No, the Norway option won’t turn Britain into a vassal state March 27, 2019 Think of all those Victorian statutes which are still good law today: the Partnership Act 1890, for example, or the Bills of Exchange Act 1882. There are many others. All were passed under a legislative system which we no longer recognise – indeed, which is now repugnant to us: no women could vote in elections; [...]
DEBATE: Should companies link executive pay more closely to that of ordinary employees? March 27, 2019 Should companies link executive pay more closely to that of ordinary employees? Rachel Reeves, Labour MP and chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, says YES. When a business does well, workers should share in the rewards, not just the boss. Too often, superstar salaries are waved through by remuneration committees that pay too [...]
Why I’m proud that the art industry has taken a stand against the Sackler family March 27, 2019 When I heard that the Tate Group was following the National Gallery’s example by refusing to take further donations from the Sackler Trust, funded by the Sackler family, I felt a sense of both relief and pride in the arts industry. The Trust has for many years made generous donations to leading artistic and philanthropic [...]
Looking for Brexit consensus? You won’t find it – and this Nobel-winning economist can tell you why March 27, 2019 Should pure blue sky research be funded? Certainly, the answer from government-backed research councils seems to be “no”. The emphasis is increasingly on research which has immediate practical applications. Yet seemingly esoteric research can shed light in quite unexpected areas. For example, a PhD thesis written by a then obscure research student 70 years ago [...]
Hong Kong Horse Racing Tips: Wong can leave rivals Frustrated at Happy Valley March 26, 2019 YOUNG RIDING sensation Victor Wong is capable of making the headlines again when he rides at Happy Valley this afternoon. In only his second season in Hong Kong, the 7lb claimer, who served his apprenticeship in Australia, has taken the local racing scene by storm. With 30 winners already to his name, highlighted by that [...]
Trevor Steven: England have never looked so confident and Euro 2020 rivals will be taking note March 26, 2019 England winning qualifying matches is nothing new, but while we have seen emphatic scorelines in the past, they have not always been accompanied by emphatic performances. That is why Gareth Southgate and his players deserve such praise for Monday’s 5-1 victory in Montenegro and the 5-0 defeat of the Czech Republic at Wembley three days [...]
DEBATE: The Mueller report has cleared Trump of collusion with Russia – is this the end of his legal worries? March 26, 2019 The Mueller report has cleared Trump of collusion with Russia – is this the end of his legal worries? YES, says Sarah Elliott, chair of Republicans Overseas UK After two years and over $25m of taxpayer funds, the big conspiracy, perpetuated by the Trump-deranged media, that the 45th President was elected because of Russian collusion has [...]
In a logical world, the EU would never risk the fallout of Britain crashing out with no deal at all March 26, 2019 At a dinner the other week, a friend of mine wondered whether Theresa May would have been treated with quite so much patience, forbearance and courtesy by her EU colleagues had she not been a woman. It’s a fair question. Her reportedly dismal performance at the EU summit on 21 March must have been enough [...]
Abolishing residential leasehold could create more problems than it will solve March 26, 2019 If you own a flat, the chances are you are a residential leaseholder. Until recently, the leasehold structure was the only form of ownership for flats and other properties benefiting from common areas and shared services. But recent cases of misconduct in the residential leasehold sector have captured the public imagination, leading to intense government [...]
A Norway Plus compromise is the worst of both Brexit worlds March 26, 2019 As the Brexit process descends ever deeper into chaos, a simple argument has started to gain ground. Remainers want to remain. Leavers want to leave. So isn’t the obvious way out of this impasse to go for the version of leaving that is closest to remaining? As I write, MPs are due to vote on [...]