A shift on aid hints British voters are finally tiring of the politics of spite | Zoe Williams

Opinion polls show support for maintaining overseas aid is growing – and the government can no longer afford to ignore it

In all the political shocks of the past five years, large claims have been made about their architects: they’re playing multidimensional chess; they have seen straight through Westminster groupthink, into the very heart of the electorate; they have insights into digital campaigning that leave the other team in the dust.

In fact, the calculations that brought us Brexit, Boris Johnson’s victory, a pandemic marked by chaos and cronyism, and all the polling in between, have been repetitive and very simple. There is no limit to the passionate gullibility of a voter whose reptile brain has been activated. So long as your agenda plays to suspicion and hostility, focuses on the external threat of rapacious out-groups, emphasises the scarcity of all resources, which makes fighting for your own interests a necessity, you have your head of steam.

Continue reading...

Coronavirus | The Guardian

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vaccine hesitant New Yorkers consider leaving the city as mandates take effect

For some in the Bronx, the borough hit hardest by the coronavirus, mistrust may win out over jobs and even home Deysia Padilla’s family thought she was at work. Instead, she spent last Thursday afternoon unloading a mound of orange and pink baby socks in a sunny South Bronx laundromat – one-by one, in all their three-inch glory. She had 48 hours to consider an impossible choice: either get vaccinated or lose her job. Padilla is one of thousands of unvaccinated New Yorkers affected by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ultimatum last week. Not only do city employees face the reality of losing their jobs, but without a shot, they’ll even forgo unemployment payments . Some unvaccinated Bronx natives would rather pursue a life outside New York City than be forced to take the vaccine. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian
Read more

Coronavirus live news: AstraZeneca reports vaccine shortfall to EU; Sydney hotel quarantine worker tests positive

US administers 100m vaccine doses; Jordan patients die after hospital oxygen shortfall; Italy partial lockdown starts on Monday Australian PM and chief medical officer get second dose of vaccine Jordan health minister steps down after hospital oxygen failure deaths Lockdown ending could trigger anxiety for many, say UK charities Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage 1.35am GMT Hong Kong is facing its fifth wave of infection, with a growing cluster centred around a high-end gym logging 99 cases so far . The gym is popular with the city’s central business district workers, local media reported, and several major banks and law firms are among dozens of businesses given compulsory testing orders. Authorities have also locked down four residential buildings in the Mid-levels, in another ambush-style operation to ensures all residents are tested overnight before being allowed to move freely again. 1.20am GMT Staying in Australia for a moment, there’s som...
Read more

One in six New York City workers remain unvaccinated after Friday deadline

Last-minute rush of jabs boost vaccination rate to 83% Fox News host gets death threats for vaccinations plea One in six New York City municipal workers remained unvaccinated after a Friday deadline to show proof of at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the city said. Despite opposition the city’s vaccine mandate fuelled by rightwing politicians and media and leading to a protest at City Hall this week, a last-minute rush of jabs boosted the vaccination rate to 83% among police officers, firefighters, garbage collectors and other city workers covered by the mandate as of 8pm on Friday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian
Read more