IT is billed as an “inter-governmental political forum” – a high-powered talking shop – where the leaders of the world’s richest democracies gather to discuss or work out how to resolve global problems such as Covid-19, climate change, economic crises and, of course, Brexit.
Organising such summit is a massive logistical exercise, but it operates on a rotating presidency and we have been here before – the first G8, as it was then, in Scotland was at Gleneagles in 2005, and others have been held in London and Birmingham.
This weekend may be the first time the G7 has been held in Cornwall, the normally sleepy, south-western corner of England, but the problems are familiar.
Devon and Cornwall Police force has around 1500 officers, but 5000 others have been drafted in to support them, with 1000 billeted in a ship moored in Falmouth.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson stresses common aim with US in Ireland after firm rebuke
This is the first time the leaders have met in nearly two years because of the pandemic, and the fight against Covid-19 is one of the main items on the agenda, along with climate change.
Boris Johnson has already been slated for using a private jet to travel the 280 miles from London to Cornwall, and protesters have promised to come out in force. Extinction Rebellion activists have travelled from Scotland to Cornwall, and a spokesperson from Glasgow said: “Decisions made at the G7 summit this weekend will set the agenda for the COP26 conference in Glasgow in November, so we want to make sure that the world leaders know that we are watching them closely.”
Of course there is Brexit, and the UK-EU row over the Northern Ireland Protocol. This is Joe Biden’s first overseas visit as US president, and his national security adviser Jake Sullivan has warned: “President Biden believes and has said that the Northern Ireland Protocol, as part of the agreement between the UK and the European Union, is critical to ensuring that the spirit, promise and future of the Good Friday Agreement is protected.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel