Gair Rhydd

Ex-PM on the dole

You’ve quit your job, so on to big, new opportunities then? From envoys to public speaking, one thing’s for certain: they all publish a book.

Margaret Thatcher remained an MP after standing down as PM for an additional two years. But eventually retiring, Mrs. Thatcher remained a key figure in the Conservative party. She has published a series of books and memoirs leading up to her fading from the public eye from 2007.

How to blag politics

Can't tell your Gaza from Gazza? Don't worry, Politics is here to help.

Ed or Dave? Miliband that is. But who should win? And what divides these two men? When Gordon Brown stepped down as PM a few weeks ago, he also left his post as leader of the Labour Party, a post that both Miliband brothers want to fill.

David Miliband, a politician who emerged from Tony Blair’s mentorship, appeared as the first contender in the leadership race. Receiving the most nominations for the position, David has so far modelled his campaign around the idea of rebuilding a new Labour party.

Germany banks on Köhler

The resignation of the German President came as a shock to Europe. But what impact will this have on the under-fire German Chancellor?

German President, Horst Köhler, abruptly resigned this week over his suggestion that it would be economically advantageous for the German army to become involved in more international military conflicts.

During a radio interview given after he toured Afghanistan last month, Mr. Köhler announced that he thought the German nation had to be prepared to come out of its pacifist state. The President believed that it would help the country “protect our interests, free trade routes, or to prevent regional instability, which might certainly have a negative effect on our trade, jobs and income”.

Israel goes on the attack

The USA has been investing in Israel's latest rocket system, known as Iron Dome. Will Israel's attack on aid ships change anything change America's support of its ally?

At the beginning of this year, Israel tested Iron Dome, an anti-missile system that could intercept rockets launched from Gaza and South Lebanon.

The shield fires missiles at incoming threats that it identifies by radar. It has been described as a “gamechanger” in Israel’s defence mechanism.

This world, this week

Hatoyama splits

After just eight months in office, the Japanese Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), has resigned.

The Green Coalition

What exactly are the green credentials of the new coalition? Will Chris Huhne change the world?

The new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne, has set himself the target of making the new coalition government the “greenest ever”.

His aspiration is that the government defines the nation’s attitude towards climate change for decades to come. Mr. Huhne has called it a “scandal” that such a small percentage of power comes from renewable sources.

Israel's all at sea

Following Israel's attack on ships delivering aid to Gaza, what does this mean for the Middle East?

At least ten people died last week in an Israeli attack on Gaza aid ships. The Israeli army claims that Israeli commandos were forced to retaliate after boarding Gaza ships carrying relief supplies. Israel stopped the boats because of a blockade that they have placed on Gaza to prevent weapons from being smuggled into the settlement. Both Israel and Egypt sealed off the territory after Hamas took power in 2007.

Israel says its commandos were shot at and attacked with weapons; however activists disagree, saying the Israeli troops began shooting as they boarded the largest ship in the flotilla, the Mavi Marmara, which saw the worst of the clashes. The operation by the Israeli army was carried out to intercept ships carrying aid, but after clashing with the some 600 people on board, many of the passengers were left injured and it is thought at least ten people were killed. Live fire was used, as well as tear gas canisters, in an attempt to control the activists on board after they were warned the ships would not be allowed to reach the Gaza strip.

Breaking the law?

What does the resignation of David Laws mean for British politics? Do we ask too much of our MPs?

While the trend in recent years has been towards ever increasing openness and transparency in parliamentary expenses, I believe that the most recent expenses ‘scandal’ shows, instead, that the system has been made too transparent and requires a complete rethink.

The scandal concerns Liberal Democrat MP and Cabinet member, David Laws, who stepped down from his position as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, following his admission that he claimed expenses to pay rent to his partner. The irony is cruel: to protect his private life from further intrusion, Laws had to reveal that his landlord was also his partner.

Long spend the Queen

What will the planned increase to the Civil List mean for Britain and the monarchy?

Buckingham Palace caused widespread outrage this week with the announcement that they were seeking an expansion to the Civil List.

The Civil List is the amount of money that the Queen gets to perform her public duties. Renegotiated every decade, the figure has not been changed for the past 20 years. It has been announced this week that the current allowance – last negotiated under John Major – stands at £7.9 million, which is payed for through taxation.

This world, this week

Funny money

The European Union (EU) has suggested that a network of national funds be introduced to ensure that the cost of failures in the banking system will not be met by the taxpayer.