This past summer, just like any other, has been an eventful one for politics, on a global scale. What with the development of the “Me too” movement, Boris Johnson’s racist remarks, Trump’s invoking rallies in the UK against his being here, the Supreme Court’s despicable allowance of the republican’s notorious “Muslim Ban” and the ongoing confusion of Brexit hasn’t exactly helped things either.


The #MeToo Movement Gains Momentum

Summer 2018 is shaping up to be one of the most important seasons in the development of the “Me too” campaign yet. The media has played a large role in this, with shows like “13 Reasons Why” and “The Good Fight” tackling the issue of sexual assault on their respective TV shows – and there are many more scripts listed to take on, and explore, this almost epidemic issue later on this month. The BBC has also reported that NGOs have managed to raise upwards of $20 million for sexual assault survivors in the States and that workplace sexual harassment is now being taken considerably more seriously because of the things like “Time’s Up” and “Me too” shining a light on the issue. This has worked to such an extent that there is rumour of policy change within Westminster when it comes to office sexual assault and the gravity of it.

Johnson’s Racism Controversy

Boris Johnson hit headlines at the tail-end of the summer for his racist remarks on women dressed in burkas. Without any appreciation for cultural or religious dressing he stated that the women who wear them “look like letterboxes”, and has gone so far as to say that it makes them look like criminals. This type of behaviour is completely inexcusable. Not only is it racist and discriminatory, but such a high-status politician spouting these things emboldens other hateful people to do the same, making our already-corrupt society more intolerable and divided than ever. Johnson’s remarks came after he was made aware of a woman in Denmark being fined for wearing a burka which, unsurprisingly, he thought was a good idea. He stated that if he had his way a similar “heavy-handed” movement would soon arise in the UK as well. Johnson justifiably faced backlash over these ridiculous statements and ideas, with one Labour MP going so far as to say Johnson was:

“a pound-shop Donald Trump”

Trump’s An Unwelcome Visitor

Trump’s visit to the UK was another highly-charged event of the Summer. British citizens across the nation came together to protest his presence through peaceful retaliation, which happened to include buying huge inflatable baby caricatures of the US president. Well-known TV shows also got involved, with “The Last Leg” pressing a message against his ablest views into a field Trump was helicoptering over. While he was here Trump did a number of things, one of which was a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. This resulted in more than a few awkward photos and another hideous display of how ill-mannered Donald Trump is – with him talking over, walking away from, and practically ignoring the Queen. All in all, it could easily be deemed a highly unsuccessful affair.

The Trump Administration Is Accused Of Discrimination

Trump made headlines once again this summer, as there was uproar in America with the passing of his ‘Muslim Ban’ by the Supreme Court. At the end of June there was international outrage at the Supreme Court deeming this justifiable and following through with Executive Order 13769. The majority opinion on this supposed travel ban was authored by Chief Justice John Roberts and narrowly missed out on being dismissed by only a few votes.

For a summary of the summer’s Brexit developments please see our round-up of the summer’s world news, which you can find here.

  • By Rachael Smith, Editor of Politics and World
  • Sources: BBC, MUNplanet, The Evening Standard, Quartz
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