Fownhope’s Heart of Oak Society traces its roots to the age of friendly societies, when communities provided their own safety net. Its anniversary celebrations reveal a tradition still very much alive, says MARK SEDDON
AS THE European parliament held its penultimate session prior to Brexit, all of the phoneyness that has surrounded Britain’s departure seemed to crystallise into a single exchange. It began with Farage telling us that there was a battle going on “between globalism and populism” and that he was on the side of the latter.
This comes to us as surprising news. This, after all, is the former banker who got rich from the unfettered movement of capital. The politician who pushed for Brexit, not out of opposition to Europe’s neoliberal economic rules, but precisely on the grounds that Britain could pursue even freer trade outside of the bloc, and subject British workers to an even nastier race to the bottom.
Farage is about as averse to globalism as he is to impersonating a lobster with anger management issues.
As the dollar falters and US power turns predatory, Britain and Europe must abandon transatlantic illusions and build a collectivist alternative before the system implodes, writes ALAN SIMPSON
US tariffs have had Von der Leyen bowing in submission, while comments from the former European Central Bank leader call for more European political integration and less individual state sovereignty. All this adds up to more pain and austerity ahead, argues NICK WRIGHT
Starmer sabotaged Labour with his second referendum campaign, mobilising a liberal backlash that sincerely felt progressive ideals were at stake — but the EU was then and is now an entity Britain should have nothing to do with, explains NICK WRIGHT


