Tag Archives: Rafael Behr

Fṛm ɖ Gardịn: Boris Johnson is gone, but his toxic Brexit myths will go on poisoning UK politics

‘For all the damage that Johnson has done, his power to make everything trivial has proved self-diminishing.’ Photograph: Mary Turner/AP
‘Fr ol ɖ damij ɖt Jonsn hz dn, hiz pǎr t mc evrʈñ trivịl hz pruvd slf-dmiṇśñ.’ Foṭgraf: Mẹri Trnr/AP
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Boris Jonsn z gn, bt hiz toxic Brexit miʈs wl g on pôẓnñ YC poḷtics

Transcription of a Guardian article of 14 June 2023

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A sstemic sicnis pṛdyst ɖ hlūṣneśn v merit in ɖ formr prîm̦inistr, ɖen dsgorjd him. Unḍstandñ ɖoz ivnts wl b criticl

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Raphael Behr

Rafel Behr, Wnzde, 14 Jūn 2023

Ɖr z no crîsis at Wsminstr so sirịs ɖt it canot b md t lc trivịl bî ɖ incluźn v Boris Jonsn. N ɖr z no scandl involvñ Jonsn ɖt canot b xplend, parṣ́li or hol̦i, bî hiz lîz. Ɖoz r axịmz v post-Brexit poḷtics.

Ɖ Hǎs v Comnz cmiti v priṿlijz z dy t publiś a rport cncludñ ɖt a formr prîm̦inistr trnd hiz bac on truʈ n pt himslf in cntmt v parḷmnt. Ɖ graṿti v ɖ ofns invîts a sirịs dscuśn abt ɖ sefgardz in Britiś dmocṛsi. Or it śd.

Jonsn laid bcz h hd brocn ɖ rūlz ɖt most uɖr ppl obzrvd jrñ ɖ pandemic, ofn at sgnificnt prsnl cost. H laid bcz h flt no dyti v sbmiśn t rūlz impozd bî hiz ǒn guvnmnt or eni uɖr oʈoṛti. H laid bcz brecñ rūlz n rfyzñ t admit it hd bn a rlaybl meʈ̇d v slf’dvansmnt ʈrt hiz lîf, pṛpelñ him ol ɖ we t Dǎnñ Strīt. H laid bcz ɖt z ẃt h dz.

Ɖoz facts biyñ istabliśt, n Jonsn hvñ qit ɖ Comnz t avôd ɖ indigṇti v a sspnśn, ɖ mn qsćn left haññ z hǎ sć a man evr rīćt a pziśn v pǎr fr ẃć h wz obvịsli unfit. Ẃt sicnis in Britiś poḷtics pṛdyst ɖ hlūṣneśn v merit in Jonsn’z canddsi fr Nu 10?

Ɖ qsćn prīṣpozz ɖt ɖ fīvr hz brocn. Sweti fydñ btwn s’portrz v ɖ formr prîm̦inistr n ɖ incumbnt, wns Jonsn’z proṭźe, sjst uɖ̇wz. Ɖ rǎ wɖ Riśi Sūnac z ostnsbli abt smʈñ uɖr ɖn locdǎn brīćz, bt ɖe r cnctd in ɖ we ɖt multipl îtmz v garbij cn brn sepṛtli in ɖ sem scipfîr.

Sūnac z akzd v vītowñ onrz ɖt Jonsn wz intîtld t dǒl ǎt on hiz reẓgneśn az prîm̦inistr, n v rnegñ on sṗsific aśuṛnsz ɖt sm MPz wd gt ɖer piṛjz in dy cors. Dǎnñ Strīt sz ɖt z untru.

Nedīn Doriz, wn v ɖ ʈwortd noṃnīz, dcrîz a snobiś cnspiṛsi bî rić cidz in Nu 10 t privnt a wrcñclas grl fṛm Liṿpul aćivñ ɖ lediśp ɖt Jonsn hd sd wz in ɖ bag. Anɖr xpḷneśn wd b ɖt Jonsn laid.

Ɖs z ɖ trivịlîzñproses in ax́n. Smhǎ dbet lrćt fṛm ɖ consttyśnl prínsipl ɖt MPz b acǎntbl fr ɖ vraṣti v ẃt z sd in parḷmnt t plêgrǎnd rcriṃneśn btwn rîvl gañlīdrz n ɖer mêts. Ɖ sem mnūvr scips glibli fṛm a public-hlʈ imrjnsi in ẃć hundṛdz v ʈǎzndz v ppl daid t bic̣rñ ovr ɖ tîmtebl on ẃć feld ministrz śd b alaud t swop a sīt in ɖ Comnz fr a cŭśịr bŕʈ in ɖ Lordz; ol agnst ɖ bacdrop v a brūtl cost-v-livñ crîsis.

Jonsn z nt rsponsbl fr ol ɖt z absrd in Wsminstr. Ɖ hol biznis v līdrz drepñ ɖer croniz in ŕmin wz gṛtesc bfr h md it obsin. Bt hiz trṗtyd z redioactiv. It iluṃnets flwz in a consttyśnl ordr best on proṭcolz n pṛprayti, ẃl axeḷretñ its dce.

Ɖ mor Britiś dmocṛsi hz bn xpozd t him, ɖ les sirịs it hz bcm. Hiz toxic slf-involvmnt hz cntaṃnetd ɖ Cnsrṿtiv parti so cmplitli ɖt īvn in rjctñ him it inflets hiz vaṇti. H z a lump v wepnzgred narssizm p’lūtñ ɖ p’liticl er.

Inuf Toriz hv dạgnozd ɖt probḷm t wont rid v him, olɖo ɖt rj z rvrsbl. Les ɖn a yir ago Jonsn wz dfeṇstretd bî ɖ parḷmntri parti. Onli a fy munʈs lêtr, a hundṛd MPz wr redi t noṃnet him az ɖ bst prsn t rples Liz Trus. Bac in ɖ sumr v 2019, ẃn T’rīza Me rzînd, plenti v Cnsrṿtivz swòr secrid oɖz t privnt Jonsn evr rīćñ Nu 10, bfr indorsñ him n srvñ in hiz guvnmnt.

Ɖt wz ɖ Rūḅcón momnt. Crosñ t Jonsn’z sîd rqîrd wilfl rjx́n v eni atmt t inact Brexit ẃl rmenñ in sm we cogniznt v ic̣nomic n dipḷmatic riaḷti. Me hd brnd hrslf ǎt trayñ t recnsîl îdịlojicl dmandz fr cmplit rupćr fṛm Yṛp wɖ raṣ́nl mitgeśn v ɖ cost. It cd’nt b dn. Jonsn reprizntd ɖ vy ɖt ɖr wz no riyl cost, onli saḅtāj bî eṇmiz. N ɖe cd b oṿcm bî a srj in naśnl spirit, incarnetd in a hrǒic līdr – ɖ arc̣tîpl ofr v popylizm.

Jonsn’z gret hlmzmnśp, n Brexit az a drīm v naśnl rnesns, r stl fyzd in sm Tori imaɉneśnz. H adrest ɖt cnstitẏnsi d’recli in a reẓgneśnstetmnt ɖt cast ɖ priṿlijzcmiti az a “canġrucort” instōld az part v a plot “t tec rvnj fr Brexit n ultiṃtli t rvrs ɖ 2016 reḟrendm”.

Ɖ form n ton v ɖ arğmnt r cribd fṛm ɖ Doṇld Trump ple-bc: slf-pitiing, paṛnôd, dzînd t str beḷcos naśṇlist grīvns.

Ɖ iṃteśn wd b mor alarmñ f it wz’nt olso despṛt. Ɖr z an ōdịns fr ɖ imbitrd Brexit-btreyl miʈ, bt nt an ilex́n-winñ mjoṛti. Its induljns bî Cnsrṿtivz inḍcets a parti olrdi seṭlñ intu opziśn n, ẃl YS Rpublicn-stîl d’renjmnt z an obvịs tṛjectri wns ɖ brdn v guvnmnt z cast of, a resṭreśn v b’līgrd libṛl Tori tṛdiśnz z olso aveḷbl.

Fr ol ɖ damij ɖt Jonsn hz dn, hiz pǎr t mc evrʈñ trivịl hz pruvd slf-dmiṇśñ. H ʈt h std abv ɖ insttyśnz ɖt h c’ruptd, bt h wz bròt dǎn bî cnvnśnl deṃcratic mec̣nizmz. Hiz lîz abt locdǎn partiz wr xpozd bî a fri pres n puniśt bî parḷmnt. Ɖ Tori mjoṛti h clemz az prūf v hiz ynīc popylaṛti dd nt sev him. Ɖ sistm ɖt swoloud hiz śtic olso dsgorjd him. Ɖ riyl traɉdi z ɖt h wz host t a mor stubn paṛsitic wrm v an îdīa – ɖ Brexit dluźn ɖt hz nstd in ɖ guts v Britiś poḷtics n wl nt so īẓli b xcritd.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Gardịn: Rishi Sunak’s White House jolly can’t mask the fact that Brexit Britain is a fading power

‘Joe Biden can bestow the normal diplomatic courtesies on Rishi Sunak at this week’s summit, while conceding nothing of strategic substance.’ Biden and Sunak in Belfast, April 2023. Photograph: Reuters
‘Jo Bîdn cn bsto ɖ norml dipḷmatic crṭsiz on Riśi Sūnac at ɖs wīc’s sumit, ẃl cnsidñ nʈñ v stṛtījic substns.’ Bîdn n Sūnac in Belfast, Epril 2023. Foṭgraf: Rôtrz
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Riśi Sūnac’s Ẃît Hǎs joli c’nt masc ɖ fact ɖt Brexit Britn z a fedñ pǎr

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 7 June 2023)

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Ɖ prîm̦inistr arîvz in Wośñtn wɖ no riyl līṿrij in Yṛp – n ɖrfr no riyl līṿrij wɖ Jo Bîdn

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Rafael Behr
Rafel Behr

Wnzde, 7 Jūn 2023

Ɖ  Americnz nǒ hǎ t mc a prîm̦inistr fīl speśl. It z’nt hard. Seyñ “y r speśl” or wrdz t ɖt ifct, yẓ́li dz ɖ tric. It hlps t se it in ɖ Ẃît Hǎs, wɖn irśot v ɖ Britiś prescōr.

Wsminstr hacs n Dǎnñ Strīt eidz, most v hūm r unhlʈ̇li obsest wɖ YS poḷtics, luv a Wośñtn sumit fr ɖ sem rīzn ɖt Hari Potr fanz k t vizit ɖ Warner Broz stydio in Wotḟd. Standñ on ɖ stej ẃr ɖ majic hapnz z its ǒn rword.

Ɖt mcs Riśi Sūnac a ćīp det fr Jo Bîdn at ɖs wīc’s sumit. Ɖ YS prezidnt cn bsto ɖ norml dipḷmatic crṭsiz, ẃl cnsidñ nʈñ v stṛtījic substns. Dǎnñ Strīt ɖen tlz frendli jrṇlists ɖt ɖ tū men bondd ovr besbōl, or sm uɖr śerd culćṛl inʈyziazm, or ɖt ɖer wîvz dd. Ɖ prîm̦inistr flîz hom wɖ brniśt cṛdnślz az ɖ līdr v a vri importnt cuntri indd.

Ɖ bar fr sumit s’xes hz bn set lo. It hlps ɖt ɖ prîm̦inistr z’nt Boris Jonsn or Liz Trus, huz beḷcos Brexit meʈ̇dz saḅtājd tranz’tlantic rleśnz. Bî ngośietñ ɖ Winzr fremwrc, īzñ frix́nz arnd Norɖn Îrḷnd, Sūnac atond fr ɖ ofns ɖt Bîdn súṃrîzd crūdli, bt ferli, az “scruwñ arnd” wɖ ɖ Gd Frîde agrīmnt.

Sūnac’s miśn t Wośñtn z olso mrsiḟli fri v unrịlistic spekleśn abt a YS-YC fri-tred dīl. Ɖs wz an obseśn fr Brexit inʈyziasts. Oṗnñ ny vistaz v tranz’tlantic comrs wz mnt t ǎtwei eni dǎnsîd t wɖdrwl fṛm ɖ Yṛpiyn sngl marcit.

Ɖ īc̣nomics v ɖt propziśn nvr add p, bt it wz a cumḟt t Yṛsceptics, huz paṛnoia abt Lundn’z sbmiśn t Bruslz féd a dluźn v paṛti wɖ Wośñtn.

Doṇld Trump nrćrd ɖt fanṭsi. Hiz s’xesr hz cîbośt it. Bîdn’z ic̣nomic straṭji z best arnd laviś guvnmnt s’port fr dmestic inḍstriz, taxbrecs fr invstmnt n s’plîćenz rīrùtd t asrt YS stṛtījic prîṃsi. Ɖt beriz ɖ modl v gloḅlîześn ɖt Brexit îdịlogz hd in mînd ẃn mapñ ɖer buc̣nirñ advnćrz on ɖ hî sīz v inṭnaśnl tred.

Sūnac z a dsîpl v ɖ smōl-stet, anti-inṭvnśn scūl v cnsrṿtizm. H fîndz Bîḍnomics pplexñ fr ɖt rīzn alon. Bt it olso hîlîts ɖ teribl err v qitñ ɖ conṭnntl blóc in ẃć Britn, bî pūlñ rzorsz wɖ Yṛpiyn partnrz, hd a ćans v cīpñ pes wɖ ɖ Americnz.

F ic̣nomic comṗtiśn in ɖ yirz ahd z gwñ t b an armzrês v industrịl subṣdi, ɖ YC wl b ǎtgund bî Bruslz n Wośñtn.

Ɖ cǎnṭclem bî cīprz v ɖ Brexit feʈ z ɖt Britn’z îṣleśn z riyli an advantij, pmitñ ajiḷti n iṇveśn ẃr Yṛp z stêd n scḷrotic. A nimbl soṿrin neśn mt līd ɖ we in ny sectrz.

Hns Dǎnñ Strīt hz hîpt Sūnac’s inṭrest in AI ahd v ɖ Wośñtn trip. Ɖ prîm̦inistr hz bn cnsultñ técbosz abt ōsm ny cmpytñpǎrz cmñ on strīm. H hz bn ponḍrñ hǎ bst t manij ɖ dveḷpmnt v mśīnz ɖt mt, wɖn yirz, rîvl ńclir wepnz in ɖer cpaṣti t cōz harm in ɖ roñ handz. H hz cncludd ɖt Britn cn līd ɖ wrld in ɖs fīld, n ɖt Lundn śd b ɖ capitl v globl AI guvnns. H wl rêz ol v ɖs wɖ Prezidnt Bîdn, w r tld.

Ɖ îdīa v an inṭnaśnl AI reğletr – iqivḷnt t ɖ Inṭnaśnl Atomic-Eṇji Ejnsi in Viena – z prficli snṣbl. Lundn cd mc a rspctbl bid t host it. Bt so cd uɖr sitiz. Îɖr we, it w’nt b dsîdd ovr cofi on Wnzde nît.

Viẓtñ līdrz “rêz” ol sorts v ʈñz wɖ ɖer hosts. It z a dipḷmatic yḟmizm fr qsćnz bròt t ɖ tebl wɖ no xpcteśn v ansrz. Ʈñz r “rezd” fr ɖ beṇfit v an ōdịns bac hom, so ɖ līdr hu dz’nt riyli set ɖ ajnda cn clem t hv pt sm îtm on it.

Undr a frendli (or crejḷs) mīdịlénz, ɖ prîm̦inistr z ɖus pṛjctd fṛm ɖ marjinz v inṭnaśnl inflụns intu ɖ sntr. Smʈñ similr hapnd last wīc, ẃn Sūnac atndd a sumit v ɖ Yṛpiyn P’liticl Cḿṇti (YPC) in Moldova.

Ɖ YPC wz frst cnvind last yir bî ɖ Frenć prezidnt, Emmanuel Macron, in rspons t Ruśa’z inveźn v Ycren. It z invizijd az a foṛm ẃr YY n non-YY hedz v guvnmnt cn dscus panconṭnntl iśuz. Ɖt z no substtyt fr ɖ sīt (n ɖ vīto) ɖt Britn yst t hv at Yṛpiyn Caunsl sumits, bt it z betr ɖn nʈñ.

Ycren wz ɖ foc̣s v dscuśnz in Moldova. Xpt, ɖt z, ẃn Sūnac rezd ɖ topic v ilīgl mîgreśn. Hiz yṇlatṛl dgreśn wz ɖen spun bî Dǎnñ Strīt az Britn “tecñ ɖ līd” on a vîtl iśu; ptñ it “at ɖ top v ɖ inṭnaśnl ajnda”.

Ɖs fix́n wz trnzmitd bî verịs YC mīdia ǎtlets, az f ol v Yṛp’s līdrz hudld rnd ɖer Britiś cǎnṭpart ẃl h leid dǎn ɖ lw on smōl bots crosñ ɖ Ćanl. Pripostṛsli, GB Nyz īvn rportd it az a “mîgreśnmītñ”.

At līst Sūnac wz invîtd t Moldova. Ɖr hd bn no Britiś repriznteśn ɖ prīvịs wīc at a mītñ in Swīdn v ɖ YY-YS Tred n Tecnoḷji Caunsl. Ɖs, tù, z a reḷtivli ny insttyśn. It wz lōnćt in Jūn 2021 bî Bîdn n Ursula von der Leyen, Yṛpiyn Cmiśn prezidnt, t coorḍnet poḷsi on “globl tred n tecnoḷji” btwn Wośñtn n Bruslz.

Ɖ most rīsnt gaɖ̇rñ dscust a cod v conduct fr AI dveḷpmnt. Ɖt z xacli ɖ convseśn Sūnac ʈncs śd b haṗnñ in Lundn. Bt f Americnz n Yṛpiynz r olrdi hvñ it smẃr els, ẃ śd ɖe muv it? Ẃt dz Britn ofr fr jst a sīt in ɖ rūm?

T rêz ɖ qsćn z nt t dnî ɖt a YC prîm̦inistr hz clǎt. Ɖr z heft in ɖ ofis v ɖ līdr v a G7 icoṇmi, wɖ a ńclir arsnl n a prṃnnt sīt on ɖ YN s’kṛticaunsl. Bîdn mcs tîm fr Sūnac bcz ɖ rleśnśp btwn ɖ tū cuntriz z importnt. Ẃn it cmz t dfns n s’kṛti cooṗreśn, it z wn v ɖ strdiist alaynsz in ɖ wrld.

Bt frendśp z nt ɖ sem az inflụns. It z a bòld stṛtījic fact ɖt Brexit mcs a Britiś prîm̦inistr les ysfl t Wośñtn. Wɖt līṿrij in Bruslz, Sūnac z nt in a pziśn t brocr dīlz wɖ Bîdn. Instd, h pez tribyt. Ɖt cn b spun intu smʈñ speśl fr ɖ p’rocịl Wsminstr ōdịns ɖt dz’nt wont t admit ɖt Britn z smōlr ǎtsd ɖ YY. Ɖ mesij wl gt ʈru ivnć̣li. Ɖr r onli so mni anglz fr mcñ ɖ marjinz lc lîc ɖ sntr. Ɖr z onli so loñ Britn cn fec biyñ a globl pǎr f it z’nt a pleyr in Yṛp.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm Đ Gardịn: Brexit ruined Britain’s appetite for revolution. That makes Starmer’s job harder

Keir Starmer during prime minister's questions, 10 May 2023. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA
Cir Starmr jrñ prîm̦inistr’z qsćnz, 10 Me 2023. Foṭgraf: YC Parḷmnt/Jesica Teilr/PA
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Brexit ruind Britn’z aṗtît fr reṿluśn. Ɖt mcs Starmr’z job hardr

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 24 May 2023)

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It’s nt jst ɖ NHS ẃr Lebr fesz an uphil strugl. Ɖ parti hz lost its wilñnis t cnfrunt dificlt ćôsz

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Rafael Behr

Rafel Behr, Wnzde 24 Me 2023

Bfr adminisṭrñ eni penfl pṛsijr, doctrz tōc t ɖer peśnts wɖ a cerfl baḷns v candr n tact. Tù grafic a wornñ mt trigr rfyzl t cooṗret, bt pritndñ smʈñ w’nt hrt z a btreyl v trust.

Poḷtiśnz fes ɖ sem dlema wɖ penfl rformz. Spīc tù francli n y spūc ɖ ilectṛt. Dnî ɖ scel v a tasc n y hv no mandet. Ɖs z ispeṣ́li trici fr opziśnlīdrz hu wont votrz t fīl upbìt abt ɖ fyćr undr a ćenjd reźīm. Iṭmîzñ pen cilz ɖ búz.

“Ɖ NHS z nt ssteṇbl unls w mc sirịs, dīp, loñ-trm ćenjz,” Cir Starmr sd on Munde, trayñ t sǎnd candid. It wl b “hard”, “dificlt” n “ćaḷnjñ”, bt wrʈ it t rīć ɖ gol v a hlʈsrvis “fit fr ɖ fyćr”.

On cost, h wz tactfl. Dsiźnz wl b md “on a fl aprīśieśn v riaḷti – on ɖ stet v ɖ NHS n ǎr public fînansz”. In uɖr wrdz, Dr Starmr sz trî t rlax bt b priperd fr sm fiscl dscumḟt.

Lebr’z plejz r wrɖi n xpnsiv – rdyst wêtñtîmz; intgreśn v hlʈ n sośl cer; a dijitl upgred v ɖ hol srvis. Nemd reṿny sorsz – VAT on prîṿt-scūl fiz; clozñ non-Dóm tax lūphoulz – cuvr onli a frax́n v ɖ lîcli bil. Ɖoz r sticñplastrz, ẃć z ẃt ɖ opziśn līdr akzz Riśi Sūnac v aplayñ in avôdns v longr-trm s’luśnz.

It z snṣbl fr a parti t avôd tù mć dītel abt its maṇfesto ɖs far ǎt fṛm an ilex́n. Ẃ gv ɖ eṇmi tîm t rêd yr bst îdīaz n traś ɖ rest? Ẃn it cmz t ōcẉd truɖz in a campen, ɖ vrću v telñ it stret rerli ǎtweiz ɖ risc v mcñ a nrṿs ilectṛt flinć fṛm yr tuć.

Ɖ cōśnri têl z T’rīza Me’z dsiźn t cnfrunt ɖ cost v sośl cer in hr 2017 ilex́nmaṇfesto. Ś ʈt ś hd a sfiśnt pouļīd t sīc pmiśn t d smʈñ hard. It lct brev fr ol v a fy minits, untl ɖ poḷsi wz cōld a “dmnṣ́tax” n fîrd bac az a torpīdo intu hr campen.

Dmocṛsi hz olwz involvd sm tnśn btwn oṇsti n seilzmnśp, bt it fīlz svir rît nǎ. Part v ɖ probḷm z śir xōsćn aftr yirz v s’xesiv crîsīz, sm viẓtd on Britn fṛm oṿsìz (Covid; wor in Ycren), uɖrz homgroun (Brexit; Liz Trus). Ɖe hv cascedd acrs wn anɖr, mrjñ intu a mrāl-sapñ prṃcrîsis.

Solvñ dificlt probḷmz z an x’sîz in dfŕd gratiḟceśn. Ɖr z an inpŭt v eṇji n rzorsz ɖt dz’nt yīld imīɉt rword. Ẃn poḷtiśnz spīc v rform t upgred public srṿsz, fr xampl, ɖe r plīdñ fr peśns. Ɖt ascs a lot v ppl hu hv bn loct dǎn fr a pandemic, hd ɖer oṗreśnz dleid n ɖer trenz cansld, ɖen sìn ɖer stagnnt wejz gobld bî infleśn. Ɖ past fy yirz hv pt Britiś votrz in ɖ mūd fr pêbac, nt mor sacṛfîs.

Ɖs z olso ẃ Starmr’z dlema z most akt on ɖ qsćn v Yṛp. Opińnpoulz śo a mjoṛti ʈncñ Brexit wz a mstec (n īvn Nîjl F’rāź sz it z’nt wrcñ), bt ɖt dz’nt nesseṛli trnzlet intu an aṗtît fr riinactñ ɖ batlz fòt sins 2016 in rvrs.

Eni campen t g bac intu ɖ YY mst rec̣gnîz ɖt ɖ old membrśp trmz r no longr aveḷbl. Ǎr conṭnntl nebrz wd wont t si sstend cros-parti pro-Yṛpiyn cnsnss bfr tecñ eni Britiś apḷceśn sirịsli. Rījôn z nt rīwînd. It z ɖ wrc v a jeṇreśn.

Ɖ poḷtics v śuḟlñ closr t Yṛp fṛm ɖ ǎtsd r nt mć īzịr. Propr axes t ɖ sngl marcit z ɖ ic̣nomic gemćenjr. Ɖt riopnz arğmnts abt fri muvmnt (or opn-dor iṃgreśnpoḷsi, az ɖ Toriz wd cast it) n tecñ reğletri dicteśn fṛm Bruslz – ɖ iśuz ɖt poḷrîzd dbet in ɖ frst ples.

Tōc v soḟnñ ɖ blo fṛm Brexit tndz lojicli t axptns ɖt ɖ bst Brexit z nn at ol. Wn tst v ẃɖr Starmr z rît t swrv awe fṛm ɖt rod z t pondr hǎ glad mni incumbnt Cnsrṿtiv MPz wd b f h tc it.

It sūts Lebr t cīp Brexit in ɖ bacgrǎnd, az wn mor ʈñ ɖ Toriz mest p. It z a sgnificnt factr in jenṛl ic̣nomic mleiz n a breic on rcuṿri, bt nt ɖ onli wn.

Ɖ ifct on poḷtics z hardr t qonṭfî, n mor pniśs. Ɖ harm floz fṛm contṛdix́nz in a project ɖt wz jenyinli reṿluśnri n sinicli frōdyḷnt at ɖ sem tîm. Brexit maind jusṭfaid angr wɖ a steṭs qo ɖt wz’nt wrcñ, ɖen yzd ɖt rzors t fyl a project fr impoṿriśñ ɖ ppl hu most rjntli nīdd ćenj.

Ɖt dspśn set a ʈreśhold v calkletd dsoṇsti or dǎnrît stypidti fr miṇstirịl ofis. Enwn wilñ or ebl t ingej wɖ ɖ cmplex̣tiz v Britn’z pridic̣mnt in ɖ ʈrd deced v ɖ 21st snć̣ri wz dsqoḷfaid fṛm jônñ Boris Jonsn’z cabiṇt. Ɖoz pvrs rcrūtmntcrîtiria stl stand. Sūnac pást ɖ tst v îdịlojicl styṗfax́n.

Mcñ a naśnl miśn v a foli brnt p iriplesbl rzrvz v p’liticl eṇji. Ppl hu oṗret ɖ mśīṇri v guvnmnt r dmoṛlîzd bî rqsts t stir intu dićz. Votrz hu wr gvn rīzn t xpct gret ʈñz on liḅreśn fṛm Bruslz, n got nʈñ, wl b wẹrịr v invstñ hop in a difṛnt, Lebr-brandd project fr radicl uphivl.

Dplitd wilñnis t cnfrunt hard ćôsz z a Brexit leġsi ɖt impidz Starmr īvn mor ɖn ɖ ic̣nomic cost. H cn tōc abt NHS rform, grīn invstmnt, ambiśs hǎsbildñtargits, ol wɖt gtñ lurd intu ɖ wīdz v Yṛpiyn rīṇgośieśn. H cn se, c’recli, ɖt h z foc̣sñ on ppl’z acćl prîoṛtiz. H cn daygnoz grev probḷmz n priscrîb s’luśnz in mni eriaz, stirñ tactḟli awe fṛm ɖ hardist iśu.

Bt ẃn it cmz t dliṿrñ on ɖoz proṃsz, h wl fînd ɖ bodipoḷtic scard n wìcnd bî ɖ yirz v Brexit malpractis. A simtm v hǎ dīp ɖ sindrom gz z ɖ opziśn līdr’z rluctns t cōl it bî its nem.

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Instroduction to Ñspel

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"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

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Fṛm ɖ Gardịn │ Inane and Orwellian: a Queen’s speech to improve the life of Boris Johnson

ÑSPEL, FROM THE GUARDIAN, , ,
Boris Johnson during the state opening of parliament, 10 May 2022. Photograph: Alastair Grant/PA
Boris Jonsn jrñ ɖ stet oṗnñ v parḷmnt, 10 Me 2022. Foṭgraf: Aḷster Grant/PA
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Inen n Orwełn: a Qīn’z spīć t impruv ɖ lîf v Boris Jonsn

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 10 May 2022)

Prins Ćarlz cut a pʈetic figr, selñ a flimzi, sinistr pacij dzînd t pṛtct ɖ prîm̦inistr, nt t adres Britn’z probḷmz

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Raphael Behr

Rafel Behr, Tyzde, 10 Me 2022

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Ɖ  stet oṗnñ v parḷmnt z a rmîndr ɖt mć v ẃt pasz fr a Britiś consttyśn z acć̣li fansi dres.

Ɖ dorz t ɖ Comnz r rityli clozd on Blac Ród, ɖ royl emiṣri, az a rmîndr ɖt monarcs hv nt bn alaud in ɖ ćembr sins 1642, ẃn Cñ Ćarlz I brst in t dmand ɖ arest v rbełs membrz. Sivl wor foloud. Fast-fwd 380 yirz n w fînd anɖr Ćarlz on ɖ goldn ʈron v ɖ Hǎs v Lordz – sitñ in fr hiz eldrli muɖr – dictetñ parḷmnt’s ajnda fṛm a gǒtscin parćmnt.

Ɖ spīć z ritn in Dǎnñ Strīt, ẃr a prîm̦inistr in cmand v a larj Comnz mjoṛti injôz pǎrz nt mć dlūtd dǎn fṛm moṇci. Ɖr r tū forsz dtrṃnñ hǎ Boris Jonsn yzz ɖt pǎr. Bʈ r informl n tmpṛmntl. Frst, h z afreid t upset îdịlojicl snsbiḷtiz on ɖ rît v hiz parti, ẃr a test fr rbełn z olwz qc t trn rejisîdl. Secnd, h tecs no inṭrest in ɖ maṇjirịl sîd v guvnmnt – ɖ biznis v gtñ ʈñz dn – ẃć h fîndz borñ.

Az fr rstrent on abysz v pǎr, ɖ cnvnśnl mec̣nizm z conśns. Ɖr r inviẓbl lînz ɖt a prîm̦inistr z xpctd nt t cros az a pônt v onr, gîdd bî naćṛl defṛns t dmocṛsi. It z wel-istabliśt nǎ ɖt ɖoz qoḷtiz r absnt in Jonsn.

Tecn in comḅneśn, ɖoz factrz pṛdys a lejsḷtiv ajnda ɖt z nt riyli abt guṿnñ at ol bt sndñ signlz, fremñ dbets n skwñ ɖ pić on ẃć ɖ prîm̦inistr intndz wn de t campen fr riilex́n.

Ɖ volym v bilz biyñ pṛpozd, 38 in ol, tsṭfîz t a lac v foc̣s n prṗs. In ɖ absns v wn big plan, ɖr r mni litl planz t lc bizi. Nn v it cmz clos t gtñ a grip on ɖ sngl bigist iśu fesñ most ppl in ɖ cuntri: ɖ śriṿlñ v ɖer incmz az prîsz rîz agnst a bacdrop v impndñ rseśn.

Ɖ Jonsn flagśp poḷsi fr ɖ jenṛl betrmnt v lîf in ɖ YC wl b inactd az a “leṿlñ-up n rjeṇreśn bil”. Its advtîzd beṇfits r formiḍbl. A guvnmnt brīfñ not proṃsz, amñ uɖr trīts, t “impruv prodctivti, būst ic̣nomic groʈ, incurij iṇveśn, criet gd jobz n inhans edyceśnl atenmnt”.

Scrol dǎn t fînd ɖ meʈ̇d, n it trnz ǎt ɖt Śangri-La z rīćt bî we v meźrz no les drastic ɖn “gvñ rezidnts mor v a se ovr ćenjñ strītnemz n enśurñ evrwn cn cntiny t beṇfit fṛm alfresco dînñ”.

Ɖr wl olso b a ny dyti on ɖ guvnmnt t set “leṿlñ-up miśnz” n rport on ẃɖr ɖe hv bn acumpliśt. Ɖ lw t mc evrʈñ betr fr evrwn wl wrc bî plesñ a statytri obḷgeśn on ɖ guvnmnt t xplen hǎ ʈñz r gtñ betr.

Jonsn z rdyst t ɖz inaṇtiz bcz ɖ most pǎrfl fax́n amñ hiz MPz wl nt, az a pônt v îdịlojicl prínsipl, cǎntinns enʈñ ɖt sirịsli inṭfirz wɖ ɖ acruwl v wlʈ n priṿlij t ɖoz hu olrdi hv ɖm. Leṿlñ-up hz hit ɖ sem obsṭcl ɖt dīreld Devid Camṛn’z “big ssayti” ajnda. Ɖt tù wz cnsivd az a we t rīhbiḷtet unhapi parts v ɖ cuntri wɖt rcors t eni v ɖ xplisit fînanśl rīdistṛbyśn ɖt Ʈać̣rît Tōriz dspîz az soṣ́lizm.

Jonsn, lîc Camṛn bfr him, hz westd tîm on dluźnz v p’liticl alc̣mi, trayñ t cc p igaḷterịn endz wɖ libterịn mīnz. Ɖ product wl olwz dis’pônt. Ɖ nxt stej z olso pridictbl. Smwn wl hv t b blemd fr ɖ psistns v mtirịl dscumḟt, n ɖ p’liticl subjict wl hv t b stird awe fṛm ɖ icoṇmi.

Ɖt līvz Jonsn cmitd t a program v guvnmnt bî campen jsćr n culćrwor provceśn. Dǎnñ Strīt hz lwz fr bʈ. Wn îtm, loñ antiṣpetd on ɖ Tori bnćz, wl b a “bil v rîts”, ɖ prṗs v ẃć z t asrt Britiś naśnl ōtoṇmi in matrz v hymn-rîts lw, in mć ɖ sem spirit ɖt Brexit wz imajind az a hrǒic ic̣nomic imanṣpeśn.

In ples v līgl obḷgeśn t prínsiplz inśrînd in inṭnaśnl trīti, inforsbl bî corts, ɖr wl b a resṭreśn v “comn sns”, az dfînd bî ministrz. In Orwełn faśn, ɖs z cast az a meźr t “enśur ɖ consttyśn z dfndd”; fṛm ẃt ɖt dfns z nīdd z unclir. Ɖ implaid eṇmi z qizlñ rmenrjujz, olwz gtñ ɖer wigz in a twist ovr guvnmnt brecñ ɖ rūlz, n lefti hymn-rîts loyrz, wn v hūm hapnz t b līdr v ɖ Lebr parti.

In ɖ sem spirit, ɖr wl b a public-ordr bil, banñ d’rect-ax́n protests – clîṃt acṭvists ćenñ ɖmslvz t relñz, gluwñ ɖmslvz t motrwez – ɖt cōz a ńsns bt hardli ʈretn t unravl ssayti. P’līs wl b gvn pǎrz t stop enwn hu īvn lcs az f ɖe mt b p t antiguvnmnt misćif.

Az wɖ iṃgreśnpoḷsi, Dǎnñ Strīt z cnvinst ɖt public opińn on lw n ordr pmits strîdz t ɖ oʈoṛterịn rît wel bynd ɖ bǎnḍriz v cnvnśnl Wsminstr cnsnss. Ɖ rūl v ʈum: f libṛlz r sqīlñ in dstres, dubl dǎn; pres hardr.

It sīmz a loñ tîm ago ɖt modṛt Tori MPz wr indorsñ Jonsn fr ɖ līdrśp in ɖ b’lif ɖt hiz tru culrz wr ɖ wnz h hd dspleid t win ilex́n az mẹr v Lundn. Ɖe ʈt ɖt ɖ cozṃpoḷtn incarneśn v “Boris” wd riimrj wns Brexit wz dn. Jonsn himslf promist ɖm az mć in prîṿt têtes-à-têtes, olɖo ɖe śd hv noun h wz proṃsñ ɖ oṗzit t Yrosceptic hedbañrz in a rūm nxt dor.

It wz clir ɖen ɖt Jonsn wd se enʈñ t bcm prîm̦inistr n, wns ɖt gol wz aćivd, d enʈñ wɖ ɖ pǎr at hiz dspozl t cari on biyñ prîm̦inistr. Ɖt z ol ɖr z n ol ɖr evr wz. Ɖt z ɖ ajnda ɖt Prins Ćarlz dclerd fṛm hiz muɖr’z ʈron, olbiit incriptd in parḷmntri pajnt. N ɖs z ol ɖt wl b left wns ɖ crǎnz, rǒbz n ródz hv bn páct sefli bac in ɖ consttyśnl dresñ-up box: 38 bilz adñ p t a campen fr ɖ dfŕl v sirịs guvnmnt n ɖ prolongeśn v rūl bî Jonsn fr Jonsn’z sec.

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MOR ARTICLZ Fṛm Đ Gardịn

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Instroduction to Ñspel

Fṛm ɖ Gardịn │ Boris Johnson is flailing – so he is reviving his Brexit greatest hits

ÑSPEL, FROM THE GUARDIAN, , , ,
Anti-Boris Johnson protesters outside Downing Street, London, April 2022. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images
Anti-Boris Jonsn pṛtstrz ǎtsd Dǎnñ Strīt, Lundn, Epril 2022. Foṭgraf: Tolga Acmén/AFP/Geti Iṃjz
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Boris Jonsn z flelñ – so h z rvîvñ hiz Brexit gretist hits

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 26 April 2022)

Ɖ prîm̦inistr’z plan t ovŗîd ɖ Norɖn Îrḷnd proṭcol z a tîrd rpit v ɖ dsoṇsti ɖt got him ilectd

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Raphael Behr

Rafel Behr, Tyzde 26 Epril 2022

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Wn de, ẃn Boris Jonsn z no longr prîm̦inistr, n ɖ fl caṭlog v hiz frōdz z cmpîld, a speśl ples wl b’loñ t wn ɖt got him ilectd in ɖ frst ples. Bfr h atndd eni locdǎn partiz, bfr ɖr wr pandemic rūlz t brec or lîz t tel abt ɖ brecij, ɖr wz ɖ promis t Gt Brexit Dn.

It z nt dn. Ɖt z ẃ Jonsn’z guvnmnt z draftñ a lw ɖt wd gv ministrz ɖ pǎr t ovŗîd ɖ Norɖn Îrḷnd proṭcol v ɖ Brexit dīl. Ɖs z ɖ vri trīti ɖt Jonsn hêld az “gret”, “xḷnt”, a flfilmnt v ol hiz ngośietñ ambiśnz. F ɖt wr tru, h wd nt nǎ b planñ t set it on fîr.

Sǎnd fmiłr? It śd d. It z ɖ lêtist sīql in a hacnid franćîz wɖ a forḿlêic plot. In ɖ Brex̣tir imaɉneśn it z an ax́n’dvnćr muvi. Bruslz hz tecn a porśn v YC sovṛnti hostij. Pluci Boris mst g in, ol gunz blezñ, t rtriv it. In sć esc̣pedz v derñ-du, pleyñ bî ɖ rūlz n rspctñ trītiz z fr rmonrsoftiz.

A recap fṛm prīvịs eṗsodz: t avôd riimpozñ a hard bordr on ɖ îḷnd v Îrḷnd, a speśl custmzreźīm wz agrìd fr ɖ Norʈ ɖt rqîrz ćecs on sm gdz crosñ fṛm ɖ Britiś mênḷnd. Jonsn sînd p t ɖs. Ministrz nǎ clem it wz nvr mnt t b a prṃnnt s’lūśn, bî ẃć ɖe mīn Jonsn laid t hiz Yṛpiyn cǎnṭparts az wel az hiz votrz. H nvr intndd t onr ɖ dīl.

Untl nǎ, ɖ guvnmnt’s ajteśn hz bn xprest bî fnġrñ, bt nvr qt pŭlñ, ɖ trigr on articl 16 – ɖ brec̦lōz ritn intu ɖ Brexit dīl. Bt articl 16 z a rùt t mor ngośieśn n mīdieśn wɖn ɖ scop v ɖ trīti itslf. It z a cnvnśnl wepn. Ɖ ny dvîs biyñ asmbld in ɖ Dǎnñ Strīt buncr gz ńclir.

Wl it b deṭnetd? Vetṛnz v past Brexit worz wl b fmiłr wɖ ɖ cost-beṇfit iqeźn. It cmz dǎn t a tst v ẃr Jonsn ʈncs hiz śort-trm slf-inṭrest lîz. Ɖ ʈiyri z ɖt it tecs a propr crîsis fr Bruslz t tec notis v Britiś grīvns. Cuṛntli, ɖ YY z adresñ ɖ Norɖn Îrḷnd qsćn in tecnicl, līgl trmz, via ɖ cmiśn. Jonsn wonts t esc̣let it t a dīl btwn p’liticl līdrz. H ʈncs a Britiś prîm̦inistr śd’nt hv t hagl wɖ byṛcrats. H śd b stićñ smʈñ p wɖ Paris n Brlin. Ɖt’s hǎ it wrct in ɖ old dez. Bt in ɖ old dez Britn wz a membr v ɖ YY. Ɖt z’nt hǎ it wrcs fr “ʈrd cuntriz”.

A dǎnsîd t confṛnteśn z ɖt it wd b dvîsiv at a tîm ẃn wstn neśnz r strîvñ fr soḷdaṛti ovr Ruśa’z atac on Ycren. On ɖt frunt, Jonsn ʈncs hiz cṛdnślz az a stōlẉt frend v Cyīv r sfiśntli wel istabliśt – n notd in Wośñtn – ɖt h hz rigl rūm t mc dmandz ovr Norɖn Îrḷnd, a subjict on ẃć ɖ Americnz mt prīvịsli hv slapt him dǎn.

Bt steṭs az ɖ most pro-Ycreńn līdr in ɖ rūm dz’nt gt Jonsn az far az h ʈncs in Bruslz, ẃr h z’nt in ɖ acćl rūm. H nīdz gdwil fṛm Emmanuel Macron t śift dipḷmatic dîlz fr him on ɖ Yṛpiyn caunsl. Ɖ Frenć prezidnt, wɖ a nyli aqîrd dmestic mandet bt a lot v trubl in hiz in-tre, w’nt spend eni p’liticl capitl dwñ fevrz fr a man h mstrusts, hvñ dlt wɖ him bfr.

Ɖ prîm̦inistr hz nvr bn wn fr cultvetñ foṛn alaynsz, sins it rqîrz cnsistnsi n rlạbiḷti. Hiz inṭrests r mor p’rocịl. Olso, wūndd bî Partiget, hiz foc̣s z nǎ on ɖ bér-nucl fît fr svîvl. T ɖt end, a confḷgreśn v YY iśuz mt hlp t ʈw rleśnz wɖ ɖ rîtwñ fax́n ɖt tṛdiśṇli setlz ɖ fet v Tori līdrz. It wd iṛtet modṛt MPz, bt ɖe r’nt az ruʈlis or az orġnîzd.

No rîvl fr ɖ līdrśp wl risc criṭsîzñ an act v hardlîn Brexit rvîṿlizm. Liz Trus, ɖ foṛn secṛtri, fansiz ɖ top job n z nośnli in ćarj v ngośieśnz ovr Norɖn Îrḷnd. Ś wd nt hv ćozn a mnūvr az wontnli vanḍlistic az ɖ proṭcol-ovŗîd bil, bt ś z sd t b recnsîld t ɖ muv. Ɖ ćanslr hz prīvịsli bn an obsṭcl ẃnvr Nu 10 hz wontd t pic fîts wɖ Bruslz, ćaṇlñ Treẓ́ri añzayti abt ɖ cost v a tredwor. Bt Riśi Sŭnac z badli dminiśt bî rīsnt p’liticl mșteps arnd tax – ɖ wnz h rezd fr votrz n ɖ wnz hiz nondoṃsîld spǎs avôdd peyñ. Jonsn no longr siz him az a ʈret.

Cabiṇt hz nt dscust ɖ plan t saḅtāj ɖ Brexit dīl in lw. Mć dpndz on ilex́nz nxt wīc. Ɖ Stormont-asmbli poul in Norɖn Îrḷnd cd trigr a crîsis bî mcñ Sinn Féin ɖ larjist parti. Yńnists wd ɖen lūz ɖ rît t nem ɖ frst ministr – a los v p’liticl prîṃsi ɖt wd b mostli simbolic, bt culćṛli intolṛbl fr ɖt rīzn. Mnẃl, f caunsl ilex́nz in Ñgḷnd rvil masiv discntnt wɖ Jonsn, Tori MPz me b sprd t muv agnst him.

Ɖen ɖr wd b dubl tmteśn t g ol in wɖ a Brexit bust-up. Jonsn wd se ɖt onli scrapñ ɖ proṭcol cd īz tnśnz in Norɖn Îrḷnd (olɖo in riaḷti ɖ ilex́n ɖr wl probbli śo a mjoṛti in fevr v cīpñ it). Ɖ ovŗîd lw mt nt īvn nīd t b pást. Ɖ prîm̦inistr wd b most inṭrestd in ɖ specṭcl – a batl wɖ Bruslz, obstrux́n in ɖ Hǎs v Lordz, ɖ fŭlṃneśnz v rmen-s’portñ libṛlz; a fîrwrcs dsple t gt ɖ old Yrosceptic cor vot ūwñ n āiñ in aprīśieśn, jst lîc ɖ old dez.

Wd it wrc? Probbli nt. Ɖ plej t Gt Brexit Dn hd sć bredʈ v apil bcz it rezd hop v endñ ɖ toxic, slf-involvd naśnl drama ovr an iśu ɖt most ppl hd nt cnsidrd ol ɖt importnt bfr a ćôs wz forst on ɖm in a reḟrendm. Onli a fnaticl mnoṛti misz ɖ fît inuf t rīstart it. N tde’z Jonsn hz lost ɖ nac ɖt hiz formr slf hd fr trnñ crîsis intu carnivl. Hiz leṿti no longr gts him līńnsi fṛm an ōdịns ɖt hz hŕd jst a fy tù mni lîz. Stl, ɖr wd b a srtn tîdi siṃtri f hiz dǎnfōl includd a Brexit bil ɖt ofrd fōls reẓluśn t a crîsis wɖt end – hiz last gret dsoṇsti in ofis biyñ a mirr v ɖ frst.

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MOR ARTICLZ Fṛm Đ Gardịn

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Instroduction to Ñspel

Fṛm ɖ Gardịn │ We claim Britain is an ethical democracy – but oligarchs know that’s not true

ÑSPEL, FROM THE GUARDIAN, , , , ,
‘The spectacle is depressing, not because Baron Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia is Russian, but because of the absurd title and the corrupt process that created it.’ Evgeny Lebedev and Boris Johnson in 2009. Photograph: Ian West/PA
‘Ɖ specṭcl z dpresñ, nt bcz Báṛn Lebedev v Hamtn n Sîbiria z Ruśn, bt bcz v ɖ absrd tîtl n ɖ c’rupt proses ɖt crietd it.’ Evgeni Lebedev n Boris Jonsn in 2009. Foṭgraf: Iyn Wst/PA
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W clem Britn z an eʈicl dmocṛsi – bt oligarcs nǒ ɖt’s nt tru

(Transcription of a Guardian article of 16 March 2022)

Ɖ îdīa ɖt poḷtics cn b sbvrtd bî wlʈ z pvesiv in Ruśa. Ɖt’s ẃ its biłnerz fīl at hom in ɖ YC

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Raphael Behr

Rafel Behr, Wnzde 16 Marć 2022

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“So let m gt ɖs stret. F sm gai livz longr ɖn y pridict, I hv t cīp on peyñ?” Ɖ qsćn cem fṛm ɖ manijr v ɖ pnśnfund fr a stet-ǒnd Ruśn cumṗni. H wz in Lundn on a fact-fîndñ miśn t lrn abt prîṿt pnśnz. H hd jst hŕd an acć̣ri xplen hǎ it wrct. Ɖ Ruśn manijr wz sspiśs v a sistm wɖ sć opn-endd laybiḷtiz. I wz intrpṛtñ n pást on hiz qsćn.

Ɖ acć̣ri cnfrmd ɖt ɖ longr a pnśnr livd, ɖ mor h got peid. Ɖ Ruśn claynt foldd hiz hand intu haf a fist, wɖ tū fngrz xtndd t iṃtet ɖ baṛl v a gun, ẃć h pôntd t ɖ grǎnd. “Cd’nt y jst, y nǒ, tec cer v ɖ gai?”

I trnzletd. Ɖ acć̣ri lct at m fr conḟmeśn ɖt it wz a joc. Yes n no. Ɖs wz ɖ mid-1990z. Hir wz smwn hu hd mnūvrd himslf ʈru ɖ ruinz v ɖ formr Sovịt Yńn intu cntrol v a vast pot v uɖr ppl’z muni. H wz’nt a big-tîm oligarc, bt h wz wn v ɖ winrz fṛm a trnziśn ɖt hd left most Ruśnz fīlñ lîc luzrz. Ɖ pônt wz nt abt pnśnz bt pǎr. Ẃ pe f y d’nt hv t? Ẃt’s in it fr ɖ bos?

Ɖ Britiś advîzrz smîld ōcẉdli n ćenjd ɖ subjict.

A lot hz ćenjd sins ɖen. Ruśa stopt trayñ t b a dmocṛsi, ɖen stopt pritndñ t trî. Britn stopt advîzñ Ruśnz on hǎ t run a marcit icoṇmi wɖn ɖ rūl v lw, ɖen stopt pritndñ t cer hǎ ɖe md ɖer muni. F ɖ qsćn evr cem p ẃn ɖ sūpŗić cem śopñ fr manśnz in Blgrevia, or premịr-līg ftbōl clubz ɖr wz a lot v smîlñ ōcẉdli n ćenjñ ɖ subjict.

A comn wstn miscnspśn in ɖoz rli yirz v Ruśa’z post-Sovịt trnziśn wz ɖt ppl hu hd groun p undr coḿnizm dd’nt unḍstand capiṭlizm. Ɖt oṿlct ɖ importns v marcitforsz t Sovịt ssayti, oṗretñ on mni levlz. Ɖr wz ɖ ʈrîvñ tred in ilisit gdz, cntrold bî criminl gañz hu olso bòt pṛtx́n fṛm oʈoṛtiz. P’līs indifṛns cmz at a prîs.

Ɖr wz ɖ comrs in fevrz, îɖr az bartr or caś in hand, ẃrvr a byṛcratic dor nīdd oṗnñ. Ppl hu gemd ɖt sistm in ɖ dez ẃn mcñ a profit wz îdịlojicli tbu dd’nt nīd lésnz in marcitforsz ẃn gtñ filʈi rić trnd l’jit. CGB ofisrz n parti aṗraćics hu bcem miłnerz dd nt strugl t śec of ɖ prīsepts v Marxizm-Leninizm.

Ɖr z a tndnsi t sīqns Ruśn hisṭri ovr ɖ past jeṇreśn in lrćz: ɖ c’laps v Sovịt pǎr intu ɖ anarcic Boris Yeltsin ira, ɖen ɖ slump bac t oʈoṛterịnizm undr Vladīmir Pūtin. Bt runñ ol ɖ we ʈru hz bn a comn īʈos ɖt siz ol poḷtics az a ngośieśn btwn ɖ ppl hu hv faund a we t gt rić n ɖ ofiślz hu cn îɖr hlp or obstruct ɖm, n set ɖ prîs. It z olwz a trnzax́n btwn muni n stetpǎr. Îdioḷji hardli entrz intu it.

Ɖt siṇsizm z dīpli intrenćt n pṛjctd ǎtwdz on t ol cuntriz n ol juṛsdix́nz. I spent yirz in Ruśa n cuntriz v ɖ formr Sovịt Yńn, az a stydnt, dwñ intrpṛtñgigz, ɖen az a corispondnt, fṛm ɖ mid-1990z onẉdz. I yst t gt intu ɖs arğmnt ol ɖ tîm. I wd xplen ɖt ʈñz wrct difṛntli in ɖ wst – ɖt dmocṛsi involvz a difṛnt cnd v rleśnśp btwn wlʈ, parḷmnts n pǎr. Ɖt clem wz rūtīnli met wɖ p’lît scepṭsizm or ǎtrît d’riźn. Az f onli a ćîld wd b’liv sć p’liticl fẹritêlz. A dspiṛtñ trend in rīsnt yirz hz bn hírñ ɖ sem cōstic siṇsizm in ɖ YC.

N ɖ mor Ruśn muni muvd intu Britn, ɖ mor inmeśt rić Ruśnz bcem wɖ Lundn’z sośl, p’liticl n ic̣nomic ilīt, ɖ hardr it got t argy ɖt dmocṛsi oṗretd t a hayr standd; ɖt its rūlz wr’nt sołbl in muni; ɖt ɖ sistm dd’nt olwz yīld fr rić frendz v ɖ bos.

Ɖt z ẃ Evgeni Lebedev’z apôntmnt t ɖ Hǎs v Lordz wz so daṃjñ īvn bfr it wz rvild ɖt YC intelijns ejnsiz hd a cnsrn ɖt ɖ noṃneśn pozd a risc t naśnl s’kṛti.

Ẃn Boris Jonsn noṃnetd hiz frend fr a pirij in Jlî 2020 ɖ brezņis v ɖ fevr atractd mor coment ɖn ɖ Ruṣ́ņis. Ɖen ɖ fus daid dǎn. It wz hardli ɖ frst tîm ɖt a sīt in ɖ Lordz hz bn gvn t ɖ frend v a prîm̦inistr. Ɖr r beṇfiṣ́riz wɖ ʈinr recordz v ćaritbl bnevḷns ɖn ɖ wn Lebedev’z frendz sáit t jusṭfî hiz eņoblmnt. H z nt a Tori donr. (Uɖr Ruśnz wɖ dyl Britiś naṣ́naḷti hv funld miłnz intu Cnsrṿtiv cofrz.) It c’nt b a ces v caś fr onrz ẃn ɖr wz no caś.

Ɖ Hǎs v Lordz apôntmntscmiti dd’nt lîc ɖ Lebedev pirij, bt ɖ prîm̦inistr wz unmuvd. H ʈt ɖ objx́n xprest anti-Ruśn preɉdis. Ɖ intelijnșrṿsz ćenjd ɖer asesmnt v ɖ risc. Spūcs gt stuf roñ. Dd ɖe jst smîl ōcẉdli n ćenj ɖ subjict ẃn ɖ prîm̦inistr insistd on mcñ hiz pal a pir?

Aḷxandr Lebedev, Evgeni’z faɖr n ɖ sors v hiz wlʈ, wz wns a CGB ejnt. Bt ɖt z’nt a hreditri cndiśn. Hiz attyd t ɖ Cremlin mt b dscrîbd az tmpṛt. In a 2016 articl fr ɖ Standd, Aḷxandr cnsidd ɖt oligarcs hd plundrd Ruśa n olso “sad t se, sm v ɖm r clos t Pūtin”. Bt h insistd ɖt ɖ prezidnt himslf wz “nt bhnd ɖ lūtñ”.

Lebedev Jr hz sd ʈñz in ɖ past alînñ wɖ Cremlin vyz on ɖ 2014 anxeśn v Crîmīa n castñ dǎt on ɖ ofiśl YC acǎnt v ɖ Sōlzḅri pôẓnñ, bt ɖt z’nt sdiśn. Ɖ nyzpeprz h cntrolz hv cm ǎt agnst ɖ inveźn v Ycren. Hiz atrax́n t a sīt in ɖ Lordz me b motvetd bî nʈñ mor ɖn vaṇti in c’lectñ a liṃtd idiśn ŕmin rǒb. (H hz’nt votd or spocn in a dbet sins hiz meidnspīć.) Hiz frendśp wɖ Jonsn z probbli in ɖ sem caṭgri – a prîm̦inistr az hî-end c’lectbl.

Bt f ɖt z ɖ ces, n ɖ s’kṛtisrṿsz wr mcñ a fus ovr nʈñ, ɖr z stl harm dn. Ɖ specṭcl z dpresñ, nt bcz Báṛn Lebedev v Hamtn in ɖ Lundn Bura v Rićmnd upn Tmz n v Sîbiria in ɖ Ruśn Feḍreśn z Ruśn, bt bcz ɖ absrd tîtl n ɖ c’rupt proses ɖt crietd it bolstr ɖ most cōstic, sinicl vy v ɖ we Britiś poḷtics wrcs. N at a tîm ẃn w nīd t spred confidns ɖt dmocṛsiz d ʈñz betr.

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• Rafel Behr z a Gardịn coḷmnist

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MOR ARTICLZ Fṛm Đ Gardịn

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Instroduction to Ñspel

Fṛm Đ Gardịn: This is the last exit to Brexit. But in truth, there was only ever one road

ÑSPEL, FROM THE GUARDIAN, ,
‘Boris Johnson has pounded away at the domestic side of Brexit and distorted the shape of British politics.’ Johnson poses with a sign in Benfleet, Essex, December 2019. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images
‘Boris Jonsn hz pǎndd awe at ɖ dmestic sîd v Brexit n dstortd ɖ śep v Britiś poḷtics.’ Jonsn pozz wɖ a sîn in Benflīt, Esix, Dsmbr 2019. Foṭgraf: Ben Stansl/AFP/Geti Iṃjz

Ɖs z ɖ last xit t Brexit. Bt in truʈ, ɖr wz onli evr wn rod

(Transcription of an article published in the Guardian on 8 December 2020)

Eni dīl wl b a tred-of btwn wlʈ n sovṛnti – ɖ pṛporśn n tîmscel r ɖ onli cnsiḍreśnz

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Rafel Bẹr, 8 Dsmbr 2020

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Ɖr z wn Brexit dīl. Ɖr hz onli evr bn wn. It hz bn ɖr fṛm ɖ start, olɖo hard t si ʈru ɖ fog. Its ǎtlîn hz bn dsrṇbl bhnd plūmz v reṭric n misinf̣meśn bilowñ ǎt fṛm ɖ Wsminstr p’liticl mśīn. It wz ɖr on ɖ hrîzn ɖ mornñ aftr ɖ ref̣rendm. It hz nt muvd jrñ ɖ ʈǎzndz v aurz v dbet ɖt foloud.

Ɖ dīl wz olrdi cntend in articl 50. It wz in evri bil in evri lêt-nît Comnz vot. It wz in T’rīza Me’z bacstop n Boris Jonsn’z oltrṇtiv. It z ɖ hard crṇl v a soft Brexit n ɖ soft unḍbeli v a hard wn. It z ɖ capitl v Norwījn, Cnedịn n Ostrełn-stîl Brexits. It z ɖs: ɖ YC wl gv p wlʈ in xćenj fr sovṛnti. .

In ẃt pṛporśnz n ovr ẃt tîmscel z ɖ onli riyl subjict v ngośieśn. Ẃɖr ɖt xćenj śd b md at ol z ɖ isnśl difṛns btwn līvrz n rmenrz. Ɖ s’nario w nǎ cōl “no dīl” z a we v dscrîbñ ɖ hîist prîs fr ɖ larjist porśn v sovṛnti. Ɖ trīti ɖt Jonsn mt agri in an 11ʈ aur trip t Bruslz dscrîbz a difṛnt trnzax́n yzñ ɖ sem forḿla.

Ɖ wlʈ-fr-sovṛnti xćenjret z nt dtrmind bî campenproṃsz, nr z it pegd t ɖ lebîl mūd v Cnsrvtiv MPz. It z a fuñśn v ic̣nomic n stṛtījic graṿti – ɖ difṛns in tredñmas btwn ɖ YC on its ǒn n ɖ cmbînd heft v 27 YY cuntriz. Brex̣tirz hd plenti v tūlz fr śepñ ɖ we ɖt rleśnśp wz psivd bî a Britiś ōdịns, bt ɖr wz nʈñ in ɖ box ɖt cd ćenj ɖ acćl dispziśn v forsz, nr enʈñ t pswed Yṛpiyn līdrz t sspnd ɖer ǒn aprezl v riaḷti.

Folowñ ɖ prínsipl ɖt evrʈñ lcs lîc a nêl t a man wɖ onli a hamr, Jonsn hz pǎndd awe at ɖ dmestic sîd v Brexit n dstortd ɖ śep v Britiś poḷtics. Cnvnśnz hv bn flatnd; lojic hz bn twistd; truɖz hv bn pulṿrîzd. Bt stl ɖ facts ɖt mc ɖ dīl r unćenjd.

Līvrz startd fṛm a pziśn v dnayl ɖt sovṛnti hd eni prîs at ol – ɖt Brexit wz ol upsîd. Ɖt ces restd on tū pilrz. Frst wz ɖ îdīa ɖt YY membrśp wz a drag on Britn, an unwontd sbscripśnsrvis ɖt cd b cansld n ɖ muni rīdirectd t betr cōzz.

Secnd wz ɖ b’lif ɖt Yṛpiynz wd b so sad t lūz axes t Britiś marcits ɖt ɖe wd agri t cntiny smʈñ lîc ɖ old srvis wɖt ćarj. Ɖoz ʈñz wr nt tru, bt ɖ Brex̣tirz b’livd ɖe cd b md tru bî fors v cnvix́n n a mor agresiv ngośietñstans.

Mnẃl, rmenrz sw ɖ hol dīl az a scam. Ɖ prîs wz tù hî n ɖ sovṛnti biyñ bòt wz wrʈlis. It cd nt mc Britn hefti inuf in ɖ wrld t rîvl Wośñtn or Bêźñ. Ɖr wz mor globl līṿrij aveḷbl fṛm a sīt at YY sumits in Bruslz. Ɖ bst dīl on sovṛnti wz ɖrfr ɖ wn ɖt invstd ɖ hol pot in ɖ Yṛpiyn project.

Bt ɖt arğmnt hz nvr hd trax́n wɖ līvrz. Ɖ clem ɖt Brexit hz no valy z palṗbl nonsns t tnz v miłnz v ppl hu, bî ɖ act v votñ, bstoud it wɖ pṛfǎnd imośnl sgnificns. Sovṛnti sǎndz lîc indipndns ẃć z smʈñ ppl wont fr ɖmslvz n ɖer cuntri. Mni cd olso ʈnc v concrīt beṇfits fṛm ōtoṇmi in lw-mcñ. Ofn ɖoz ʈñz wr crīćrz fṛm Yrosceptic miʈoḷji – frīdm t d ʈñz ɖt Bruslz hd nvr stopt Britn fṛm dwñ – bt nt olwz. Enwn hu wontd a tufr iṃgreśnreźīm, fr xampl, wl gt wn fṛm Brexit. Fr libṛl rmenrz, ɖt z jst anɖr cost.

Ɖ tū trîbz meźr ɖ iśuz on cmplitli difṛnt scelz, n wl cntiny t d so. Pro-Yṛpiynz wl b dis’pôntd f ɖe antiṣpet sm dfiṇtiv momnt v vindceśn, ẃn ɖ bil landz fr ɖ holo mońmnt t sovṛnti ɖt Jonsn z irectñ at vast naśnl xpns.

Rstrictd axes t Yṛpiyn marcits wl tec a tol in jobz n forgon groʈ. Bt ɖr wl b foṛnrz n a pandemic t blem. Ɖ p’liticl frṇsz wl fîr p, insiṇretñ ɖ evidns prizntd bî icoṇmists n pumpñ ǎt ɖ sem p’lūtñ clǎd v spīśs arğmnt. A sprñtîm bǎns-bac in GDP – a sttisticl nir-srtnti gvn ɖ depʈ v ɖ Covid-indyst slump – wl b cast az a Brexit liḅreśndiṿdnd.

Ɖ tricịr part wl b cnvrtñ reğletri sovṛnti intu mtirịl pêbac t līv̦otrz. Jonsn’z śîni mońmnt canot b mltd dǎn n mintd intu cônz fr ppl huz jobz hv vaniśt bcz ɖ s’plî ćen in ẃć ɖe wrct hz bn rīrùtd via Sḷvacia. Ōtoṇmi fṛm YY rūlz afordz sm lìwe t subṣdîz inḍstri, bt most Tōriz r îdịlojicli rpeld bî ɖ îdīa v guvnmnt picñ ic̣nomic winrz. Ɖ Yrosceptic instñt tndz ɖ uɖr we, aplayñ marcitforsz az ɖ reṃdi t eni mleiz, cutñ taxz n reğleśn t prj ɖ bodipoḷtic v stet-indyst leʈ̇ji. Straṭjists in Dǎnñ Strīt nǒ ɖt sć meḍsin wd b pôzn t votrz in formr Lebr stroñholdz ɖt mc p ɖ prîm̦inistr’z ny pǎrbes.

On ɖ inṭnaśnl stej, Jonsn’z paḍlñpūl v sovṛnti wl ivaṗret in no tîm. Jo Bîdn z a frend v ɖ Yṛpiyn project n intndz t mc ɖt ɖ axis fr rnywl v alaynsz ɖt Doṇld Trump dspîzd. Paris n Brlin rsipṛcet īgrli. Wn v ɖ ynīc streñʈs v Britiś foṛn poḷsi yst t b srvñ az ɖ stṛtījic linc btwn Wośñtn n conṭnntl Yṛp. YY membrśp wz ɖ brij, n nǎ it z brnt. It canot b rbilt wɖ ɖ recrz’ tūlz. Ɖt mesij hz rīćt Nu. 10, jujñ bî Tyzde’z rtrit fṛm planz t rpydiet ɖ Brexit wɖdrwl’grīmnt, bt ɖ līgl tantṛm wl nt b fgotn qcli.

Jonsn ingejz in ɖt cnd v brincmnśp bcz h ʈncs it śoz streñʈ, bt it hz ɖ oṗzit ifct. Enwn lcñ fṛm ɖ ǎtsd cn si ɖ strucćṛl wìcnis v hiz pziśn rgardlis v ɖ hrǒic pozz h strîcs. Evri tîm h plz sm stunt t demnstret hǎ sirịs h z abt Brexit fr a dmestic ōdịns, h advtîzz ɖ foli v ɖ ʈñ in ɖ inṭnaśnl arīna. H hz boroud heṿli agnst Britn’z repyteśn az a levl-hedd, pragmatic cuntri n rlaybl alî, jst t prćis a fy mor ǎnsz v sovṛnti. It ol hz t b peid bac. Bt ɖt z ɖ dīl. Ɖt wz olwz ɖ dīl.

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MOR ARTICLZ Fṛm Đ Gardịn

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Instroduction to Ñspel