Under TheThe RadarLabour Leadership While the media landscape is preoccupiedContest by COVID-19, 2020 politics and business grinds on. ‘Under the Radar’ provides a concise overview and thoughtful analysis of critical stories currentlySummary being &overlooked. Analysis The coming battle for Analysis the Internet The current internet’s libertarian governance has served it well in its What happened? first decades of life; the question now becomes what system is best for governance in the future. China is A battle for the future of the internet putting forward its highly-ordered (and is being waged in the halls of the UN’s easily restricted) New IP proposal versus International Telecommunication the sloppy status quo in the hope that Union (ITU), as reported at length in Western democracies won’t be able to this past weekend’s . unite around a new proposal of their Controversial Chinese telecom giant own. Huawei is at the forefront of efforts to create what would essentially be a ‘new’ The time has come for advanced western internet - governed by a protocol they democracies to strike a new bargain have labelled the “New IP”. Huawei between the tech giants and the citizens claims a new architecture is needed they serve. The European Union is to facilitate 5G traffic and subsequent already on the road to neutering the innovations in communications powers of the internet giants and the technology. United States could itself be starting a similar conversation should a Democrat Western representatives at the ITU are manage to win back the White House now busily sounding the alarm over the from Tweeter-in-Chief Donald Trump. Huawei-backed proposal, arguing its adoption risks balkanising the internet The looming battle at the ITU also and giving restrictive regimes even more highlights the drift in power at tools to not only block content, but multinational organisations away also prevent ‘problematic’ users from from western democracies and toward accessing the internet at all. Worryingly, emerging economies and authoritarian the biggest support for New IP is coming powers like China. As more western from authoritarian regimes like Saudi countries become disinterested in Arabia and Russia. global bodies and the idea of global governance, others are now filling the Supporters of the New IP argue the void. If the battle is not joined soon the current configuration of the internet has world could soon wake up to a very made unelected and unaccountable tech different architecture, one that no longer goliaths like Facebook, Amazon, and benefits the countries that devised the Google too powerful, and that sovereign post-WW2 consensus which delivered governments should have the right years of bumper growth for the global to take the internet back under their economy. control. North Macedonia joins Analysis

NATO, Next stop EU NATO’s unity has been put to the test over recent years. A policy of ‘America First’ from the United States - NATO’s What happened? biggest financial contributor - along with demands that members up their On Friday, North Macedonia joined defence contributions have weakened NATO becoming the organisation’s 30th the organisation. Emmanuel Macron’s member. Every NATO ally ratified North assessment of NATO as ‘brain dead’ Macedonia’s accession in 2019 following served to further dent faith in the the country’s years of contributions alliance. Nevertheless, this latest to Euro-Atlantic security, including expansion provides a clear indication missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. that its strategy vis-a-vis Russia A flag-raising ceremony has taken continues to pay dividends in the place today where the flag of North Balkans. Macedonia was simultaneously raised at Allied Command Operations in Mons, Belgium and at Allied Command “Despite its best efforts, Transformation in Norfolk, US. In a it appears that Moscow is statement, NATO Secretary General Jens falling behind in this game Stoltenberg said “North Macedonia is now part of the NATO family, a family of chess.” of thirty nations and almost one billion people. A family based on the certainty that, no matter what challenges we face, Trafalgar’s Kit Nicholl, formerly a we are all stronger and safer together.“ security advisor, explains: “Over recent President Stevo Pendarovski said “This years, the Balkans has become a pawn is a historic success that after three in a geopolitical power game. Russia, in decades of independence, finally confirms particular, sees the establishment of a Macedonian security and guarantees our foothold at the periphery of Europe as a f utu re .” strategic priority, and has worked hard to destabilize the region, undermine In the same week, EU leaders approved its democracies and subvert its people. membership talks with North Macedonia Despite its best efforts, it appears that as well as Albania. While there is no Moscow is falling behind in this game formal date for the commencement of chess. Their clear attempts at blocking of talks and the approval is yet to be NATO enlargement have now failed in confirmed in written form, the green both Montenegro and North Macedonia. light by leaders is a huge step forward for Only Serbia remains as a true ally in North Macedonia as its EU accession has the region, and even that relationship is been dogged by opposition from France likely to wane as the country nears EU and the Netherlands. accession.” Labour leadership Analysis contest concludes Starmer’s rumoured purge will be the final nail in the coffin for the What happened? Corbyn project and the hard-Left. The diminished Corbyn will return to the The Labour Leadership contest is back benches, and despite vows to carry approaching its conclusion, with on campaigning, his voice is now likely the winner set to be announced on to fall on deaf ears. Starmer wants to Saturday, despite an event with party completely upend the current order, members having to be scrapped because with Dianne Abbot and John McDonald of Coronavirus. The announcement already packing their bags and the likes will instead be made via press release, of Ian Lavery and Richard Burgeon also along with a statement from the winner. at risk. Remaining candidates Sir , Rebecca Long Bailey and Lisa Nandy have The new Shadow Cabinet will reflect the all been asked to pre-record a victory moderate wing of the party, and a more video that will be played online once the appealing policy offer for the electorate. new leader’s name has been announced. It will be a cathartic moment for the Parliamentary Labour Party, who almost Starmer, the clear favourite, is reportedly perished in the Corbyn experiment. And set to purge ’s allies in while Jeremy Corbyn continued to insist both the shadow cabinet and party he ‘won the argument’ - as evidenced headquarters should he win and become by the government’s all-hands-on-deck the leader. To signal change, Starmer is response to the current crisis - in his expected to appoint a shadow cabinet exit interview with the BBC, the true filled with members of the ‘brainy’ legacy of Corbyn’s failed experiment soft-left at the expense of Corbyn-era will be the complete and utter failure stars like Long Bailey. To ensure some to hold the government accountable consistency, Starmer is likely to keep John during the momentous years of the Ashworth as Shadow Health Secretary to Brexit referendum and subsequent exit manage the opposition’s response to the negotiations. COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, within party headquarters, Starmer is expected Starmer must also root the Corbynites to request the departure of Karie Murphy, from positions of power within the Corbyn’s Chief of Staff, and Jennie party and so his decision to purge Formby, the party’s General Secretary, headquarters top to bottom is a welcome as well as junior staffers involved in the and needed step in the resurrection of Labour Party’s woeful handling of anti- Labour in the public image. Anyone who Semitism claims. had a role in handling the anti-Semitism allegations, regardless of rank, must go. What we do

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