Kensington Review

19 August 2019


Cogito Ergo Non Serviam


Latest Commentary:

No-Deal Brexit Will Mean Shortages, Job Losses -- The British government is in a snit right now because someone leaked the details of preparations for Operation Yellowhammer, the code name for dealing with a No-Deal Brexit. Among the concerns was a return of a hard border between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, a "three-month meltdown" at the country's ports, and thousands of jobs lost due to the closure of two oil refineries. Medicines and fresh produce could be in short supply with prices rising. The Johnson government is claiming the document represents old thinking, dating from when ministers were being obstructive and that the situation has changed. This is nonsense. A No-Deal Brexit will be a disaster. [19 August]

Israel Bans Congresswomen from Visit, Sort of -- The government of Israel has seen fit to ban a visit by Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), two of the country's biggest opponents in the House of Representatives. Last month, the same government assured everyone that the two would be welcome. However, President Trump tweeted that they should not be permitted entry, and the Netanyahu government agreed, reversing itself. After a huge uproar in the US across the political spectrum, Ms. Tlaib will be permitted to visit her grandmother on the West Bank for humanitarian reasons. The only person who looks weaker here than President Trump is Prime Minister Netanyahu.. [16 August]

Corbyn Shouldn't Lead Interim Government -- The Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that he will work to bring down the government of Boris Johnson to prevent a no-deal Brexit. He has said he would lead an interim government in advance of a Brexit-related general election. Since he doesn't command a majority of the House of Commons, this is problematic. Whoever topples Mr. Johnson will need to win a confidence vote within 14 days of the defeat of BoJo, and if that doesn't happen, there will be a general election. A no-deal Brexit would happen by default. Mr. Corbyn is cordially loathed by Tory rebels, Liberal Democrats, the Celtic nationalists and the Greens. If there is to be a caretaker government, someone other than Jeremy Corbyn will have to lead it. [15 August]

Trump Delays Chinese Tariffs Till After Christmas -- Donald Trump loves tariffs, which is surprising because he has absolutely no idea how they work. He falsely claims that the tariffs he has levied on Chinese products have been paid by China. That is not how tariffs work. They are paid by the importer, or if the importer is lucky, by the importers' customers. The exporter has nothing to do with it. Yet, even Mr. Trump is worried about the impact his tariffs will have on consumers. So, he said yesterday he would hold off on some of the next batch of tariffs to ensure consumers don't suffer as they shop for Christmas. [14 August]

Bolton Claims UK First in Line for US Trade Deal -- John Bolton, the US National Security Adviser, has stated that Britain will be first in line for a US trade deal after a no-deal Brexit. He claimed that he and the president were "leavers before there were leavers." Mr. Bolton suggested that the two nations could negotiate sector-by-sector. This betrays a gross ignorance of World Trade Organization rules. Mr. Bolton is not good at national security, and he really should stay away from trade, about which is clearly knows less. [13 August]






Volume XVII, Number 149


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