Putin’s pressure on Ukraine, “sunshine tax” & Rees-Mogg’s new job

A ROUND-UP AND REVIEW OF THE WEEK’S BIGGEST NEWS STORIES

In this week’s ‘News Roundtable’ episode, host Chris Wright is joined by journalist and author Otto English, journalist and broadcaster Jemma Forte, and writer, broadcaster and commentator, Jonathan Sacerdoti.

The conversation begins by observing a quieter week in the news for Boris Johnson as Ukraine tensions otherwise heat up, to debate whether he will be able to draw a line under the partygate scandal. They discuss how the West has reacted to Putin’s pressure on Ukraine, and whether “anybody can get into the mind of this man”, and understand his motives.

The discussion moves on to chew over Jacob Rees-Mogg’s new job role as ‘Minister for Brexit opportunities and Government efficiency’, to consider what the reshuffle says about the prime minister’s own image, as well as a raft of post-Brexit issues such as changes to alcohol duty.

Together, the panel express their views on a report suggesting that Channel migrants should be deported to an overseas British territory, and discuss whether this more radical course of action is really the solution to the migrant crisis.

Finally, the panel argue whether West Ham’s Kurt Zouma should be allowed to continue his job as a professional footballer following a ‘cat-kicking video’, and highlight the concerning news that 15 year-old elite Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for using performance-enhancing substances.

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