Blank and spoiled votes can change the faith of the French presidential elections
May 07, 2017 09:03 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The question of every pollsters mind this Sunday, during Frances presidential election, will be, So, how many in total? and they wont be referring to the number of votes for each candidate. Instead, what concerns election...
Obamacare repeal vote shows power of US hard right
May 07, 2017 09:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Law
Since the passage of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, Republicans have attempted to repeal it. In March, the first attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare under President Trump failed, as both...
The EU's farming policy is hated – but what comes next may be worse
May 06, 2017 02:13 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy
Out of all the EUs policies, the Common Agricultural Policy has consistently received the worst press in the UK. Politicians and papers of both the left and the right have variously attacked it for being too costly, too...
Kurds brace for an uncertain future in post-referendum Turkey
May 06, 2017 02:11 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Turkey is still taking stock of its referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms, which delivered a crucial victory for the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan albeit under highly contested circumstances. The anti-Erdoğan...
The French people don't know the dangers of autocratic populism: a view from Pakistan
May 05, 2017 14:46 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Following in the footsteps of the United States, the French are looking to terrible simplifications to solve their problems as they head to the second round of their presidential election on May 7. Polls predict that...
Every election, politicians ignore England – here's why
May 05, 2017 14:45 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
In UK general elections, England matters. It accounts for 82% or 533 out of 650 constituencies in the national parliament. At the 2015 general election, 318 (or 96%) of the Conservatives 330 seats were won in England, as...
Why biased budget forecasts make poor politics
May 05, 2017 07:41 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
For the last eight years, budget outcomes have consistently been much lower than previous budget forecasts. But in each year, the treasurer has again forecast a happy return to balance over the next four years....