I came across this launch review for by Russel and James’ “The parliamentary battle over Brexit“. I have highlighted the following quotes from article, …
Read more
One Protocol to Rule them all
I say, can tech vendors meets the coming EU messaging systems interoperability requirements. A white paper “One Protocol to Rule Them All? On Securing Interoperable Messaging” by Jenny Blessing (U. of Cambridge) and Ross Anderson (U. of Cambridge & Edinburgh)
Read more
Central Bank Digital Currency
The Govt have issued a consultation on how to implement a Central Bank Digital Currency. I say, that it seems to make as much difference to what we do today as a fart in a hurricane. Have I got it wrong? Consumers, that’s you and me will still pay using a card or a phone…
Read more
Digital market regulation in the EU
There’s been a lot happening and I have not been watching. Here’s my notes as I look to catch up. …
Read more
The EU & Immigration
The Council decided at an emergency meeting, to spend more money on its border enforcement. The likely consequence of this is more deaths at sea of refugees.
Read more
Petitioning
UK Petitions, are they worth it. A petition at the parliamentary site, 10,000 gets a response, 100,000 is considered for debate in Parliament, albeit, not usually on the floor of the
Read more
Digital identity and privacy
The issue of digital identity was raised as a CTOE meeting; so what’s happening …
Read more
Labour’s Manifesto Consultation
The Labour Party are running a ‘final’ policy consultation. Only CLPs can contribute now and it has a portal home page at the NPF site. I am reading through the commission documents and comment on some below/overleaf …
Read more
UK democracy in 2022
TI published their review of the world in 2022, and the UK falls seven places to join not so salubrious company of Qatar (-5), Myanmar (-5), Azerbaijan (-7) and Oman (-8).. This is followed by the Economist’s publication of their Democracy Index, where the UK maintains its place in the rankings which I find strange.
Read more
Devolution
After the publication of the Brown Commission report, I was surprised to discover that a Scottish comrade was underwhelmed by its proposals for Scotland, I don’t know why that way it should be, as I was underwhelmed by the English proposals for devolution; the whole thing is unambitious and the unimaginative hands of LOTO cover…
Read more
The economics of the ERDF
In considering the recommendations of the CoFoE on digitsation, I came to consider how economies innovate and how competitive the EU is in the technology industries. The key programme may be the EU Regional Development Fund. See also their factsheet. This of course has relevance due to the announcement of the UK’s levelling up grants…
Read more
A living wage
It’s conference time for the GMB, and prompted by some members I looked at the state of policy development on low pay and the living wage. The GMB Policy is stated in its policy guide albeit dated 2021. I look at Labour’s “A new deal for working people” and note that the GMB’s minimum wage…
Read more
The people’s flag is palest pink
Kier Starmer kicked off the new year, with a rousing speech calling the masses to the barricades. Or something like that! Here are my notes. …
Read more
A bonfire of worker’s rights
Not content with making it impossible to “go and live there” if we don’t like Brexit, the Tories are planning to repeal all the EU derived legislation. The Bill is called the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022-23. It is understood to threaten most already inadequate worker’s rights including holiday pay, working hours…
Read more
On CoFoE
Over the last 18 months I have working with CTOE, their focus has been on using the Conference on the Future of Europe to further democratic reform of the EU. CTOE has been influenced and supports the work of direct democracy campaigners. I made this page at the end of 2022 to expose some of…
Read more