Simon Jenkins's Blog, page 79

‘Due impartiality’ is all well and good. But are the BBC really impartial? | Simon Jenkins

Though the corporation had a good Brexit, it must still address the narrow monoculture that skews key decisions

As political editor of the BBC, Nick Robinson was noted for his well-crafted missives from the Westminster bubble. Each tale of woe among the tribes was signed off with an elegant, “or it could just prove their finest hour”. Nothing would be the same again, “or perhaps only time will tell”. According to taste, this balance was a final dab of colour on a Turner landscape, or it killed...

Trump, Russia and Flynn: ex-adviser clearly has a gripping tale to tell | Simon Jenkins

The former national security adviser is seeking immunity from prosecution in return for coming clean about the president’s links with Putin

From Russia to Donald with love is a story that just keeps giving. The latest explosive revelation is that sacked security chief Michael Flynn is seeking immunity from prosecution to come clean on Trump’s links with Moscow. It has Democrats on the congressional committee salivating with glee. It was Flynn who said of a similar deal with Hillary Clinton’s a...

Britain’s treaty with Europe is dead. Time to strike a new one | Simon Jenkins

The dangers to our continent eclipse even Brexit. We’re leaving the EU but will need a new forum for cooperation – perhaps the Treaty of London

Notice of Britain’s intended departure from the European Union this week was symbolic. The letter went to Brussels by snail mail. Whatever Brexiters might say, Britons are leaving hesitant, nervous and divided. As before in history, they are turning their backs on another grandiose attempt to meld Europe into a single political space. In the past, they...

Media hype about the Westminster attack will only encourage others | Simon Jenkins

Wednesday’s assault was a crime. The last thing we needed was our politicians and media hysterically exaggerating it

On Wednesday afternoon a car went on to the pavement on Westminster bridge and killed three passersby. A man leapt out and stabbed a policeman. He was shot. No one knew who he was, only that he was dark-skinned and bearded. The police later released the names of in this dreadful incident. The possibly intended victims – members of parliament – were not...

The Westminster attack is a tragedy, but it’s not a threat to democracy | Simon Jenkins

The terrorists’ aim is not just to kill a few but to terrify a multitude. For politicians and media to overreact would play into their hands

The current bout of global terrorism came to the heart of London today in a fatal attack outside the Palace of Westminster. The symbolism is impossible to escape. An assault on the home of democracy induces a peculiar sense of outrage. That people, including a policeman, should die in such an assault is tragic.

As yet, nothing is known of the motive. All t...

Independence is Scotland’s choice. May should let them get on with it | Simon Jenkins

Denying Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a second referendum is hypocritical. One day soon, there must be a new relationship between London and Edinburgh

Theresa May is losing it. If Scotland wants to be independent, she can’t stop it. If the Scottish parliament next week demands another referendum, let it have one. Put the ball back in Edinburgh’s court. Leave Nicola Sturgeon to fight her own battles and stew in her own juice. It really does not matter. Anglo-Scottish relations should be released...

May hung Hammond out to dry over his budget U-turn | Simon Jenkins

Failing to back up a minister in trouble leaves the prime minister a pushover for backbenchers with a grievance

A screeching U-turn, a climbdown, a budgetary black hole, a humiliation. It is hard to explain the bizarre events in the Commons on Wednesday as the prime minister toppled a key pillar of her chancellor’s week-old budget. The reversal was “announced” in a letter to the Treasury committee.

Related: Good riddance to the unfair NIC tax rise. Now what about that £2bn black hole? | John M...

Theresa May’s tax climbdown shows her weakness | Simon Jenkins

About to negotiate the Brexit rapids, the prime minister has exposed herself as vulnerable to murmuring backbenchers and howling front pages

One minute you are monarch of all you survey, the next minute it all goes wobbly. Theresa May’s climbdown yesterday on Philip Hammond’s tax plans was humiliating. Overnight, £2bn in tax revenue vanished from the finance bill and evaporated into “consultation” and “further review”. The reason was equally humiliating: 18 Tory backbenchers had only to murmur...

The return of the 11-plus is Theresa May’s first real Trump moment | Simon Jenkins

Grammar schools make no sense educationally, financially or politically – and are based on a lie

Theresa May’s desire to return England to grammar schools is her first real spasm of Trumpism. It is incoherent. It makes no sense educationally, financially or politically. It is also based on a lie, that selection is about parental choice. May seems unaware that parents do not choose grammar schools, grammar schools choose children.

The policy was alluded to in the budget by the chancellor, P...

If Trump’s goal is friendship with Russia, it’s a prize worth lying for | Simon Jenkins

Underhand, reckless and naive: the US president has been some, or all, of these in pursuit of a rapprochement. But might he succeed where Obama failed?

The devil lies in the definition. Bill Clinton “never had sex with that woman”, and got away with it. Jeff Sessions never had “communication” with a Russian ambassador, Sergei Kysliak. But it depends what you mean by sex, and what you mean by communication.

Whether or not Sessions, now “America’s top cop”, as attorney-general, lied to his collea...