Birmingham’s kick in teeth for Trump...

DEAR Editor, Congratulations Birmingham, and thank you, thank you. On this occasion the plaudits must go to our namesake city in the American state of Alabama. The stunning election victory that its citizens delivered last Tuesday is truly epic.

The election for one of the State’s two seats in the US Senate was widely expected to have been won by the arch conservative, Bible-bashing, white supremacist Republican candidate Roy Moore. (The sort of man who gives Christianity a bad name.) Instead it was narrowly won by the excellent Democrat candidate Doug Jones, who ran an allinclusive campaign achieving a high AfricanAmerican turnout.

The election victory is of massive significance in at least three respects. Firstly it is obviously hugely important for Alabama state politics, and it gives the state it’s first Democratic senator for 25 years.

Secondly, it impacts hugely on the US national political scene. In particular it inhibits President Trump’s attempts to “reform” the federal tax structure. (Trump’s plans, of course, will do nothing to help the blue collar, hillbilly voter who put him into the White House, but will reduce the tax paid by the already affluent.)

Thirdly - and perhaps most importantly – it is a significant kick in the teeth for Trump. Indeed, it is a milestone on the road to getting rid of him altogether. I totally agree with your correspondent Paul Downes who – in last week’s Post – described him as a danger to the entire world.

After this victory, and with the hope, and perhaps expectation, of substantial Democratic victories in next year’s mid-term elections, the impeachment of Trump is very