Words Matter. Phrasing Matters

On the BBC Radio 3 news this morning:

As part of the Brexit extension process, Britain is obliged to take part in the EU elections.

Instead of making it sound like a burden is being placed upon us, how about saying something like:

As part of the European Union’s democratic processes, Britain, like all member states, enjoys the right to hold elections for members of the European Parliament.

How you express things affects how people think about them.

Not to make a political point from today’s black-hole news — I would never do a thing like that — but isn’t it great what humans can accomplish when we collaborate between nations?

Far better than, say, building walls between nations, or breaking international treaties.

Aw man. Ranking Roger has died. Only 56: too young.

The European Parliament’s outreach team (or “institutional, non-partisan communication action”) is encouraging us to sign up at This Time I’m Voting. I will be, as I always do — assuming, of course, that we in the UK are able to.

Ah, Carrot. You make checking the weather a joy.

The petition has crossed the three million mark.

Rafael Behr has a great piece in The Guardian about May being finished.

It even has a Hamilton reference.

About to head out to the school for our last ever parents’ evening.

And it’s over a million.

Parliamentary petitions, including “Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU,” have a “Show on a map” feature. I note without comment that the second-most signatures of any London constituency are currently in Islington North. Its MP is one J Corbyn.

As the big “Revoke Article 50″ petition approaches 600,000 signatures:

Petitions is down for maintenance

We know about it and we’re working on it.

Please try again later.

I think we broke parliament.uk. Which feels like some kind of metaphor.