May-days and Foxes
Well, as I write this Brexit is not dominating the political news for the first time in nearly 2 years. That doesn't mean that it has gone away as several potential discussion points will show. Add to that the local elections in May, the dangerous state of the NHS and our schools going broke (did you ever think that you would hear those words?) and we have a full evening.
Liam Fox is touring the planet trying to cobble together trade deals so we will still have a resemblance of an economy after Brexit. Be under no illusion here, the UK is in a weak and vulnerable negotiating position and he may make concessions to the US with detrimental consequences. If American lobbyists get their way Cornish pasties, Scotch whisky and Melton Mowbray pork pies could lose their protected status after Brexit. It’d mean US companies could make their own knock-off versions. Read this article if you want to know what exactly is wrong with chlorinated chicken
https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/business-news/44/breaking-news/does-chlorinated-chicken-affect-the-environment/43653
I asked members if they were interested in either attending a hustings for the next local elections or if we could perhaps set up one of our own. If you have any views on this or have some questions that you would like to put to candidates, let us know on Thursday. If you hear of any hustings going on, please let us know.
We discussed the issue of local authority pensions being funded by investment in fossil fuels (among other nasties). The Trade Union Group in The Campaign Against Climate Change have an excellent briefing on the issue and information on the campaigns to persuade local authorities to divest from fossil fuel. Sheffield Council voted to do so in November 2016, perhaps we can persuade Harrow to follow suit?
https://www.cacctu.org.uk/divestment
If anyone has any subject they wish to raise, please reply to this event notice.
See you Thursday
Chris