Instant Opinion: Black voters matter

The Week’s daily round-up highlights the five best opinion pieces from across the British and international media, with excerpts from each.

1. Aisha Moodie-Mills on CNN

on winning over the electorate

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The Super Tuesday no one predicted a week ago: Black voters matter

“Tonight's results affirm that the pathway to the Democratic nomination runs directly through the black community. Candidates who are unable to break through to black voters just aren't viable contenders despite how great they might be on issues of racial justice and regardless of how many endorsements they receive from black influencers. Take Elizabeth Warren, for example, who literally has a comprehensive plan to address everything, including a host of issues that disproportionately impact black people. Even though she amassed an impressive list of endorsements from black leaders - from Black Womxn For to the founders of Black Lives Matter - she's been unable to break through to black voters in any contest thus far.”

2. Alex Massie in The Spectator

on a PM up against the ropes

The government’s political capital is waning

“Upon how many fronts can a government fight at any one time? Political capital has a short-enough half-life as it is without the risk of it being diluted through simultaneous multiple battles. Concentration of political firepower matters. At a rough count, Boris Johnson’s ministry is currently fighting the civil service, the media, the European Union and now, of course, a looming public health emergency from a likely coronavirus epidemic. There is also the small matter of a budget and the government’s actual – or, if you prefer, notional – plans for ‘levelling-up’ the United Kingdom.”

3. Jonn Elledge in the New Statesman

on the UK housing secretary

Why Robert Jenrick is the worst cabinet minister you haven’t heard of

“The idea that the government should be taking active steps towards making housing cheaper seems not to have occurred to Jenrick. And why should it? He owned three houses (yes, yes, ‘class war’, I know, I know). He’s only been an MP for six years: his prospects within the Conservative Party are not likely to be improved by garnering a reputation for being the guy who crashed the housing market and brought back council housing. Much better to keep stoking the fire.”

4. The civil servant in The Guardian

on the bullying claims against the home secretary

The Priti Patel allegations are turning into a #MeToo moment for the civil service

“It might not be a stretch to say that this feels like like a sort of #MeToo moment for the civil service. Those who, like me, have been around government for several years reckon more allegations are on the way. There may be blood. It probably won’t be Patel’s. For now, an investigation has been promised into whether she has broken the ministerial code, but swift endorsements from Michael Gove – the minister for the Cabinet Office, which will conduct that investigation – and the prime minister suggest the outcome is already secure. The message seems clear: Priti’s safe.”

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5. The editorial board in The Telegraph

on Israel’s election

The age of Netanyahu is not yet over

“Against the odds, and with everyone expecting his Likud-led government to be trounced, the Right-wing coalition he leads has won the most seats. Rather than go backwards as many incumbents do – especially when they are facing trial on corruption charges – he won more seats than last time, boosted by recent diplomatic successes and a booming economy. It turns out that the age of Netanyahu is not over after all.”