Explainer-in-brief: A Net Zero torpedo in a fresh energy policy March 16, 2022 The government’s energy strategy has been postponed for another week. Boris Johnson has been forced to rethink his approach to net zero, as the urgency of moving away from Russian gas has changed cards on the table. Johnson will pay a visit to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf this week to try and convince regional [...]
Letters: Russia inaction on Boris’ watch March 16, 2022 [Re: We mut not put ourselves into turmoil for a short-lived upper hand on Russia, March 14] I completely agree with Eliot Wilson’s piece on Monday that we must not hurt ourselves in our bid to look like we have a handle on the situation in Ukraine. The truth is we have forgone a serious policy [...]
Relaxed subsidies rules are a free rein to pick winners without transparency March 16, 2022 Not too long ago the thorniest issue in the United Kingdom’s relationship with Europe was about the “level playing field” and “state aid”. It may seem crazy in retrospect, but there was a serious prospect in late 2020 that the UK would sacrifice a trade deal with our closest neighbour to be freer to subsidise [...]
A renewed focus on defence spending could turbocharge Britain’s scientific innovation March 16, 2022 Germany, along with most of the rest of the EU, has finally woken up to the folly of relying on other countries – mainly the US but also the UK – to defend them. At the end of last month, Chancellor Olaf Schulz announced that €100bn will be put into a new defence procurement fund. [...]
As Britain turns its head to China, it must keep hold of strategic strength in Europe March 16, 2022 It was an apt anniversary; a year ago last week, the government published the “integrated review”, designed to reshape Britain’s global posture in the aftermath of Brexit. Along with the previous decisions to merge the Department for International Development into the Foreign Office and increase defence spending by over £16bn over four years, the review [...]
Explainer-in-brief: Russia pushes China into a tight corner with weapons request March 15, 2022 Chinese President Xi Jinping has been dragged into the harsh spotlight after reports suggested Russia had asked Beijing for weapons to support their offensive in Ukraine. President Xi has played a game of keeping China at arm’s length from the conflict in a bid to maintain his relationship with Vladimir Putin without antagonising Western countries. [...]
When solidarity dissolves, Britain needs to get a grip of immigration rules March 15, 2022 Yesterday, Secretary for Levelling up Michael Gove unveiled the Homes for Ukraine scheme, aimed at welcoming “tens of thousands” of refugees fleeing the war. The scheme seeks to complement the first corridor the government made available for Ukrainians who have relatives in the UK. Discontent inside and outside Westminster has been rife, with Downing Street [...]
Our businesses have been built by industrious refugees seeking a new future March 15, 2022 Exactly a hundred and forty years ago, a refugee fled eastern Europe fearing for his life. On arriving in Britain, Michael Marks began selling food from a stall in the Kirkgate Market in Leeds. Two years later, after meeting Thomas Spencer, the pair set up Marks and Spencer. Now it is one of Britain’s most [...]
We need to build up Britain’s piggy bank and help young workers saving for the future March 15, 2022 Ten years ago, a government policy came into law that would go on to financially benefit over 10 million people in the UK, giving them a greater stake in our economy and more security later in life. Automatic enrolment is an untold, underappreciated success story that we should look to build on and expand. For [...]
Letters: Sunak, stand up for the little guy March 15, 2022 [Re: Sunak urged to ‘turn wise words into action’ by FSB chair after small retailers feel ‘abandoned’, March 11] While “levelling up” has become the government’s phrase of the year, for the vast majority of small and medium-sized businesses this is a slogan without substance. Although schemes like Help to Grow are a step in [...]