Aim: The Current Affairs Group provides an opportunity for members to review and discuss issues of current global, national and local importance through analysis and discussion of recent news reports and opinion pieces.

If you read a newspaper or a news magazine or follow the news programmes on the radio or television, this could be the group for you

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Recent topics discussed are shown below.

Date	Topic Discussed	The Outcome of the Discussion
Oct 2026	The Government has announced the creation of a Space Squadron   “Are we entering a new arms race in space?” “Would attacking or jamming a satellite count as an act of war?”
	“Is nationwide letter delivery really a commercial business any longer, or should we treat it more like a public utility?” We are paying roughly twice as much in real terms for Second Class post as we did when it started, and further price rises are inevitable. Should the Government intervene? Do we need the current postal services?
	“Should the Government be more explicit with the public about why it wants households to prepare for emergencies and what they should be doing?” The Government has set up a campaign called “How Would You Prepare for an Emergency”. Only 14% of the UK are aware of this.  Should there be more publicity?
	Is inheritance tax a fair way of raising money, and if we keep it, what should the tax-free allowance and tax rate be?
August 2026	The current drought has highlighted pressures on our water supply. What should individuals, water companies and the government do to ensure the UK is better prepared for the future?	The group agreed that the demand for water is only going to increase and that the government need a forward-thinking water strategy that recognises the need to increase the capture and storage of water, considers creative ways to reuse water, reduces water loss e.g. leaks. The strategy needs to be joined up with other sectors which will demand water e.g. farming, nuclear power, data centres etc. Ideally the people should benefit not individuals who are seeking to profit from a natural resource.
	As more and more investors see the commercial opportunities in sport is there a danger that the changes they make are not beneficial to the origins of the sport.	The group agreed that professional sport has turned into big business chasing excessive profit to the detriment of the enjoyment of the sport and making access unaffordable for many. The amount of money involved now puts unreasonable pressure on players and competitors.
	Are the UK’s arrangements with the French to “stop the boats” are working?	The consensus was it is not working because the French government are not interested in resolving the matter. Basically, it’s all Macron’s fault!
	Does the country care about 'Care' and will our politicians be able to agree a way forward?	‘Care’ is not seen as interesting making it difficult to generate engagement. Currently there is no universal system, and the patchwork nature of provision makes it a post code lottery.  The group discussed how the non-profit and charity sector could play an important role in providing care both in people’s homes and in care homes.   Andy Burnham’s proposal for a cross-party approach to reach consensus on a national policy was viewed by the group as the best way to proceed. However, there were concerns that political point scoring or another review would again see this matter left unresolved.
July 2026	When is it justified to call a by-election – (Given recent events in Makerfield & Clacton)?	No one thought that either election was justified. By-elections should only be held if a person is no longer able to perform their role as an MP or their political views have changed significantly.
	What will Andy Burnham do when he gets to No 10? How could it affect us?	There were mixed views on the potential impact of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister. Some felt he was not experienced enough. People were concerned he would raise taxes and waste money on bureaucracy by devolving power. Others were more optimistic. It was agreed to review his achievements in 6 months time.
	The UK has no legal maximum working temperature. Should the Government introduce new legislation?	It was greed there should not be a maximum working temperature, but the Government should provide clearer guidelines on how to keep staff safe and healthy.
	Is there any justification for Trump intervening in the World Cup?	The simple answer to this question was no. This then resulted in more discussion about Trump and how he is putting America first!
June 2026	It seems that some Councils following the recent elections have decided that they will cancel previous decision regarding climate change. What do people think?	There were very different responses to this question. A few members questioned if we needed to be concerned about climate change. Some felt that councils and the government were wasting money that should be invested elsewhere. A few members felt that anything we did would have such a small impact it was not worth doing and asked why should we do anything in China and India don't. On the other hand the members concerned with climate change said that we should do all we could and lead by example. We agreed to differ!
	Opportunities shrinking for too many young people, says major report on 'lost generation’. How can this be resolved?	It was generally felt that less people should go to university and more young people should be offered apprenticeships. It was also agreed that teenagers should receive a better understanding of the opportunities available to them. The responsibility for starting this education process lay with the schools and hence with the Government.
	The Enhanced Games -It's like the Olympics - except steroids are allowed. Do the games represent a reckless departure from what sport is all about, and its fundamental values of fairness and integrity.	It was unanimously agreed that the enhanced games were a bad idea and would lead to young people believing it was ok the take any sort of drugs.
	Once billed as a celebration of continental unity, is the 2026 World Cup becoming a story of political theatre, inequality, and fractured alliances.	Several members felt that the World Cup and similar sporting events had always been a political football with countries being banned from the Olympics and other countries refusing to take part because another country was attending. We agreed that it would be interesting to see how Trump uses the World Cup to further his own agenda. (The group will look at this in July).
May 2026	What do the local election results mean for us? Following the local elections, where does UK politics go from here? Are we seeing the end of two-party politics in Britain, and would that be a good thing?	The general view was that people were voting Reform because they wanted a change from the Tories and Labour. Both parties had failed to deliver improvements in the quality of people's lives. Voting was mainly based on the performance of the National Parties and not local issues. If this voting pattern were reflected in a general election, there were questions about what the impact would be. The topic of PR was raised again.
	Should marches be curtailed - not repeated, just be one off per subject?	The general feeling was that marches should be limited. Some thought the people attending should pay for the policing, in the same way football clubs do. Some felt any restrictions would be wrong. History has shown persistent protesting can have an impact. The suffragettes were given as an example.
	It is David Attenborough’s 100th birthday this week. Given his contribution to Nature do people think that sufficient people are listening to his message on saving the planet and the need to look after it before it is gone and we humans have to cope with the consequences?	Most people felt that Attenborough had made an impact on educating people about climate change, but some felt he could have done more. His great contribution was to make people more interested in the world around them and take them to places that they would never go.
April 2026	Is the doctors strike justified? Should health workers, and in particular doctors, be allowed to strike? (Data - NHS Pay in Real Terms Over the Last 15 Years)	Most members felt the strike was not justified. There were concerns over how statistical data was manipulated to show the outcome the doctors wanted.
	When, if ever, is it permissible for states to intervene militarily in the affairs of another? Can intervention be justified on humanitarian grounds even if it breaks international law?	The recent behaviour of the US was nothing new. If a country poses a real threat, intervention was necessary, but it had to be proportionate.
	Where do all our taxes go? Do we get value for money? (Data - Estimates of Govt Income & Expenditure)	The concerns raised were not new. Most members felt too much money was being spent on welfare. A new approach to supporting the really needy was required and the tax system needed overhauling.
	Does the group think JD Vance’s visit to Hungary to support Orban signals a new trend in US foreign policy?	Members felt this behaviour was nothing new.
March 2026	In a dangerous world how quickly should the UK expand its defences and how should that be funded?	It was generally agreed that more investment was needed to improve the UK's defences. The government have a fundamental duty to protect their citizens. The funding should be immediate and focus on gaining the most out of the new technology available. The source of the funding was a complex issue. One member said he did not want to pay any more tax until he understood where his current taxes were going. So next month we will discuss "Where do all our taxes go? Do we get value for money?"
	Is It Time to Nationalise the Water Companies?	The general feeling was not to nationalise the water industries but to establish proper regulation and make the directors personally liable for the failings of the companies they manage. Where appropriate this should include prison time.
	What do changing dress codes say about society and is it a good or bad thing?	This was an interesting debate. Many people felt they would rather go back to the smarter dress codes of their youth. Making an effort with your appearance was considered a mark of respect. It was however agreed that clothes should be comfortable and appropriate for the job in hand.
	Should we keep British Summer Time all year round?	We decided not to lose any sleep over this question.
February 2026	Is the Epstein story getting too much press?  The 'Mandelstorm': scandal of the century?  Should the PM resign?	It was decided that it was important to know about people in authority abusing their power. The majority thought the PM should resign, but agreed this would not happen before the local elections in May.
	“Homicides at lowest level in nearly 50 years”, ONS says. Crimes with weapons also continued a downward trend. So why do are some politicians saying we are ‘in the grip of a crime wave’ and are ‘no longer safe’	Although the headlines about levels of murder and violence were good news, the levels of other crimes were increasing. Most people felt we were not as safe now as we had been when we were growing up. They had also lost faith in the police as many crime relating to theft were never even investigated.
	Artemis moon launch: age of discovery or just another space race?	The race to the moon was about both political posturing AND scientific discovery. The moon would act as a staging post for the exploration of mars.
	Whoever is in political power what could they do to make life better for us all?	It was agreed if areas like tax and social care were easier to navigate, this would make life better. Improvements in health and general infrastructure were the main areas that would make life better, but this would result in higher taxes. One member asked what the Government was doing with all the money they currently collect. Another members said that Government needed to focus on growing the economy as this would make the country better off generally.
January 2026	Is there any legal justification for the US attack on Venezuela? And What precedent could this set globally?	No one felt that Trump's action was justified and people were concerned about Russia and China following his lead. Everyone was worried but said it felt good talk talk with others about world events, even if we are unable to do anything do anything to influence them.
	Is it sensible for The Mayor to spend about £2M NET on fireworks on New Year's Eve or should the money be put to better causes?	There were very mixed views on whether it was sensible to spend so much money on fireworks. The group agreed to disagree!
	Can Trump justify his desire to take over Greenland?	There was no justification for Trump trying to take over Greenland. The concern was that any aggressive action would have a major impact on NATO and its role in world order.
	It seems Elon Musk is back trying to influence Britain. What do you think of this? Does it place Britain at risk?	The discussion about Musk, resulted in an interesting debate about Muck's control over so may critical satellites, and Starlink. How much power does this give him!!!
December 2025	Jury Trials: There are roughly 30–35,000 criminal jury trials across the UK per year. David Lammy has proposed reducing the number of jury trials but more than two out of 10 will still go before a jury. Will this address the backlog and time taken for cases to reach court?	It was generally agreed that retaining trial by jury was important. This should not be lost because of underfunding in the legal system
	To what extent should the conventional national school curriculum be replaced by subjects for our changing times such as: AI, digital systems, online safety, time management, and financial management.	Members wanted the curriculum to be relevant and prepare children for later life, but did not want to loose core subjects. Deciding what to take out of the curriculum was going to be the challenge.
	Is the new “Mansion Tax” fair? Should it be even higher?	There were mixed views on the Mansion Tax
	Is Christmas starting too soon? What is the impact of Tesco selling mince pies in September?	We all agreed Christmas was being advertised too soon
November 2025	Will AI make us less intellectually active?	The group did not think it would make the older generation less intellectually active, but there were concerns about the impact of ChatGPT on people in education, who may not learn important research and analytical skills
	The 13th October 2025 would have been Margaret Thatcher’s 100 birthday. She left an indelible mark on Britain. With the benefit of hindsight what did she get right and what did she get wrong?	The group identified a number of things Mrs Thatcher got right, but the majority felt these were outweighed by the things she got wrong. There were very differing views on her legacy.
	Fixing Britain’s worklessness crisis will cost employers £6bn a year and the overall cost to the UK economy from this “quiet but urgent crisis” is as much as £85bn a year. Are the government doing enough to address this issue?	The group felt more effort should be made to train people with practical skill, plumbers, electricians etc..
	The Group were asked to consider the importance of a Will and LPA.	Most members of the group had wills, but very few had LPAs. The value of both was discussed. The group felt more education on the importance of these documents was required.
October 2025	Could police powers to force organisers of repeat protests to move elsewhere have implications for civil rights and 'Bell Protests' in the future?	Although the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, a number of members felt that some repeat protests were too disruptive for the local community and cost too much to police.
	Is overtourism ruining the planet? Are we travelling too much? Can we just stop?	Although it was acknowledged that some areas were being spoilt by over tourism, a lot of members felt we should be allowed to experience different cultures and see first hand the great works of art, historic buildings and the geographic phenonium.
	Do you think that Robert Jenrick was racist in his comments about an area in Birmingham in October 2025?.	The group agreed no one could be quite sure if Jenrick was being racist, but his words were always going to cause a reaction. The members discussed how groups could become more integrated. It was agreed that integration should start at primary school.
	Should people in the UK be allowed to have second homes in the UK?	There were mixed views on second homes. Some felt they were, in most cases, taking housing from those who needed it. Others felt that people should be allowed to spend their money as they feel fit.
September 2025	Should patients pay a daily rate for food in hospital if they are not on benefits?	Most people thought voluntary contributions could be asked for. Only one member thought everyone should be charged.
	How concerned should we be that the leaders of Russia, China and India are meeting.	The main concern was not about the meeting, but about China gradually infiltrating regions by providing financial support, making countries dependant on them.
	Fertility Rates in the UK have hit a record low. 1.41. How will a decreasing number of people of working age support an ever-increasing number of pensioners.	The group did not have a solution to the low fertility rates. Immigration was discussed, but it was noted that the country was too small to take in large numbers of younger people.
	Is it appropriate to sing the National item when England plays other nations at various sports whereas Scotland, Wales & N Ireland sing their own patriotic songs. Perhaps we should sing Land of Hope & Glory. What does the group think?	Several members did not care what songs were sung at sporting events. The others all thought England should have its own national song. Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and I Vow to Thee My Country were all possibilities.
August 2025	Is Castration of Sex Offenders Ever Ethically Justified?	Only one person agreed with physical castration. Most thought some form of chemical castration was a good idea.
	Do you think Lucy Letby should have a retrial?	Everyone who had seen the TV programmes on Letby thought she should have some form of retrial or legal review. The others were not so sure. There was a concern about the time and cost of another review.
	Should the hostel for male asylum seekers at The Bell Inn be closed down?	A strong case was made for closing the Bell, because of the impact it was having on the local community. The group also discussed the actions of the protesters, the impact of the media and the way the police managed to handle the situation.
	What do the group think about the closing of Police Stations in London?	There were mixed views on whether police stations should have front desks. The group also discussed the value of "Bobbies on the Beat". People had different stories to tell on their recent experiences with the police.
July 2025	In view of climate change targets being missed, how must we in the UK adapt if we are to survive the ever-climbing summer temperatures and recurrent heatwaves?	The discussion focused on what we should do on a personal level to keep cool and stay well. The Chair said she would provide information about staying cool at the next monthly meeting.
	Should the Burka be banned in public?	This topic caused a very lively debate. There were some very differing views and the members agreed to disagree!
	Are the government doing enough to stop illegal immigration?	It was agreed that not only were this government not doing enough to stop illegal immigration, but all the previous governments had also failed.
	What influence does social media have on our day to day lives?	A number of the group had minimal exposure to social media. Others found it very useful for their work and charity activities. The downside was the impact it was having on younger generations.
June 2025	The prime minister has just announced his Strategic Defence Review with the aim to move the UK to “warfighting readiness”. The group are asked to consider if the UK can actually afford to implement the recommendations? What happens if the funding is not available?	There was no clear solution to funding defence without tax rises.
	Does the group think all, or some state benefits should be means tested?	Some felt that a better approach would be to raise taxes on those that could afford to pay.
	The UK is strengthening ties with China. Does the group think this is the right approach? Is it a threat to our security?	It was generally felt that maintaining good relations with China was important. Do we have any other options?
	Could all the money spent on searching for Madeleine McCann be put to better use? (The financial cost has been significant—over £13 million from UK taxpayers alone, alongside additional funds from private donations and international law enforcement.)	The Group mostly thought that the money could have been better spent and that the Government and Police were reacting to pressure from the media, which was not a good approach.
May 2025	Does the group think the long-term unemployed should be made to take up unpaid voluntary work, community service or charity work until they find a permanent job?	The general view was long-term unemployed should be encouraged to volunteer to work in the community' while they are looking for jobs. This encouragement should come from the community and not be mandated by the Government
	Why is there a move to the right in a large number of countries throughout the world?	The group had all sorts of ideas as to why there was a trend to the right. These included: social media pressure, people reacting to the new WOKE culture, immigration concerns and financial worries. The lack of inspirational leaders may also have an impact.
April 2025	Trump has hit the UK with 10% tariffs. Does the group think we should retaliate?	The group were not in favour of retaliation. This would only lead to higher tariffs.
	Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's takeover of Royal Mail-owner has cleared allregulatory conditions. This marks the first time in Royal Mail’s 509-year history that it will be under foreign ownership. Are the group worried that a British Institution is owned by foreigners?	The group were concerned that foreign ownership could damage the postal service, which is already struggling. The experience with Thames Water had shown foreign owners did not care about key UK utilities.
	Just Stop Oil, the infamous climate campaign group, announced last week they were “hanging up the hi-vis“.  While their approach was clearly unpopular, do the group think it actually worked?	The group thought that protest that endanger lives are not acceptable, whatever the impact.
	UK high street chains and restaurants  have been challenged over their refusal to accept cash. Do the group think it is a fundament right to be able to pay in cash?	The arguments for going cashless were acknowledged but it was felt that everyone should have the choice in local shops and restaurants.
March 2025	Is the US embrace of Russia an existential threat to the EU?	The group felt that as US miliary support could not be relied upon, the UK and EU would have to grow their military capabilities.
	Should the UK be cutting international aid in order to buy more weapons and what is the impact for the recipients of that aid?	Some members felt that at this moment in time, security was more important than international aid. The possibility of increasing taxes to pay for international aid was considered.
	Conservative Peers Challenge Labour's Efforts to Abolish Hereditary Peers in House of Lords Reform. Are they right to do so?	Everyone agreed that hereditary peers should be abolished. Reforming the House of Lords was considered, but it was felt at this time there were more important things to be addressed.
	It is being suggested that all over the country that we all have the same type of rubbish collections. At the moment it can differ wherever you live. Certainly those in the Epping and Loughton area differ from those in Redbridge. Redbridge for instance doesn’t have anything for food waste. What are people’s views?	The group agreed that the waste collection systems were confusing. There was concern for people who did not have space for multiple bins. The approaches taken by European countries were also discussed. The Chair admitted to being confused as to what could go into recycling and was not always as careful as she could be!
February 2025	There are plans for a £2bn AI Data Centre to be built in Loughton (Langston Rd) and consultation to have a Google Data Centre east of North Weald Airfield. Could EFDC become a data centre hotspot? Could there be local challenges and opportunities?	The main issue with the proposed data centres was the impact of traffic on the local areas. There were also concerns over the implications for local services. On a positive note, it could bring work to the area.
	Essex County Council has requested to be part of the government's Devolution Priority Programme. 'What do the team think?'	No one was really sure about the impact of Devolution. It was concluded that the Government needed to improve their communication, to alleviate concerns and allow for challenge.
	Are people who are getting older, those who are disabled, or people without access to technology being discriminated against?	We agreed that people without access to technology were being discriminated against. We all agreed to sign the AgeUK petition for change.
	Why are University Students with good degrees finding it difficult to get a job?    Philip	It was generally thought that the problem was too many people are going to university when we would be better served if more people went in apprenticeships to learn a trade.
January 2025	‘Reeves is considering deeper cuts in spending’. The Government spend £6.5 billion a year on nuclear weapons. Is this an area where we could spend less money? Where else could she make savings?	We agreed that rather than make cuts, it would be better to increase tax on those who could afford to pay
	Should our political leaders be answerable to the claims of Elon Musk on social media?	it is difficult to ignore Musk's comments when they are a personal attack on you or your party. Most of us were concerned about the influence Musk has and his ability to stir up hatred.
	Kemi Badenoch has warned Britain is ‘back under union control’. Do the group think this is true and should we be worried?	It was generally felt that Kemi Badenoch's comments were an 'attention grabbing' exercise. Most of the group were not worried about an increase in the power of the unions, though some were concerned the Government were giving into their pay demands too easily.
	New year resolutions - have they changed with your age?	Very few people make specific resolutions, but some people set themselves new targets or challenges for the year.
December 2024	Nearly half the farms which change hands are bought not by farmers but by wealthy people as an IHT dodge - thus artificially inflating the price of agricultural land. So is the Government’s change in IHT for farmers justified? IHT is often described as the most hated tax while only 4% of the population will actually have to pay it.  What does the group think?	It was generally agreed that the IHT system needed to be reformed and the tax loops holes needed to be "plugged". The tax should only impact those who can really afford to pay and should not penalise those with no direct descendants.
	Can charging to park in Epping Forest be justified? The City of London Corporation said they charge so the charity’s limited resources can be spent on protecting the Forest and improving the visitor experience.	Most (but not all) members felt that parking in the Forest Car Parks should be free.
	What are the implications of legalising assisted dying, and how can we ensure that vulnerable populations are protected?	There was an interesting debate on assisted dying, which led to other discussions. It was agreed that the quality and availability of palliative care needed to be addressed.
	Do people believe that the BBC is under threat? The BBC is considered to be a jewel in the crown by many here and in other countries, but over the years has received little support from our Government. There are many changes that need to be made but do we really want to see its demise? Streaming is now commonplace. The BBC doesn’t have adverts, do we want that to continue? Now where people used to have to pay for a BBC licence things are changing again. How is our BBC expected to survive?	There was a very lively debate about the BBC. The quality of the news reporting was the main area for discussion. Many of us felt it was important to keep the BBC and were happy to pay the licence fee, but some felt that the cost of nearly £170 a year was too much, which was understandable.
November 2024	Should 'The Honours System in the UK be abandoned or reformed?	We all agreed the honours system needed to be reformed but not abandoned. No one wanted honours to be handed out by politicians. Awards should be made because of very special achievements, no just for doing ones job. We decided to discuss the reforming the Lords on a separate occasion.
	'Are you better off now than you were four years ago?' (Ronald Reagan 1980). Political analysts consider that this was a key consideration for voters in the recent US and UK elections. What is your view?	We all agreed that money had a big part to play in the way people voted, but social media was now also an influencing factor.
	Trump has called the climate emergency “a big hoax”. What will his election mean for our planet?	We all hoped that Trump was 'all talk and little action' when in came to relaxing controls over emissions and the use of fossil fuels. We will watch with interest and concern.
	Is Elon Musk using Donald Trump to springboard into even greater power? What does the group think about billionaires buying political positions?	This topic lead to a much broader discussion on our political systems and was closely linked to the previous questions. The question of the impact of democracy being influenced by financial power was a matter of concern.
October 2024	The UN’s main purpose is to maintain international peace and security. -  With more than 50 counties at war, should it be disbanded or reformed.	We agreed the UN needs to be reformed, but we could not work out how this could be achieved.
	At its recent conference, the government made a big thing about building new towns.  Does the group think that, however regrettably, the High Street is dying and if so, should we prioritise re-purposing or re-developing retail space over new towns?	We mostly agreed that the Government should prioritise re-purposing and re-developing retail space over building new towns.
	Should we seek to remove or hide supposed evidence of our past involvement in slavery or other questionable activities in our history	We all felt we should not try to erase the past but we should explain it. We liked the idea of keeping statues but erect plaques to explain the good and the bad things the people being recognised had done during their life.
September 2024	Should the Winter fuel allowance be means tested for pensioners?	Most people felt the winter fuel allowance should be means tested.
	How do people feel about our Water Companies? Should our water bills increase to pay for the mess currently in our rivers?	No one wanted to pay higher water bills. It was felt that the water companies should pay for their failings.
	The justice secretary has warned overcrowding could lead to a breakdown in law and order if action is not taken to alleviate pressure on the system. Is releasing prisoners early an acceptable solution.	There were mixed views on releasing prisoners early. This lead to a discussion on sentencing and who should go to prison.
	Is our un-written constitution working effectively under a constitutional monarch and if not, what changes would the group propose?	The discussion on the constitution was lively and there were strong and differing opinions on the role of the monarchy.

Topics For Future Meetings

Jan 2027	What has Andy Burnham achieved in his first 6 months in office?
	Should the UK continue with the Monarchy as Head of State?
	Should Scotland be allowed independence?
	Is it necessary to have so many rubbish bins and where are people supposed to put them?
	What constitutes a valuable university degree? Would it be better if more people entered into apprenticeships? (Are the Governments current apprenticeship plans going to work?)
	Have smartphones improved family relationships because we can communicate easily, or damaged them because people are constantly distracted?