers hoisted around his ankles and then given a mighty boot up the buttocks before stumbling over the cliff. His only consolation as he tumbled down that rockface was that he managed to give Michael Gove a final slap in the face before he fell, giving him the sack when everyone else was resigning. In a way, I feel a bit sorry for Boris. His resignation was like the assassination of Julius Caesar, except this time it felt like he also managed to stab himself a few times before he died. But, then again, the man seems incapable of telling the truth. Even when he says he’s leaving it’s difficult to believe it will actually happen. When he says he’s actually staying, that’s when I’ll be ready to believe he’s really going for good.”

We then asked you for reflections on Johnson’s premiership:

“Good riddance babes”

“One word – joke”

And your predictions for the future:

“Same circus different clown”

“There is an unfortunate possibility that the Tories may be redeemed in the public eye”

“No chance anyone else will have anywhere near the decision-making prowess of Boris – prepare yourselves for an era of catastrophic indecision”

“I’m just sad for the people of Ukraine. Their future is now in doubt more than ever.”

“Someone equally bad or worse will become Prime Minister, there is no winning!”

Image: CC:2.0 (BY-NC-ND 2.0 via FLKR)

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