The Art Of Politics: April — ‘Humanity Has Once Again Shown What We Are Capable Of’
by Richard Bruton
The Art of Politics, where we round up the work of best political cartoonists as they point the finger at those in power …
Well… let’s take a wild guess as to what’s been occupying the minds of the cartoonists this month? Yep, the war that isn’t a war, except it is …
The War In Iran …
So yes, the war in Iran dominates the political cartoonist landscape as it does the political landscape around the world. The world’s in chaos, oil prices just keep going up, and supply chains have been crippled. And the US administration can’t seem to decide just what’s going on. The war is a conflict, then it’s a war (with the Pres completely ignoring the fact that the War Powers Resolution should mean Congress should approve the war — that’s not a war — or that the ceasefire that didn’t really feel like a ceasefire has reset the clock). The Strait of Hormuz is open, then it’s closed. Iran’s military capability has been destroyed, obliterated, wiped out, and then they’re still a threat.
Meanwhile, Trump promises that ‘A whole civilisation will die’ if Iran doesn’t open up the Strait of Hormuz. Iran ignores this, and keeps on doing what it’s been doing. And, somewhat ironically, given that a whole War of Independence was fought 250 years back, it’s King Charles’s speech to Congress that manages to point out just how American democracy should work.
During all this, President Orange picks a fight with the Pope, and there’s another assassination attempt,
Ella Baron on the Israel & Lebanon peace talks …
Ben Jennings on the scourge of Trumpflation affecting the entire world …
Still, as Ben Jennings points out, the war’s proving to be real good for those oil companies, as BP announced its latest profits …
Ben Jennings on political violence in the US, in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Trump …
Then there was King Charles’ speech to Congress, not too subtly pointing out all the ways America is going wrong …
And in the midst of War, we took our first steps back to the Moon…
It was a moment that seemed to unite the world, watching Artemis II take its trip around the moon, mankind going further into space than ever before. And it was a glorious, hopeful moment, one much needed.
Britain — Labour’s continuing disastrous reign under Keir Starmer …
Well, alongside the ongoing Trumpian nightmare affecting the globe, Keir Starmer’s Labour government continues to lurch from disaster to disaster. The latest one being the Mandelson problem, where the vetting of Mandelson before his appointment as US Ambassador was lax, to say the least. (Of course, we’re still in a world where the only high-profile fallout from the Epstein files has come from Britain. The Prince formerly known as Andrew and Mandelson. Whilst the rich, powerful and guilty in America just keep on being ignored.
So, yes, the spectre of Mandelson loomed large, giving Starmer’s enemies (and there are many, of course) more and more ammunition …
Ella Baron on Starmer’s words to Boris Johnson coming back to haunt him …
Alongside all those other ills, there’s the rising tide of antisemitism in Britain, culminating in the Golders Green attacks… Ben Jennings on that …
And Ella Baron on the increasing pressure on the anti-racist movement to take a stand on antisemitism …
Morten Morland on the increasingly likely challenge to Starmer by Angela Rayner …
The local elections loom large…
Britain’s ruling Labour Party faces upcoming local elections where it’s expected that the Labour party will receive a good kicking, with Reform UK and the Green Party expected to pick up plenty of votes and councils across the country.
Now, Reform UK are obviously running on a dog whistle platform of essentially kick out the immigrants, bring back proper Britain. Although, like many, I’d love to know what the hell they think is proper Britain. Me, I’m one of the liberal snowflakes Reform UK hate so much, so I’d say ‘proper Britain’ is a nation of integration, diversity, multiculturalism, and not one of racism, bigotry, and hatred.
Anyway, one of Reform UK’s policies is the removal of illegal migrants from the country — and yes, visions of ICE-style round-ups are the first thing that comes to mind. However, Reform UK seem to take great delight in saying the quiet parts out loud, especially when they feel it can get them any votes. Hence, the announcement of plans for what can only be called concentration camps to hold all these migrants they’re going to get rid of. And the kicker, in what is surely the absolute lowest bit of politicking this month, their plan is to exclude any area that votes them into power from being the location of said camps. Yeah, vile.
