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Author: David Herdson

Is Trump seeking to enter Gödel’s loophole?

Is Trump seeking to enter Gödel’s loophole?

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A philosopher, an economist and a physicist walked into a courtroom.  They could have left behind an amusing punchline; instead, the legacy of their visit was an uncertainty – which seems appropriate in the circumstances. The philosopher was Kurt Gödel and he was there for his citizenship test as part of his application to become an American citizen in 1947.  It should have been a formality.  Gödel had been living in the United States since 1940, working at Princeton after…

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Chesham is the litmus test of how serious the Greens are as a party

Chesham is the litmus test of how serious the Greens are as a party

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Almost unnoticed last weekend amid the spectacular Tory win in Hartlepool, the constitution-shaking SNP-led victory in Scotland or the dismal outcome for Labour – compounded by a botched reshuffle – another party did very well: the Greens. Across the country, the thin Green tide advanced. Highlights included:– An increase in MSPs and pushing the Lib Dems into a clear fifth in Scotland;– Finishing fourth in Wales by vote – though no MSs, unlike the Lib Dems, who polled fewer votes;–…

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Boris should start Scottish independence negotiations now

Boris should start Scottish independence negotiations now

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Unionists should learn the lessons of Brexit: vote on a deal, not a concept Goodbye separation trauma; hello separation trauma. After this week’s elections, Holyrood will again have a pro-Independence majority meaning the constitutional arguments of the last decade will not only continue but intensify. While the SNP look unlikely to win an overall majority, the Greens should see them over the line. Cue demands for a second referendum such as we have never heard for months. In truth, the…

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Let’s admit it: the Good Friday Agreement is incompatible with Brexit

Let’s admit it: the Good Friday Agreement is incompatible with Brexit

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Northern Ireland’s arrangements need overhauling before they break down No-one cares about Northern Ireland. Lots of people say they do of course but in reality, as long as bombs aren’t going off (or, at worst, are only going off in Derry or Strabane or the like), then it’s either left to get on by itself, an insoluble problem best left alone, or a political football to be kicked in the interests of whoever’s kicking it. If they did care, it…

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Hartlepool: Labour still feels value in the Hartlepool betting

Hartlepool: Labour still feels value in the Hartlepool betting

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History suggests it is very hard for governments to gain by-elections Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer were both campaigning in Hartlepool yesterday. That may be because they both believe the by-election there to be very close or it may be that they wish to give that impression. It really shouldn’t be close. Governments hardly ever gain by-elections from the main opposition and when they do, there are usually exceptional circumstances. Tony Blair, despite his extraordinary poll leads through most of…

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Tories forever?

Tories forever?

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There used to be such a thing in politics as the pendulum. Rather like its physical counterpart, it appears to have gone out of fashion. In fact, there were two pendulums operating simultaneously, one between general elections and one across them. The intra-election pendulum would traditionally swing away from the government after it was elected, as it created a lot of disruption implementing its reforms and, probably, front-loaded other unpopular decisions it felt it had to take, while it had…

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Parliament must return in person and permanently

Parliament must return in person and permanently

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Impressions be damned: governance is even more important Parliament will return from its Easter recess on Monday to allow MPs to make tributes to the late Duke of Edinburgh. It is right that they can do so. Most, however, will continue to dial in via videoconferencing; few will be in the chamber. That is no longer right. Politics is an intensely human business and proximity is power. One reason that the government has been able to act as if there…

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Can the Greens take their 2021 opportunities?

Can the Greens take their 2021 opportunities?

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Remember the Climate Emergency? It turns out it wasn’t quite the emergency activists claimed, once a genuine emergency arrived. To be clear, this isn’t to say that Global Heating isn’t a problem in many, and very serious, ways; it is to say that it’s not “a sudden state of danger requiring immediate action”: the definition in my desk dictionary. The crucial words there being ‘sudden’ and ‘immediate’. Covid has meant that climate policy responses have had to take a back…

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