Brexit

‘Climate villain’: scientists say Rupert Murdoch wielded his media empire to sow confusion and doubt

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Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil's You May Find Yourself... art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.
Image of InBedWithBigOil by Not Here To Be Liked + Hex Prints from Just Stop Oil’s You May Find Yourself… art auction. Featuring Rishi Sunak, Fossil Fuels and Rupert Murdoch.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denial

The tycoon, who is stepping down from News Corp and Fox, has used his outlets to promote denial and delay action, experts say

Scientists have described the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch as a “climate villain” who has used his television and newspaper empire to promote climate science denial and delay action.

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Prof Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said Murdoch had been “one of the most destructive forces in modern history when it comes to climate action”.

“He has wielded his global media empire as a cudgel to sow confusion and doubt about the science and the solutions. He will go down in history as one of the greatest climate villains,” said Mann.

Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said: “There’s no doubt that the Murdoch empire has played an important role in letting the public believe that there was any scientific doubt that the burning of fossil fuel causes the climate to warm and that it is detrimental for society and ecosystems. It is a terrible legacy he leaves, that many people paid for, and are paying for, with their lives and livelihoods.

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https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denial

Image: Boris Johnson confirms his thumbs up from Rupert Murdoch
Boris Johnson confirms his thumbs up to be UK prime minister from Rupert Murdoch
Continue Reading‘Climate villain’: scientists say Rupert Murdoch wielded his media empire to sow confusion and doubt

Mark Carney demolishes Brexit and Liz Truss’ economic policies

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Image of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng
Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng. “Some people said we were in too much of a rush – and it is certainly true that I didn’t just try to fatten the pig on market day, I tried to rear the pig and slaughter it as well. I confess to that.”

https://leftfootforward.org/2023/09/mark-carney-demolishes-brexit-and-liz-truss-economic-policies/

The former governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has taken apart the arguments of Brexiteers as well as the economic policies of Liz Truss during a speech at the Global Progress Action Summit in Montreal, where he praised “progressive” policies while attacking “far-right populists”.

Carney, who was governor between 2013 to 2020, accused those who backed quitting the European Union of wanting to “tear down the future” and also launched a scathing attack on the disastrous economic policies of Liz Truss.

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Turning his attention to Truss, Carney said that when Brexiteers tried to create Singapore on the Thames, the Truss government instead delivered Argentina on the Channel – and that was a year ago.

“Those with little experience in the private sector – lifelong politicians masquerading as free marketeers – grossly under-value the importance of mission, of institutions, and of discipline to a strong economy.

“And the bad news is that while these tactics never work economically, they can work politically. Brexit happened, Donald Trump was elected. So we can’t dismiss the impact of anger, but we must resist its power.”

https://leftfootforward.org/2023/09/mark-carney-demolishes-brexit-and-liz-truss-economic-policies/

Continue ReadingMark Carney demolishes Brexit and Liz Truss’ economic policies

RSPB chief apologises after charity calls ministers ‘liars’ over green policy

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Screenshot of RSPB screenshot accusing ministers of lying over protecting water quality protections when they were reduced by UK government.
Screenshot of RSPB X (previously Twitter) posting accusing ministers of lying over protecting water quality protections when they were reduced by UK government.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/31/rspb-chief-apologises-ministers-liars-green-policy-environment

Beccy Speight says frustration at ‘weaker protections’ prompted criticism of Sunak, Gove and Coffey

The head of the RSPB has apologised after the wildlife charity called Rishi Sunak and other ministers “liars” in a social media post.

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“The reason that we issued our apology is that we do believe that the nature of public discourse does matter and that we have a role to play in that, and that we campaign on policy, not on people.

“So, the framing of that tweet, where we called out individual people, we felt was incorrect and inappropriate, and we apologise for that.”

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*Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/31/rspb-chief-apologises-ministers-liars-green-policy-environment

Continue ReadingRSPB chief apologises after charity calls ministers ‘liars’ over green policy

Brexit disaster: New poll puts support to Rejoin at +60%

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/08/brexit-disaster-new-poll-puts-support-to-rejoin-at-60/

Image of Tory idiot Boris Johnson
Tory idiot Boris “Get Brexit done” Johnson

Omnisis also asked voters if Britain was right or wrong to leave the EU, with 59% saying we were wrong to leave versus 41% saying we were right.

The tide of public opinion continues to turn against Brexit, with the economy continuing to take a hit as a result of the decision to leave our nearest and biggest trading partner, and with even the likes of Nigel Farage admitting the decision to leave the EU has been a disaster.

A new opinion poll for YouGov puts support for re-joining the EU at 63%. The poll findings are similar to the results of another poll carried out by Omnisis last week, which found that 62% of people wanted the country to re-join the European Union, with 38% saying Britain should stay out.

Led by Donkeys poster quotes Nigel Farage "Brexit has failed">
Led by Donkeys poster quotes Nigel Farage “Brexit has failed”.

Omnisis also asked voters if Britain was right or wrong to leave the EU, with 59% saying we were wrong to leave versus 41% saying we were right.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/08/brexit-disaster-new-poll-puts-support-to-rejoin-at-60/

Continue ReadingBrexit disaster: New poll puts support to Rejoin at +60%

Government data confirms Brexit as a main driver of exports decline

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/08/government-data-confirms-brexit-as-a-main-driver-of-exports-decline/

More than a third of businesses say their prospects for growth in 2023 have been hampered by a decline in demand for British goods because of Brexit.

A government-led survey, which collected information from over 3,000 businesses throughout the year, has confirmed that Brexit is a key reason for a decline in trade among British exporters.

The data shows that 43 percent of exporters of services and goods say they saw a decline in trade in 2022. This compared to just 26 percent of businesses who said their exports had increased. The reason most frequently cited behind the drop in trade in recent months is Britain’s departure from the EU.

In January 2021, the EU introduced strict border controls on all food exports from the UK, as part of the Brexit trade agreements with Europe. Consequently, many businesses halted trade with the EU due to the increased costs that came with the new border rules.

Red tape, including additional documentation, admin burdens and new customs procedures, as well as reduced demand for UK services and products, were among the most prominent concerns in relation to the impact Brexit has had on exports among some companies.

The data shows that more than a third of businesses say their prospects for growth in 2023 have been hampered by a decline in demand for British goods because of Brexit.

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https://leftfootforward.org/2023/08/government-data-confirms-brexit-as-a-main-driver-of-exports-decline/

Continue ReadingGovernment data confirms Brexit as a main driver of exports decline