politics – Page 2 of 3

Fox Hunting: A Thing of the Past or the Future?

13Jun

By Izzy SwansonNo Comments

Opinion

Fox Hunting: A Thing of the Past or the Future?

Izzy Swanson discusses why this activity is back on the political agenda. With the current political climate, I doubt that you were thinking about fox hunting a couple of weeks ago when you were deciding who to vote for in the general election. But now that Theresa May has revealed that she is continuing the Conservatives’ trend of putting the repeal of the fox hunting ban on the party’s manifesto, it has brought the debate into the foreground again. However, as a YouGov poll made known in 2015, the majority of the UK do not want to see a return of the ‘sport’ in its original form, which was outlawed in 2004, so why does the Prime Minister want to revive something so unpopular? One reason is Theresa May’s personal preference as, in her own words, she has “always been in favour of fox...

7Jun

By Victoria ChapmanNo Comments

Lifestyle

The Politics Of Social Media

Victoria Chapman discusses how social media is used to engage people in current affairs and why it has become such an influence on modern day politics. A day doesn't go by where you don’t see a disgruntled socialist complaining about Theresa May’s cutbacks, or a Conservative supporter making yet another statement about Labour’s debt and denial. And whether you’re into politics or not, you have to agree it makes for an interesting debate on Facebook. But how exactly does social media have such an impact over politics? Everyone’s on social media now; politics can be accessed through every technological medium, allowing it to reach out to everyone rather than the select few. Anyone can get involved in a discussion or movement on Facebook, Twitter, you name it. Even Instagram had users ...

Gigi Hadid, Vogue, the Hijab and the West.

28Mar

By No Comments

Opinion

Gigi Hadid, Vogue, the Hijab and the West.

There has been much controversy surrounding Gigi Hadid’s cover for Vogue Arabia in which she adorns a veil and poses for the camera. But why has this caused such a stir? And what is the real debate here? As a young female Muslim living in Britain the hijab is of much importance and of great value to people like me. For me the hijab is an absolute assertion of my faith and my gender. I believe it helps empower me by giving me the confidence to be who I am – a female Muslim. I can show others that I am not afraid, despite the negativity I may receive for my religion and despite the limitations I may face as a female. The real debate here seems to touch upon the deep divisions within our society. In a time where the likes of Donald Trump and Brexit generate a vastly negative rhetoric ar...

Founding Fathers: Hamilton and the American Identity

7Mar

By Rachel Perry-WattsNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Theatre & Performance

Founding Fathers: Hamilton and the American Identity

As many will be aware, and many will not, the hit musical ‘Hamilton’ recently released tickets to its West End show, opening at the Victoria Palace Theatre in November this year. According to the Telegraph, over 100,00 people registered to be notified of the general sale of these tickets. I was lucky enough to get one through the pre-release sales, however as time goes on tickets will undoubtedly become like gold dust. But what is it that has made this show such a global phenomenon? The musical was written by the multi-talented playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda and tells of the life of the lesser known founding father, Alexander Hamilton, predominantly through the medium of rap and show tunes. To many, this might sound like an absolute nightmare, but to others, like myself, it gives a fresh...

Does Any Political Party Really Care About Young People?

28Feb

By No Comments

Opinion

Does Any Political Party Really Care About Young People?

Danny Angove laments the lack of youth-centric and inclusive politics Life’s full of disappointments, isn’t it? Imagine: you’ve been forced to endure a long, hard day of lectures and seminars, so you decide to treat yourself to a night in with your housemates, junk food, and one of your favourite films. You hit the shops, but they’ve run out of ice cream. When you get home, you find that the film you want to watch isn’t on Netflix. One of your housemates bails on you to go to the SU; he eventually stumbles in at 2am, and vomits all over the kitchen floor. You’re tired, you’re stressed, and your floor is sticky from VK-tinged vomit. The night is an unmitigated disaster. This is, in short, how I feel about the Labour Party. When Jeremy Corbyn was elected to lead Labour, I was ...

18Jan

By No Comments

Opinion

New Year’s Revolution

Cemre asks for 2016 to be the push we need to bring more change As we are mostly aware and are constantly reminded on social media, 2016 was a year of tragedies. It’ll probably go down in history as the worst year our generation has seen so far, and while some scoff and move on - and good on you for being able to - others are shaken. Justifiably so. Sure, other bad years, 1939 or 1999 come to mind, were generational disasters for some still alive today. And it’s not just celebrity passings - which to mock is to be insensitive to the celebrity and the people who loved, were inspired by, or needed them - but the endless acts of hatred, violence, bigotry. Probably because we thought those things were left in the 20th century. Last year, though but a month ago, was emotionally and mentall...

5Nov

By No Comments

News, Opinion

Russia is more than its politics

Russia is a country that Westerners almost inevitably view in a negative light. Thanks to a selective representation of its social and political backwardness, and its destabalising foreign policy, this vast and diverse nation has been condensed into a single, villainous entity. It is there to be lambasted, mocked, and feared. I went to Russia and spoke to some of its citizens. This is what I learnt. The Russian population is suffering. Gripped by the constricting vice of an economic slump, their infrastructure is failing; even in the major city of Samara, a quick detour from the centre reveals unmade roads and dilapidated housing. Speaking to residents, it’s clear that this deficit extends beyond the aesthetic. Soviet-era apartment blocks experience regular shortages of cold water – a ...

20Nov

By No Comments

Lifestyle

The Decriminalisation of Sex Workers

Catherine Stephens, an activist with the International Union of Sex Workers is also a member of the GMB trades union’s branch for people who work in the sex industry. She loves her job and came to tell Royal Holloway students why the stigma around what she does should be diminished, as part of the SU’s SHAG week. However, I question if Stephens has really grasped the enormities of what she does and advocates. One in twenty students go into sex work in the UK to pay for fees, and being close to London we are in proximity of the diversity and mass policing that such an industry involves. Since 1999 it has been estimated that there are 80,000 people in the UK working in the sex industry. Stephens argues that the government’s definition of what constitutes sex work is too broad and contends...

19Sep

By No Comments

Opinion

A New Dawn has broken, has it not?

Tony Blair spoke the words ‘A New Dawn has broken, has it not?’ May 2nd 1997 in the early hours of the morning represented a break from 18 years of opposition. Furthermore a break from Conservative rule which turned a social democratic country into a country of yuppies, privatisation and strikes. However most importantly this represented a new style and agenda for the Labour Party following the disunity of Bennites, moderates and the gang of the four and the formation of the Social Democratic Party in 1981. This may be ancient history in political terms as Harold Wilson once remarked that ‘a week is a long time in politics’ but once again a new dawn has broken in the Labour Party. This ‘new dawn’ is different in many respects to the ‘new dawn’ Blair promised as instead of a move towards t...

7Jun

By No Comments

News

Local MP remains as Foreign Secretary

Following the results of the General Election which took place May the 7th, Philip Hammond remains as MP for the Runneymede & Weybridge constituency and continues as Foreign Secretary, a role he assumed in July 2014 having previously served as Defence Secretary and, prior to that, Transport Secretary. His appointment to the Foreign Office was viewed by some as a move toward the right ahead of the general election, transferring focus to the EU debate ahead of a promised In/Out referendum. On the http://www.runnymedeweybridgeconservatives.com/ website it states that Mr Hammond ‘champions local businesses, particularly through his involvement with the Runnymede and Weybridge Enterprise Forum’ that ‘He is committed to protecting local services and to speaking up on the major environm...