The FTSE 100 had it’s worst day of trading on Friday since the start of the plandemic, with banks amongst those with the sharpest losses.
Like most countries around the world even the UK has received tariffs put on goods by the US – our special friend. The universal 25% tax on car manufacturing has already led Jaguar Land Rover to suspend exports to the US. The 10% tariff on UK goods, whilst lower than most, will impact the UK’s extremely weak industrial and service sector.
The PM Kier Starmer is considering reciprocal tariffs. Again, this is not limited to the UK - it’s making headlines in all countries around the world as they are left reeling from this roll back of global trade. It will also undoubtedly affect supply chains too.
It all feels very much like a re-run of the 1930’s and all signs point to a major world depression to follow.
In a further egregious crackdown on protesters police raided a Quaker Meeting House last Thursday. This is the first time this has happened at a meeting house, a public place of worship. Paul Parker, of Quakers in Britain, said;
The forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest.
There, Youth Demand, a new young activist group concerned with Palestine and the environment was meeting was to plan non-violent civil disobedience actions to protest the UK’s involvement in the genocide in Gaza.
This was followed up by the arrest of ten activists at their homes – most of whom live with their parents – and the houses ransacked.
A previous protest by this group involved laying out children's shoes in front of Starmer's house for which three people were given suspended sentences.
This is a clear example of pre-crime. Arrested for planning a demonstration is a very chilling thing for a supposedly democratic society. The outrage prompted a demonstration by the Quakers and a number of Green MPs outside the Metropolitan police HQ.
The sick joke is that Kier Starmer himself was once a human rights lawyer.
The Isle of Man has always been a little island to itself what with it’s own coinage. Recently it passed laws to make assisted dying legal, a first in the UK.
Now it has gone one step further by legalising cannabis growing. Coming as it does on consideration of putting a cannabis tax on US exports of the weed.
Meanwhile a toddler was suspended from nursery for transphobia. We’re talking about a three or four year old here. A spokesman said;
all pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school…
In 2022-23 alone 94 students at primary schools were suspended for similar, including 10 five year old's. JK Rowling described the decision as;
totalitarian insanity
I think that’s a phrase could be used for all three items. The sad thing is this is not confined to this small island. No wonder they cancelled April Fool’s Day this year!!
