We’re probably not losing our marbles November 18, 2021 The Elgin marbles are causing a stir -again- after Boris Johnson and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis met on Monday. The Greek PM insisted once more that the outstanding sculptures belong to Greece, while Boris shook off responsibility saying it is a matter for the British Museum. The British claim to the marbles dates back [...]
The German dream of levelling up is still just a shell under Boris Johnson November 18, 2021 Politicians and policy experts in this country often like to compare it to Germany, with many thinking – rightly or wrongly – that it is the model of a well-functioning state. The Prime Minister did this in a recent flagship speech on his still undefined levelling up agenda. Boris Johnson lamented how, three decades after [...]
Treasury needs to play nice with regulators to make a success of post-Brexit rules November 18, 2021 Uncertainty is a killer for businesses. Too bad it is everywhere you look. Unknown unknowns are impossible to root out, but firms have developed coping strategies to allow them to live in a deeply fragile world. The underlying factors that triggered the financial crisis were unknown unknowns to (almost) everyone, even if they seem obvious [...]
Stop stoking the fire and arm watchdogs with independent powers to fight sleaze November 18, 2021 The failed attempt to overturn Owen Paterson’s suspension from the House of Commons has revealed just how much more independent oversight the UK needs to achieve truly high standards in public life. The House of Commons already has a fairly independent system for upholding the code of conduct for MPs: potential breaches are investigated by [...]
PMQs: Keir Starmer finally gets his leader’s feet under the table with Northern rail letdown and sleaze spat November 17, 2021 Keir Starmer has finally figured out he is, in fact, leader of the Labour party as he takes on Boris Johnson over rail let downs and sleaze allegations
Letters: Stop putting lipstick on a pig November 17, 2021 [Re: The future of cruelty free cosmetics] The news that the government would align with an EU decision resulting in allowing testing of ingredients – used even only in cosmetics – on animals is hugely concerning. This would effectively undermine the policy ban that has been in place here in the UK since 1998. Not [...]
Want a contract? Flash your green credentials on your way in, please November 17, 2021 Mining magnate Brian Gilbertson once recalled a results day at the turn of the Millennium. Ready to take City analysts through impressive figures on iron ore production he was somewhat surprised when asked: “What’s your internet strategy?” The South African spent the rest of the morning hurriedly writing down a dot com plan on an [...]
New winter Covid restrictions would make it official policy to pray for a better day November 17, 2021 A trip to the Scottish Highlands is always refreshing. Despite the shortening days, the hills were in perfect late autumn condition. It clears your mind and helps you reflect on what’s not working. This time around, it was more interesting than usual: it illuminated the stark contradictions and hypocrisy of the current Covid regulations, administered [...]
Theresa May fluffs her feathers on the backbenches November 17, 2021 Theresa May, who has been considerably more interesting as a backbench MP than as the actual Prime Minister, was packed full of flak for Boris Johnson yesterday. The ex-PM defied the three-line whip dished out by Johnson over a motion to give disgraced former MP Owen Paterson a a break and rewrite rules on Westminster [...]
Cumbria coal mine fight goes to the heart of Boris Johnson’s levelling up woes November 17, 2021 Boris Johnson is not in favour of coal, or so he insisted on Monday when asked about the plans to build a new mine in Cumbria. The PM shifted the blame: ultimately it will be on the local planning authorities to decide, he said. Except that it won’t be. The decision has been taken out [...]