Sean Ash

  From the top table to the floor, Britain’s post-Brexit trade reality. By Sean Ash  Trump dropped the deal. Starmer picked it up. If that doesn’t sum up the UK–US dynamic in 2025, what does? The clip from the G7 said more in three seconds than three years of post-Brexit spin ever could. The UK, once part of the largest trading bloc in the world, is now left literally collecting the paperwork of a bilateral trade deal that doesn’t come close to what we had inside the European Union. Let’s talk facts. As part of the EU, the UK had access to tariff-free or low-tariff trade with the US across multiple sectors, including cars, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. While the much-hyped TTIP agreement between the EU and US never materialised, many sectors operated under long-standing mutual recognition and regulatory alignment. EU carmakers exporting to the US face just 2.5 percent tariffs. Under this new UK–US deal, British car exports get a so-called win: a reduced 10 perce...

The far right’s obsession with “two tier policing” says more about their own double standards than it does about law enforcement. By Sean Ash                      Image from REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne The phrase “two tier policing” is often thrown around by populists and far-right figures who claim that police treat them more harshly than others. But in truth, the concept of a two tier system did not come from law enforcement, it came from them. It was born not from police policy, but from the far right’s own two tier lens when it comes to crime. Their outrage is not consistent. It is filtered through race, religion, and culture. When Jimmy Savile was exposed as one of Britain’s worst child abusers, the reaction was not riots, protests, or public fury. He became a meme. People wore costumes of him for a laugh. They turned unimaginable crimes into pop culture references. But when a Muslim man is accused of sexual abuse, there is no s...

They claim to honour 1916, to stand for freedom and justice, but you cannot wave the flag of rebellion while rejecting the very people who now face the hunger, exile, and oppression your ancestors once knew. By Sean Ash  In recent months, a growing number of protests have been held across Ireland. The people marching call themselves the “Risen People.” They quote Padraig Pearse. They sing songs about freedom. They say they’ve been betrayed by their government. They speak of revolution, of reclaiming what is theirs. But somewhere along the way, something has gone very wrong. Because this isn’t the Easter Rising. And we need to stop pretending it is. The people who rose up in 1916 were fighting against colonialism. They wanted self-rule, freedom from British oppression, an end to imperial control. They weren’t fighting against hungry children or displaced families. They weren’t storming the streets because someone from Sudan or Syria needed a roof over their head. So when modern-da...

From abortion to climate change, society constantly bends science to belief, so why is gender identity the only place feelings are suddenly forbidden? By Sean Ash  You’ll often hear it said: “Transgender ideology goes against science.” It’s a phrase thrown around like a mic drop, as if it ends all discussion. It’s usually followed by appeals to chromosomes, anatomy, or childhood biology lessons. But scratch the surface and you’ll see something revealing. The people who scream “science” at trans people are often the same ones who reject it when it suits them. Many of these voices are also pro-life, and that’s where the contradiction becomes impossible to ignore. Science tells us when brain activity begins. It tells us when a fetus becomes viable outside the womb. It shows that the vast majority of abortions happen long before pain perception or consciousness exists. It also tells us that safe, legal abortion saves lives and improves health outcomes. But pro-life arguments rare...

How populist narratives and outside influence are using national pride to divide Europe and why Britain must reconsider its place in the world. By Sean Ash  Nationalism is often sold as a source of pride, identity, and freedom. It sounds appealing on the surface. But history and current events show us that unchecked nationalism tends to lead not to strength, but to isolation, authoritarianism, and decline. The European Union, while imperfect, remains one of the most successful peace projects of the modern era. It brought former enemies into cooperation. It replaced suspicion with diplomacy and replaced borders with bridges. It allowed nations to retain their identity while working together for shared goals like economic stability, climate action, human rights, and regional peace. Today, the EU stands as a major global bloc, rivaling powers like China, the United States, and Russia. And just like in any competition, rival powers have an interest in weakening their opponent. One ...

Councils can’t control immigration, but they can control your libraries, youth centres, and council tax. Don’t risk them on a protest vote. By Sean Ash  There’s a growing myth that voting for Reform UK in local council elections will help “stop the boats” or change asylum and housing policy. Let’s be clear: it won’t. Not even slightly. Local councils have no power over immigration or asylum decisions. They cannot: Change the law on who can claim asylum Refuse asylum seekers housing placements arranged by the Home Office Deport anyone Alter the number of people placed in the area These powers belong entirely to the UK government and the Home Office, not your local councillor. What councils are responsible for is managing the small, discretionary part of their budget, the bit that isn’t already locked into legally required services like adult social care, children’s protection, waste collection, and housing the homeless. So when you vote in a Reform candidate at local ...