Common Sense Journalism

Tag: elections

  • The US midterms: Why are they important for the rest of the world?

    The US midterms: Why are they important for the rest of the world?

    Sometimes it can be hard to associate our own day-to-day lives with the weird and wild state of american politics. However it affects the UK more than it may initially appear. The choices and actions of the US have very real and serious consequences on Europe and the UK, and knowing what is going on across the pond is a useful step in staying up to date.

    So this tuesday last, the American public rolled up to polling station to have their say. Midterms in America are sort of a nationwide by-election mid way between a president’s term, i.e. a midterm. For 2026 all the 435 house seats were up for election and 35 out of the 100 senate seats. Whoever holds a majority in both has control on passing legislation or blocking opposition.

    This year was a very crucial midterm election as Trump is halfway through his second term and historically unpopular. The rising fuel costs due to the Iran war and the cost of living crisis put a shadow over Trump’s hopes to sweep the midterms. Both Trump and the republican party’s control of congress has led to these outcomes and thus put them in a sticky situation. Losing a midterm, although quite common for a majority party, reduces the absolute power of the president.

    The war especially has impacted the whole globe, leading to higher oil prices here in the UK as well as elsewhere. Alongside the military alliance with the US, the UK has been dragged into conflict in the Middle East. Its needless to say that the war is unpopular both here and in the US and therefore became a major factor at the midterms.

    With the stage set the election was under way. In the end the democrats came out on top. Quite a bit on top. They won 240 seats in the house, with a majority of 218 needed, and 54 seats in the senate out of 50 required. With a majority in both, Trump’s position is more untenable than ever.

    So what does this actually mean in real terms? Well the President is still in charge of the executive branch of government, so Trump has control of foreign affairs, particularly the war in Iran. However congress now a democratic stronghold, won’t be in support of the war. Infighting between the parties is highly expected and it will create a sort of roadblock for the next two years on how to continue foreign policy.

    Domestically Trump still retains his veto, which will most likely lead to a stalemate in congress, neither side able to pass any new domestic laws. However this also means Trump has been muzzled for the remainder of his term. Furthermore the democrats now have the power to investigate both the republicans and Trump for actions committed while in office. This is signposting a new era for Trump politics and will definitely change how he conducts the presidency.

    In conclusion, the US has reached a political stalemate, which globally is probably a beneficial thing. Trump now must be held accountable for his actions, which potentially may downgrade foreign conflicts. For the UK this is promising signs, both for the cost of living and the integrity of western democracy.

  • The satirisation of British politics: Does humour benefit our elections?

    The satirisation of British politics: Does humour benefit our elections?

    Satire has been a major aspect of modern british politics ever since the 17th century, with satirical cartoons and books. In the 1960s it exploded through the medium of television, and since has become a landmark of our political scene. Undoubtedly it has its benefits in exposing and keeping our politicans in check, but does it have any real benefits in terms of political decisions, or are we the laughing stock of modern democracy?

    Satrical comedy itself is a major form of political criticism, but with the rise of ‘joke’ candidates, running for both council and general elections, the idea of satirical figures has become a point of discussion. The most recent example is of course Count Binface, a man dressed as a bin. At first sight it is a mockery of the state of our politics, where a bin can run for an elected position. However it is far more important to the nature of Britain than it first appears.

    Recently in a manoeuvre to avoid the consequences of a parlimentary probe into his undisclosed donations, Nigel Farage resigned his seat as MP for Clacton-on-sea. In his words he described the by-election as ‘the people versus the establishment’, an attempt to bypass a potential suspension and regain the trust of his constiuents. Yet, the other major parties refused to be drawn into his escapade.

    Therefore with Farage running for a seat, against no real candidates, the satirical figures of British politics emerged to fight back. Figures like Count Binface and The human fox as well as the Monster Raving Loony Party are all set to stand against Farage in the upcoming election. As a result Farage has been put in a position where even winning would damage his reputation.

    Therefore the question comes to light, is this a good thing for our politics? Well either argument has a valid basis, whether you believe that politicans who wish to make a mockery of the institutions of government should be held accountable, or if politics should remain a serious and respected aspect of our country.

    However, it is clear that politics has become a very toxic point of discussion as division over alignment becomes more paramount. Perhaps adding humour to a sometimes dire or distressing state of the world, brings back some joy to a serious occasion.

    Furthermore, although these figures are running mostly to take the spotlight away from Farage, and to question the legitmacy of many of the grey areas within politics, it is apparent that some of them are not as unserious as they seem. Count Binface for example, aka Jonathan Harvey, is a political comedian who studied at oxford university, and has highlighted his wit and nuance through interviews. Therefore, he is not just a source of humour in this election, but a serious pointer to the issues we face in our current time.

    If a man dressed as a bin can sound more appealing than a serious political figure, is it time to start addressing the reasons why?