COP26 begins
26 years after the UNFCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), over 100 world leaders are gathered in Glasgow, as states grapple with reaching the 1.5-degree target set out at COP21 in the Paris Climate Agreement. A UN report has estimated temperatures will rise by 2.7 degrees by 2100 with current emission patterns, hence carbon emissions must be reduced by 45% by 2030 to reach 1.5 degrees of warming and avoid catastrophic climate crisis. Therefore, this COP is vital. There are 30,000 delegates present to achieve this aim, with Boris Johnson setting out the UK’s three priorities: coal, cars and trees. However, there have been controversies as per usual: neither President Xi Jinping nor President Putin will be attending the event, China has committed to carbon neutrality only by the distant 2060, and India by 2070.
Sussex professor resigns
After a sustained campaign of protests by students, Kathleen Stock, professor of philosophy at Sussex University, has resigned following a row over transgender rights. Stock has said she believes gender identity does not outweigh biological sex “when it comes to law and policy” and that people cannot change their biological sex. The university supported Stock’s right to exercise her academic freedom, freedom of speech and freedom from harassment. Her treatment has been condemned by the equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, who insisted she was “appalled at the way she was treated”. Equally, the shadow equalities minister Taiwo Owatemi stressed she “did not call for action to be taken against her,” but did show concern regarding Stock’s role as trustee for the LGB Alliance – which campaigns for rights based on sexual orientation, not gender identity.
Fishing rights row with France escalates
France and Britain are tied in an escalating row over fishing waters, following the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. For months now, France has been accusing Britain of not acting in accordance with post-Brexit arrangement over fishing rights, by denying fishing licences to French boats to access British waters. France even threatened to cut of electricity to Jersey in recent weeks, as it also threatened back in May. The row has now escalated even further: on Sunday, French officials stated Macron and Johnson were de-escalating the situation, however No.10 swiftly denied this, rejecting claims of moving forward. This is highly unusual move and has only worsened the split between the two nations. The row also threatens to distract the two countries from their work at COP26, currently being held in Glasgow.
Autumn Budget
The 2021 Autumn budget was announced by Rishi Sunak last week, as the UK enters its post-Covid economic phase. The budget, unconventionally leaked to the press beforehand, was framed as heralding the “new age of optimism” by the Conservatives. The budget imposes the highest tax burden on the British public in 70 years, inviting criticism towards the Conservatives, who are considered Britain’s low tax party. However, Sunak ended his speech strongly affirming that his “end goal is to reduce tax” and that “government should have limits”. Sunak also defended the tax raise, saying that it is more responsible and fiscally Conservative to raise money through tax rather than borrowing. Strong economic forecasts have also allowed Sunak to spend an extra £150bn on government departments, similar levels to that of the New Labour era. The think tank Resolution Foundation has warned that UK households’ annual tax bills are set to rise by £3000 by 2027.
