'All politics is local.' Maybe.

​+On the arrest and persecution in the UK of peaceful demonstrators in support of Palestinians suffering genocide in Gaza, the White House has nothing to say. But when a ‘pro life’ type is convicted of demonstrating outside an abortion clinic, Trump’s mouthpieces are up in arms about an attack on ‘free speech’ here. Listening on the BBC to the woman who stood outside a clinic holding a sign saying something like ‘let’s talk.’ she disingenuously claimed she just wanted to engage in conversation and listen to the women entering the building. Totally innocent! No ulterior motive! Her invitation was to deceive, and she plainly broke the law which prohibits such activity within 150 metres of a clinic. This is sinister activity, and more widely the Christian right, with transatlantic links is working hard to see that the UK follows in the footsteps of the US where abortion rights are rapidly disappearing. The increasing interference of the Trump administration in the domestic affairs of other countries is given heft by its linkage to trade negotiations. Imperialism takes many forms.
 
+Scarborough (where I live) could have fifteen minutes of infamy next month, thanks to the local elections. We’re getting a new town council, and it is easily conceivable that it could become the first local council in the UK to be controlled outright by Fartage’s Reform UK party. A town council (aka parish council) exists at the bottom of the local government heap, and usually has little to do but administer some allotments and maybe some cherished traditions. But perhaps surprisingly they can spend their money, such as it is on pretty much whatever they want, and are not limited by national rules on spending caps. Heaven only knows what Reform UK would do with control at this level. There will be 15 members of the new council, and Reform are putting up 11 candidates. The Tories have a full slate of candidates, and may get a couple elected; the Greens have 14 candidates and should secure a couple of places. Independents will secure a seat or two. As for Labour, with a mere five candidates chances look slim and I find it hard to believe that any of Labour’s candidates are expecting to win. And this is in a town which constitutes the greater part of a parliamentary constituency which Labour won in last year’s general election. This dearth of nominations alone demonstrates that Labour members have more or less given up. I admire the tenacity of those left who hope against hope that something will turn up. As it is all Reform needs is to win eight seats and Fartage himself will turn up, parading his cheesy smile whilst riding a donkey on the beach like the messiah he is. Their victory here, whilst of no great consequence for anything very much in local government terms will be a great stepping stone for Reform’s campaign to take the parliamentary seat in three or four years’ time. They will secure the basic building blocks of party organisation and presence. If they display any degree of competence they’ll be on a roll, but that may be a big ask.