Is it possible that gun violence in the United States has reached such appalling levels that even a second attempt on the life of a presidential candidate in as many months has been greeted, if not with a shrug, then with a grim sense of inevitability?
Donald Trump, the former president and Republican nominee, has been declared “safe” after the US Secret Service uncovered what the FBI labelled an apparent assassination attempt while he was playing golf at his course in Florida. The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh by various news outlets, allegedly left an AK-47-style assault rifle at the scene before fleeing. He has since been arrested.
In the immediate term, this incident will raise questions about the level of protection offered to both Trump and the Democratic nominee, vice-president Kamala Harris, as well as their families and close aides. With the election only weeks away, keeping the candidates alive takes precedent. Yet it is difficult to escape the wider lens.
There have been 393 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an event in which four or more are hurt or killed. This in a nation that is believed to possess over 400 million firearms – that is more than one per person. It is also a culture in which political violence, both rhetorical and actual – has become commonplace. It is difficult for democracy to survive - let alone thrive – amid such regular violence.
Now Starmer faces spotlight on Channel migrants
Crossing the English Channel is a dangerous and, sadly, frequently fatal journey. Only on Sunday, French authorities confirmed that eight people had died trying when their boat got into difficulty. This brought the death toll on that narrow stretch of water to 46 since the start of the year.
Sir Keir Starmer is using a visit to Rome to meet Giorgia Meloni, where illegal immigration will be a key talking point. The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has reiterated that the Government’s focus is on “smashing” the criminal gangs which facilitate the human trafficking trade. But it is clear that Sir Keir wants to discuss the steps that Italy is taking on its returns policy, and broader co-operation with fellow European nations.
A change in government in London does not fundamentally impact global trends around the movement of people, driven by conflict, poverty and climate change. There will not be one solution to this problem. Indeed, the reality is that Britain faces a similar challenge on migration as our neighbours.
The key flaw with the previous administration’s Rwanda scheme was that it was a costly distraction which failed both in terms of deterrence and removals. Sir Keir, a fierce opponent of that policy, will have to explain how a so-called “Italian-style” Albania deal would be different.
