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LAST UPDATE | 6 Sep 2022
NEW UK PRIME minister Liz Truss has rewarded allies with top cabinet positions and dumped a number of prominent supporters of her former rival Rishi Sunak in a government reshuffle.
The former foreign secretary appointed Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor and Therese Coffey as Deputy Prime Minister and Health Secretary, as she made James Cleverly her successor as Foreign Secretary today.
Former attorney general Suella Braverman was appointed Home Secretary, replacing Priti Patel after she pre-emptively resigned.
The appointments came after Truss despatched Dominic Raab, Grant Shapps, George Eustice and Steve Barclay to the backbenches after they supported Sunak in the Tory leadership contest.
Truss was appointed as Prime Minister by the UK’s Queen Elizabeth II earlier today after winning the Conservative leadership contest.
She then set out the agenda for her premiership in her first speech since taking office.
The 47-year-old laid out domestic policies, including tax cuts, bolstering the NHS and financial supports to help people cope with rising energy prices.
The Irish government, the EU and leaders across Europe were parsing through Truss’s comments for insight into how she intends to handle diplomatic relations with the UK’s neighbours.
However, the speech contained no detail on the UK’s relationship with Europe.
The speech did mention the war in Ukraine with the new UK Prime Minister saying she is determined to stand up for freedom and democracy in the face of Russian aggression.
Truss – who was the architect of a bill to override parts of the UK’s Brexit withdrawal deal – has been hawkish in her dealings with Europe and dispatches from Brussels suggest EU officials have low expectations of an improvement in relations.
Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of Liz Truss setting out the stall for her leadership of the UK.
Truss was invited to form a new government by the British queen at Balmoral, Scotland, earlier today.
She is due to make her first speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street at about 4pm.
In a statement earlier today, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen received in audience The Right Honourable Elizabeth Truss MP today and requested her to form a new administration.
“Ms Truss accepted Her Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon her appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.”
Here’s the scene outside Downing Street as the media wait in the rain for Truss to make her speech.
Reports from Press Association suggest Truss is planning to freeze energy bills at around the £2,500 (€2,910) mark. This figure would be approximately £500 (€582) higher than current levels but more than £1,000 (€1,164) below next month’s cap.
Details have not yet been finalised, but the plan is expected to be funded through general taxation or increased borrowing rather than paid for in future energy bills.
Meanwhile in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised to bring in emergency legislation to introduce a rent freeze as part of a package of measures to tackle the “humanitarian emergency” sparked by inflation.
This crisis is pushing millions into poverty; It is threatening the viability of businesses; And it will almost certainly push the UK economy into recession.
“It poses a danger, not just to livelihoods, but to lives. It is to be blunt a humanitarian emergency,” Sturgeon said in her programme for government speech today.
The plane carrying Truss down from Scotland has landed at a Royal Air Force station in north London and the new UK leader is set to travel to Downing Street by motorcade.
Ever wonder what it’s like for the journalists covering a big political announcement such as Truss’s upcoming speech in front of 10 Downing Street? Matt Chorley of The Times has given an update from the scene over on Twitter.
Well I for one am very pleased with my view of the door to No10 pic.twitter.com/LV7cSM14ZF
— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) September 6, 2022
Good stat.
Mary Truss has replaced Alexander Johnson.
A historic day: Mary Elizabeth Truss is the second Prime Minister in a row not to use their real first name. pic.twitter.com/vc4wmGat9u
— Tim Bale (@ProfTimBale) September 6, 2022
There’s a new Prime Minister in number 10 and there’s also a new podium for speeches to be made from.
The eye-catching design is already causing something of a stir on social media.
Well Truss’s new podium is JAZZY pic.twitter.com/Meyjq75tIF
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) September 6, 2022
Truss’s motorcade is still weaving its way through London and hundreds of reporters are still waiting on Downing Street.
All politics is local:
Liz Truss just drove by my house on her way to Downing Street. Glad to see the new pm is now aware of the traffic problems on the streets of Acton...
— Kate Devlin (@_katedevlin) September 6, 2022
The motorcade’s arrival appears to be imminent as Truss’s team of advisors are now standing outside the front of 11 Downing Street.
The #Truss team has just appeared from Number 11 pic.twitter.com/z0tVozh0FL
— Andy Bell (@andybell5news) September 6, 2022
MPs are gathering to await the arrival of the UK’s new prime minister.
MPs gather in Downing St awaiting arrival of Prime Minister Liz Truss
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 6, 2022
Follow live https://t.co/g7YnZ2nxw1 pic.twitter.com/Do2AOeAjyY
The weather isn’t being kind to those gathered on Downing Street as a heavy downpour has been unleashed.
The podium has been covered in black plastic in a bid to keep it dry.
Oh. pic.twitter.com/4qv7P1GPyf
— James Manning-Monro (@JamesManning) September 6, 2022
With the downpour intensifying, the podium has now been removed.
The MPs who gathered in the street to welcome Truss have now moved indoors. The speech looks set to be delayed.
Very heavy rain at Downing Street as we wait for Liz truss. Podium has just been removed…. pic.twitter.com/gsR8wG94ju
— David Wallace Lockhart (@BBCDavidWL) September 6, 2022
Boris Johnson’s sister has had her say on the unfortunate timing of the rain.
Après moi le déluge
— Rachel Johnson (@RachelSJohnson) September 6, 2022
As the downpour abates, the podium has now been placed back in position outside 10 Downing Street. Truss looks set to make her speech outside, as originally planned.
Therese Coffey, who is widely expected to be named Truss’s deputy prime minister, has now emerged from Number 11 ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival.
After all of that, Truss’s motorcade has finally arrived on Downing Street.
The rain is holding off as the new Prime Minister prepares to start her speech.
Truss has begun her speech by paying tribute to her predecessor, Boris Johnson.
She said she was honoured to take on the role “at a vital time for our country” and laid out some domestic policies.
“Now is the time to tackle the issues that are holding Britain back. We need to build roads homes and broadband faster,” Truss said.
As flagged earlier, Truss has promised to help people deal with “unaffordable energy bills”.
Meanwhile, a car horn sounds in the background.
Truss has now wrapped up her brief speech, which was notably devoid of comment on the UK’s relations with its neighbours in Europe.
US President Joe Biden – who has been silent on Truss until now –has congratulated new UK Prime Minister.
“I look forward to deepening the special relationship between our countries and working in close co-operation on global challenges, including continued support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression,” Biden said.
Truss listed her three early priorities as tax cuts and reforms, dealing with soaring energy bills and securing the energy supply, and putting the NHS “on a firm footing”.
“Firstly, I will get Britain working again. I have a bold plan to grow the economy through tax cuts and reform.
“I will cut taxes to reward hard work and boost business-led growth and investment.
“I will drive reform in my mission to get the United Kingdom working, building and growing.
“We will get spades in the ground to make sure people are not facing unaffordable energy bills and we will also make sure that we are building hospitals, schools, roads and broadband,” Truss said.
Truss noted in her speech that the UK is facing “severe global headwinds” as a result of the war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She said she was determined to stand up for freedom and democracy in the face of Russian aggression.
“What makes the United Kingdom great is our fundamental belief in freedom, in enterprise and in fair play. Our people have shown grit and determination time and time again,” Truss said.
“United with our allies we will stand up for freedom and democracy around the world recognising the we can’t have security at home without security abroad.”
Further to Biden’s congratulatory message, the White House has confirmed that the US President will congratulate the new UK leader in an upcoming phone call.
Not long after walking through the door of No 10 Downing Street, Truss is headed to the House of Commons to sack the Cabinet ministers she doesn’t want to keep.
Sky News’ Beth Rigby says that she expects the new Cabinet to begin arriving at No 10 within the next hour.
Truss straight to parliament and will be sacking those in current cabinet she doesn’t want to keep. Am expecting the new cabinet to start arriving in the street in an hour or so
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) September 6, 2022
We’ve got a fairly big player returning to the backbenches here.
Dominic Raab, the former Minister for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister under Boris Johnson, said that he would be heading to the Tory backbenches.
He has wished the new PM luck though and says he will continue to support the UK Government.
Thanks to the brilliant MoJ team for all their hard work over the last year. Good luck to the new PM and her team. I look forward to supporting the government from the backbenches.
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) September 6, 2022
Earlier this afternoon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Truss on becoming Prime Minister.
In a statement he said:
A shared history and close ties of people, of economy, and of culture link our two countries. A strong partnership between our two Governments is vital to underpin the Good Friday Agreement and support peace and prosperity on these islands.
I hope we can use the period ahead to prioritise EU-UK engagement, and to reach agreed outcomes on the issues around implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
I am committed to a strong and deep relationship between our countries, and to working in an open and constructive way with Prime Minister Truss.
An Taoiseach said that he was looking forward to an “early engagement” with Truss and that he would be working closely with her around issues in Ireland and the UK.
We’ve got a photo of the new UK Prime Minister Truss and her husband Hugh O’Leary this evening, following her maiden speech outside No 10 Downing Street.
We’ve got another two senior members of Boris Johnson’s government heading to the backbenches this evening: Grant Shapps and Steve Barclay.
Shapps, the former Transport Secretary, made the announcement on Twitter this evening, saying that he was going to be a “strong, independent voice on the backbenches”.
It has been a privilege to serve as Transport Secretary; a job I loved. Now I look forward to being a strong, independent voice on the backbenches, developing policies that will further the Conservative cause and the interests of my constituents in Welwyn Hatfield.
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 6, 2022
Barclay, who was made Health Secretary after the resignation of Sajid Javid, is also heading to the backbenches and has wished Truss “every success for the future”.
In the last few minutes, we’ve had some significant figures enter through the doors of No 10 Downing Street.
They are Kwasi Kwarteng and Suella Braverman, who are being widely tipped by the UK media to take on senior roles within the new UK Government.
Kwarteng is expected to be made Chancellor of the Exchequer while Braverman is expected to become the new Home Secretary.
There have been a few Truss allies entering No 10 in the last few minutes.
Therese Coffey, James Cleverly and Wendy Morton have all entered through the black doors of No 10, with significant speculation around what roles each will receive.
Coffey is speculated to be made both Health Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.
However, in the last few minutes, Cleverly told Sky News that he will be remaining as Education Secretary, despite speculation that he would be made the Foreign Secretary.
Sky News has now retracted its report that Cleverly is set to remain as Education Secretary. The broadcaster explained that the footage it played was recorded earlier today.
Alastair Campbell has spilled the beans on how the mistake played out behind the scenes at Sky. The former Labour public relations boss was on the channel to discuss how Labour would handle Truss’s first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Not sure if I am supposed to be hearing the angry off camera exchanges @SkyNews at their reporting @JamesCleverly still education Secretary. Looks like it might be old footage! Oops @SamCoatesSky @markaustintv not happy … perils of live TV! Sam handling it effortlessly on air
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) September 6, 2022
The ‘Levelling up’ secretary Greg Clark is the latest minister to announce that he’s been axed from cabinet.
Clark has only been in the job since July but he previously served in Theresa May’s Cabinet.
His booting was expected when Truss won the Tory leadership race as he is seen as less enthusiastic about Brexit than many Truss supporters.
It’s been such a privilege to be at the helm at @luhc these last 8 weeks.
— Greg Clark (@GregClarkMP) September 6, 2022
Thanks to superb teams of ministers, civil servants, colleagues in local govt and partners in business & voluntary sector we’ve done the job👇and delivered a lot more besides.
I’ve enjoyed it enormously. https://t.co/oZnTq6gxLN
Kwasi Kwarteng has been appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer and James Cleverly has been appointed Foreign Secretary, the UK Prime minister’s office has confirmed.
The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP @KwasiKwarteng has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer @HMTreasury.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/6YQy0YuQPs
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
The appointments continue along expected lines with Suella Braverman appointed as home secretary.
Braverman backed Truss when she was eliminated from the Tory leadership contest.
The Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP @SuellaBraverman has been appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department @UKHomeOffice.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/blwJ7LVySt
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
The UK’s new Health Secretary Therese Coffey has sidestepped questions about whether she’s prepared for strikes in the health service.
Coffey, who has also been appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, was asked by Sky News whether she is ready for strikes.
Coffey said: “I think we’ve got to be ready for patients and that’s my top priority, and how we can make best use of our department and of course the NHS in order to achieve the best outcomes for them.”
Asked what her message is to potentially demoralised NHS staff, Coffey she recognised “they’ve done excellent work” and repeated her priorities.
Shailesh Vara’s brief time as Northern Ireland secretary has come to an end. Vara was promoted from the backbenches when Brandon Lewis resigned in July. He will now return to the backbenches.
Meanwhile, Lewis has now been appointed as justice secretary. In further expected developments, Ben Wallace will remain as defence secretary while Wendy Morton has been promoted from transport minister to chief whip.
The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP @BrandonLewis has been appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice @MoJGovUK.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/pDtiT7HAum
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
Shailesh Vara’s replacement Northern Ireland secretary looks set to be Chris Heaton-Harris.
Gavan Reilly of Virgin Media News notes that Heaton-Harris is a respected referee, a skillset that might come in useful in Northern Ireland politics.
He’s a respected football referee, which might come in handy. https://t.co/aejDW0gTLl
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) September 6, 2022
Nadhim Zahawi – who briefly held the Chancellor post at the end of Boris Johnson’s premiership–
has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as well as minister for intergovernmental relations.
Penny Mordaunt has also been appointed Leader of the House of Commons.
The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP @PennyMordaunt has been appointed Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons @CommonsLeader #Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/PTUaISWMHd
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
The wife of Johnny Mercer has weighed in on his sacking as Minister for Veteran’s Affairs and she’s not happy.
He asked her ‘why would you do this, who is going to be better at this role than me, which of your mates gets the job, you promised a meritocracy?’
— Felicity Cornelius-Mercer (@mercer_felicity) September 6, 2022
PM - I can’t answer that Johnny
This system stinks & treats people appallingly
Best person I know sacked by an imbecile @trussliz pic.twitter.com/RZGblGA1tx
Liz Truss has accepted Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s invitation to Ukraine.
The UK prime minister’s office said in a statement that Truss has reiterated the UK’s “steadfast support for Ukraine’s freedom and democracy”.
“In her first call with a counterpart since becoming Prime Minister, she reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that he had her full backing, and Ukraine could depend on the UK’s assistance for the long term,” the statement added.
“President Zelensky thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s staunch support and congratulated her on her appointment.
“The leaders discussed the need to strengthen global security and the measures necessary to cut off the funds fuelling Putin’s war machine.
“She praised the Ukrainians’ fight for sovereignty and self-determination and said it was essential Ukraine succeeds and Russia fails.
“The Prime Minister said she looked forward to working with the President in the coming weeks and months and was delighted to accept an invitation to visit President Zelensky in Ukraine soon.”
The latest politician out the door of Number 10 is Jacob Rees-Mogg who has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP @Jacob_Rees_Mogg has been appointed Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy @BEISGovUK.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/WT5cHJJslz
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
With all the major posts filled we’re going to close off the coverage this evening.
The latest round of appointments has seen the levelling up secretary job handed to Simon Clarke, Chloe Smith has been appointed work and pensions secretary and Kemi Badenoch has been named international trade secretary.
Badenoch gained traction during the Conservative leadership contest, running on an “anti-woke” platform.
Kemi Badenoch MP @KemiBadenoch has been appointed Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade @TradeGovUK.#Reshuffle pic.twitter.com/DbU55lGD8q
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 6, 2022
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I sincerely hope potential pope’s visit to Ireland will meet the same reaction…
@Patrick: you are very judgemental. How christian of you ;)
Not very Christian are you Keyese? If you want to see him, hop on a plane and go to Rome. Simple as that! The Pope would not be welcome in Ireland. He and his church are the very definition of evil. Covering up child abuse, meddling in the internal civil affairs of other states, protecting paedophiles and rapists…I don’t recall Jesus saying “Love your neighbour as yourself and while you’re at it force his child into having sex with you in the knowledge that your bosses will cover it up and proclaim your kindness”. Being Christian has some very good merits to it (although I am an atheist myself); however, how anyone could subscribe to the Catholic Church and its (not Christian) teachings is beyond me after all that has come out about it!
It is exactly what the man deserves and if he enters Ireland he should be arrested.
I’ve said it before on the Gay Byrne story, if the pope comes to Ireland I will be busy protesting over his visit,
it’ll be well worth the holiday time off work. I feel it is my duty to do so as a morally right citizen of Ireland.
So if a Muslim cleric who supports jihad visits Ireland you’ll be out protesting him too
@cormac immigration wouldn’t let in the Muslim cleric if he supported jihad (there was an example last week forget his name) but the pope who protects Peados and supports child rape is free to come as he pleases. If he sets foot in this country he should be arrested!!!
You know David, Ireland has its own little paedo-promoter, protector and rapist lover sitting in the Seanad and nobody seems to mind that. I would be far more worried about the close presence of one who has spoken favourably about, indeed has openly played down the damage caused by the most vile of crimes instead of venting a false accusation at one who has the courage to point out the truth.
So they don’t want their taxes spent on policing the popes visit so they protest meaning more police were required to police the protest and thus more taxes spent.
That’s kind of a moot point
Look at that photo. Look at that glorious child of Christ walk past the barbarian heathens shouting at her like wild devils. Sign of the times … End times perhaps.
Wait a sec… aren’t these “barbarian heathens” also meant to be children of Christ??
It does not look like they are shouting at here but they seem to be directing their attention to behind her to the left of the photo which I presume is the pope. Why when the world is in crisis would any country pay out 50 million to have an old ex-nazi pedo protector visit their country. The Vatican have loads of money why not pay their own way??
Wow Pat! I attempted to put a rather crude comment here about said ‘glorious child of Christ’ but you got all kinds of creepy going on right there.
That ‘glorious child of Christ’ is hot! : )
I don’t believe in god so your mumbo jumbo doesn’t scare me : )
But god believe in you.
Patrick How do I become a child of christ and bask in the glory of his love….show me the way ?
What century do u live in, Patrick ? Or, are u taking the pee ??!! “End time perhaps” – get a grip.
Ah the troll speaketh! She’s a cutie alright but don’t you mean a ‘glorious child of human evolution’ but then you probably think she was produced by a supernatural sky fairy or put together using discards from the rib of a man whilst eating an apple and listening to a talking snake! The people are protesting and rightly so, about the fact that their taxes are being used to pay for the leader of the biggest pedophile ring on the planet to use their city to spout his medieval superstitious mumbo jumbo albeit to the brainwashed (or should that be brain dead) unfortunates who know no better, it’s no coincidence that many of the ‘pilgrims’ come from the third world countries (including Ireland sadly). Toodle pip paddy and keep up the good trolling!
If she wanted me to go to Mass twice a day. No bother.
Don’t speak to me about your religion; first show it to me in how you treat other people. Don’t tell me how much you love your god; show me in how much you love all his children. Don’t preach to me your passion for your faith; teach me through your compassion for your neighbors. In the end, I’m not as interested in what you have to tell or sell as I am in how you choose to live and give. –Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ
I think Patrick is prob just seeing how many will rise to the bait. The girl in the photo is an adult as far as I can see.. A little old for your average paedo priest. However I do respect her right to exercise her religion.
I find this reporting really wierd. There are about 1.5 MILLION young people in Madrid from all over the world for WYD (including several thousand from Ireland) and its completely not reported. All pilgrims paid a fee to the organisers to be there, so most of it is self financing. I took no notice of the fact that no Irish media reported on this huge event, but find it – in terms of sheer bad journalism – incredible that a counter demo is being reported on everywhere without ANY reference to the thousand times larger event that they are protesting about!!!! http://www.madrid11.com/en/what-is-wyd for info. You don’t have to like or be interested in this event, but to spin news like this is just plain wierd for a ‘news’ site.
Face it, It’s just a propaganda rally for so called ‘catholic youth’ all there to hear their fuherer push his bizarre agenda , reminds me of the Hitler youth rallies at Nurembourg, still, it should bring back some good memories for herr Ratsinziger, take him back to his own youth when he used to listen to that other dictator!
I have no problem with most of what thejournal.ie publishes about church/pope. (don’t agree with some of it, but thats grand). I have little time for fellow Catholics complaining about anti-Catholic bias in the meja. (its karma people! ;-) … yes thats a joke, settle). Didn’t even strike me as important that WYD wasn’t reported on anywhere.
My issue here is with spin. Many readers would have read this article thinking that the Pope is on a state visit to Spain. Why the need to spin it? As someone said, good journalism reports ALL sides of the story. All or none seems fair to me. Spin, about an event that most claim to not know or care about, seems wierd. Thats all.
PS. @Ed … when I lived in Bavaria, people often asked me why Irish people couldn’t stop killing one another over religion … and I found stereotyping irritating back then too.
Nothing to do with stereotyping Noirin, i’ll think you’ll find it a matter of public record that wee Benny was in the Hitler youth as for Irish people killing themselves over religion, I too used the get the same question asked of me and I always gave the same the answer, religion is divisive and where it becomes politicised it becomes just another weapon to use against the enemy, the Irish and the British inhabitants of Northern Ireland kill each other because they have no other religion or race to hate but themselves!
Amazing journalism. There is not one mention in this article of the ONE MILLION OR MORE PILGRIMS who are there in Madrid this week to celebrate their faith. The journalist ignores this entirely in favour of the paltry thousand or so objectors. Yet another example of the anti-Catholic bias that has appeared regularily on The Journal. It’s as bad as Indymedia. It may as well be Indymedia.
If you dislike the site so much I’m just curious why read it and more to the point why comment?
I dislike the sun and the daily mail, you don’t see my buying the papers or even attempting to visit either of their websites though. I’d much rather not waste time or money on such crap.
Actually any journalistic media id they are worth their salt, report on ALL aspects of certain events. Not just the arrival of the pope but also those opposing him. Or does all the religious folk who are getting on their high horse, just want one side reported on – that being of the pope himself – and bugger anything else! Which of course if its not with their tight, religious line of thinking, they wouldn’t want reported anyway! I wonder why!
Reporting is not just about reporting about the majorities – but also about other minorities too!
…That is unless one does not want something to be reported about!
Protests are reported on because they are anti-establishment and therefore news-worthy. I may be paraphrasing the great ‘peep show’ here, but the news can’t just be a list of ALL the things that happen
And is the gathering of 1.5 million people not newsworthy in its own right? A thousand people protesting against the Pope is irrelevent without context. The World Youth Day is a significantly newsworthy event that is being ignored by the Irish media. Instead, Catholic-bashing is apparently de rigueur.
Very wearysome.
As for why I visit TheJournal? It’s not pitched as a left-wing anti-Catholic news-site, and, ever the optimist, I return in the hope that it has found journalistic integrity.
Brian, you can be damn sure that the visit of the pope will be covered and mentioned in all media and news at some stage – so quit the bitching.
I think you’re all missing the point of the article here; look at the economic and political context of the event. The story isnt about a load of people who hate the pope, the story is one of Spanish citizens (rightly or wrongly) protesting against what they see as their government wasting money on wealthy foreign dignitaries when their own country is in economic trouble. THATS what makes it newsworthy, it’s topical. It’s just more interesting because it involves the catholic church, which is the subject of controversy in Ireland; if it was an article about Spanish people protesting against the visit of Silvio Berlusconi, most of you wouldnt bother reading it.
Your right Barry O’Mahony – however it should be pointed out that the people are protesting againtst an organisation that is universal and who’s out of date ideology and practises, are exported all over the planet whereas if it was just a small LOCAL issue that effected only a region or single town, then your right, it probably would not be reported in such coverage.
in fairness in a city of 5 million a thousand protestors is nothing.
The leader of the pedophiles and abusers should be jailed.
So should their promoters / protectors and lovers. So get your sorry ass down to Seanad Eireann and start a protest about removing them from office and putting them behind bars. That is something that you can do NOW for the good of the country.
Can you clarify your position Fergal: do you believe David Norris should be arrested?
Dead right Gavin. Most of the people on this site love nothing more than saying lock up the protectors of pedo’s but they stand behind David Norris. Yes a grown man having sex with a 15 year old boy is child abuse. If another politicians friend (that happened to be a priest) done this and he tried to aid him there would be uproar.
What would you charge Norris with?
Whatever Del thinks the Pope should be charged with.
Obstruction of justice? Withholding information?
WYD brings hundreds of millions to the Spanish economy. Funding €50m of security is a worthwhile investment. We had the same arguments here about the Queen and Obama, well, just the Queen because we all love Obama right? It’s now paying itself off with increased tourism.
It’s clear that the protests are not economical but political. Everyone has the right to protest against the Pope’s visit but the actions of some of the protestors bring shame to the movement. Many are shouting abuse at pilgrims and some of the banners incite violence against the Pope. Such actions are an attack on religious freedom.
People should be allowed to attend this event without being harassed. Some pilgrims had eggs pelted at them. The scuffles with police show how uncivilised some of the demonstrators are.
Well put David…
The Vatican should wise up to the current state of the world and pay their own way! They are living in the middle ages
What other head of state pays his own way when traveling.
Seems that Benny finally gets his very own Spanish Inquisition , ya gotta love Karmic Law
I find it amusing that people make the church out to be some brainwashing cult. Those 1.5million people are there because they choose to embrace Catholicism the faith. I can understand if it was purely a financial issue but its not 90% of the comments made here are thinly veiled anti-catholic vitriol. Not denying people have a right to oppose the Pope, I disagree with him myself, I just wish people would relax on the sensationalist irrational nonsense the espoused
Hang on, so you’re saying that all the attendees (or at least thr majority of them) are Catholics by a considered and conscious choice and weren’t indoctrinated (to use a Catholic term) from an early age?
Speaking from personal experience, when your childhood sense of wonder and curiosity is stifled be dogma and a dubious set of "beliefs" is impressed onto your impressionable mind, it can take years to shake that view of the world/universe and re-ignite that investigative nature. They essentially teach not understanding the universe as a virtue.
As such, I’d hardly count people who were indoctrinated by the Catholics as "Catholics by choice" or "embracing Catholicism", and hence why I think it’s a brainwashing cult.
I bet a lot of that 1.5million crowd are just there for fun! Or cos their folks made them go : )
@Brian: Keep your bizarre, unfounded & poorly researched Catholic stereotypes to yourself.
I was brought up Catholic, then I chose to explore other options, I accept a natural explanation of the world and would consider myself atheist. But that was my choice, if people choose to embrace Catholicism as the truth and it makes them happy, who cares? and as long as they dont force their beliefs on others leave them to it. Its essentially irrelevant to other peoples lives. People protest against the queen(an old woman who supports a certain ideology) and they become scumbags, but protest against the Pope and they become heros of free speech. And as I previously stated this is not about just opposing the Pope its utter anti-catholicism
@Paul Anthony
Funny how a personal experience can be “bizarre, unfounded & poorly researched”. Particularly baffled as to the “poorly researched” part.
Nobody wants to turn into one of those “The Freemason Mejia’s out to get us” loons, but the reporting here is a little one-sided.
I originally started reading thejournal.ie precisely because it didn’t pander to the lowest common denominator (which includes the fact that it was neither pro-Catholic nor anti-Catholic etc etc), it was just light-hearted but informative on both sides of every issue.
But the fact that the 1million+ people there to welcome the Pope, which is entirely relevant to the story (as relevant as how much the visit costs) is bizarre, & I’m sorry to say, a tad revealing about an (dare I say) agenda…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2011/aug/18/pope-madrid-world-youth-day
A look at how certain media sources aren’t reporting on the myriad people there to welcome the Pope but inordinately focused on the protesters.
And this is from the Guardian, not exactly a pro-Catholic newspaper.
Your hardly helping your argument by linking to Andrew Brown, pro religious writer and anti atheist!
god bless ye all , praise be the name of jesus .
Keep your blessings and you know where you can stick your jesus!
Pope Pope Pope …. Out Out Out !!!
I suggest razing every catholic church to the ground and building concrete multi story car parks in there place and when our kids say "they’re ugly" we’ll say "they’re not as ugly as what stood before". Your time is over .. Step aside evil men of the cloth. Asides i tell yee ..
If you can Troll I can Troll too!
bless you edward , and cormac ,
hahaha! Priceless!
Was thinking the same myself.
have your say